First, I think that Derek has really dialed into how to successfully price and differentiate various product tiers in order to 1.) maximize value to his customers, 2.) encourage customers to consider the upper tiers, and 3.) provide a range of options that will satisfy customers regardless of whether they prefer a physical product over a digital one, lossless audio to high-bitrate mp3, or could care less as long as they get the music immediately.

Like I said, I really, really like how Derek has priced his product tiers. Tier 1 gets you an immediate high bitrate MP3 download for $10.

For $15, Tier 2 gives you the option of getting the album in lossless format immediately, adds a physical cd, and includes 5″x5″ prints of the two companion art collections, 18 art prints in all. That’s alot of additional product for only $5 more.

Tier 3, at $30, gives you all the above, plus a t-shirt, plus digital high-resolution files of the paintings, plus multi-track stems of the album tracks for remixing, plus several video interviews and short films.

I personally chose Tier 2, but I strongly considered Tier 3.

Now, on to the music itself:

On the whole, I like Feedback. I like what Derek is trying to do, and I appreciate how different it is from the status-quo in the Christian music arena that Derek often finds himself in. However, as a person who listens to a fair amount of post-rock / electronic / ambient music, “Feedback” didn’t blow my socks off (on the first listen, at least). I’m still figuring out how each musical piece interacts with or represents its respective title, and I’m trying to see how this album will “draw me into worship.” I’m not sure yet. I certainly think that I’m going to need to give this a few spins before I make a final judgement.

This is a largely untapped sound for the Christian market. That being said, I would say that this sort of stuff is done more powerfully in non-”Christian-specific” arenas by other artists (Hammock, Sigur Rós, Balmorhea, Jesu, Max Richter, The Album Leaf, Eluvium, Helios, etc.). To be honest, I find some of that stuff quite worshipful, at times. Derek’s Feedback project is interesting, especially in how it is framed, but I wouldn’t say it is groundbreaking, as a whole.

Now, what is interesting to me is whether Derek is using Feedback as a sort of bridge for Christians to learn to appreciate and pursue the sort of expression found in this other arena and find the beauty in it, to draw Christians out of their tendency towards sub-culture. I might be overthinking this, but that’s what I’m considering right now as I pore over the music.

In the credits to Feedback, Derek thanks Mako Fujimura, which I think is really cool. Mako is one of my favorite artists; I love the way he integrates his faith into his art without distancing himself either from Christians or members of the larger arts community. He makes good art that speaks for itself, and I like that Derek is trying to channel and highlight that. I am well aware that I’m not Derek’s “standard listener;” stylistically, the breadth of the music I listen to is atypical. For some that listen to “Feedback,” it may be mind-blowing and completely out in left field. I just wish he had gone a little farther and hit a homerun.

In sum, one of the key things to acknowledge about Feedback is that is a paradigm shift from much of the “noise” of established stereotypical CCM worship music. I think it’s healthy to dispel a narrow conception of what “worship” is and take it outside of the box. I admire Derek’s art and what he’s done since becoming a solo artist; Derek has the ear of people in the world of music and art, both Christian and non-Christian, and that’s a wonderful thing. As Derek said on twitter yesterday, “there are christian and secular people who make art. there is no christian or secular art.” Let’s support good art, regardless of where it’s made.

By the way, my favorite tracks after the first few listens are 1, 4, 5, 7, and 8. What are yours?

If you’ve never heard of William Fitzsimmons, trust me, you’ll love William Fitzsimmons.

Anyway, give it a watch if you like good songwriting and great music.

You can pick up his music here, here, and here.

A few days ago, John posted a video explaining what the song is all about. It’s worth watching.

So now, without further ado, Balmorhea:

Balmorhea – Take Away Show – Remembrance from valerie toumayan on Vimeo.

Watching this group of people play together is such a treat; the lineup is heavy on talent, including the likes of Andrew Osenga, Jill Phillips, Andy Gullahorn, Ben Shive, Pierce Pettis, and multi-instrumentalist Gabe Scott.  All in one room.  All creating something beautiful together.

Suffice to say, this was one of the highlights of my December.

Anyway, a while back I ran across a video someone had compiled for the Behold the Lamb of God performance at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church in Lexington, KY.  It’s really well put together and gives a good preview of what it is like to attend one of these concerts.  Take a look at the video below (be sure to click “HQ” to view it in high quality!) and prepare to block out an evening or two this coming December to go watch them play.

httpvp://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A62FE2925410EF7F&ap=%2526fmt%3D18

If you don’t already own it, you can purchase Behold the Lamb of God in the store over at The Rabbit Room.  It’s one of my favorite albums, and I could listen to it all year long.

(Yeah, I know it’s August, but I was unable to find an embeddable version of this video before now.  It’s still worth watching.  )

Watch the video; there’s a reason why Hammock if one of my favorite bands.

The song comes from Fitzsimmons’ latest record, The Sparrow and The Crow, which is excellent.  I like the video, too. If you like what you hear, consider picking up the cd or buying it online from Amazon or on iTunes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXSovfzyx28

It’s a great song, too.  If you haven’t picked up the Prospekt’s March EP yet, I highly recommend you do so; it’s the perfect companion to Viva la Vida.

Just prior to the Oath of Office, Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Anthony McGill, and Gabriela Montero performed an excellent rendition of John William’s new composition, “Air and Simple Gifts,” which I wanted to share, because I think it’s so beautiful.    Enjoy.

It’s a new day, with a new president.  Exciting times.

[ Edit: I was still waking up when I wrote this:  yes, it was Rick Warren, not Tim Keller, who gave the opening prayer.    Thanks, Mark. ]

Mika and I decided to combat the desire to curl up and never leave the bed by cooking banan nut waffles and bacon, which did the trick.  :)  I love Saturday mornings.

Last night we had dinner with our good friends Natalie, John, and Rachel.  Natalie and Jon got married this past summer, and this was really the first time that we have had a chance to get together since then.  Rachel’s birthday is today, so we had some celebrating last night over paella, wine, and a chocolate rasberry cake, topped off with a game of Apples to Apples.  Evenings like that are what I love about living in Charlottesville, surrounded by friends.

Tonight, Mika and I are going skiing at Massanutten.  Perhaps with the cold, there will be some good snow up there on the slopes – the snow report says that our favorite slope, ParaDice is openand groomed, which is a good sign.

If you’re in Charlottesville and are not going skiing this evening, I’d recommend that you head over to Para Coffee over on Elliwood on the Corner and catch the concert that’s going on there tonight from 8:30-10:30pm. It should be a fun night: Hemingstown Radio (David Tewksbury & Jennifer Seidel) with guests The Brothers Juniper (Ben Eppard & Daniel Pope) are playing some progresssive alt-folk, all for a $3 cover.  And the coffee’s good, too.  

Para is a great little coffee house with a lot of character run by my friend Eric Kelley and his wife, Lora.  Besides running the coffee shop, Eric is also a very talented photographer who shot our wedding in September.  Grab a cup and take a seat next time you’re in the area

Mika’s calling me to help her clean the house and do laundry.  Stay warm.