Tag Archive - music download

Kirk Franklin “Hello Fear” Contest Winners

Thanks everybody who participated in the Kirk Franklin “Hello Fear” CD & Concert Ticket giveaway!  There were a LOT of you!

Congratulations to the following 5 people who will each receive a copy of Kirk Franklin’s “Hello Fear” CD:

Lara Williams (Jamestown, NC)
Rodnesha Green (Pflugerville, TX)
Ayla Starr (Lansing, MI)
Robert Johnson (Benton, KY)
Christina Smith (Chicago, IL)

The grand prize winner of 2 tickets to see Kirk Franklin & Steve Harvey LIVE in Nashville this Saturday, April 9 is…

Nicolette Carney (Nashville, TN)

If you didn’t win a copy of “Hello Fear” you should definitely check it out! It is available for purchase at iTunes or Amazon MP3.

I’ve got some more cool giveaways coming up, so stay tuned!

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Album Review: Kirk Franklin’s “Hello, Fear” + CD & Concert Ticket Giveaway

To celebrate the release of “Hello, Fear”, I’m giving away 5 copies of the CD and one pair of tickets to see Kirk Franklin & Steve Harvey LIVE in Nashville on April 9! Check out my review of  “Hello, Fear” below, followed by info on how you can enter to win!

I’ve been a fan of Kirk Franklin’s music since 1993. When I had to special-order his debut album, Kirk Franklin & The Family, at my local Musicland store because they didn’t stock it, I had absolutely no idea that 12 years later he would be my boss.

Working closely with Kirk for 3 years was undoubtedly a high point of my 8-years in the music business. That season shaped me in many ways and forever changed the way I heard a Kirk Franklin album.  Having been in the heat of the action while both 2005’s Hero and 2007’s The Fight Of My Life were being created and brought to life and having a first-hand understanding of Kirk’s approach to his music, listening to his new album is a really unique and special experience for me.

First, Kirk Franklin album releases are events, and rightfully so.  In the midst of a fickle singles market where the tide of many an artist’s career rises on falls based on the flavor-of-the-month sound, Kirk has remained an artist who doesn’t simply write songs, but rather crafts albums. His albums are experiences, designed to take you on a journey, meticulously brushing personal lyrics and intricate melodies across a lush musical canvas; sometimes in broad strokes, other times with diminutive detail, but always intentional. Best of all, Kirk will quickly defer to God as the ultimate artist, simply using his pen to tell His story and reveal His glory.

Just as his last few albums have been, the body of work that is “Hello, Fear” is a snapshot of a moment in time that allows Kirk to be very transparent about his life and heart, which never fails to resonate with listeners the world over.

A break-up song to end all break-up songs, the opening title track issues a deceptively sweet “to the left, to the left” to the spirit of fear.  “Never again will I love you, my heart it refuses to be your home…” the singers flawlessly deliver in the chorus.  Following a powerful spoken-word piece detailing “The Story Of Fear” in Kirk’s life, “Before I Die” comes out swinging, horns blazing, percussion percolating DC “go-go” style and boldly declaring:

“I used to be afraid to die, I used to be afraid to try, ’cause I was too afraid of knowing what the end looked like, but the Son came to give me life, now I feel like I can touch the sky…”

Just as a specific musical composition is used to reinforce a central plot or theme in a film, on the intimate “But The Blood” we are introduced to what quickly becomes an overarching theme of this project via the lyrics, “Now we are never alone, your blood it makes us strong, now there is power to move on.” This powerful lyric and melody are reprised on no less than 4 of the album’s tracks, reinforcing the theme that our ultimate victory over fear truly is “by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.” (Revelation 12:1).

The album’s first single, “I Smile”, is a standout, as are the bouncing “A God Like You”, the lyrically masterful “I Am”, the seemingly freestyle yet intimately fashioned worship of “The Moment #1” and “The Moment #2” and the anthem-like “Today”.  For me though, the centerpiece of “Hello, Fear” is “Everyone Hurts”, a stunning ballad with its finger on the pulse of the human condition. Over a 808-anchored track laced with emotive B-3, strings and synths, the song builds to an epic intercessory plea for divine intervention.

“So tonight, we cry out for the world, cry out for the world, ‘cause everyone hurts, everyone goes through sorrow…”

Repeat.

“Hello, Fear” is a brilliant collection of songs teeming with life, certain to empower listeners to face their fears head-on with courage, strength and hope in Christ. From the lyrics and crisp production to the stellar musicianship and strong ministry focus, it is a Kirk Franklin masterpiece and another hallmark moment in an exceptional catalog of music that has touched millions around the world. Hello, Fear.

“Hello, Fear” is available for purchase in stores and online everywhere today, and to celebrate its release, I’m partnering with Verity Gospel & Fo Yo Soul Entertainment to giveaway 5 copies of “Hello, Fear” to AnIdolHeart.com readers!

In addition, I’m also giving away one pair of tickets to see Kirk Franklin & comedian Steve Harvey LIVE in Nashville on April 9 at the Comedy Gospel Tour!

This giveaway has ended. The winners are listed here. Stay tuned for more giveaways coming soon!


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New Music Discovery: James Blake

Of the 3 primary topics I chose for this blog: faith, life and culture, the one I write about the least is culture. I’m trying to change that.

I’m somewhat of a pop culture freak, love music and movies and am always on the hunt for the latest and greatest sounds that are bubbling just under the surface of the mainstream.  I don’t yet know how much it will translate to mass audiences, but my latest musical discovery definitely has my ear.

I just stumbled across James Blake and I’ve got his album on repeat.  His sound is like Bon Iver meets Imogen Heap meets… something other-worldly. In short, it’s pure, chilled-out bliss.

Check out the video for his cover of Feist’s “Limit To Your Love”.

Dig it? His self-titled album is chock full of more of the same soulful, quirky and dramatic electronic pop goodness.

What’s one of your latest musical discoveries?

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The Big Christmas Music Giveaway (Updated w/ Winners!)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

It’s Christmastime and I’m excited to be partnering with Integrity Music to give away FIVE 3-CD Christmas Music Gift packs, each consisting of the following:

  1. Israel & New Breed “A Timeless Christmas” (my personal favorite Christmas album)
  2. Worship & Adore: A Christmas Offering” (featuring Kari Jobe, Paul Baloche, Lincoln Brewster, Vicky Beeching and many more)
  3. “A Brooklyn Tabernacle Christmas” (brand new 2010 release)

BAM! That’s A LOT of great music just in time for your holiday enjoyment and musical merriment!

Since it was originally released in 2006, Israel & New Breed’s “A Timeless Christmas” has been at the top of my list of favorite Christmas albums.  It’s lively, festive, worshipful and an all-around musical tour-de-force unlike anything else I’ve heard. In fact, it has the distinction of being the ONLY Christmas album that I actually listen to throughout the entire year.  It’s that good.  Here’s just a little taste of “A Timeless Christmas”, with one of my favorite tracks… “Hark! (featuring Matthew West)”

Israel & New Breed - Hark! (featuring Matthew West)

Bangin’, huh?!?!

So, I want to get one of these great 3-CD Christmas Music Gift packs into the hands of FIVE of my awesome AnIdolHeart.com readers!

There are 3 ways to enter!

1. Comment below on this post, sharing your favorite Christmas song.
2. Tweet a link to this post. You can do so automatically by clicking here!
3. Share this post with your facebook friends. You can do so automatically by clicking here!

This giveaway is happening TODAY (Thursday, Dec 16) ONLY and entries will be only accepted until 12:00am PT (2:00am CT) Friday, December 17.  Friday morning, December 17, I will randomly select 5 entries from all the comments, posts and tweets and those 5 people will each receive a 3-CD Christmas Music Gift pack, courtesy of Integrity Music!

**UPDATE: This giveaway is now CLOSED and the winners have been chosen!

Congratulations to the following 5 people, each of whom will receive a 3-CD Christmas Music Gift pack, courtesy of Integrity Music.

@karenlamar
@lilg1814
@jeffgates
@edeckers
@justindbaker

If you were one of the winners, please DM me on Twitter or click here to email me your mailing address.

Thanks to everyone who participated! I’ve got more giveaways coming.

Merry Christmas!

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Israel Houghton “Love God. Love People.” Giveaway Winners

Thanks everybody who participated in the Israel Houghton “Love God. Love People.” CD Giveaway. You guys rock!  I love being able to do these giveaways and get great stuff into people’s hands!

Congratulations to the following 5 people, each of whom will receive a copy of Israel Houghton’s “Love God. Love People.” CD BEFORE IT HITS STORES AUGUST 31, courtesy of Integrity Music.

@jumpingtandem
@adamandkaren
@dcov6
@jackschull
@jessiwhitt

If you were one of the winners this time, please send me your mailing address ASAP, click here to email me or click here to send me a Twitter DM.

If you didn’t win a copy of “Love God. Love People.” you should definitely pick up a copy when it releases in stores and online next Tuesday, August 31!

I’ve got some more cool giveaways coming up, so stay tuned!

 
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