This is my first attempt at blogging, so please bear with me. When Sarah asked me to do a guest blog for her on music, I was both excited and nervous at the same time. I’ve always had a passion for music and through twitter; I’ve been able to expand my musical horizons, while meeting a great number of people who share similar interests. Through these connections, people have begun asking for recommendations for different artists and songs that I think they would like. Let me preface that by saying that I come from a very limited musical background. However, I have developed a great love and appreciation for all things music related and if you were to look at my collection, it would range from Jim Brickman and Casting Crowns to Jerry Jeff Walker and Metallica along with George Strait and The Beatles. I’m sure there are songs that I like that other people won’t but that’s the beauty of an industry that provides so many options.
The hard part of this guest blog is figuring out exactly where to start: Which artist? What albums? How detailed? I have decided that since this is my first time, it’s going to be much easier to write about someone whose music speaks to me. So this first blog post will be about one of my favorite singer/songwriters in the business: Sean McConnell.
Sean is a man who has begun to receive acclaim as a songwriter. He has written songs released by artists such as: MeatLoaf (Blue Sky and Another Day w/Wade Bowen), Tim McGraw (Mr. Whoever You Are) Rascal Flatts (Come Wake Me Up), Brantley Gilbert (Lie Baby Lie), the Randy Rogers Band (In My Arms Instead and Interstate), Wade Bowen (Somewhere Beautiful) and many others. He says in an interview with Galleywinter; “The story is what makes the song. The rest is just support.” From the very first song on his first album to his last song on his newest album, I feel this is something that Sean strives to maintain and is a major reason that I’ve become partial to his music.
I will start with a few thoughts on his first album, the 2004 release “200 Orange St”. This album may be my favorite. The raw vocals and production of this album draw me in every time. “If These Walls Could Speak” begins this album and sucks you in immediately. It’s my favorite song on the album and tells the story of the original home and neighborhood he grew up in and the impact it had on his life. He then keeps you pulled in with great ballads such as “Without You”, where he tells of bittersweet romance that was lost along the way. “Madly in Love with You” is a song about the Lord and his never ending and undying love for us, always reminding us to keep the faith. “Heaven's Doors” is a beautifully written, personal song that speaks of his faith and relationship with not only the Lord but his own father as well. If you haven’t figured out by now, I think this is an outstanding album from top to bottom. It is not often that I find an album in which I love the majority of the songs, but that’s what “200 Orange St” provides.
His newest album “Midland” shows a growth in not only his songwriting but also in the production of his music as well. Along the lines of his first album, this is one that I find myself listening to from front to back and top to bottom without skipping a song. The title track “Midland” leads of this album and is another beautifully written tune about a young woman’s life in small town America and the struggles that entails. “Novacaine” is my personal favorite off this album. It’s much more of an upbeat and rocking tune about how a woman’s love takes away all of the days pain and sorrow. “I Didn’t Want to Love You Anwyay” is another deeply passionate and soulful ballad that tells the story about a love that didn’t work out and the inability to move on. “Old Brown Shoes” is a completely different tune that what I’m used to hearing from him. Yet, I find myself wrapped up in the story it tells of losing a family member and the grief that comes with it. It may be the best written song on the album. This album is so unique, in that it shows the depth and diversity of Sean’s songwriting abilities. There are not two songs on this album that sound similar to me and that is extremely impressive by today’s music industry standards.
Although, I’ve only reviewed two of his albums, I hope you have found some value in them and will take the time to listen to him and pick out a few favorites of your own. Hopefully, I will find the time to do a few more of these in the future. Thank you all for taking the time to read this. You can find me on twitter: @judgingcoach. God bless.
Thank you, Jim, for your guest post. I love that you picked one my favorite artists.
Can't wait to rope you into doing another post in the future.
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