I love Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire. Can’t wait to hear the final version.

I have discovered (sadly) that sometimes a song that I have grown to love is actually based on some lyrical content that doesn’t reflect, or outright offends, my values. I’ve made conscious decisions to eschew such music. Conversely, if I discover that a song has lyrical content is in agreement with my values, I may embrace that song even more.

The general problem I find with “LDS” music is much of the music just doesn’t stand well on its own as a musical work. Much of it sounds exactly the same (compositionally and by arrangement). While visiting the Wasatch front, I was scanning the radio for music and within a second or less identify that a station was playing “LDS” music without even hearing a single lyric.

That’s what I find sad. There don’t seem to be a lot of people who will take the time to venture out from steady diet of peanut-butter-on-white-bread music. I think the question was raised on the podcast, but I think isolationism has a lot to do with it. Living in New York City (as Clayton will confirm), you can find some great cuisines. (How many have tried Ethiopian? Vietnamese? Indian?) Likewise you can find music of every type, shape, and form, and you don’t have to go far to find it.

I know that there are exceptional LDS musicians who do produce wonderful music. I suspect that these are the ones who probably have experienced the bun xaos and baingan barthas of the music world.

As a musician who is also LDS I exhort other LDS musicians to open their ears and break free of the mold of traditional “green jello” LDS music! And then maybe it will be more palatable and satisfying as a genre.

Anyway, I hope you do the random stuff again.

Chas

I would argue also that the early Beatles productions were somewhat low production, yet still maintain a remarkable freshness that is popular with today’s youth. So the difference, to me, is the variety in exploration of their music, something LDS music does not have much in abundance. I was really surprised and delighted at the differences in music explored on the (fairly) recent Mormon Times contest.

Understanding that the essence of historical “Rock and Roll” is not always in harmony with LDS teachings, where ‘pervasive’ ideas can be introduced through the medium of charming music. Still, I wonder why there is not a mainstream music with ‘pervasive’ LDS ideas in the rock and roll genre. Especially since many LDS members are converts. I have friends who were part of hair metal bands, tour musicians for Paul and Linda McCartney, and even a member of what became Korn, all members of the LDS faith. Yet the avenue for their creative efforts seem stifled by the fact that their tastes are not for the sweet, but sometimes for the tart or bitter as well. None of which would be welcome at your local Deseret Books.

I wholeheartedly agree with Syphax and Britt and would sum up that music is an emotional experience sharable with the world, that finds a common thread through all of God’s children.

Still waiting for that … hmmm