This era of independent music and digital downloads is intriguing to say the least, providing new opportunities for artists to connect directly with audiences. Case in point: Andrew Osenga, former front man of The Normals, presently a guitarist/vocalist with Caedmon's Call, whose project The Morning made it on our Best Albums of 2006 list, though he remains independent as a solo artist.

Osenga recorded this Letters to the Editor, Vol. 1 EP at home during a couple of weeks in May/June 2007, performing all six songs mainly by himself with an acoustic guitar, though he cleverly used multi-tracking to add texture and vocal harmonies. In a move reminiscent of Derek Webb's Mockingbird promotion, he's made the EP available for free download, including a "virtual booklet" packed with lyrics, photos, and more.

But there's more to it than that. The project is a "fan collaboration" for which people sent in song suggestions—mostly personal stories, idea fragments, and song titles—that Osenga developed into fully fleshed songs. For example, one fan asked for a song about escaping small-town life and requested that his daughter's name be used. Another wanted a song with sci-fi elements in it. Thus we have "Anna and the Aliens," a riff on the classic story of two young lovers with plans to run off to New York—and it's actually pretty fun.

That's the most frivolous among songs about marriage-weathering trials ("Wanted"), lamenting a lost friend ("You Leave No Shadow"), and the conflict between lifelong dreams and responsibilities ("The Ball Game"). You really have to admire how Osenga weaves together stories about a bank robbery, an estranged brother, and a coffin maker in "The Blessing Curse" for a meaningful piece about appreciating the life we have through Christ. And the heavenward-focused "Swing Wide the Glimmering Gates" is one of the finest Osenga has written since The Normals. It's a successful experiment, but don't take my word for it. Download Letters risk free, and, if you enjoy it, send Osenga a donation as suggested.

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