Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Looking Closer

Home
Religious Music & Entertainment
I’ve Caught Aaron Strumpel Fever

I’ve Caught Aaron Strumpel Fever

Last updated on: April 1, 2013 at 2:10 pm by Jeffrey Overstreet

I’ve Caught Aaron Strumpel Fever 2013-04-01T14:10:03-06:00 Jeffrey Overstreet

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The only 5-star album I’ve heard thus far this year. If Nine Inch Nails sang the Psalms and invited avant garde jazzbos The Art Ensemble of Chicago to the studio, it might sound like this. – Paste music critic Andy Whitman

In the last several years, I’ve been excited about a few artists and a few albums, and it’s been easy to see. I’ve shouted myself hoarse here on the blog and Facebook, urging people to check them out.

The records that have lit me on fire include:

Arcade Fire – Funeral and Neon Bible
Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha
The Decemberists – The Crane Wife
Over the Rhine – Ohio and The Trumpet Child
Joe Henry – Tiny Voices and Civilians
Sam Phillips – A Boot and a Shoe and Don’t Do Anything

and there have been a couple of little-known artists I wanted the world to discover, like

The Ragbirds – Yes Nearby

and

People You Meet – People You Meet.

Alas, People You Meet broke up after one sensational album. After a follow-up and a live album, The Ragbirds are still going, and I can’t wait to hear what they do next.

But today I’m here to recommend that you invest in this guy.

Aaron Strumpel

Get your hands on his new album, Elephants, and stuff it deeply into your ears. Turn it up loud so that you can explore the mix.

Strumpel won the Bandspotting contest at the Calvin music festival this year, a contest previously won by Son Lux. (And then Son Lux went on to earn all kinds of raves on NPR.)

So you can expect you’ll be hearing about him.

Why not climb aboard right now?

Full disclosure: Yes, I know the producer. But I swear to you, I didn’t know he’d produced it when I heard it for the first time. I wrote to him afterwards and my suspicions were confirmed. And I didn’t know he was capable of such complex, exquisite production. I’ve heard other things he worked on and enjoyed them, but nothing made me want to grab the microphone away from Pitchfork or Paste to say, “Music lovers, wake up! Don’t let this one pass you by!” So trust me on this one.

If you won’t take my word for it, listen to Andy Whitman, music critic for Paste:

“So far it’s my favorite music released this year.”

and

“The only 5-star album I’ve heard thus far this year. If Nine Inch Nails sang the Psalms and invited avant garde jazzbos The Art Ensemble of Chicago to the studio, it might sound like this.”

So… wouldn’t you throw down a few bucks to spend some time with this album?

I’ll be writing an honest-to-goodness review when I get the chance.

Previous Post

May 12, 2009

Is U2 stealing the title of their next album from another singer?

Next Post

May 14, 2009 Browser: Save Paste Magazine! Daniel Day-Lewis Dances! Movies Based on a True (False) Story

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog Bloggers on "Through a Screen Darkly" Browser Coming Soon Endorsements Fiction Books Film Forum Film Reviews Inspirations Interviews Journal Kindlings Muse Movie buzz Music Reviews Non-Fiction Books radio Reviewers on "Through a Screen Darkly" The Auralia Thread Through a Screen Darkly Through a Screen Darkly - Bonus Materials Top 10 (or 20 or 100) lists Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 July 2003 May 2003 March 2003 September 1999

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many days between resurrection and Pentecost?

Select your answer to see how you score.

30 days 50 days 60 days 40 days