#modern post

[ponku-po]

REWARD IF FOUND

corner of leary and dock

[stratusxi-blog]

"He is the rescue we've waited for"

[chewchewbaka]

Before the Throne -- Modern Post

[anathaipathy]

Band: The Modern Post | Song: Grace Alone | Album: Grace Alone (EP)

I was an orphan, lost at the fall; Running away when I’d hear you call, But Father, you worked your will. I had no righteousness of my own I had no right to draw near your throne, But Father, you loved me still. And in love, before you laid the world’s foundation, You predestined to adopt me as your own. You have raised me up so high above my station; I’m a child of God by grace, and grace alone You left your home to seek out the lost; You knew the great and terrible cost But Jesus, your face was set. I worked my fingers down to the bone; But nothing I did could ever atone, But Jesus, you paid my debt. By your blood I have redemption and salvation. Lord you died that I might reap what you have sown, And you rose that I might be a new creation. I am born again by grace, and grace alone. I was in darkness all of my life, I never knew the day from the night, But Spirit, you made me see. I swore I knew the way on my own; Head full of rocks, a heart made of stone But Spirit, you moved in me. And At your touch my sleeping spirit was awakened; On my darkened heart the light of Christ has shone. Called into a kingdom that cannot be shaken; Heaven’s citizen by grace, and grace alone. So I’ll stand in faith by grace, and grace alone I will run the race by grace, and grace alone I will slay my sin by grace, and grace alone I will reach the end by grace, and grace alone

[johnlawrenceheberle-blog]

music twentytwelve: part four

1. mars hill music

modern post - grace alone / sing team - oh! great is our god / kings kaleidoscope - asaph's arrows / kin - kin / citizens - already not yet

the number one album of the year is a total and complete cheat.  here's my flimsy reasoning: they are all EPs from the same church; five different bands, but who cares...

mars hill music released a slew of EPs from various bands that make up the multi-campused church's various worship teams.  each band is great in their own right; each has a unique style of worship and songwriting.

some quick thoughts on all the EPs:

modern post - grace alone

dustin kensrue's outfit creates 80s flavored rock worship songs with beats that make it difficult to not break out and dance. kensrue's voice wails throughout most of the tracks and the unabashed upbeat tone of all the songs is quite refreshing.  worship is fun, and these guys make it fun.

the sing team - oh! great is our god

the sing team consists of a group of family and friends who claim to draw inspiration from motown to the muppets (which is great because i love both of those things).  i thought at first i was listening to a children's album, but the richness and the depth of the lyrics drew me in.

king's kaleidoscope - asaph's arrows

king's kaleidoscope is probably my favorite band out of the lot, or at least the one from which i'm expecting the most innovation.  their style is quite undefinable, but their hearts are not.  everything points to jesus (although that could probably be said about all the bands).  they seem to exude the most current, the most cutting edge, the most modern sound out of all the groups.  the sky is the limit here.

(they also released a pretty great christmas EP in 2012)

kin - kin

kin is the band i know the least about, but might be the one i've listened to the most.  their short three song EP is constantly on rotation.  maybe it's the singability or the catchiness of their riffs, but none-the-less, kin is a band that incites great worship.

citizens - already not yet

citizens brings some of the most compelling riffs to the table.  their songs will get your feet stomping.  they're also the first mars hill band to release a full length album (which might be showing up on next year's "year-end list"…).  everything about them is just fun.

--

one thing i've noticed with modern worship is that usually a band falls into one of two camps:

1. modern sounds | empty words

these are bands that try desperately to connect to young audiences through the sound of the music, but usually sacrifice the quality of their lyrics in the process.  what you're left with are catchy songs that don't really take you anywhere.

2. old fogey music | rich lyrics

these are bands that put their emphasis on the theology of their music.  they craft beautiful turns of phrase that help you to meditate and know jesus; but usually the songs are horribly boring and you don't want to listen to them anyway.  listenability is ignored while lyrics are pushed to the forefront.

but in comes the mars hill bands-- you get the best of both worlds.  the music is extremely exciting, and the lyrics are as solid as they come.  you can't go wrong with that!  buy all five EPs today.

[alanly]

Dustin Kensrue - The Modern Post on Christians & Non Christians at The Observatory (alanly.com vlog)

[alanly]

From the show tonight "Grace Alone"