Lake Neuron

Technically, what I’m listening to right now is Yahoo! Jukebox on my PC. But the playlist I’m listening to is the one I put on my brand new MP3 player last night. I thought I’d pick ten of the songs and tell you about them, in time-honored blog tradition.

“Coming Back Soon,” by Randy Stonehill, originally from “Can’t Buy A Miracle,” now available on the greatest hits package “Our ReCollections.” I don’t know why, but I find this song almost achingly beautiful. It starts with the image of Randy’s little daughter, still in bed, as he prepares to leave her to go out performing on tour, and uses that image as a metaphor for our longing for Jesus’ return. Sappy? Maybe. But if so, I’ll have to change my name to “Maple.”

“You Get What You Give,” by New Radicals. Yes, I realize the creative force behind this now-defunct band would probably resent the fact that a 45-year-old grooves on his song of youthful rebellion. Yes, I realize it’s in part about vandalism. I can’t help myself. It’s one of those pop music forces of nature.

“Pyro Sets A Wildfire,” by The Swirling Eddies, from “Zoom Daddy,” also available on “The Berry Vest of the Swirling Eddies.” This infectious pop song will have to do me until my copy of the Eddies’ latest, “The Midget, the Speck, and the Molecule” arrives, which should be any day now.

“Lizzie Borden,” by The Chad Mitchell Trio. My father used to own, probably still owns, the vinyl album of “Mighty Day on Campus,” and we used to listen to it almost every Saturday afternoon. I bought it on CD a few years ago. It was one of the first successful “live” albums, and it shows off the folk trio’s beautiful, melodic songs as well as their funny ones — like “Lizzie Borden” (”You can’t chop your papa up in Massachusetts / Massachusetts is a far cry from New York.”) By the way, their banjo player, Jim McGuinn, was later known as Roger McGuinn of the Byrds.

“Your Love Broke Through,” Keith Green — I blogged about this one just the other day, but I wanted to mention it again here.

“Your Imagination,” Tom Prasada and Amilia K. Spicer. This one is from “Making God Smile,” a gem of an album which I loaned out a couple of years ago and never got back again. Thankfully, it’s burned to my computer — but I’m still going to have to buy a new copy eventually. It’s a tribute album to Brian Wilson featuring various eclectic and non-traditional Christian artists (including my hero, Terry Scott Taylor of Daniel Amos and The Swirling Eddies). It showcases Brian Wilson’s incredible melodies in a beautiful arrangement of a beautiful performance. Transcendent.

“Born to Run,” Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Best. Song. Ever.

“I Go Crazy,” Paul Davis. This is one of those songs that make me ache to be in love.

“All Creation Sings,” AD. This was Kerry Livgren’s Christian project after leaving Kansas. Actually, lyrically speaking, the last Kansas album was a Christian album, but not all of Livgren’s bandmates shared his focus, and so they all went their separate ways. It’s a rock anthem. It’s so, so 80s. I am so, so uncool for liking it as much as I do.

“The Ball Game,” Andrew Osenga. Osenga, a blogger, is a member of Caedmon’s Call, but this was part of a solo project, “Letters to the Editor, Vol. 1,” he released online on an honor system, pay-if-you-like-it basis. I wanted to give it a shout out.