A name unknown to me prior to this week, I downloaded Josh Garrels’ latest album “Love & War & The Sea In Between”.  (You can get it there too for free.  And if you haven’t already bookmarked Noisetrade on your computer, you’re falling behind, my friend.)  While I’ve had barely any chance to listen to it yet, the reviews I’ve read have me waiting eagerly for some quiet time to simply sit with it.

One quote I’ve come across, attributed to Garrels, is especially telling of where this artist is coming from:

“In a media-saturated pop culture society where ‘stars’ are the royalty to be worshiped or fawned over, I believe the true role of artists is to serve others with their creations. That means to draw people to fullness of life through revelation, longing, breakthroughs, simple beauty, and unpretentious truths. Artists help people see the obvious, the heart of the matter, and from this regained perspective people become more fully human. So much art these days has people focusing on an unattainable fantasy, lusting over what they’ll never have unless they take it by force or by way of money or libido. This is all candy, and candy can’t make a man healthy.”

Now THERE is an artist worthy of some increased attention.  Josh, thank you just for being among us and for striving to be THAT kind of creator.  I’ll be tuning in, as will many others.