Sinead O'Connor is releasing her ninth album
'Theology' internationally from June 22-26. All of the newly composed songs are
based off Old Testament writings.Three-time Grammy-winning Christian band Jars of Clay is paving its own path with the creation of its own label imprint, “Gray Matters”, under the Nettwerk Music Group umbrella.
The multi-platinum band has been with Essential Records for 12 years and the first result of their new juncture – their debut Christmas CD, Christmas Songs – will hit shelves in October. Distribution will remain within Provident/Integrity Distribution system for both the Christian Booksellers Association and general market.
"As we pursue the goal of making more music, and being creative in a spectrum of ways, ‘Gray Matters’ will be able to facilitate any of the ideas we want to bring to life,” remarked lead singer Dan Haseltine.
"This is such a great way for us to bring more art and music into being. We can collaborate with other artists and take ideas that always seemed to get caught up in the traditional label mire, and make sure those projects have a chance to be heard. This is the beginning of a very creative season. Gray Matters will be a fantastic way to share our artistic philosophy, by giving other artists and creative thinkers an outlet for their ideas."
“With the creation of their ‘Gray Matters’ imprint, the guys are charting new territory,” commented Nettwerk Management's Michael Corcoran. “By allowing the band to have a new type of ownership in their work, we’ve opened up their creative floodgates and are looking forward to watching ‘Gray Matters’ grow and unfold. Christmas Songs is a first step in this unfolding, and the guys have really delivered, giving fans the Christmas record they’ve been wanting for years.”
Jars of Clay launched their career with the universal hit, “Flood,” in 1995. Since then, they have amassed more than five million in career sales along with several RIAA certifications (5 Gold, 2 Platinum and 1 Double Platinum) an American Music Award nod, 17 No.1 radio hits, and numerous film credits.
While celebrated for its music and writing, Jars of Clay is reportedly most concerned with the needs in Africa. Compelled to make a difference, members Dan Haseltine, Stephen Mason, Matt Odmark and Charlie Lowell founded the “Blood:Water Mission” in early 2002.
The first effort of this non-profit was the “1,000 Wells Project” with a goal of raising funds to build, rebuild and repair 1,000 wells in urban and rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. To date, 200 wells have been constructed bringing clean water to more than 100,000 people.
The Irish singer made infamous for ripping apart a picture of Pope John Paul II on “Saturday Night Live” is returning to the music scene with a surprising CD based heavily off Scripture.
Sinead O'Connor is releasing her ninth album
'Theology' internationally from June 22-26. All of the newly composed songs are
based off Old Testament writings.
Sinead O’Connor will be releasing her ninth album titled Theology internationally from June 22 to June 26 and includes lyrics that are solely founded on Old Testament writings.
According to the songwriter, the project is a self-described personal response to the state of the world following Sept. 11, 2001.
"Theology is my attempt to create a place of peace in a time of war," explained the soloist in a message on the advance copy of the album.
The two disc set will feature eight new composed songs as well as three covers of past tunes. Four of the compositions are titled after Psalms (33, 91, 130, 137) and the three redone renditions include Curtis Mayfield's "We People Who Are Darker Than Blue," Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's "I Don't Know How to Love Him" and the traditional "By the Rivers of Babylon."
The two discs have the exact same songs recorded on both of them except that the first disc is exclusively acoustic while the second CD has full band pop arrangements, recorded in Dublin and London, respectively.
“How awesome is it being God?” wrote Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone magazine. “Not only do you get Sinead to praise you in her reggae hymn ‘The Glory of Jah,’ you get a bonus acoustic version! [Dang], Jah – that's a heck of a lot of glory!”
Promoters plan on pushing the project strongly into the Christian market because of the album’s message. O’Connor hopes that it can reach people who do not yet know God and to help others experience the God who can give humans peace and calm.
The 40-year-old Irish is also planning on touring Europe in July and August, followed by some North American performances in September and October.
O’Connor will release Theology under KOCH Records for the first time and has included songs also specifically based on the books of Jeremiah, Isaiah, Job, Samuel, and Song of Songs.
One of this year’s standout Christian “American Idol” contestants will soon be releasing his debut album under the same music label as award-winning artist Aaron Shust.
Chris Sligh, the curly haired vocalist who
said he was “bringing chunky back,” alongside his band Half Past Forever, will
release their CD Take A Chance On Something Beautiful on July 10 under
Brash Music. The band is using Sligh’s recent popularity from “Idol” to help
launch them into the Christian music scene.
“’Idol’ presents an avenue for advertising in music that major labels simply cannot buy,” expressed bandmate Cole Edmonson, bassist for Half Past Forever, in the Boston Herald. “It springboards you in a media whirlwind.”
It is quite clear that the 28-year-old’s exposure on the hit show has helped the band since he was booted from the program. Half Past Forever saw instant success after their initially self-released CD, which had been ranked in the 13,000s for the past year on Amazon.com, moved all the way up to No. 25 days after his “Idol” exit.
The band members have also been promoting their CD on a variety of online video sites, such as YouTube and Music Nation, by uploading their unofficial first single “Know,” which has been receiving a large amount of hits.
The band - made up of Sligh (vocals), Adam Fisher (guitars), and Edmonson (bass) - will now have the chance to have their talent featured under a professional label. The first single under Brash Records will be “Hero,” and has already been featured on several radio playlists across the country.
Take A Chance On Something Beautiful has 17 tracks on it, all written or co-written by Sligh, and features appearances from several other musicians.
The CD itself has been receiving positive reviews as well.
“Even though press coverage and celebrity can drive album sales far higher and longer than would otherwise be possible based on merit alone, if the quality doesn’t measure up then eventually the fall from the top can be precipitous and often permanent, especially for a previously unknown band or artist riding that tide for the first time,” reviewed music critic Sean Von Tagen.
“Thus, I am quite happy to report that Take A Chance On Something Beautiful delivers surprisingly high on substance, quality and radio-friendliness, and even more importantly it seems to promise a bright future for Chris and the band if they continue to work together.”
To promote the CD and provide exposure to fans and the general population, the band will embark on heavy touring in September.
Since being booted off “Idol,” Sligh – also a music minister in his hometown of Greenvilee, S.C. – has not regretted his removal. In fact, he told media afterwards that he had considered quitting the show since his vocal style resembled more of the rock genre than the “Idol” pop scene.
Since the South Carolina native made the final ten in the hit show, he will perform on the “America Idol” tour that will run throughout the summer.
"It comes down to this: I made the top 10; that was my goal,” the singer explained to media after his exit from the contest. “I wanted to make the tour. I wanted to be able to do making music for my living, so I don’t have to work at the marketing company that I was working at.”
Sligh also has strong connections to the Gospel Music Association (GMA) and attended the 2003 GMA Music in the Rockies – a showcase event for aspiring, often unsigned, songwriters and artists in the Christian music industry. Sligh took home first place in the Pop-Adult Contemporary/Inspirational Song category during the conference that year for writing "Only You Remain."
Half Past Forever has a great possibility for success under Brash Records. The company already is the home to secular mega-stars Coldplay and Christian soloist Aaron Shust, who took home the second most Dove Awards (“Christian Grammys”) in April including New Artist of the Year.