Pardon my excitement, but I just discovered that one of my very, most especially, super duper favorite songs is available for free.
FAH-REE, I said!
I won’t tell you what song it is or who it’s by.
Can you guess? No cheating now...take a guess in the comments.
Who is the artist? What is the song?
I’ll post the link to the free song in the comments.
(I’m seriously so happy for you...Come on, get excited now people!)
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Howdy campers!
As I was getting ready to write up my post for Music Monday, I found that my speakers aren’t working on my ibook.
No, speakers.
On Music Monday.
I think there may be a camp gnome working against me.
So...if you have a Music Monday post of your own (it can be about anything related to music), please link to it in the comments.
I had been planning to post my interview with Cindy Morgan, but I need to edit it make myself sound cool. Trust me, that takes massive amounts of editing.
Speaking of Cindy Morgan, I’m giving away one copy of her latest CD. Just tell us about your favorite Cindy Morgan song in the comments and you’ll be entered.
And for those of you who don’t win the cd, here are some links to great free music.
Hearitfirst.com
Sign up for the email newsletter. Every week they send out a free song and links to interesting videos and interview.
Freeccm.com
Freeccm.com is a venture of INO Records. They currently have songs from Fee, 33Miles and PCD. With artists like Sara Groves, Mercy Me and Addison Road on their roster, this is definitely a site to bookmark.
Downhere
Of course, for the month of June, Downhere is giving away their entire album. Go get it.
The Archives
I’ve got a free music category on my music blog. Check out the archives to find some great free music.
Do you know of any artists who are giving away a song or two? Please share it in the links.
Since it’s TSLOK Camp Week, everyone who writes a Music Monday post or adds a comment to this post, will get a link to their blog (I’ll add them tonight).
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Are you in need of a summer soundtrack? Have I got a deal for you. Here’s the news straight from Jeremy:
In anticipation of our September 23rd release “Ending is Beginning”, my band - downhere - is giving away our current studio release, “Wide-Eyed and Mystified”, as a free download through the month of June.
Click here to download Downhere’s album.
Click here to check out Jeremy’s blog.
Click here for more info on Downhere.
I first heard these guys when I worked at KSBJ and they did an acoustic set during one of our staff meetings. Great music, great guys and a great price.
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One of contemporary Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman’s six children was killed this afternoon when she was struck by a car in the driveway of the family’s Williamson County home.
I can’t even imagine what their family is going through and will go through. Please pray for them.
Please read this article for a better grasp on how you can be praying for them.
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Well, much to my joy, she has a new album, Beautiful Bird, releasing tomorrow, May 20, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to hear a preview of it.
The album as a whole is great. Its musically pretty diverse. She moves effortlessly between radio friendly pop songs, soulful blues/country songs and her classic gorgeous ballads.
After my first listen to the new album, my runaway favorite track is called Lion and Lamb.
They say a great song reminds you of a place you’ve never been. Well, this song is about heaven and needless to say, I’ve not been there. Yet. But the production is so rich and her voice is so haunting (in a good way) that it totally...um...reminds me of heaven. Ok. That sounds weird, but I trust you know what I mean.
Another favorite is The Sun Shines Through, a song about hope that is filled with gorgeous vocals. I love the simple instrumentation in it - mostly just a guitar and a bass (at least I think it’s a bass - I’m not a musician - so I could be wrong on that). Either way, it’s a great song…
I won’t do a song by song rundown like most album reviews do. I’ve never actually really liked album reviews. Musical tastes are so diverse.
What I like, you may not like and what I don’t like you may love. So I’ll just end this review by saying that I’ll be buying this album the day it releases (tomorrow).
I recommend you do the same. 
Until then, check out more about Cindy Morgan here:
Website: http://cindymorganmusic.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/cindymorgan
This evening I’m sitting on the couch next to my sweet husband with my laptop, researching some artists for upcoming interviews.
You’d think that would add up to a lovely evening wouldn’t you?
You, my friend, would be 10 kinds of wrong.
Why? Because instead of listening to this artist’s great music, on their nicely designed web site, I’ve been sent to purgatory Myspace to listen to their songs because they don’t have their own music on their own website.
Really. What if you came to my blog to read my posts and I had lots of pictures of me, videos, a store...but no actual blog posts?
That wouldn’t make any sense would it?
Neither does sending people from your website to Myspace.
Myspace is ugly, annoying and unreliable. For the sake of all that is good and right, please post your music on YOUR site.
Why do so many artists do this? I honestly don’t understand. Teach me.
]]>“Religion is what happens when the Holy Spirit leaves the room” -Bono
Contrary to what the above title might imply, I’m not actually giving away Robbie. Liz wouldn’t like that.
I am, however, giving away a copy of his latest album, ironically, titled Give Yourself Away.
I know you’re waiting on pins and needles, so without further ado, the winner of the album is:
Thanks to everyone for participating. Stay tuned for more fun Music Mondays.
Shaun is such a nice friend.
How do I know this? Because in his post on Monday (warning, there is a disturbing logo at the top. Ok, it’s not really disturbing. It’s actually funny. In a disturbing sort of way...), he listed me with 4 other bloggers.
(Begin singing, “Which of these is not like the others...?")
I don’t know how Sophie (Boomama), Kat, Shannon (RIMD), Melanie (Big Mama) and Ree (Pioneer Woman) do it. I really don’t. How does a mother - sans servants - have time to blog?
To give you a sense of the caliber of these other bloggers, may I tell you that Ree, had a post last week that had 14,000 comments.
14 THOUSAND.
(”...which of these just doesn’t belong...?")
Like I said, Shaun’s a nice friend.
Thanks Shaun for sneaking me into the big leagues. Hopefully, the blog police won’t arrest me for impersonating a real blogger.
Check out Shaun’s blog, buy his cd, and most importantly consider saving a child.
Speaking of blog friends, I want to throw out a teaser for something that’s going to happen here May 25-30. It’s called TSLOK Summer Camp.
It will be an entire week of getting to know each other, singing by the Camp Fire and eating gross camp food.
Or something like that. Stay tuned.
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Gee, can anyone guess?
I was probably about 6 years old and my dad and grandparents were taking my brother and I to a theme park in Wisconsin (we lived in Chicago at the time.)
As we were driving up, I saw a billboard that said “degarmoandkey with *********AMY GRANT********”
That’s not actually what the billboard looked like, but that’s how my little 6 year old eyes saw it.
When I floated back down to earth, I noticed my family all smiling at me. What a wonderful surprise.
The show was great even though it started raining halfway through (it was an outdoor ampitheater). I remember she made some joke about how we didn’t need to take showers since we were getting so wet. I laughed and laughed like only a 6 year old can when someone they think is cool says anything remotely resembling funny.
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Why not enjoy a peaceful evening WITH great music?
Phil Wickham is broadcasting his concert in Portland tonight - LIVE - 9:30pm Pacific time.
You’re welcome.
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Um...let me think about that.
Do I want to interview one of my all time favorite artists who also took home two Dove awards this year, including Songwriter of the Year (She wrote Point of Grace’s hit - How You Live)?
Hmmm....
Huh.....
Mmmm....
Well....
How do I put this gently?
A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y!!!
So now I have to decide if I want to do an email interview or a phone interview.
Here is my quandry. I am a dork. That is a fact that doesn’t always come across immediately over email. But over the phone? It’s unavoidable.
But how cool would it be to chat with Cind (that’s what I call now, since we’re BFF’s… you know)?
So, I’m going to take a vote. What do you all think? Phone or email?
In other news, you can get 3 FREE Cindy Morgan songs by participating in her upcoming Blog Tour.
Here’s the info from Michelle, her publicist:
What we are going to do is set up a listening station for bloggers to hear the new album Beautiful Bird and review it. Each blogger that posts a review will receive a 3 song digital download from Beautiful Bird.
You can listen to the title song and read her bio here.
If you’d like to participate in the Blog Tour - just email michelle AT fallawake.com.
Email (be cool) or Phone (reveal dorkdom) interview…
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This is part two of my interview with Robbie Seay. Be sure to read part one and enter to win the latest album from the Robbie Seay Band.
What’s the story behind the song for New Day?
The song was supposed to be my token pop song.
I went to an Nsync concert a few years back..there, you have it. my musical influence confession of the day. That’s been weighing on me and now its finally in the open. (the ticket was free from a friend, if that makes it anymore digestable for your readers)
I saw girls waving their cell phones in the air like they just don’t care—I thought to myself, “I gotta do that”.
So a few months later I began writing New Day but it really turned into a song for Liz and our life together thus far. We used to dance in the kitchen, not very well i might add, in her parents home growing up.
I think her Dad thought that keeping us in the kitchen was better than us making out on the couch. True enough.
Its really a song about hope and though the world seems to be such a mess these last few years, love is strong and i’m thankful to have people in my life to share it with.
I’ve been thrilled about the response to the song thus far.
Oh, and its about coffee..we love coffee!
How do you manage your roles as a touring artist, a worship leader at your church, Ecclesia, as well as a husband and a father of 3?
It’s hard. That balance is always out of balance it seems.
Somebody usually suffers from most of the decisions I have to make in how i spend my time and energy.
The gift to me is that our church community is so giving and supportive of what we do.
My kids have come to know this life as normal, though i drive through the nights to get back to them - and time away from them is my greatest wrestle within.
Liz puts up with so much crap from me and my schedule, i owe her a thousand vacations to tropical places, with umbrellas drinks.
I truly never thought I’d ever be this busy in my lifetime, but I love every minute of it and I’ve been extended mountains of grace from everyone in my life to do this.
What artists are you listening to? Any indie artists you recommend?
Gatlin Elms will be a household name one day. I just produced his album with him and he’s fantastic. Look for his album “Oceans & Stars” on iTunes.
One of my favorite singers just did an album with me, Jill Paquette. It was such a thrill to produce music alongside such a talented musician. I haven’t heard a release date yet but hoping its soon. She’s amazing!
I really enjoy Chris Taylor’s new album as well. He’s a new artist on BEC and is a great young songwriter.
Of course when I"m driving, I listen to a lot of music—usually Jon Foreman, Amos Lee, Patty Griffin, John Mayer & Elliot Morris.
If you weren’t a musician what kind of career would you have?
Easy.
CIA.
quit laughing.
When the CIA comes looking for a college dropout musician with no espionage experience or skill—I’m their man and I’ll get my spy on 24/7.
What are your hobbies outside of music?
My days are full so I usually spend free time hanging with my 3 crazy punk kids and my much smarter, wiser, and all around better human of a wife - Liz. We watch The Office and eat Tex-Mex.
I love Astros baseball games, the beach & George Clooney movies (does that make me a wuss? my wife says its a man crush..)
If you were a Major League Baseball Player, what would your at-bat song be and who would you play for?
uh, the Astros..hello! 
I would be baseball’s first reincarnated player, returning as a modern day Craig Biggio.
At bat song?
It would have to alternate between —‘Fly Me to the Moon’ by Frank Sinatra (this is my favorite song of all time, btw - it would be so out of place, the pitcher would be distracted, throw me a 90mph fastball down the middle and the rest would be Astros history)
Also, ‘Get Up’ by James Brown—i love this song.
Robbie Seay Band website
Robbie Seay Band blog
Robbie Seay Band on iTunes
And don’t forget to comment here to enter to win their latest cd.
If you haven’t heard their music yet, here’s a clip for your listening pleasure.
They’ve been featured on American Idol commercials, Oprah’s show The Big Give and now they’ve reached the pinnacle of their career - an interview here on TSLOK.
Robbie, himself, acknowledges what a momentous occasion this is. Read on:
What inspired the theme of Give Yourself Away?
(First off, thanks for the invite to your blog kingdom. Your reputation precedes this written exchange as one who is loved by thousands if not dozens of readers everywhere - and my wife likes you which carries value far beyond monetary measure.)
Give Yourself Away was supposed to be my album, with my songs and my vision. God told me to screw off, in a Godly way of course, and He began to cross my path repeatedly with those in great need in situations where i couldn’t turn my back and pretend all was well in happy land.
My life, my church and the music we were writing couldn’t escape the grasp of mission and the idea that Jesus calls us all to something bigger than just prosperity and peace.
The storms of poverty and illness is waiting for Jesus followers to drive in and take up residence under dark clouds of sacrifice and little reward - and those basic premises of faith became the foundation for the new album.
Based on the theme of the album (and many of your wife’s blog posts - one of which really resonated with me - How Can We Not Move?), there’s seems to be a lot of passion in your family for those in need. How has that affected the way you live and your daily perspective?
Well, I’m still a selfish pig, if that’s what you’re asking.
I wish it weren’t true.
I’m still fuming this morning as my skim milk latte was not to my liking and i considered sharing my deep frustration with the barista. Luckily I was rescued from myself in such a weak moment by Kanye West.
“i’ve never heard Kanye playing in a coffee shop,” i blurted aloud to no one in particular, though the unqualified young barista stared back with eternal blankness.
Kanye rarely leads to moral victories or even anger restraint in any scenario, however the unique combination of coffee and “Stronger” gave me reason to laugh aloud and recognize what a idiot I was becoming over a latte.
Truthfully, what has surfaced is a new tension in our lives - the collision of what is comfortable & self serving and what is giving & selfless.
Jesus has a call on each of our lives not to fill our pockets or fill our cups with lattes. Rather the call pulls us to the poor, the broken and requires us to extend the grace that has been life changing in our own lives.
If i wake up on days without that tension, i’m useless. I love reading about Peter. He embodied this tension in scripture and it seemed to follow him until his last days. He was a mess, much like myself, but on that struggle and ensuing honesty inside of an imperfect man, God built the church. So, maybe there’s hope for strugglers like me.
To Be Continued...
I’m giving away a copy of Give Yourself Away. Just post a comment here to qualify. I’ll announce the winner next Monday.
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So, um, my grand plans to have the book ready on Sunday didn’t really happen. Here are my excuses:
1. I fell asleep snuggling with my girls at 8:30pm on Saturday.
2. We had an event at church last night.
3. I completely procrastinated on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights.
There were several folks who commented or emailed me saying that you’re currently working on updating your music site and you were looking forward to reading the ebook asap.
If that’s you, contact me, and I’ll get a rough draft to you.
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Today’s theme is: If I Had A Record Label, I Would...
You can answer one or all of these questions (or make up your own):
1. Who would be on your roster?
2. How would you run it differently?
3. What would your company name be?
How Do I Participate?
Write a post on your blog telling us about “What You Would Do If You Had Your Own Record Label” (and why) and post the link (to that specific post - not your general blog URL) below.
If you don’t have a blog, share your answers in the comments.
This should be a pretty fun Music Monday. Be sure to jump in on the action. I look forward to reading everyone’s answers!
(FYI - Sara D. won last week’s iTunes GC. Thanks to everyone who participated!)
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