While songs of lament have a long Biblical tradition but seem to have given short shrift in the current milieu of worship music.

Michael Card is among those recognizing the situation:

“Our theology tells us that if we complain to God, we’re being disrespectful. But at least 80 of the Psalms are actually Laments. It has become a lost language to our culture…. Every lament in the Bible, with the exception of Psalm 88, ends in praise. The answer to all our laments is seeing the face of God.”

But there is a resurgence of the use of lament in Christian worship and music.

Dave Trout @ UndertheRadar (www.radarradio.net) interviewed Card for his blog and has a great episode featuring new songs of lament.  Here’s the blurb:

Take a walk on the darker side of faith.  All of the music this week creatively expresses the theme of lament.  We’ll also talk about why this topic is important to our faith.  Includes music by Jon Foreman, Michael Card, Emmylou Harris, and an interview clip with Eric Peters.

Stream the episode here.

Contact Dave here and let him know I said hello.

NPR profiles Gospel music singer/organist Twinkie Clark by saying  “Clark sings like John Coltrane played: Her notes are clear and clean, her phrasing exquisite.”

Here’s a nice quote from Clarke:

“If you have the Spirit of God, the Spirit of God will lead you to which songs to do, what type of music to do, when to do your runs and your little riffs,” Clark says. “You know to kind of make the audience emotional and kind of get them into what you are doing, and to get them into the presence of God.”

Read and listen to the piece for free here, where you can also sample 3 of her songs (check out the live version of  “You Brought the Sunshine” from the Clarke Sisters).

Title to a great song by Brady White, a dear friend to this ministry who gets it.

Click here to listen to it via My Space.

High Street Hymns’ “Love Shall Be Our Token” is an early favorite for my Christmas music pick of 2009.

Check out the widget above or click here for free stream.

And look!  Free chord charts!

Live webcast tonight (10pm EST/9pm CST/7pm PST).

Facebook link here, where you can see footage of Maria’s Big House of Hope, a charity he began in memory of his daughter.

SCC says the events of the past couple of years (including the home-going of his young daugther) inspired much of his new release, which is scheduled for release today.

You can stream the new single “Heaven Is the Face” from his MySpace page here.

Good stuff from a great artist.

Great songs here that focus on the blessing and responsibility of serving the poor in Jesus’ name.

Also check out the Harmony of Hearts Songlist here.  Check back periodically for additions & revisions.

Have a suggestion?  Email it to me.

JesusFreakHideOut.com has a “Listening Party” page which streams (mostly) full albums of new releases.

The Glorious Unseen, Phil Stacy, and Leeland are or have been featured.

I say mostly because Limbs and Branches by Jon Foreman (Switchfoot front man) only has 30-second samples, which is peevish.  But I can’t complain with free.

Do you have suggestions for similar sites?

Let me know.

If you’re looking for a reliable source of new music, I recommend Under the Radar radio.

Calling it ‘the best music you’ve never heard,’ host Dave Trout does a great job of introducing you to artists that you should know about if you haven’t.

Says Dave:

What music should you expect on UNDER THE RADAR? You’ll hear music from fairly undiscovered artists [Jill Phillips, Justin McRoberts, Lanae Hale, Andrew Osenga], some established artists who are under-appreciated [Derek Webb, Andrew Peterson, Cindy Morgan, Downhere], and some of the lesser-known songs from well-known artists [Sara Groves, Delirious?, Jars of Clay, Nichole Nordeman].

You can listen on-line, download, or find a station near you.

Strongly recommended, especially if you’re an indie or grassroots or Americana fan.

Sue Ellen Echard of the Church of the Holy Spirit (Harleysville, PA) has posted her June 2009 organ recital on-line.

The sound quality is very good and her performance is great.

Program:

• Toccota by Theodore DuBois
• Sonata VI Finale:  Andante, Op. 65 by Felix Mendelssohn
• Dunlap’s Creek, setting by James Bieryl
• Earth and All Stars by Keith Kolander
• Piece d’Orgue, BMV 572 by J.S. Bach

Church site here.

This limited time stream of Wonder Working God from WorshipMusic.com includes Andy’s song Friend of the Poor, which was also part of the CompassionArt project.

Here’s the lyric:

On the African plains,
A young mother weeps, for her hungry child
She prays he’ll survive, with tear-filled eyes
She looks up to heaven, and calls your name
She pours out her pain
You know her name, and you hear her cries

Friend of the poor, help me through the night
Help me in the fight, come to my rescue
Friend of the poor, take this skin and bones
Make this heart a home, come to my rescue

On the streets of L.A.
An old man lies in his cardboard home
He feels so alone, with tear-stained eyes
He looks up to heaven, and prays a prayer:
“Is there anyone there?”
You know his name and you hear his cries,

It’s getting dark, it’s getting late
It’s cold outside the rich mans gate
And I’m wondering,
Do you have any friends around here?

(CCLI # 5372621)

HT:  worshipmusic.com