Okay- for the record: I like Brian McLaren. To say a number of his books (most notably Church on The Other Side and More Ready Than You Realize) have been instrumental to me would be an understatement.
But there is this one little part of Brian that kind of disturbs me...
His ideas on hell? No, no...
His politics? No...
His ubiquitous blurbs on the back of every book published since 2001??? Again, no (but closer...)
It's the guitar-playing, song-leading, let-me-teach-you-one-I-just-wrote Brian that makes me squirm a bit.
God love 'im, but Brian is basically songwriter/amateur musician who happened to hit it big with his writing... and now occasionally uses the openings that provides to, uh... introduce crowds to his music.
If you've ever been involved in a BMac sing along, you know what I'm talking about...
So, he has a new book coming out, and a companion album with it.
And I think he's been writing some songs...
Here's one...
It's not too bad until it hits the chorus. And then?
Whoa...
The chorus kind of makes me a little dizzy.
Deep breath...
Ok. Check out this scathing review from CCM Patrol (tagline: "Where Christian Music is Allowed to Get Bad Reviews")
Ouch.
What do you all think?
"If you've ever been involved in a BMac sing along, you know what I'm talking about..."
Yes, in fact I think you and I participated in the same one last November...
Ummm...well...this is an individual who I really love and who has helped me tremendously...let me just say that I think Brian is involved in developing a new genre and we all know that when a new genre appears often the quality is not what it will be when the genre matures (anybody remember those 70s and 80s praise choruses?). And, ummmm...that's all I have to say.
Posted by: Rachel | August 08, 2007 at 09:42 AM
That was horrible.
And I offer it as proof to substatiate everything I've every said about Brian McClaren.
Posted by: Garet N Pahl | August 08, 2007 at 10:21 AM
wow. do they make a vomiting smiley?
Posted by: Mike Swalm | August 08, 2007 at 10:35 AM
Sorry, that was supposed to be "substantiate".
And for a musical remedy for your bleeding ears- here you go:
http://www.thewhitebuffalo.com/
Not Christian btw. (I know it's hard believe that a quasi presbyterian likes something other than Bach)
Posted by: Garet N Pahl | August 08, 2007 at 10:43 AM
And then there is this guy.
Posted by: Garet N Pahl | August 08, 2007 at 10:47 AM
Sorryn my link didn't work.
http://www.youtube.com/v/nV3bLZLpqTQ
Posted by: Garet | August 08, 2007 at 10:48 AM
i've been in a few Bmac sing alongs and it was indeed painful! nothing compared to this however. wow!
Posted by: Dustin | August 08, 2007 at 10:49 AM
I can't sing what they sing...
But I like singing...
Just not Brian's songs. Wow that was pretty bad!
Posted by: GIG | August 08, 2007 at 11:21 AM
Bob,
Be a little more responsible about this. This is not new, just because Brian's name is attached to it. The musicians that are producing the music have been around for a decade or so. The taste in the music might not be agreed upon, but the style has been around. The lyrics belong to Brian, but the musical genre belongs to:
http://www.entertheworshipcircle.com/ewcblog/index.php
There's a little more to it than just BMac's bad sing alongs.
Jason
Posted by: jason smith | August 08, 2007 at 11:40 AM
i'm offended. more specifically, my ears are offended.
oy. anything else i say will just be mean, so...
Posted by: jason | August 08, 2007 at 11:43 AM
Not only are the words horrible they are un-singable.
Posted by: Aaron | August 08, 2007 at 12:35 PM
And the music bites too.
Posted by: Aaron | August 08, 2007 at 12:35 PM
whoa, whoa...
1st, I dig the worship circle stuff... Dig it, I say!
so no dissing that!
2nd, I think the musicianship on this is okay... Great in parts, a little scary with the horn on the chorus...
Mostly that chorus!
Whoa!
Posted by: bob | August 08, 2007 at 01:59 PM
He certainly means well...but that's just attrocious.
At least "Chocolate Rain" was kind of catchy...
Posted by: Jeff | August 08, 2007 at 03:37 PM
that chorus proved to me that Sufjan is the only one that can be Sufjan. Anyone else tries obnoxious horns and way-too-many-word choruses and it sounds like punishment.
Posted by: chris Leonardo | August 08, 2007 at 05:04 PM
1. A big fan of Enter The Worship Circle
2. Not a fan of Sufjan.
3. Would really like Brian to stop defining himself by what he disagrees with.
4. This is almost, but not quite, as bad as William "Captain Kirk" Shatner's attempt at being a recording artist.
Posted by: robbymac | August 08, 2007 at 06:07 PM
"not a fan of Sufjan"????
What the...
:)
Posted by: bob | August 08, 2007 at 06:17 PM
Remember that family or whatever it was that sang that "Trinity Schminity" tune? Well, when I started playing this clip, my husband thought it was the same people. 'nuf said?
Posted by: Jessi | August 08, 2007 at 07:48 PM
That was painful. Writer, yes. This stuff? I couldn't get through the whole thing. Why didn't someone in his inner circle say "Brian, this is a bad idea"?
Posted by: Brian | August 09, 2007 at 07:07 AM
I was thinking the same thing, Brian. It kind of reminds me of those people who go on American Idol and you wonder, "Wasn't there anyone in their lives who would be honest with them before they went this far?"
When I was playing the song, my 11-year old daughter came in behind me and said, "What did that say? I believe in a paper weasel?"
Posted by: Rachel | August 09, 2007 at 08:09 AM
Really didn't like the music (it reminded me of the lesser works of SchoolHouse Rock). Didn't really care for the words, either. I know that Brian is trying to speak hard truths to those who need to hear them, but I wish he didn't come off sounding like the most enlightened guy in the room. Sorry, that doesn't sound very loving, but I say it as a McLaren fan. Sometimes his humility comes off really condescending.
Posted by: Kester | August 10, 2007 at 01:50 PM
well pooey on all of you. I liked it. It's not meant to be a worship chorus that you sing in church on sunday...at least that's not what I gathered from it. And our local guy Aaron Strumpel who I ADORE worked on this. So I'm not sure who you're actually critiquing here. This has a lot of "Aaron style" in it - - if you've heard his Chair and Mic album you'll "get it".
Maybe it's just not your personal taste :)
I like the lyrics a lot as well. so there. :P~
Posted by: Makeesha | August 15, 2007 at 02:23 PM
oh, and if you're in the Fort Collins Colorado area, come listen to Aaron next Fri. and you can tell him to his face that you think the song sucks ;) He'll be at Everyday Joe's in Fort Collins at 7:30
I will admit the video is a little too low tech for my tastes - not the greatest.
Posted by: Makeesha | August 15, 2007 at 02:27 PM
Actually. I think Aaron has spent some time at one of our community houses and has friends who are part of evergreen (but apparently not friends who read my blog :)
And I wouldn't say "sucks". This is nothing against aaron as an artist or a person. But parts of this were downright painful... :)
Posted by: Bob | August 15, 2007 at 02:35 PM
...in your opinion ;)
I always get a chuckle out of music "reviews" - esp. by people who fancy themselves music aficionados. The same sort of chuckle I get when people give their reviews of art.
Anyway, I liked it and thought I'd give a positive reaction because apparently, I can't just go with the flow on your blog lately hehe
Posted by: Makeesha | August 15, 2007 at 04:36 PM