MOG

Thought it would be good to pick up some Christ-centered pop music on my latest visit to my local public library (yesterday).

1. Jars Of Clay 'Redemption Songs' I'd heard a lot of great things about this band but only heard a couple of their songs over the years. The librarian at the front desk told me this was an amazing record, and that's good enough for me! The songs on this album are great acoustic guitar-based sacred jams with enough catchy hooks and melodies believers and non-believers alike would enjoy them and learn from their prescient messages. As a profession of faith the songs are unparalled. They even collaborate with Blind Boys Of Alabama on a track!

2. BarlowGirl 'Another Journal Entry' I have to admit I didn't think I'd like this cd very much, but damn these girls can sing! (Sorry for swearing!) The music varies from pretty piano based tunes to electric guitar 'emo' rock-outs, never veering too much from the pop genre. Praise the Lord!

3. Rebecca St. James 'Wait For Me: The Best From Rebecca St. James' I've never heard of this artist before, but she has a 'best of' compilation, plus her name sounds like she doubles as a porn star, so it must be good! Musically the collection steers through My Bloody Valentine territory (!), to techno-rave-freak-outs, to straight-ahead hard rock (with flutes!) to syrupy reverb-laced ballads. She sure can belt it out for Jesus!

BTW, most libraries have great cd collections representing music from all over the world, available for perusal (for free) to anybody who has a library card.

For more information on how I listen to my iTunes, please see my previous post.