The Choir Unleashes The Loudest Sound Ever Heard

After three decades together, iconic alternative rock band The Choir is set to release their 14th studio album, The Loudest Sound Ever Heard, on May 15th.

As one of the few bands left standing from the 1980’s SoCal music movement wave that swept nationwide more than 30 years ago, The Choir continues to make their renowned atmospheric music married to lyrics stirred by life’s inspirational lessons in the context of real relationships - love, despair, light, dark, hope, and recovery.

With their past releases described as, according to the Los Angeles Times, “magical songs that combine strains of murky psychedelia with pure pop,” and Billboard touting The Choir for their “dark poetic leanings, effects-laden guitars and strong melodic hooks,” this newest album certainly remains true to The Choir's core classic sound. Yet in the creation of The Loudest Sound Ever Heard, the song crafting and production is enhanced more than ever through their years of experience and collaboration.

The project’s title of The Loudest Sound Ever Heard is taken from the infamous volcanic explosion on the Indonesian island of Krakatoa in the late 19th century." A quick search revealed that to this day the event is considered to be "the loudest sound ever heard," Drummer Hindalong explains. “I referred to that tragic occurrence in the first verse of the song ‘I'm Learning to Fly,’ which is thematically central to the album. It’s about living each day like it truly matters. ‘Living to love in a dying world.’ Such catastrophic events remind us of our vulnerability, and how we ought to celebrate every breath."

Hindalong continues, "There is also a figurative reference to the title – ‘A true friend's heart is the loudest sound ever heard' - in the song ‘Melodious,’ which is a tribute to our long time friend and bandmate, Tim Chandler. Incidentally, Tim introduced Derri and I back in 1979 and we’ve been making music together ever since!”

The final song on the album, ‘After All,’ features a stunning duet with Leigh Nash of Sixpence None the Richer. “We’ve known Leigh since way back,” says Daugherty, “She’s a friend and one of my favorite singers ever. We’re thrilled that she was able to sing on this project. Matt Slocum [Sixpence guitarist] also played cello on a couple of songs. Those guys are great.”

The Choir recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of the release date of their groundbreaking and critically acclaimed album, Chase the Kangaroo (1988) by performing the record in its entirety on their spring tour.

Downhere is Somebody to Love

Legendary rock band Queen is celebrating 40 years of music by launching a North American tour and hosting a Youtube contest to pick musicians for it. Marc Martel of Downhere uploaded his rendition of “Somebody To Love” and quickly gathered more than 2 million views in its first three days online. Shaun Groves notes in a great blog entry that fans are raving as are outlets such as The Wallstreet Journal and Entertainment Weekly. Of more significance, he makes an interesting observation:

The Christian music industry and fans have a history of jumping on the bandwagon of veteran Christian artists only after the general market confirms their talents first. Mercy Me couldn’t get played on Christian radio until a mainstream station spun I Can Only Imagine and the song was added at general market stations nationwide. POD? Played side stages at Christian music festivals until they broke through to the mainstream via MTV. Switchfoot was never a staple on Christian radio until, again, the mainstream vaulted them up the charts first. Sixpence None The Richer sang about kissing at twilight on every movie and television soundtrack out there and, well, only then did the Christian music gatekeepers pull out their keys.

Read the entire blog here.

'Twas Meant To Be

Christianity Today has a nice interview with Sixpence None The Richer on reuniting and producing new music.

Matt has a nice quote and insight on Christian music:

I recently read a book called Rapture Ready. The author breaks down Christian music into three categories. One is a ministry focus, two is more of an entertainment focus, and three he calls "a transformational artist"—artists in the Christian marketplace who are doing really good music that can reach the culture at large. I think we are comfortable with doing that [from within the CCM industry], as opposed to grumbling about it and wishing we were on the other side. We have had a lot of doors open to us over the years, so I hope it reaches people on both sides of the fence.

Return of Sixpence None the Richer

Her solo cd had a nice song or two, but it's great the band is returning.

Leigh Nash divorce

In an emotional MySpace blog entry, former Sixpence None the Richer frontwoman Leigh Nash announced her divorce from Mark Nash, her husband of 11 years and drummer with Christian rock band PFR.

Crossovers deux

P.O.D. - e.g., "Youth of a Nation" (#1 Rock), "Alive" (#2 Rock), "Boom" (#13 Rock), "Will You" (#12 Rock), "Goodbye for Now" (#17 Rock), "Rock the Party" (#25 Rock)
Relient K - e.g., "Be My Escape" (#48 Pop 100),"Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" (#22 Top 40), "Must Have Done Something Right" (#45 Top 40), "The Best Thing" (#47 Top 40)
Sanctus Real - e.g., "I'm Not Alright"
Sixpence None the Richer - "Kiss Me" (#2) and "There She Goes"(#7 Top 40) "Breathe Your Name"(#18 Top 40) & "Don't Dream It's Over" (#9 Top 40)
Stacie Orrico - "(There's Gotta Be) More To Life" (Top 20), "Stuck" (Top 5) and hits overseas: "I Promise" (top 30 UK), "I Could Be The One" (top 40 UK)
Stryper - "Honestly" (#32 Top40), "Calling On You", "Free", "Always There for You"
Superchick - "It's On" (movies "Zoom" & "Nancy Drew"),"Anthem", "It's On", "Get Up" ("Ice Princess"), "One Girl Revolution"(Disney's "Holiday in the Sun")
Switchfoot - e.g., "Meant to Live" (#5 Pop), "I Dare You to Move"(#6 Pop), "This Is Your Life" (#30 Rock), & "Stars"(#16 Rock), "Oh! Gravity" (#36 Rock)
TobyMac - lots of commercials, e.g., with "The Slam" and "Boomin"
Wilshire "Special" (#)