Come On, Come Out – A Fine Frenzy

My latest addition to the files For Those Who have Ears to Hear is Alison Sudol (born December 23, 1984), known professionally as A Fine Frenzy is an American alternative singer and songwriter and pianist.  I am absolutely in love with her voice and music.

Sudol, age 24, is the leader of A Fine Frenzy, which she introduced to the world with the 2007 album ONE CELL IN THE SEA. The project established her as one of the most talented young singers and songwriters around; it received rave reviews, was widely exposed through songs being licensed to numerous television shows, and reached Number One on Billboard’s “Heatseeker” charts. A Fine Frenzy was chosen as a VH1 “You Oughta Know” artist, and much was made of the young redheaded singer’s literary interests (including a band name taken from Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream).

This single release of “Come On, Come Out” is just a sample of her first album.  The album consisted of ballads and heartfelt lyrics and a very personal reflection of her perspective of growing up.  But with her second album and  follow-up, BOMB IN A BIRDCAGE, Alison Sudol is most certainly revealing another side of A Fine Frenzy.

“On the first record, I felt very young, and I think I made up for it by being very serious… about everything… This time, I didn’t want to limit myself. I wanted to stretch and grow and push myself past my comfort zone. I also wanted to have fun.”

“On tour, I discovered that, while I love being behind the piano and having quiet moments with the audience, I also love rocking out and having a good time. I started expanding my tastes, listening to as much music as I could get my hands on. Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and the Talking Heads changed my life.”

This is as pure and as fine an artist you will find in music today.  A fresh voice and for me and those who have ears to hear, a breath of fresh air.   Enjoy and drink it all in as you listen to Alison Sudol  (A Fine Frenzy) and her song Come On, Come Out.

Here With Me – MercyMe

Find a Way – Strike Out Pro

At the beginning of 2006 SOP teamed up with Producer/Engineer Brennan Willis (More Than Electric, The Undeserving, As They Fall). The resulting product was then mixed and mastered by Nashville Producer/Engineer, Allen Salmon, (More Than Electric, This Beautiful Republic, Sanctus Real, Mute Math). In September of 2006, Strike-Out Pro released a five track EP entitled, Here and Now. With lyrics inspired by their Christian faith, the songs bring a message of hope, forgiveness, and love. Reflecting that message on and off the stage, this three-piece outfit continued to win over crowds with an energetic live show and a genuine connection with the audience.

Towards the end of 2007 Strike-Out Pro decided to end. Not the end of playing music however as a new project is in the works. The bands’ direction and vision has changed and evolved over the years. It has come to this. An end but yet a beginning. Strike-Out Pro was not a failure but a success for what it accomplished. If only one person’s life was changed because of a concert or a lyric in a song then it was a success. Strike-Out Pro is only a link to something greater. The best is yet to come.

SOP’s list of accomplishments include being featured and interviewed on 106.5 the zone and 92.5 Kiss FM. The song “Find A Way” received regular airplay on 106.5, and the music video won the Kiss FM Pepsi Smash music video contest. “Find A Way” was also included on the Toledo Rocks Compilation disc sold in local Best Buys. The song “Don’t Turn Your Back” received airplay on Detroit’s biggest alternative station 89x. “Best of Me” was given airplay on 89.3 Yes FM. SOP was featured in the Toledo City Paper. SOP teamed up with Missionary David Ward and his Reclaim Kids project that supports and provides homes for orphans in Africa. Strike-Out Pro has been privileged to share the stage with some amazing bands including Family Force 5, Sanctus Real, This Beautiful Republic, Pillar, Everyday Sunday, House of Heroes, Needtobreathe, Landon Pigg, Edison Glass, Luna Halo, Rediscover, Ellison, Dash The Assassin, and The Undeserving. And last but not least, SOP has made a lot of friends and met some awesome people, which is priceless. Thank you for your love and support!

Death Bed – Relient K

For Those who have ears to hear, Relient K is an American rock band formed in Canton, Ohio in 1998 by Matt Thiessen on vocals, guitar and piano, Brian Pittman on bass, and Matt Hoopes on guitar between the band’s junior year in high school and their time at Malone College in Canton, Ohio.  The band is named after guitarist Matt Hoopes‘ Plymouth Reliant K car, with the spelling intentionally altered to avoid trademark infringement over the Reliant name.

The group is associated with the Contemporary Christian Music culture, most notably the Christian rock and Christian punk scene.   Despite being a Christian band the group has performed alongside secular artists, and has had critical success with mainstream pop punk and alternative rock.   Since its formation, Relient K has released five studio albums, seven EPs, two Christmas albums, and one collection of rarities.   The band has received numerous awards including a Grammy Award nomination in 2003 for Best Rock Gospel Album and two Dove Awards.

Relient K is best known commercially for their two studio albums which peaked in the top 15 of the US Billboard 200 chart.   After signing with Capitol Records, they broke into the mainstream in 2004 with the release of Mmhmm, which debuted at #15 on the Billboard 200.   In 2007, their fifth album brought the most success for Relient K, Five Score and Seven Years Ago debuted at #6 on the US Billboard 200 and sold 60,000 records in its debut week.

From this album, Five Score and Seven Years Ago, comes my favorite song from them.  DeathBed is a song about life, loss, failure and and ultimately salvation.  It is worthy to be a part of this site.    Enjoy the message it brings…

Cinderella – Steven Curtis Chapman

Steven Curtis Chapman was born to Herb and Judy Chapman in Paducah, Kentucky on November 21, 1962.  Chapman’s father is a guitar teacher in Paducah, and young Chapman, along with his brother Herb, Jr. grew up playing the guitar and singing.

Upon finishing high school, Chapman enrolled as a pre-med student at Georgetown College in Kentucky.   After a couple of semesters he transferred to Anderson College in Indiana.   However, he soon dropped out and went to Nashville to pursue a career in music.   While in Nashville he briefly attended Belmont University.   He began working a music show at Opryland USA while dedicating time to songwriting.  Soon he was recognised as one of the leading Christan artists of all time.

Of his many hits, my favorite is “Cinderella”, which is featured here.   This video posted is one of his first performances after the tragic death of his daughter.   With great pleasure, I present “Cinderella” by Steven Curtis Chapman.

She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I’m sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders

It’s been a long day
And there’s still work to do
She’s pulling at me
Saying “Dad, I need you

There’s a ball at the castle
And I’ve been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?”

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don’t want to miss even one song
‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone…

She says he’s a nice guy and I’d be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, “Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?”

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don’t want to miss even one song
‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone

She will be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, “Dad, the wedding’s still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?”

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don’t want to miss even one song
‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone

Fields of Gold – Eva Cassidy

Eva Marie Cassidy (February 2, 1963 – November 2, 1996) was an American vocalist, known for her interpretations of jazz, blues, folk, gospel, country and pop classics.   Cassidy was virtually unknown outside her native Washington, DC.

In 1993, Cassidy had a malignant mole removed from her back. Three years later, during a promotional event for the Live at Blues Alley album in July 1996, Cassidy noticed an ache in her hips, which she attributed to stiffness from painting murals while perched atop a stepladder. The pain persisted and a few weeks later, X-rays revealed that the melanoma had spread to her lungs and bones.   The doctors gave her three to five months to live.   Cassidy opted for aggressive treatment, but her health deteriorated rapidly^.  In her final public performance in September 1996, at the Bayou, she closed the set with “What a Wonderful World” in front of an audience of friends, fans and family^.   She was subsequently admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital ^. Cassidy died at her family home in Bowie, November 2, 1996, at the age of 33.

Four years later, Cassidy’s music was brought to the attention of British audiences when her version of  “Over the Rainbow” was played on BBC Radio 2.   Following the overwhelming response, a camcorder recording of “Over the Rainbow”, taken at the Blues Alley, was shown on BBC Two’s Top of the Pops 2.   Shortly afterwards, the compilation album Songbird climbed to the top of the UK Albums Charts, almost three years after its initial release.   The chart success in the United Kingdom led to increased recognition worldwide; as of 2008 her posthumously released recordings, including three UK #1s, have sold around eight million copies. Her music has also charted top 10 positions in Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland.

In May 2001, ABC’s Nightline in the United States broadcast a well-received short documentary about Cassidy^.   Over the weekend, all five of Cassidy’s albums occupied Amazon.com’s best sellers list top spots. The Nightline episode has since been rebroadcast three times due to popular demand. Producer Leroy Sievers has said that it is “probably the most popular Nightline ever”^.   In December, a nine-minute segment on NPR resulted in a similar sales surge, with five of the top seven spots going to Cassidy.  It was this original broadcast that introduced me to her wonderful music.

This version of “Fields of Gold” recorded for the Blues Alley Album,  is what I believe is one those rare exceptions where the cover version is better than the original.  Originally written and record by Sting, Eva Cassidy brings the raw emotion and interpretation that I believe is like no other.  It is without a doubt one of the best songs ever posted on this site.

So with great pleasure, I present Eva Cassidy “to those who have ears to hear”.

Fly With Me – Cassidy and Kelsey

During my daughters camping trip, she and her best friend made this video, “Fly With Me” it is a cover video for the Jonas Brothers contest.   Cassidy is a big big fan of the Jonas Brothers!!  I love to hear her sing and since I am very proud of her I think that it is worthy of  posting on my website.  Great job to both of you!!! I hope you enjoy watching the video!!!

Here With Me – Mercy Me

I long for your embrace
Every single day
To meet you in this place
And see you face to face

Will you show me?
Reveal yourself to me
Because of your mercy
I fall down on my knees

And I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I’m lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love

You’re everywhere I go
I am not alone
You call me as your own
To know you and be known

You are holy
And I fall down on my knees

I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I’m lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love

I surrender to your grace
I surrender to the one who took my place

I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I’m lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender:

I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I’m lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love

Rest – NEVERTHELESS

A new addition to the files “for those who have ears to hear”.  Recommended by a good friend,  I have listened to their music catalog and found them to be worthy of mention here on my site.

The band has been playing together for 6 years, after forming during high school in the area surrounding Chattanooga, Tennessee.    With a pop rock sound abounding, their  songs naturally lead to powerful performances rife with energy. During live performances, the band  seems to connect with people on more of a heart-level; the kind of emotionally-charged moment that one rarely forgets.

With emotionally-laced lyrics and the predominant use of piano – an instrument that played an important part of Nevertheless’s sound during its independent days.  It reaches into the soul and grabs the listener.  “We feel like it’s a lot easier to just write heavy songs than it is to sincerely express a message.  A piano has a way of really capturing a listener, and we find that it brings out emotions better than a guitar.” says Cheek.   “We intentionally sought to progress in how our record would sound this time.   It’s not a complete departure from the last records’ sound, but more an accent of it, with a bit more depth of emotion.”

It is with this song “REST” that it truly captures the soul and points the listener to Jesus Christ.  Sit back and have a good listen to a band called NEVERTHELESS…it will be well worth your time.

Thanks for the recommendation, Preston, you have great taste in music.

Opposite Way – Leeland

One of my favorite Christian Artists is a band called Leeland.  Passionate, progressive and worshipful are just a few adjectives to describe the heart behind its sophomore album, Opposite Way.   Not only does the GRAMMY and four-time Dove Award nominated band live up to the buzz from Christian music’s most influential artists (including Michael W. Smith, Casting Crowns, Third Day, Chris Tomlin and Switchfoot to name a few), but the Baytown, Texas-bred five piece exceeds expectations through the prayerful power, and life-changing substance of their music.

“A major theme on our new album is to encourage our generation to live passionately for the Lord, even when it means going the ‘opposite way’ of the world,” muses front man Leeland Mooring, (also a respected songwriter outside of the band, who prominently contributed to Michael W. Smith’s recent album, Stand). “It’s OK to be different. It’s OK to ‘live out loud’ for God. Our goal is to be a creative outlet, helping to raise up a new generation of worshippers who do whatever it takes to make that ‘opposite way’ a reality in their lives.”

As you may have noticed,  I have been posting more Christian music on my site.  It is just where I am at right now in my thinking and in my life.  With the world closing in around all of us, I need some positive “HOPE” in my life.  And maybe just maybe …I need to take more time going the “opposite” way than the world.

With great pleasure, I present to you the “Opposite Way” for those who have ears to hear.