NEW MUSIC
SELECTIVE HEARING | Robert Berman
TOBYMAC VARIOUS ARTISTS listening, but more importantly they provide an
21 Years (single) Simple Hymns (4 albums) important resource for church musicians looking
both for material and for realistic arrangements
that don’t require stratospheric vocals or huge
ensembles.
RUSTY SHIPP
Liquid Exorcist
We don’t usually cover singles in this column. Popular music has always careened between
How much can there be to say about one high-octane music that sounds really cool
song? In this case, plenty. Truett McKeehan had (Mozart’s Requiem, Queen, Phil Keaggy, Coldplay)
been a part of the Christian music scene since and music that’s within the grasp of amateur
he appeared as “Tru Dog” on his father Toby’s performers (Charles Wesley hymns, Bob Dylan,
albums in the early 2001, offering precocious The Ramones, White Stripes, Ed Sheeran). And
rap interludes between his father’s tracks. As while most Westerners attend large churches
he grew into adulthood, he was felt more than with extensive music resources to rival an Avicii
heard, as the subject of concerned songs like concert, most individual churches are small,
TobyMac’s “Scars.” Truett’s unexpected death with a guitar and maybe a pianist. So amidst all
at home led to an outpouring of compassion the albums of worship music by and for large,
toward his family, reminding entitled Christian well-tuned ensembles, it’s great to find a series
music fans that some things are more important suggesting the less ambitious arrangement needs
than a DC Talk reunion. Now TobyMac has of smaller churches and home groups. Steve
seen immediate and enormous response to “21 Nicolle’s “Simple Hymns” series has released not
Years,” a tribute to the son whose own rap career one, not two but four thematic collections within
ended suddenly last October 23. TobyMac pours the last six months, each one focusing on different
out his heart eloquently. “Day One left me in my elements of the worship service: Thanskgiving,
bed. I can barely remember it, heart shattered Redemption, Communion, and a catch-all
in a thousand ways.” He doesn’t hold back the “Worship” album for praise songs. Selections
“whys” or the tears but also provides a model for range from updated classics (Wesley’s “And Can
godly grieving over the tragedy that every parent It Be” and “Rejoice, the Lord is King” retuned) to
fears. “God didn’t promise us a life of no pain or modern masterpieces (“How Deep the Father’s
even tragic death, but He did promise He would Love for Us” is one of several included from the
never leave us or forsake us,” TobyMac wrote on Keith Getty and Stuart Townend oeuvres) as well
his web site. Listener response was immediate, as some new ones you probably haven’t heard
with over three million streams on YouTube within before. House vocalists Katie Gustafson, Chris
a week, vaulting the track to #12 worldwide on Weningar, and Anthony Skinner draw in ringers
the video service’s “Trending” ranks. It’s good to from Jesus Culture, Bethel Music, Elevation as
get this message out. well as CCM pros Leigh Nash, Aaron Keyes, and
Derri Daugherty. This albums make great personal
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February 2020
Rusty Shipp’s 2017 project “Mortal Ghost” was
already garnering attention for the Nashville
hard rock outfit. This one is briefer yet better
on all counts. The tunes are more tuneful. The
vocals are stronger. The energy is higher. With
four original songs, one cover (Audioslave’s
well-chosen “Show Me How to Live”), and five
short interstitial mood pieces, Shipp ships an
allegorical concept album about a redemptive
minesweeper working to clear seas threatened
by floating bombs from an unknown enemy.
“Liquid Pendulum” describes the assembly of
the threatening mines; “Detonator” dramatizes
their destructive effects and “Hundred Crosses”
their victims. “Breaking Waves” and a choral
clip of the naval hymn “Eternal Father, Strong to
Save” end on a hopeful note. Shipp leans heavily
into the nautical theme to good effect, carving
out a memorable niche for himself in the rock
seascape. He makes himself available on a noon
Facebook podcast on Wednesdays too, playing
acoustic covers and originals and answering
viewer questions. Check him out.
Robert Berman
Robert is a Sunday School teacher, music nerd,
and acoustic guitar enthusiast. He lives in rural
Tennessee with his wife and three boys.
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