Beck - Sea Change (2002)

So now I have listened to every Beck album. It seems I was avoiding this one.

I think I was a bit scared off by what I’d heard. The whole album was allegedly written within a week after breaking up with his long-term girlfriend. Consequently, it’s depressing. But it’s not bitter or self-indulgent. It’s pulled off just right with beautiful melancholy.

The Beck-ballad is an interesting genre. He can make very pretty sombre numbers, but I really miss Beck’s eclecticism and humour, which are sadly lacking on Sea Change. Here, every song is stripped back and emotional. And each is quite lovely in its own right. Highlights for me are the anthemic Little One, and Paper Tiger (those violins are exhilarating), and Lonesome Tears. But it is altogether a bit samey compared to the playful pop-culture soup he dishes out on his other albums. Still, it’s a great piece of work, and I expect to grow very fond of it.

8/10

Albums that should be overrated but aren’t: Brian Eno - Another Green World

This is generally considered Eno's quintessential album. A bridge between his art-rock beginnings and his career as the father of 'ambient' music. It was dedicated to 'experimentation' in a way that his previous releases weren't (with Roxy Music and his solo glam albums). Only 5 of the 14 tracks have vocals.

This is an amazing album. I loved it on first listen, and still enjoy it every time. I find it energising and relaxing at the same time, as the compositions are intriguing yet gentle. Mr Eno has been a large contributing hand in a lot of great music over the past 40 years, and I don't think it's too brave to say this is the cream of the crop.

Eno is linked with the genre of "Ambient", and this typically means the kind of music you put on in the background and forget it's there. It's not for listening to, it's just for creating mood. Not so with this album. Each track has its own interesting textures that make it listenable. They're not 'songs', but they're very consise little compositions, kind of like audio paintings. Tracks like In Dark Trees and Little Fishes create imagery of precisely those descriptions - using sound only. The Big Ship sounds decidedly nautical, and Spirits Drifting really does make you imagine ghosts aimlessly meandering. Even Sky Saw creates an image of the sky being carved into pieces - though what that actually looks like isn't exactly clear.

The more conventional vocal tracks balance it out. It makes it feel like a pop album, which makes it more accessible than if it was purely instrumental. "St Elmo's Fire" is a perfect pop song. Robert Fripp makes a guest appearance to play the world's best guitar solo. I'm not exaggerating. I'm yet to hear better.

The Lord Will Provide

Though troubles assail and dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail and foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,
The scripture assures us: the Lord will provide.

The birds without barn or storehouse are fed,
From them let us learn to trust for our bread:
His saints, what is fitting, shall ne’er he denied,
So long as ’tis written, the Lord will provide.

We may, like the ships, by tempest be tossed
On perilous deeps, but cannot be lost.
Though Satan enrages the wind and the tide,
The promise engages - the Lord will provide.

His call we obey, like Abram of old,
Not knowing our way, but faith makes us bold;
For though we are strangers, we have a good Guide,
And trust in all dangers - the Lord will provide.

When Satan appears to stop up our path,
And fill us with fears, we triumph by faith;
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
This heart–cheering promise: the Lord will provide.

He tells us we’re weak, our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek we ne'er shall obtain,
But when such suggestions our spirits have plied,
This answers all questions: the Lord will provide.

No strength of our own, or goodness we claim,
Yet since we have known the Savior’s great name;
In this our strong tower, for safety we hide,
The Lord is our power; the Lord will provide.

When life sinks apace and death is in view,
This word of his grace shall comfort us through:
No fearing or doubting with Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting: the Lord will provide!

John Newton, 1779
Public domain

LOST: One year Later

LOST finished exactly a year ago today.

It was my favourite show while it was on. It had this strange ability to double as an intellectual, subtext-laden high-concept show, as well as a brainless popcorn-munchin' guilty pleasure. Crazy plot twists, double-crossings, dramatic love triangles, explosions, cheap cliffhangers... mixed with thematic, sophisticated character-based storytelling, with no end of religious, philosophical and literary references? Count me in. From the outside it seems like trash, but when you get into it you realise it's a really smart show.

It is the worst victim of the 'paying out a show you've never seen' phenomenon. I will defend this show forever from all undue criticism made by people who haven't even watched it. It had a reputation of raising 5 new mysteries per episode and never ever answering any of them. This is a fair criticism, though a lot of the questions were kind of self-answering as the series went on. Sometimes you needed to put a bit of thought into it and come to the conclusions yourself. But it is ultimately disappointing when things that seem like a big deal at the time turn out not be a big deal at all.

LOST is overall a great piece of work, but its flaws are very, very apparent. I think that a lot of burden fell onto the final season of the show, having the end date announced three years in advance.The first five seasons were totally awesome but then it seemed to choke on the final one. Maybe it was starting to unravel behind the scenes for a while. Still, as late as season 5 each episode was very tightly written and stuff was happening! Season 6 was definitely below the standard.

By the end, I was both satisifed and dissapointed.
The way the finale season, and indeed the finale, closed Jack's series-long character arc was superb. "Ab Aeterno" (the long-awaited Richard episode) was one of the best in the series. I found the background myth of Jacob and the "smoke monster" to be really good, although their centric episode "Across the Sea" didn't seem to be executed quite right.
The finale itself was a great epsiode of TV. I laughed. I cried. Yeah, I cried an awful lot. I was satisfied by the emotional renions of the characters (the one between Sawyer and Juliet was the best one). The finale gave me a heavy emotional feeling that left me feeling touched for days. 
The solution to the 'alternate timeline' (that it was a place the characters went to after death to sort out their lives' issues) was more interesting and satisfying than the parallel universe idea.

What disappointed me?
I wasn't disapointed by the lack of answers in the final episode. I could tell big explanations weren't coming as season 6 kept going at its slow pace, and I wasn't expecting a big twist that would magically clear up every tiny unresolved thing over the years. The biggest question for me was simply how the series was going to end.
New characters were useless and unlikeable (I'm looking at you, temple guys, and Zoe!) existing characters were ruined (Sayid! Claire! What did they do to you?) and the whole season just wasn't that enjoyable to watch.
Also, the ending of the show explicity endoresed a politically correct, multi-faith worldview - sappy ideas about love and community as the way to eternal peace - it was heaven without God. And while no-one said the 'h' word, it was kind of implied. I don't appreciate fiction that preaches at me and tells me what to think. But it is admirable that it actually addresses matters of faith. Most shows aren't brave enough to go there.

It is a great show that I would recommend to people, it's just disapointing that once you finish season 5 you don't really have anything to look forward to, as you've already seen the best stuff. It's kind of like:
Season 1-5: distinction+
Season 6: pass
Seems kinda harsh, but you know, it's pretty much how I feel.

I still count it as one of my all-time favourite shows, though Breaking Bad has since taken over its spot at no. 1. I look foward to forgetting about it and watching it again in 20 years and re-living the magic.

#OBL

Osama bin Laden is dead.

The good news is this mass murderer is no longer at large. Today is a big, culture-changing day. But it is right to celebrate death? I am reflecting on what the Christian response to all this should be.

I was disturbed when I read this tweet by influential church leader Mark Driscoll:
Finished long day of gospel preaching to hear the glorious news that bin Laden is now dead, killed by CIA! Thank you soldiers who tracked him for a decade. Thank you Jesus for being His JUDGE

There is justice in Osama's downfall:

When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
-Proverbs 11:10

While it is right and just that he died, I can't bring myself to celebrate the way that the people outside the white house and ground zero are. The news that a soul has gone to hell is not something to be glad about.

‎For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!
-Ezekiel 18:32 

The downfall of a wicked person is nothing compared to a wicked person turning around and giving their life to Christ. That is cause for celebration, not this! Osama was an evil man who committed atrocious acts, took the lives of many, severely damaged the lives of even more. He never knew God. He will spend eternity in hell. I'm not seeing anything happy in this story.

I'm not trying to preach anything other than my own (somewhat conflicted) opinion. I don't claim to understand what it would be like to have lost anyone because of terrorism. On September 11, 2001 I was a child, and maybe because of that I wasn't struck by the horror of terrorism and maybe I never earned the same anger that others have been feeling for the past 10 years. But where does righteous anger end and revenge begin? I feel it's not my place to be bloodthirsty. God is the one who delivers out judgement:

Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.
-Romans 12:19

I understand justice. Osama was given what he deserved.
As for me, I am in Christ, which means I'll be spared from what I deserve. The death of someone who is not in Christ, who never repented of their evil, is a tragedy in my eyes. It just makes me remember how much the world needs Jesus, who conquers sin and death.

Family conspiracy

I've only been engaged 3 days, and already I can hear my family talking about what they're going to do with my bedroom once I move out.

Kate Bush - Deeper Understanding 2011

Hmmm...

I'm genuinely not sure how I feel about the 2011 version of Deeper Understanding. (To provide a bit of background, Kate Bush is re-releasing a few songs from her 1989-1993 period in the new compilation "Directors' Cut" which comes out in May. This is the first single.)

The subject of this song - computer addiction and social isolation - was incredibly prophetic when it was written, but doesn't seem so groundbreaking now.
The voice of the 'computer' is a bit off-putting, especially compared to the heavenly chorus in the 1989 version. But that's obviously quite intentional. I really like the long bluesy/jazzy section in this version in the last couple of minutes.

The video itself? Well I like that it has Robbie Coltrane and Noel Fielding in it. Kate always gets famous people in her videos, which gives me the impression she's BFFs with every celeb in Britain or something. The storyline and the way it is told is a bit cheesy but it gets the point across. Perhaps a little too obviously.

So... that just happened.

On Saturday afternoon, Nick asked me a certain question, and I said yes.

We've known that we're heading towards marriage for a long time, but it was still quite a surprise when he proposed! It's real now - and the feeling is at times dreamlike, and at other times surprisingly normal.

Everyone's congratulating us and it's definitely an exciting time. It was even announced at church on Sunday evening, which we weren't quite expecting. To have people praying for us is a great encouragement. It's definitely important as we have a lot of planning and decision-making ahead of us.

Resurrection Day

“The dawn will come, the sun will rise
Out of the grave we’ll see hope’s light.
Tomb opened wide, stone rolled away
Morning has come, a brand new day.
“He isn’t here,” the angel said.
“He is alive, no longer dead!”
Our hearts are lifted, souls raised high
Christ is with us, Christ is our life, he’s our life!”

Emu Music “Never Alone”

Video: "Follow"

They played this at church this morning. I think it's cute. Seemed to go down well.

Good Friday

He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

- Isaiah 53:7-12

Why would we call the day our Lord died “Good Friday”? I used to wonder this myself. Is it irony? What’s so good about an innocent man having religious leaders conspiring to kill him, one of his disciples betraying him, all his friends deserting him, the authorities not giving him a fair trail, suffering the embarrassment and the physical agony of crucifixion - the worst and most shameful execution method ever invented; and worst of all, having the terrible wrath of his own heavenly father poured out against him even though he didn’t deserve it?

The answer is ironic in some ways. “By his wounds, we are healed.”

Before Jesus was arrested, he was praying over and over that God would let him off the hook. He knew God’s will was for him to die. He knew it was God’s plan to rescue sinners - to have Jesus, the only sinless man, pay the price instead of each of us. But Jesus obeyed - what an amazing model of courage and faithfulness. We are now able to approach God with gratefulness, because he has forgiven us and saved us, and that we can have eternal life with him. That’s the gospel, or literally, “good news”. We celebrate Jesus’ death because he did it for us.

Albums that should be overrated but aren’t: Sufjan Stevens - Illinois

Banned version of album cover with copyrighted Superman image. Naughty naughty.

I think the full name of the album is Sufjan Stevens invites you to: Come on feel the Illinoise! but there’s no way I’m calling it that.

This album is an absolute staple of the indie-folk genre. If someone called this their favourite album I’d regard it as a fairly generic thing to say, like when people call The Shawshank Redemption their favourite film. Quality, but a bit of a safe choice.

Everyone raves about this album. And that makes me sceptical.

In most cases, artists with a fairly sizeable discography have some lesser known stuff under their belt that is actually better than the most succesful release. That’s not the case here, though. I hate to dismiss the future efforts of this young, ambitious songwriter, but I daresay Illinois is, and probably always will be, Sufjan Steven’s masterpiece.

I want to be able to say it’s overrated. I look at those pretentious, five-line track titles that are entirely too wordy to memorise, and I think he’s trying to hard. Even the acknowledgements and copyright information on the inside sleeve are long-winded. It makes me roll my eyes a little. And I look at that seventy-something-minute running time, and I think: surely there’s not enough good stuff here for me to want to keep listening for that long. But there is. And I do keep listening.

And then there’s always the hipster heartthrob factor. The Soof is young, talented, and heartbreakingly handsome, with a gentle and agreeable persona… and because of that I often feel like his fanbase is overcrowded with dodgy fangirls who worship his every note. Is that fair? Probably not.

Anyway, I must admit to Sufjan’s skills as a gifted musician and delicate lyricist. This is on full display on Illinois, which is a thoroughly charming album, and it pretty much deserves all the praise that it gets.

As a concept album based on places and history of the state of Illinois, it has a wonderful nostalgic feeling. I’ve never been to Illinois myself but some people have said the album does a remarkable job of capturing the feeling of the place. The same has also been said about his earlier effort, Michigan, based on his home state. I’d like to see him to continue the “50 states project” but it seems like he’s sick of it already.

On Illinois, Sufjan’s lyrics are evocative, sprinkled with wit, and often highly spiritual. It’s not “Christian music” - the focus isn’t on worship or evangelism, but Sufjan’s personal faith spills out, sometimes in a sly “did he just say bible study?” kind of way, but mainly through biblical allusions and pieces of storytelling that relate directly and indirectly to Christ. You don’t need to be a Christian to appreciate it, but I feel I get a lot more out of it as a believer. The apocalyptic The Seer’s Tower is shiver-inducing.

The album is full of melodies that can be hauntingly beautiful or they can be catchy and hummable. And have I not mentioned the grand instrumentation? Some of the tracks are quiet, but for a significant portion of the time, trumpets and strings and electric guitars and acoustic guitars and banjos and recorders and all kinds of percussion resound. Large choirs serve as background singers. The results of all this can vary between ‘cute’, ‘kitsch’, and ‘epic’. This is indeed ‘folk’ music, because it sounds like an entire village of ‘folk’ were needed to record most of it. I dig that. Stripped back acoustic-n-vocal ain’t my style. I like the sprawl.

Basically, I love this album, and regard it as an absolute a treat to listen to.

Seeing the world with four eyes

Glasses can signify a number of things. Intellectualism, geekiness, extra vulnerability to being punched in the face, and - last of all - poor eyesight.
As the proud owner of a pair of spiffy spectacles for about a week now, I offer the pros and cons of this wonderful piece of technology.

PROS:

• Being able to read the newspaper over someone's shoulder on the train without leaning forward and looking totally suspicious.
• Having people (rightly or wrongly) believe I'm intelligent.
• Being able to see bus route numbers from halfway down the street, not when they're so close that I barely have time to signal the driver.
• Being told I look like Liz Lemon.

 

CONS:

• Needing to take them on and off depending on how far away the desired object of looking is.
• Needing to clean them. 
• Having yet another daily item to accidentally leave at home.
• Not being able to wear my sunglasses at the same time.