Oasis is an English rock band that formed in Manchester in 1991.   Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher (vocals), Paul Arthurs (guitar), Paul McGuigan (bass guitar) and Tony McCarroll (drums, percussion), who were soon joined by Liam’s older brother Noel Gallagher (lead guitar and vocals).   Oasis have sold over 50 million records worldwide^,  have had eight UK number-one singles and have collected fifteen NME Awards, five BRIT Awards, nine Q Awards and four MTV Europe Music Awards.   In February 2007, Oasis received the BRIT Award for outstanding contribution to music.   The Gallagher brothers are the band’s leading songwriters and the only continual members.

Oasis are most heavily influenced by The Beatles

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The debut release from singer/songwriter Chris August under the Fervent record label, No Far Away is an honest collection. The majority of songs tell a part of his story from brokenness to restoration with a glossy pop/rock sound and clean R&B influenced vocals. Within his musical endeavors the polished crooner doesn’t claim to have all of the answers, but sings his with a simplistic authenticity and content that recounts life experience infused with his desire to serve God.

Though this is only the second record from the 26-year old, he is certainly not a newcomer to the music scene. A self-taught musician, August says that the year he turned 15 was a “huge turning point” for him.  It was a foundational time period as he began playing, writing, and recording music and also became a Christian. Fresh out of college, he went on to record, produce, mix and master his first independent album. His work was soon noticed and quickly earned him a recording contract with Geffen Records and management deal with Joe Simpson.

After moving to Los Angeles to work on his album, he also collaborated with secular industry notables and began to write, record, and produce for others simultaneously. In short, after two years of hard work, including a year-long tour with Ashlee Simpson, he found himself back in his hometown of Garland, TX. It had been two years since he darkened the door of a church, and deeply missed it.  Shortly after, “Starry Night” was birthed—a song that August says is a “rededication of my music and my life to Jesus.”

Re-printed via crosswalk.com

When the music fades into the past,
When the days of life are through,
What will be remembered of where I’ve come?
When all is said and done?

Will they say I loved my family?
That I was a faithful friend?
That I lived to tell of God’s own son?
When all is said and done.

Of how I long to see the hour,
When I would hear that trumpet sound.
So I could rise and see my Savior’s face,
And see him smile,
And say ‘Well done.’

You can forget my name
And the songs I’ve sung,
Every rhyme and every tune.
But remember the truth of Jesus’ love,
When all is said and done

When all is said and done.

Chances are when said and done
Who’ll be the lucky ones
Who make it all the way?
Though you say I could be your answer
Nothing lasts forever
No matter how it feels today

Chances are we´ll find a new equation
Chances roll away from me
Chances are all they hope to be

Don’t get me wrong I’d never say never
Cause though love can change the weather
No act of God can pull me away from you

I´m just a realistic man
A bottle filled with shells and sand
Afraid to love beyond what I can lose when it comes to you
And though I see us through yeah

Chances are we´ll find two destinations
Chances roll away from me
Still chances are more than expectations
The possibilities
Over me
Eight to five, two to one
Lay your money on the sun
until you crash what have you done?
Is there a better bet than love?
What you are is what you breathe
You gotta cry before you sing

Chances chances

Chances lost are hopes torn up pages
Maybe this time
Chances are we´ll be the combination
Chances come and carry me
Chances are waiting to be taken
And I can see
Chances are the fascination
Chances won’t escape from me
Chances are only what we make them
And all I need

It has been quite the dry spell for a while.

Until I heard this song “Oh My Dear” from Tenth Avenue North.

Rarely has a new band delivered a song with more emotional punch than Tenth Avenue North.  Musically inventive and lyrically compelling.  It tells a simply story of grace found in a place and time that a band member and his future wife had on a cold wintry night.

It all began for Tenth Avenue North when the band members met at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida. They began booking themselves in churches and youth camps from Florida to Colorado. They began creating a buzz that caught the attention of label executives at Provident Label Group and landed a deal with Reunion Records.

Tenth Avenue North’s songs remind the listener of God’s grace and challenge believers to focus more on the things of God, not the things of this world.

“We try to meet with people after all of our shows; it’s important to us to connect,” they say of interfacing with fans in the band’s seemingly endless autograph lines. “The reason we’re in this is to talk to people, engage with people and hopefully, disciple people.”

For me, it is just another worthy song for those who follow this site.  It is definitely part of the excellent archives of music posted here.  Enjoy.

Source:  Louder than the Music Website

One of the most exciting bands in worship music at the moment have to be Northern Ireland’s Rend Collective Experiment, who have just released their debut album ‘Organic Family Hymnal’ to a vast array of plaudits. LTTM spoke to the band of the moment to find out the story behind this fresh approach to worship.

For those who haven’t heard of you before, can you give us the background story on how the band got formed?

We were all part of a movement of people in their 20s and 30s. Maybe a bit lost in the madness of life and faith. So we started something called Rend which wanted honest connection with God and sacrificial Kingdom living.

How did you come up with the name of the band, and what’s the meaning behind it?

Rend – Rend means to tear apart. In Isaiah 64 v1 it’s a prayer that God would Rend the heavens and come down. Be near us and real to us. Joel 2v13 is a call from God for us to Rend our hearts and not our garments which means to us don’t put on an outward show but be real and authentic. We call that Organic!!

Collective – We are a group of people much more than a band but family. We don’t believe worship is about one person singing but about a movement of people together. It’s not just about being on a stage!

Experiment – Does anybody in life have the answers? No! That’s why we are an experiment. Not being afraid to take a few risks in life and step out into the unknown and experiment with life in the boldness that Christ has given us.

You’ve described yourselves as ‘like a family and not just a band’, what impact does that have?

It’s great to work with a mindset of family rather than being a rock band. Our approach is that of cooperation and friendship which is exactly what Christ has called us to. We want to show other people that we are a collective of people all journeying with each other and God and not that we are “special people on a stage”.

Tell us a little bit about your debut album and what the inspiration behind it was?

Organic worship is our heart. Something which is 100% natural and not processed for what can sometimes turn into a worship industry rather than a worship ministry. Our songs come from a place of connection with God and not what is a slick pop tune.

Which is your favourite track off your new album and why?

Gosh everybody in the collective’s opinion is different and even that changes everyday. Sometimes when we play a song live there seems to be a lot of God’s presence on it – then we love that. Then when you’re going for a walk you connect with something else. We are going to give a politician’s answer and say we love them all for different reasons. Ha!!! Sorry!

Which do you prefer, playing live or recording albums?

Good question. We love the excitement of new creative ideas, new lyrics and the fresh move of God that comes with recording. But when you see other people respond to what God has given you in a quiet place that’s much more powerful.

What’s your song writing process?

There are four song writers in the collective so each one varies but songs always come from a connection and realisation of God. Then we bring it to the others and dream together.

If you could work with any song writer, who would it be and why?

Martin Smith or Matt Redman probably. They both inspired all of us growing up with songs which took us to the feet of Jesus. Plus they seem pretty interesting chaps.

You’re stuck on an island, it’s hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your mp3 player. What track is it?

Transatlanticism by Death Cab for Cutie

What does the next year hold for Rend Collective Experiment?

Who knows… perhaps world take over and perhaps a big BBQ with all our friends. Or perhaps both! We hope meeting new people, touring and oh we shot a new music video last weekend for ‘You Bled’ with a primary school. It was a fantastic experience.

Rend Collective Experiment started in Northern Ireland in 2004 as a group of confused twentysomethings trying to figure out life, God, community and kingdom living. The band came from that – they started writing songs that made sense to them. They describe themselves as “a collective of people like a family and not just a band. We want our music to be what we call Organic worship, an honest and natural connection with God, something which is authentic and not artificial. We want to create an environment for people to have genuine encounters with Him and to find themselves singing to Him in ways that they find real.”

In this video they take the wonderful song “How Great is our God” and completely play the background track by using the “apps” found on their I-Phone.  Interesting and clever…worth the time for those who have ears to hear.

Another original song from Crystal Bowersox.  This is the second installment for “those who have ears to hear”, and I believe that this song is the most worthy of the two.  Love her voice, reminds me of Eva Cassidy.  I cannot wait until she releases a CD when her Idol run is over.

Farmer’s Daughter

Halfway to crazy, not far from sane
%$#@’*^’ sick and tired of all your games
All I ever wanted was you to take care of me

Honor thy mother and father too
But I know there ain’t no way in hell that God mentioned you
All I ever wanted was you to care for me

Now I’m stuck in this hotel room, your grandson and me
Tomorrow we’re gonna find out our destiny
All I ever wanted was you to be there for me
All I ever needed was you to be here for me

This time is the last time you’re gonna see us around
This was your last chance to prove you wouldn’t let me down
So go on, get going and get away from here
All alone is how you’re gonna spend the rest of your years
No farmer’s daughter anymore, mommy dear.

Remember back in high school, my brothers and me
Well he put his head through the door to find clarity
You’d come home with bourbon breath, Jack in the air
And when you broke my bones I told the school I fell down the stairs
All I ever wanted was for you to be there for me
All I ever needed was for you to be here for me

This time is the last time you’re gonna see us around
This was your last chance to prove you wouldn’t let me down
So go one home, get going and get away from here
All alone is how you’re gonna spend the rest of your years

No farmer’s daughter anymore
I ain’t no farmer’s daughter anymore
No farmer’s daughter anymore, mommy dear

Born Crystal Sarah Bowersox on August 4, 1985, in Elliston, Ohio, to parents Bill and Kelly Bowersox. Crystal shares her birthday with her brother, Carl, who is her fraternal twin. Crystal’s life started with several difficulties, including her parents’ divorce when she and her brother were barely 2 years old. By the age of 6, she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

The family struggled with all the adjustments, including tighter finances and new family members.  Bowersox channeled her frustrations into her music, teaching herself how to sing, as well as how to play guitar and harmonica.

By the time she was a freshman in high school, Crystal had devoted herself completely to her music. She left Oak Harbor High School to attend the Toledo School for the Arts in Toledo, Ohio, where she started writing her own songs including one she composed as a tribute to her father. By the age of 17, however, Bowersox’s home life had deteriorated to the point that she considered dropping out of school and moving out. She stayed home long enough to graduate, then moved to Chicago, Illinois, to perform in local clubs with various bands.

She returned to Elliston in 2009, where she began regularly performing with childhood friend and fellow musician Frank May. Her talent helped her snag a win in the Blade Battle of the Bands competition, and her success convinced friends and family that she should audition for the reality competition American Idol. She toyed with the idea for several months, but it wasn’t until she became pregnant with her son, Tony, that she decided to compete. “I needed to turn bar gigs into a bigger career,” Bowersox later told her local paper. “Kids aren’t cheap, and [my son] needs everything I never had growing up.”