Music Monday 6.25.07

Three words: The Innocence Mission. 

The Innocence Mission is Karen and Don Peris and Mike Bitts.  Karen is the vocalist, and her voice is like something out of a dream.  It's lovely and broken and hopeful.  Their musical style is a delicate and simple folk. 

I picked up their newest, We Walked in Song, after falling in love with Sufjan's live cover of "The Lakes of Canada" (though that isn't on their newest album).  We Walked is amazing with songs like "The Brotherhood of Man" and "Into Brooklyn, Early in the Morning."  (Paste and Pitchfork Reviews)

From "Colors of the World"...

Blue could be a winter coat
or the sea, Lake Maureen, a window
or a downpour on my street.
This bit of yellow could be a leaf
or a beam of light, a girl in a taxi.

And I think of you in the colors of the world.
And I did meet you in the brotherhood of man
when I was traveling a long way from my home
and you are a friend of mine.

Black is the piano you play at school in the lobby,
looking out at the gray and orange,
green grass on your feet.

And I think of you in the colors of the world.
And I did meet you in the brotherhood of man
when I was traveling a long way from my home
and you are a friend of mine.

My second purchase was Now the Day is Over.  This is an album of lullabies, highlighted by several notable and beloved songs like "Over the Rainbow" and "Edelweiss."  Lovely stuff handled gently, with a continued sense of fragility and gentleness.  Hard to believe these songs, which I would never look for on CD, are done this well. (Paste Review)

The third album I found was Birds of My Neighborhood, which is very new to me and just starting to get time in my rotation.  It contains "The Lakes of Canada," which is a beautiful song.  Through a listen or two, it's just as wonderful as the others. (Pitchfork Review)

Go over to The Innocence Mission's MySpace to hear more.

Comments

[clyde]

Yeah. You'll dig on Birds. July is the highlight. Dude. Someone at my house listed off a bunch of bands they thought the Innocence Mission sounded like, and it was funny because the Innocence Mission has been making music longer than all of them combined. After a few listens the listener realizes this band is not like many bands at all.

You need to check out Glow.

[Shawn Doud]

Ditto on GLow!!

Their first two albums are worth finding as well. They're more "produced" but just as spine tingling. They're a great example of music of faith. They're on the other side of the Reformation but on the right side of beauty and truth being married together. (Does that sound contradictory, oh well!)

Their music helps me handle sadness and joy, which I'm sure you are feeling lately with the medical struggles. We stand with you brother.

Shawn
near some lakes in Canada

[Nan]

Oh, yeah... You need Glow! (I'm Shawn's wifey.) Yellow is our favorite housework accompanyment song.

We LOVE IM. You've got good taste!

[Benji Magness]

Must get "Christ is My Hope" by them as well. Its a collection of hymns...hard to find though...

[James]

Thanks for pointing me to T.I.M! Great stuff. Just listened to their '00 cover of John Denver's "Follow Me." Really digging Karen's voice!