Last Minute Christmas Gifts

If you are in a crunch and you need some gifts here are some quick music ideas. I have recently bought all three of these and they are all very well done. I highly recommend you buy them for someone else or treat yourself with a little love this consumerism time of year...I mean Christmas.



The Merry Way: Deput EP is a short 7 track CD that shows off the voice of Brittany Alvis and musical talents of her husband Mark Alvis. These two, although I personally don't know them, are apart of my Soma family in Tacoma.




Grace, by Joe Day from Mars Hill has some fresh songs and some songs I've had for years in my library, but are remixed very well.



The Story: Vol 1 is by far my favorite album of the year. It combines a bunch of talent out of my family in Soma. The skills of Aaron Spiro, Trevor Davis, Brittany Alvis and Holly Campbell are amazingly displayed. I can't recommend this album enough. And, when you buy it, listen to it all the way through without skipping songs or pushing shuffle...just sit back and hear the Story of God displayed through song. Stunning.

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The Story: Volume 1

In Tacoma, a group of musicians and songwriters formed around the Story and wrote songs in response to what they had experienced during their time together. The songs they wrote and shared with each other were beautiful, powerful, and life-changing. They showcased these songs live at a monthly songwriter showcase in Tacoma. These events became an important time each month in our city as crowds gathered to hear these new songs that touched on eternal truths. The songs weren’t preachy or churchy, but were written from the heart—exposing weakness, need, grace, and hope.

This offering represents our first effort to record and share these songs—these stories—with you, your families, and friends. We hope they will encourage you as much as they encourage us. Any money made from the sale of this music will go to fund future recordings and new churches being started. Thanks for helping us continue on this amazing journey. There are more songs where these came from, so keep your eyes and ears open for the future...

creditsreleased 19 December 2010
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Produced by Buddy Ross
Executive Producer: Aaron Spiro

Mastered by Chris Greely at Solid Rock in Portland, OR
Mixed by Buddy Ross except Isaiah 60 mixed by Chris Greely and Good, Right, Perfect mixed by Buddy Ross and Chris Greely.

The Story of God narratives can be found at

www.gcmcollective.com/article/story-formed-way

Stay God and Hell to Pay appear courtesy of The Merry Way. www.themerryway.bandcamp.com

Art direction, design & photography by Mark Alvis www.alvisdesign.com

We would love to see other communities of artists respond to the story though art & music. Please share your excellent work with us - contact us! We would love to collaborate! Send to: Story@somacommunities.org.

www.somacommunities.org
www.trevordavismusic.com
www.aaronspiro.com
www.brittanyalvis.com
buddy.buddyross@gmail.com
holly.campbell@gmail.com

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Storyville Live Freedom Tour

My friends Bryce and Amy Lathrop are putting on a Storyville Concert in their home both August 25th and August 28th. I highly recommend that you attend. Not only will you hear great music and drink great coffee, but you'll be helping out a great cause in the meantime.

To see the invitation, click here: Storyville Live

If you have questions, you can visit Bryce's facebook page here: Bryce Lathrop

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Page CXVI: New Hymns Album is Out & Free Music

I figured I would share this today and also note that you can get their first album completely free (I included a video of one my favorite songs off the first album below). I believe today is the last day to download the first one for free so do so quickly. Also, if you want to preview the new album, Justin Taylor put up the whole album on his site. Enjoy.



To download first album for free click here: Page CXVI: First Hymns Album

To go to their site and order the new album click here: Page CXVI: Second Hymns Album

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Saturday Morning Coffee & Music

I figured I would throw up the four musicians I am hooked on to go along with my four shots of coffee in my mocha this morning.

The first two are guys that are a part of our music ministry at Soma Communities.

Aaron Spiro's sound is very soulful and one that goes very well with morning coffee. I imagine Aaron closed his eyes a lot when he made this CD. It just seems like music that would make you do that if you were making it. Aaron's music is very poetic, both on this CD and the songs he writes for us as we gather to worship. Trees Without Leaves and I Feel Grace are two of my favorite on the CD.

Aaron Spiro: Cure

Trevor Davis is new to us up here in Seattle. He is from San Deigo where he has quite he following it seems. He moved up here specifically to join up with Soma and help in leading music. His sound is a lot like Jack Johnson, but still his own. Plus, instead of a little monkey named George, Trevor has a huge elephant riding a bicycle on the front of his CD. Actually, I am going to refer to 2 of his CDs that I have bought, where Soldier, Grace, Across the Clouds and Arrowplane are my favorites.

Trevor Davis: Nothing Ringing True

Trevor Davis: Seven Days

Lecrae's single, Far Away is a benefit song where all the proceeds are going to Haiti. I highly recommend you picking this one up.

Lecrae: Far Away

The last is one that I am sure most know, but I still can't get past. It is Kim Walker's song, How He Loves, which is on a compilation live CD called, Jesus Culture: We Cry Out. This song seems to grip me everytime I hear it. It even gets all charismatic at the end and this old baptist kid still doesn't mind it.

Kim Walker: How He Loves

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