“You Are My Hiding Place” by Lenny Smith [a review]
November 27, 2016
I realized a few days ago, after listening to Lenny Smith’s new record amid the hurricane of a new election season, that the last time Lenny Smith released an album was during an election as well—and a tumultuous one at that. Harsh words were thrown back and forth. Brother turned on brother. And the world was all set to end.
Yet here we are, 4 years later, and the world’s still spinning. The rhetoric feels particularly brutal this time around, but maybe that’s because time really does heal all wounds—even political ones—and we fail to see history repeating itself as time spills out before us. All of this to say that Lenny Smith’s record, “You Are My Hiding Place”, has arrived from Great Comfort Records. It is full of life and love and celebration, and it serves as a nice antidote to the hate and fear that abounds. Once again, Lenny dives deep into scripture, looking to the poetry of the psalmists, of Ruth, of Jesus himself, to gives words to his worship. His family and friends sing and clap and shout along. Really, I think the world could use a little Lenny Smith right now.
You can listen to and purchase the recording at Lenny’s bandcamp page here, or explore more at Great Comfort Records.
“I Have Seen the End” by Brock’s Folly [a review]
November 9, 2016
From the liner notes to their new record I Have Seen the End, the young band “Brock’s Folly” appear to be entering an early retirement. A few albums under their belt, the energetic, theologically-minded five-piece formed while studying at Bryan College in Tennessee. The members have since graduated and the new project feels like a master thesis, reflecting on all that’s happened across a short discography. The band’s theology is mature, taking a hard look at hypocrisy, pride, and redemption both outward, in a world full of pain and violence; and inward—at hearts drowning in ego and corruption. Heavy themes indeed, but they never overwhelm. Every hard truth rides atop a wild folk melody, and grace—the amazing kind—abounds.
You can listen to and purchase their music here, or explore their work with the Nehemiah Foundation for Cultural Renewal here.
let us make a record 