Consider the world of Ecclesiastes: it is a place of destruction, malaise, repetition, and despair “under the sun,” where even the beauty you see…

I am writing this isolated during the coronavirus pandemic. Writing is a solitary vocation, but this is different. Isolation sucks delight from life, replacing…

Tom Waits by Matt Mahurin This large format, coffee-table art book will be of interest to people who love music album cover art, collaborations…

Sticky Fingers Rolling Stone magazine has always ranked high on my reading list. The reason is that from its beginning in 1967, the magazine…

The power of gospel The gospel music tradition has its roots in the 17th century with Christian hymns and spirituals sung in black churches,…

Music of None Spirituality Music accompanies life because life—and creation itself—generates music, and cannot stop. At the moment of creation, God told Job so…

We Labor Unto Glory Add up the hours spent on our job (whatever it is) and the myriad tasks (whatever they are) that must…

Singing truth to privilege Some protest music rants angrily over wrongs, but the best shines love on injustice, and thereby allows us to sense…

I don’t have any way to know this for certain, so it’s only a guess, but if I guessed which album I’ve returned to…

Most people have heard the music of Arvo Pärt—even if they are unaware of it. It has been featured in the soundtracks of numerous…