What I love about bandcamp
1. Letting fans choose a price
2. Bundles with videos, hidden tracks, artwork etc
3. Full song streams
4. Choose file format you want FLAC!!!
5. Artist friendly when it comes to money
Indie Music Reviewer: Beyond the Sun
In a world filled with over-sharing and negativity, it is hard for a musician with an uplifting message to stay genuine. The world is polarized between those with faith and those without. What helps these people meet in the middle? It’s simple; it’s the belief they have in the music and how it touches our soul.
Christian music as a genre is one that focuses on the lyrics and works to deliver a message to everyone it reaches. Adam Baker, a singer-songwriter originally from Northern Ireland, has spent his life devoted to God and studying at Bible College. His latest album, Beyond The Sun, is filled with passion and lyrics that express his worship for God. It’s an acoustic folk album with a Christian message.
Baker’s voice is soothing and familiar. He speaks directly to God as he rejoices in his faith. Many of the tracks are upbeat with a simple feel. Musically he doesn’t perform anything ground breaking but within the genre that is the norm. The melodies are just a delivery method and the message should outshine everything else.
The first several songs introduce you to the style and message that Baker is trying to portray. “Carry You” is a high energy, feel good song. Baker uses his vocals to uplift the listener. The fourth track, “Let Justice Reign,” has a more rock vibe as Baker rejoices.
The overall feel of the album is the same without much uniqueness to each song. Throughout the tempo is uniform with very few changes. One exception to this is “Beyond the Sun,” a slow track that is rich and intense. It sets a lonely atmosphere and it breaks away from the rest of the album as Baker digs deep into a tougher subject.
To end the album Baker introduces a blues sound with “Set Me Free.” It stands out with inspired arrangements. It doesn’t fit within the standard formula one would expect from a Christian rock album, and that’s a good thing. While the rest of the album has its strong points, this song showcases where Baker dares to push boundaries musically, and it works.
Fans of Christian music and uplifting songs will enjoy Beyond the Sun. Baker is pure with a gift for expressing his faith. Music can touch the hearts of millions and he uses that as a tool to deliver his message. In this world, Baker shines as someone doing his part to bring a little light into it.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars!
http://www.indiemusicreviewer.com/adam-baker-beyond-the-sun/#more-4381
Creative or not?
Creative or not?
So before I begin I must provide a backdrop for this article being written. I have been involved in a few things recently that stink of un-creative and un-imaginative art forms. One was the use of famous pop songs such as “She loves you” by the Beatles which had been reworked to have the lyrics “He loves you” by what has to be the worst creative ministry I have witnessed “Righteous Pop Music” (RPM). Other songs included Phil Collins “another day in paradise” which was changed to “another day with Him in paradise”. The experience was truly heart wrenching for me. I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry. I also spoke with a friend who on a missions training course had a week of “creative ministries” which involved puppets, balloon making and magic tricks that “tell the gospel”. My heart sank when hearing that these where considered “creative ministries”. It’s not really the sort of thing that comes to mind when I think about creativity.
So in each of these experiences numerous things are evident about creativity. In the first instance it is assumed that pop music is not righteous and must therefore be changed. Furthermore this example lacks creativity by just re-using the original song. It also implies that music must have some kind of Christian message if it is to be deemed Christian or acceptable. In the second instance none of the “creative ministries” strike me as being creative. Perhaps they once were but this example lacks the creativity if developing new methods and new art forms.
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Just uploaded a recording from Radio Worldwide a short conversation about mission.
