Style: Country-tinged Americana; compare to Bill Mallonee, Bob Dylan
Top tracks: "We Are Beggars," "Lisa," "Sometimes You Stand"
"Come join me out on the porch / Read me a psalm or two / I got the chords, if you got words, baby we can sing." So begins this gem of an album from Memphis-bred brothers Ben and Scott Cunningham, aka The Olive Tree, who invite you to hang out on the porch and listen to their stories, as they describe it, of "revelation, romance, beauty, idols, motorcycles, feasts, famine, highways, friends, sin, pride, redemption, steel guitars, work, lack of work, water, faith, doubt, and faith." Their country-fied acoustic folk is reminiscent of Bill Mallonee—and surprise, they've done a few shows with the wily veteran. Here they are singing "Lisa," with Mallonee accompanying on harmonica.
While we pray for peace, we need moral clarity about this war.
Jude has strong words for immorality in the church. Yet he advocates for mercy for those who doubt.
I learned how to mourn when my mom lost her mind, and then her life, to dementia.
