An unusual post

Hello readers.  I haven't forgotten you.  Things are just busy right now.

Two things I just want to throw out there.

Check out The Hawk in Paris.  No, not the jazz album by Coleman Hawkins.  (I had to edit this because I mistakenly was thinking this album was a free jazz album by Ornette Coleman.  My apologies for the confusion.  Moving on.)

The Hawk in Paris is a new band that just put out an EP.  They consist of Dan Haseltine, Matt Bronleewe and Jeremy Bose.

Dan Haseltine is the longtime vocalist and accordion player for a little group of artistic geniuses called Jars of Clay.

Matt Bronleewe was the first guitarist for Jars of Clay.  He left to complete his studies at college, then went on to write and produce after the band released their first album (you remember Flood, right?).  He has since co-written and produced with Plumb, Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman, Leeland, and Natalie Imbruglia, among others.

Jeremy Bose lived down the hall and knew the Jars guys in college.  He went on to produce and write as well.  He has worked with acts like Plumb, Joy Williams (before her interesting work with The Civil Wars), David Archuleta, St. Lola in the Fields and Uncle Kracker, among others.

You can preview the whole EP, called His + Hers, on Relevant Magazine's website via The Drop.  Or you can visit noisetrade.com/thehawkinparis and dowload a free sample.

The music is lush synth/piano driven pop with amazing lyrics.  You shouldn't be surprised.  If Dan Haseltine is involved, you're going to hear a high quality, artistic product.

The second music recommendation I want to make is Over the Ocean.  Their debut album, Paper House, took a few months and several listens to really grow on me.   But once it grew on me, it really grew.

I don't know much about the band (yet) but it's obvious they are influenced by John Mark McMillan and Bob Dylan, which is fine by me.  But they also show influence from Sigur Ros, Radiohead and... well, I can't place my finger on it.

Lyrically, I either prefer an artist that takes some thinking and listening to figure out what they're saying (Jars of Clay, Josh Garrels, Future of Forestry), or a band that isn't so poetic but says what they say with some originality (John Mark McMillan, Aaron Krause, David Crowder Band).  Over the Ocean falls into that second camp.

Some of their best lines:

"Come with me and meet the one who makes the night like day, Bow before Him and adore this King who bears our shame." Everything Will Change

"I know you are looking for things that are pure.  I know I'm filthy, You're making me clean."  The Rich, The Poor

"Build Your Kingdom as mine crumbles, Mercy will cover up my shame." Build Your Kingdom

"You raise me, while you're raising the dead.  Yeah, You raise me, while you're healing my pride.  Can you heal my pride?" While You're Raising the Dead.


They aren't afraid to let a song strectch out and be what it needs to be.  Some songs are 3 to 4 minutes, the title track is almost 7, Raising the Dead is 6... but none of them get boring.


Well, anyway... I don't normally recommend music, but this is too good to pass up.  Check it out and let me know what you think.