Questions and Answers: As We Are Known (featuring Edie Brickell and Audrey Assad)

Last updated on: August 19, 2018 at 10:02 pm By Esther O’Reilly

Loneliness is woven into the fabric of the human condition. Lifelong companionship is a gift not everyone is given, and even when they are, it still doesn’t magically make the problem of loneliness go away. One song that deals with loneliness in an especially poignant, painful way is Edie Brickell’s “Remember Me This Way.” Written with Steve Martin and released on their joint album Love Has Come For You, it asks a painter to paint the speaker’s portrait for her. The request... Read more

From the Vault: The Booth Brothers, "Watercolor Ponies"

Last updated on: July 10, 2015 at 1:01 am By Esther O’Reilly

Another classic performance from the Booth Brothers. I learned something interesting from my blogging friend Brian Fuson about some numbers like this which I had thought were simply one-offs for this concert. He told me that some of the songs actually were going to be recorded in the studio and put on an album, but the project was scrapped. I wonder if they included this Wayne Watson tune. The harmonies are certainly haunting. (Note Michael’s wife Vicki getting misty-eyed toward the end!) Read more

CD Review: Aim Higher, by The Browns

Last updated on: July 7, 2015 at 1:00 am By Esther O’Reilly

The Browns have gone through a few lineup shifts, beginning with two sisters and two brothers, then down-sizing to four voices after the older sister got married, then enjoying her return along with her husband, Nick Trammell. But for their last couple projects, it’s back to just mother Shelly, daughter Michaela, and brothers Adam and Andrew. The three younger siblings enjoy a strong blend, and they also please crowds with their dynamic violin trios. Aim Higher is the family’s second release with Stowtown... Read more

Can We Still Be Patriotic?

Last updated on: July 4, 2015 at 12:01 am By Esther O’Reilly

The other week I was listening to Rush Limbaugh, and I heard a very sad call-in from a 60-year-old southern gentleman. He was talking about loss of faith in the Republican party, in the judicial system, in the military—all these institutions that as conservative Americans we would love to throw our support behind. He talked about current and possible future erosion of liberties like speech and gun ownership. What was there left for him to believe in and defend as a patriotic... Read more

Southern Gospel vs. The Rest of the World: Diamond Rio and The Akins

Last updated on: July 28, 2018 at 11:28 pm By Esther O’Reilly

You might know that the Akins are one of my favorite groups in southern gospel today. I’ve raved a bit about them before, but I think if I could boil it down to one word, it would be “musicianship.” They’re completely self-taught, yet they play, sing, and write all of their own material and give completely live concerts. They make it all look deceptively easy, but it takes a special talent to wear that many hats and produce quality work. The... Read more

Monday Morning Humor: Tim Hawkins Sings the National Anthem

Last updated on: June 29, 2015 at 1:10 am By Esther O’Reilly

…in about four different voices. I think Neil Young is my favorite. “In the land of the free and the home of the brave [hair flip].” “And finally, I would like to hear Mr. Bob Dylan do the National Anthem. Kids, you have no idea who that is. I don’t care.” Read more

From the Vault: The Booth Brothers, "While Ages Roll"

Last updated on: June 26, 2015 at 1:01 am By Esther O’Reilly

[OT editor’s note: Scheduled posts will continue going up regularly for the next couple weeks, but my Internet access will be very limited, so if you’re new and you leave a comment, I may be delayed in approving it. Thanks for understanding!] This is one song that the Brothers have fortunately brought back, on their special quartet project with Gene McDonald. It’s a great one by Mosie Lister, though somewhat less well known than classics like “Til the Storm Passes By” or... Read more

Steven Curtis Chapman's Song for Charleston

Last updated on: June 22, 2015 at 1:02 am By Esther O’Reilly

As Charleston reels from the unspeakably evil actions of Dylan Roof (while amazingly making statements of love and forgiveness at the same time), here’s a new Steven Curtis Chapman song dedicated to them. While it’s typical of his more recent material in that the melody could be more tuneful, it has a characteristically strong chorus and very moving lyrics. Rejoice in the reminder that good will always overcome evil! Read more

From the Vault: The Booth Brothers, "Buy Me a Rose"

Last updated on: June 18, 2015 at 12:43 am By Esther O’Reilly

This latest upload from the Booth Brothers’ Live in Lakeland project is a one-off, completely unplugged cover of the Kenny Rogers hit “Buy Me a Rose,” penned by Jim Funk and Erik Hickenlooper (boy, what a mouthful!) You’ll notice the run-time on this one is a bit longer than usual, and that’s because I’ve included Michael’s moving words at the end on marriage and divorce. In an incredibly sweet moment, he walks down into the audience at the end of the song to present... Read more

Anatomy of a Song: “If These Walls Could Speak”

Last updated on: August 19, 2018 at 10:33 pm By Esther O’Reilly

I can’t think of very many songwriters whose material runs the gamut from rock-bottom awful to absolutely brilliant, but Jimmy Webb is one of them. His hit “MacArthur Park” is so legendarily bad that Dave Barry’s readers voted it the worst song ever recorded in a 1992 poll. (Of course, this was before Rebecca Black. And if you actually clicked on that link, you’re most welcome.) But here’s the weird thing: If you keep leafing through Jimmy Webb’s catalogue, you... Read more