One perk of having to drive 30 minutes to work and back is time to listen to podcasts and music. Mark Driscoll once spoke of redeeming your commute. I recently had a new head unit installed in my car which allows me to connect my iPhone, so now I have a plethora of choices available to me. Anyways, I thought I might share a few of the things I’ve been listening to lately. Some of these “redeem my commute”, and some are guilty pleasures – but I recommend them all.
Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast – For those who don’t know who he is, Andy Stanley is the founding & lead pastor of North Point Ministries, which is made up of a handful of churches in the Atlanta metroplex. He is also the son of longtime First Baptist Atlanta pastor, Charles Stanley. In my opinion, Andy Stanley is arguably the greatest leadership mind the Church has seen since the apostle Paul. I realize some will scoff at that statement, but the man knows his stuff. He knows what works and what doesn’t, and not only in “church world”, but outside the church as well. I have not worked for a church in nearly 3 years, yet this podcast aides me in being a better leader at my current job and amongst my friends and peers.
Redeemer Fellowship – Right now I’m in the middle of their series on 1 Timothy, Gospel Formation, being taught by Joe Thorn, and all I can say is AWESOMESAUCE. I’ve heard people say things like, “I’ve read that scripture 100 times and never saw it THAT way”, and this sermon series is like that. I’ve read through 1 Timothy hundreds of times, yet God is using Joe to reveal new things to me each time I listen. It’s not that those things weren’t there – I just wasn’t looking for them.
The White Horse Inn – This is a podcast recommended by Joe Thorn during his Gospel Formation series. Their tagline describes their mission simply enough: “Know what you believe and why you believe it.” Not content to stick to the old stalwart argument of “Because the Bible says so”, Michael Horton and others tackle various subjects and ask the tough questions, all while referring back to the Bible to see what scripture says.
Sojourn // Before the Throne – This isn’t a new album, but it is new to me. Beautiful harmonies, complex arrangements and theologically deep lyrics. What’s not to love? Oh, and did I mention this is from Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky? Who says all worship music has to sound like Hillsong?
Skid Row // Subhuman Race – Another one from the “new to me” files, Subhuman Race is Skid Row’s third album, and their final album (to date) to feature Sebastian Bach on vocals. I got this after hearing Eddie Trunk rave about it on That Metal Show, and he was not joking – hands down, this is Skid Row’s best album. If all you know of Skid Row is 18 & Life or Youth Gone Wild, then you don’t know Skid Row. Released in 1995, Subhuman Race is the heaviest album in Skid Row’s catalog, and it makes me wonder, had they been this aggressive in their sound when they debuted, would they be more than a footnote in the history of metal?
Hank Williams III // Hillbilly Joker – So I thought this was a new album from Hank 3, but it’s not. Officially released by Curb Records in April 2011, this is actually an album Hank recorded for Curb in the early 2000′s called This Ain’t Country, which Curb deemed inappropriate for their label. So instead of letting Hank release it independently, they sat on it for the better part of a decade. To give you an idea of what the album sounds like, it’s a blend of Hank’s solo country work and his metal band Assjack. In other words, “this ain’t country.”
Bush // The Sea of Memories – After a near 10 year hiatus, Bush is back. We all know Gavin Rossdale has been active since Bush disbanded in 2002, and that he would always play hits from the Bush catalog, but it just seems that having him onstage in a band environment works better. I don’t know if it makes him a better performer or what, but I’ve seen videos from recent shows and it’s as if Bush never went away. The same goes for The Sea of Memories. It’s been 10 years since their last release, yet even with 2 new members in the band, it feels as if they’re picking up right where they left off in 2001.
Staind // Staind – I’ll be the first to admit, I love Aaron Lewis and Staind. Lewis’ lyrics seem to capture my thoughts and emotions better than most, and Staind’s music can be very cathartic for me. But with their last couple albums, Staind has been in a bit of a commercial rut it seems. Maybe they were trying to get more airplay, maybe they were going through a pop phase. With this album, however, the Staind from 10 years ago is back, and heavier than ever. In several songs they drift further away from post-grunge and more into metal territory than ever before, and lyrically, Aaron Lewis pulls no punches.
Anthrax // Worship Music – Last, but certainly not least, this is an album I’ve been listening to nonstop since I got it. Anthrax’s first album in 8 years, and the first with Joey Belladonna on vocals in 21 years, this is arguably their best album to date. If you like unrelenting, nonstop thrash metal, this album is for you. But don’t listen to it while driving – you may find yourself hitting triple digits on the speedometer.
