Album review – Nefesh Mountain

If I’m being honest, the hardest part about giving up Christianity was not the preaching or the Sunday services (or…you know…Jesus), but the music. I’ve been a massive fan of the contemporary Christian genre since I was in the sixth grade and listened to Michael W. Smith the first time.

The other genre I’ve always adored, thanks to both my father and Ricky Skaggs, is Bluegrass. I have sought out great Bluegrass for years, even when I was in my early 20s and my cohorts thought I was insane for jamming to “Country Boy” while they were listening to whatever ear-bleedingly awful pop song was popular at the time. With the new Broadway musical Bright Star out right now, Bluegrass is getting in front of fresh ears, as well as reigniting my love for the genre.

These past eight-odd months, first when I was distancing myself from Christianity and then later, when I realized that Judaism was it for me, I missed Christian music because, naturally, I gave it up. But a soulful melody has always been like a religious experience to me, and while I was finding snippets of music here and there that I liked in the Jewish world, I had yet to find something that made me sit upright and yell with glee.

What happens when you combine Bluegrass and Jewishness? Well, you get the self-titled debut album by Nefesh Mountain, and it is nothing short of MAGNIFICENT.

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Unforgettable Tunes Tuesday

Music owns me. Nothing lets me lose myself like a powerful song. As a writer, I can often envision entire scenes in my head between my characters just because of a melody or refrain. Music soothes my soul or revs me up or inspires me or becomes a companion when I need it. Simply put, I love music.

I’m also still very new to Judaism, and attending Shabbat services on Friday night or Saturday morning means that I’m about to be immersed in Hebrew for an hour or two.   Continue reading

A night of Bluegrass

So ever since I heard “Country Boy” by Ricky Skaggs when I was just a kid, I’ve loved Bluegrass.  My dad loved to listen to the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday nights, even though it came through sounding scratchy and so far away on his old radio.  He loved Bill Monroe and I remember sitting with him as we listened, watching his foot tap along to the beat.

I just love Bluegrass.   Continue reading

Fangirl Corner

In this edition of Fangirl Corner:

I have many obsessions currently (Bomb Girls, reading romances about badass bikers (thanks, Jaci Burton), etc.)  One of my long-standing and most passionate obsessions is for Jensen Ackles. He acts (fantastically).  He’s humble and hilarious. He has a heart of gold.  He’s gorrrrrrrrrrrgeous.

And he sings. And plays guitar.

*swoons*

Anyway, this song and video were released yesterday.  It’s on constant repeat, and not just because he’s so pretty.  *pets him*

The man can sing.