Listen to (or download) Episode #5 of “On The iPod” here.

Browse the full TCM Audio Archives here.

About On The iPod:

On The iPod is the brainchild of TCM Contributing Editors Charles Peters and Brian Hall. The short program is dedicated to giving audio thoughts on new albums and music, as well as snippets from albums being reviewed. On The IPod is a weekly program that will alternate between the two editors and, from time to time, may feature guest spots. Episodes range from 7 to 15 minutes in length.

All music used by permission.

By C. E. Moore

GENRE: RELIGION
PUBLISHER: HARPER ONE
PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 20, 2010

Listen up people. I’m only going to say this once. We are not all worshipping the same God. All religions do not teach the same thing. We’re not all working towards the same goal. We’re not all mountain climbers ultimately ascending towards the same peak. People get so upset when I tell them this. It’s sad that I need an esteemed religious professor to side with me in order to not seem like an idiot when I make this valid claim. Still, I find a wonderful ally in the form of Stephen Prothero’s most recent title, God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World—and Why Their Differences Matter.

Prothero does an excellent job of presenting each religion on its own terms. He does not set out to praise or demonize any one religion. He explains each religion “as is,” warts and all. He is admittedly selective, choosing to focus on the world’s major religions while skipping others altogether. But, he provides heavy footnotes for anyone who wants to delve deeper into any one religion he presents.

I am a Christian, so I read this book as such. When I read Prothero’s treatment of Christianity I nod at some points, cringe at others, and feel he has gotten certain aspect a little wrong. But, where I feel he gets things wrong, I freely admit it comes from viewing things through a particular theological lens. Other than that, Prothero seems to unders the essentials of Christianity as they are. He does not try to misrepresent the faith, even if I do not think he understands if fully. But, then again, neither do most of us.

Furthermore, Prothero was right to claim that most people, especially Americans are religiously illiterate. We demonize other faiths, claim our worldview is better, but know nothing about the world’s other religions to truly compare. Yes, I take Jesus at his word, so I do need to study other world religions to know the truth of his words. Still, given the pluralistic world we find ourselves in, people of disparate faiths owe it to thmselves to attempt to understand the different truth claims made by other religions. How much more mileage am I going to make speaking to a Hindu or a Muslim from a place of understanding rather than from a place of Fox News punditry?

So, who is this book for? I’d say this book is for those members in the pop culture machine who are willing to think a little deeper than their peers, refusing to buy into the bumper sticker platitudes we spout in order to not rock the boat too much. No one wants to seem intolerant, but tolerance is about respectfully putting up with something you disagree with, not blindly choosing to agree that we all “basically believe the same thing.” Having taken a world religions course during my undergrad work, there wasn’t much new that I found in God Is Not One. Then again, is there anything really new about the world’s religions to consider anyhow? Still, Prothero does a bang up job explaining the competing faiths for the rest of us.

God Is Not One focuses on Islam, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Yoruba Religion, Judaism, Daoism, and includes a “brief coda” on the rising “religion”of atheism.

Review title provided courtesy of Harper One

You can listen to (or download) the full episode here.

You can browse our entire TCM Audio Archives here.

Questions:

1. Victoria Carswell (Boiling Springs, SC):  Of all the moments through your writing career, what has been your favorite so far?
2. Jeremiah Zaldarriaga (Forest City, IA):  What author has inspired most of your writing?
3. Brian Coultrup (Yorba Linda, CA):  Would you ever consider co-writing a novel with another Christian fiction author such as Ted Dekker, Eric Wilson, Robert Liparulo, etc?
4. Garrett Pletcher (Chipley, Florida):  What was the first book you wrote, what was it about and how long was it?
5. Troy Tennard (Parsippany, NJ):  Have you been approached to have any of your books adapted into a movie?
6. Jennifer Bruce (Salem, OR):  Are you going to be writing any more novels in the ‘romance’ genre again soon?
7. Brian Pierson (Lebanon, MO):  Which is harder to pen:  horror or emotionally-driven romance?
8. Christine Pappas (Burbank, Illinois):  Where does Travis Thrasher come up with the storylines for his books? Does it come from personal experiences?
9. Tom Farr (Huntsville, TX):  How do you think the complete story of LOST will impact storytelling in all its forms for years to come?
10. Kevin A. Denis (Mountain Grove, MO):  You’re becoming more well-known for your supernatural suspense thrillers (“Isolation,” “Ghostwriter,” etc.) but you also have written touching “love” stories and Indiana Jones-style adventure stories. “Out of the Devil’s Mouth” is a favorite of mine, and I’m wondering if we’re going to see any prequels/sequels featuring Henry Wolfe?

By C. E. Moore

GENRE: ALTERNATIVE
LABEL: TOOTH & NAIL RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: JULY 27, 2010
RATING: 3 OUT OF 5

There is imitation. There is emulation. Then there is Ivoryline. I’m not sure what it is, but it sounds like they’re a 50/30/20 mix of Kutless, Anberlin, and every other emo-alterna-punk band I’ve ever heard. But, given that I like that sound, I’m not all that mad about it. It just makes it difficult to know whether Ivoryline’s new album Vessels is something I’d recommend or something I’ll rock privately and let no one know that I love.

“The Healing” kicks things off on a high point, careening away from the first note and crashing head on into the last one. Jeremy Gray’s vocals are more polished than 2008’s There Came a Lion, which work to nice effect here and across the entirety of the album.

Title track “Vessels” is a big sounding song and will likely be a nice breakout at Christian radio. Actually, the track is probably one of their best one on the album, if not their best one ever. It’d do just as well at mainstream radio.

“Broken Bodies” is a nice mid-tempo piece that serves as a prayer to God to deliver us from the mess of life we sometimes find ourselves in. It’s the one track I feel gives “Vessels” a run for its money in terms of “which one is best?”

“Made from Dust” and “You Bring Fire” bring up the rear, serving as a nice bookend to the project. Both are slower numbers, driving the listener to a place of contemplation, introspection, and awe as the album draws to a close.

Thematically, the Vessels seems to deal a lot with God reaching out to man in the midst of everyday life.

What I really like about Ivoryline is I don’t get tired of their sound or mixed up as to where I am in the album. The difficulty with alternative music is that many times an album can be nothing more than background music. Ivoryline does an excellent job keeping the listener on their toes, the tracks refusing to bleed into nothing more than a discordant ruckus. There’s a good mix of fast songs, slow songs, and mid-temple quasi-ballads.

What does bother me is that Ivoryline is decidedly Christian. I’m not all that interested in bands that are subversive or so subtle that no one knows what you stand for (while band members are equally vague in magazine interviews). However, to the initiated, Vessels comes across as a bit heavy-handed. Not to mention, the unsaved aren’t idiots. It may not be a thinly-veiled gospel tract like so much Christian music and fiction, but I think this music is more an alternative for Christians rather than alternative music for everyone. I could be wrong. Chances are, the band has story after story of people they’ve talked to who would disagree with me. Be that as it may, my opinion is mine to hold.

Still, the music is really good. Melodically, Ivoryline cannot be considered amateurs by any stretch of the imagination. These are professionals who know what they’re doing when they hit the studio and the stage. So, if you’re looking for a solid wall of pure sonic bliss, this is a good choice. If you’re looking for that pure sonic bliss to be paired with stark lyrics that make you sit up and take notice, this might not be the best project for you.

Review title sent courtesy of Tooth & Nail Records

You can listen to (or download) the full interview here.

You can browse our entire “Talkback with C. E. Moore” library here.

About The Museum:

The Museum’s debut release “Let Love Win” features their hit radio track “My Help Comes From The Lord,” as well as “Never Look Away,” “Buy This,” and “Let Love Win.” In Stores and Online July 27, 2010.

Michael Spencer & Mere Churchianity

In 2004, with great sadness and sense of deep heartache, we left the church we had attended for 15 years. We should have left two or three years earlier, as my wife kept urging, but I was the one who was trying to hold on to the relationships and community we had, especially with our “small church” or adult Sunday School class.

From the outside, our church met every definition of “success” – dramatic growth in attendance and membership; two major building programs; expansion of the staff; expansion of ministries and programs. It was all the criteria that the American evangelical church had for determining results and success. It appeared our church was firing on all cylinders.

From the inside, it was a different story, and it happened gradually.

Adult Sunday school classes moved away from teaching the Bible to teaching “The Prayer of Jabez” and other popular books. “The Prayer of Jabez” found its way into small group Bible studies and even a sermon series. The church’s Prayer Commission was dismantled and not replaced. Hymnals disappeared without so much as an explanation, replaced by slides of songs on the Jumbo-Tron. The worship music changed, becoming more repetition of choruses than songs of praise. There was more talk about becoming a place for “seekers” and less about “disciple-making.” The worship service became a time for plays, dancing, acting out of roles, and showing of clips from popular movies.

When asked about these changes at congregational meetings, and if the plan was to transform our church into another Willow Creek, the elders always said no. When asked why staff people were being trained at Willow Creek, and why Willow Creek programs were being adapted, the elders continued to deny there was any desire to become a Willow Creek.

As the church “dumbed down” the content, growth began to taper off and then stop. With each new innovation, more of the longstanding members left. Giving declined correspondingly.

Michael Spencer could have told us what was happening. It’s all in Mere Churchianity: Finding Your Way Back to Jesus-Shaped Spirituality. The title is a nod – perhaps more than a nod – in the direction of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. But Spencer’s subject and thesis is very different – that people are leaving the church to find Jesus.

Like so many other churches, our church had embraced the American cultural definition of success. People who raised questions or objections were ignored or flattened. Community was disrupted and, in some cases, destroyed.

And we did what he would have completely understood. We left. We left “churchianity” to find our way back again. And it has not been easy.

“When you view evangelicalism from a distance,” he writes, “it becomes clear that almost all the problems can be traced back to evangelicalism’s unquestioned commitment to be successful and relevant.” We are “swimming in a sea of mediocrity, worshiping in a church captivated by consumerism, and deeply affected by a skewed view of God that the Bible would call petty idolatry.”

No, this is not a treatise in favor of the “emerging church.” Spencer experienced all of the ways one leaves the church –from belonging nowhere to considering Roman Catholic and Orthodox, to emergent and house churches and all the other possibilities that exist within a Christian context. And he doesn’t advocate not attending church.

Instead, he speaks to those who have left or are considering leaving the church, he explains why this is happening, and then he takes great care in pointing to a different way.

Yet Spencer doesn’t offer a “solution” or prescriptive antidote; instead, he points to something else, something radical in our evangelical context – the pursuit of what he calls Jesus-shaped spirituality, not church-shaped spirituality. And he describes what that is by explaining what we can know about Jesus, what it means to accept the real Jesus, and what Jesus is doing in the world.

For someone like me, who’s been associated with one form or another of evangelicalism for nearly 40 years, everything Spencer writes and says is a challenge and an affront to what I’ve long believed. Yet my own experience with the church in the last 10 years tells me he’s right, as uncomfortable and wrenching as that is. His book is incendiary, and it needs to be.

Spencer, best known as the “internet monk” for his blog of the same name, died of cancer in April. “Mere Churchianity” is the gift he left for all of us. The question for me is, what will I do with this gift?

By Kyle Kiekintveld

GENRE: HIP-HOP/RAP
LABEL: SYNTAX RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: APRIL 27, 2010
RATING: 4 OUT OF 5

Weapon Aid is the newest release from  the relatively unknown Braille and it arrives with some tight rhymes and a lot of swagger. Braille has a style that feels equal parts a throw back to the beginning of Hip Hop and the complex lyricism of Black Thought or Common. It comes off as smooth, confident and poised to pull the listener into whatever tale Braille wishes to layout, truly great lyricism.

The album as a whole is good, but the underground/old school sound will be intimidating to some listeners. The style allows Braille the background to drop some serious knowledge and a few lines are truly worthy of a double take. The whole album isn’t quite a classic but a few songs are definitely worthy of being called classic.

“Give Myself” is the best track of the album. Braille spits with the fury and energy of a veteran slam poet but commands the lines like a veteran rapper. He wears both hats very well and the track is full of heavy knowledge. It would do the song little justice by offering some of the best lines, this is the song to listen to on the entire album. It is the a song that is laid out as if it is about a mortal relationship but it offers much deeper insight in the lines.

“Up” is another classic track on the album. It is a smooth track that flows quick but it feels epic. The beat isn’t the worlds most complex but it serves well making Braille’s words pop. It is hard to stop the head nodding as the song lays out some knowledge on life and the power of God.

“Poison” is the track that feels the most complex lyrically but like the rest of the album, Braille makes even the most complex lines feel effortless. Line by line it is about the struggle of sin and the realization that sin can be hidden from us until God lights the path.

Weapon Aid is an album many won’t like because the complex style of Braille, but those who like complex lyricism will be blown away. The entire album isn’t quite classic as some tracks just feel a bit disjointed but it is hard to make complex lyricism mesh into a cohesive album. No real theme pops out of the entire album but it will leave heads nodding and some lines are simply epically good. Braille is an artist that deserves to win many more fans and make waves in the scene and with this album hopefully he accomplishes both.

Review title provided courtesy of Syntax Records

You can listen to (or download) the full interview here.

You can browse our entire “Talkback with C. E. Moore” library here.

About Hillsong Live:

Hillsong Music is Christian music produced by Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia as well as offshoot churches, Hillsong London, Hillsong Cape Town, Hillsong Kiev, and the upcoming Hillsong New York. Hillsong albums are released and distributed by Hillsong Music Australia, the resource arm of Hillsong Church.

By Melissa Willis

GENRE: FICTION
PUBLISHER: LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY
PUBLICATION DATE: JULY 19, 2010

Hermes Diaktoros (the fat man) came to the Island of Thiminos to determine who was responsible for Irini’s Asimakopoulos’ death.  Her death was hastily ruled a suicide by Police Chief Zafiridis, but the conclusion was based largely on rumors and a nice family payoff—no investigation, no autopsy.  It didn’t take long for Hermes to discover this small island had numerous secrets and one of them was what happened to Irini.  Was her death suicide, accident, or murder?  Was it her husband, her lover, or her lover’s wife?  In a sordid tale of adultery, secrets, and double standards, The Messenger of Athens is less a mystery and more a small island drama where murder might be the lesser of hidden secrets.

My research and the opening chapters led me to believe this was going to be an investigation type story.  That’s not the case.  The majority of the book is set in the past leading up to the death of Irini.  As a result, the book is more a drama depicting life on the island with the local gossip and sexual escapades of the various characters.  The presentation is not displeasing, but not typical murder mystery either.

I struggled a bit dating this story.  The Messenger of Athens feels like it is set during 1950s or 1960s, but I don’t think that is correct.  Towards the end, there are indications the book is set in the late1990s.  Probably my lack of familiarity with small Greek island culture is the reason for my difficulty placing its date.  This might seem like a minor issue, but ultimately it affected my reaction to the characters and their actions.  I lacked sympathy for Irini.  She made terrible decisions.  She opted to follow lust rather than stay committed to her husband who truly loved her.  I do not believe she was in love since essentially all she and Theo did were smile and wave at each other.  Additionally, I felt as though Theo was unfairly judged.  It took both of them to decide to stray from their spouses, not just one.  Perhaps if I could better place the time period or understood the culture, my opinion might be completely different.  As it stands, I see someone who had options available to them that were both healthier and kinder than the ones chosen.  Irini’s choices were selfish and mean spirited.  While her death should have evoked some sympathy, instead I felt only apathy.

The writing is absolutely beautiful.  I loved Zouroudi’s voice and the elegance of her style.  It had a gorgeous flow without being overly dramatic.  Though I struggled to date the story, her descriptions of the location and people had an intimate, realistic quality.

Even though this wasn’t the mystery I expected I enjoyed the story.  In addition to the question of what happened to Irini, there was the nice mystery of the Chief of Police and the eccentric Hermes.  While there were parts I didn’t connect with, over all it was engaging and kept my interest.  The strength was definitely in the writing though.  Zouroudi’s talents carried the book.

Disclaimer for sensitive readers:  This is a general market book.  There is moderate language, but little violence.  However, readers sensitive to sexual content might want to pass as there are numerous references and descriptions of sexual acts.

Review title sent courtesy of Little, Brown & Company

By Kyle Kiekintveld

GENRE: HIP-HOP/RAP
LABEL: SWAGGERROCK LLC
RELEASE DATE: JUNE 15, 2010
RATING: 4.5 OUT OF 5

Light Up The Dark is the sophomore release of The Washington Projects and it deserves to make some serious waves in the Christian music scene. Those unfamiliar with The Washington Projects should quickly familiarize themselves with their style. They sound like a more hip hop oriented Black Eyed Peas, doing music that can easily be danced too, with thick production but solid lyricism and the occasional straight R&B song.

The entire album deserves to be bought as it is joins some of the greatest releases this year, but the unique style puts it in a league all its own. Few artists can pull of the fusion of Hip Hop and R&B, let alone do it and seem relevant and not superficial or only Christian-esque but The Washington Projects does it with easy, making an album that feels like a huge budget major release. The album is heavily produced but it even does the production with an eye on moderation and quality. This is near perfect music.

“You Are Beautiful” is a track every father or mother needs to play for their daughter. It is simply a beautiful song meant to build confidence and it never sounds cheesy. This production is kept relatively mellow and it suits it very well. This track is nothing more than a confidence building track the name suggests, but it offers depth at well.

“My Dream” is a straight up classic. It also features an auto-tune like effect that is done so well and so subtly that the most ardent critic (read: me) can’t help but like it. It is used to just slightly augment the line and bring it out of the background. The entire song has a very down tempo dream like feeling to it. It is hard to find a flaw in this song. It comes off as an amazingly intimate reflection on God.

“Work” is a good example of the more uptempo Black Eyed Peas-esque track. It is happy pop music that can be danced to and it has a serious bump that makes it an enjoyable driving track as well. It is not the deepest track on the album by far, it feels pretty superficial but it doesn’t detract on the album. It isn’t entire of devoid of a message it just takes a backdrop to heavier production and in moderation it makes the album much better.

Light Up The Dark is a great album that is the perfect example of how big and commercially viable Christian music can sound. The Washington Projects feels like the perfect blending of rap and dance, while the Christian message may not be as thick as other artists it is still right on the surface for listeners to enjoy. This is an extremely talented group that with any luck will make classic albums like this long into the future, blending genres and offering some Christian relevancy within dance-pop music.

Review title provided courtesy of Swaggerorck LLC