Music Monday – Penny and Sparrow, Part II

Photographed by Paige Newton

Yes, I’ve shared Penny and Sparrow once before (here), but a few minutes into Tenboom and I wanted the entire world to know about this album. I sent them a little love during their Kickstarter campaign, so I received the album early and felt like I was sitting on a mountain of gold, waiting for everyone else to start digging in. But now, you can dig, too.

What I want to say about this album has already been said in an email to Kyle and Andy, so I found it most fitting to simply tell you what I told them:

I’ve been trying to figure out what to say since my first listen – about two minutes after I received the email last night. Sitting on my computer, editing photos, rain hitting the window outside. My heart was in the right place to take in beauty – I was already overwhelmed listening to Peter Bradley Adams “Bring You Home,” on it’s second repeat in a row. And then my inbox dinged, and my heart dropped. I have been anticipating this album since the EP – three songs not being close to enough of the beauty I knew could be created. My expectations were so high – probably unfairly high. After all, you’re only men, right? It’s just music…

But we know it’s not. It’s more. And somehow, what I didn’t think possible has become so – you exceeded my expectations. You may have seen my tweet: that only 2 minutes into the album, I lost it. Jesus, singing to me through Andy. “Come and look for me – I’m sorry but it’s like that sometimes. I hate to make you bleed – unless it leads you limping homeward….Come back to my house – I’ll give what they can’t offer. It’s just blood on the couch – we’ll clean it up together.” I’m not sure which of you wrote this – but this is without a doubt one of the most hauntingly beautiful lyrics I have ever heard. Ever. Maybe it’s Advent, maybe it’s the tragedy our heavy hearts are holding in this country. Maybe it’s just Jesus in His overwhelming beauty – but I can’t get enough of this one. 

And then the album goes – beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, stopped in my tracks. Turns out you can write one helluva sexy song. I, who have an entire playlist called Go Sexy, am a harsh judge. “Duet” is unreal. The tone, the lyrics, the truth. This song is marriage. It’s the first one I played for Mark, and he said before listening to any other song on the album yet that this is his favorite. It’s pretty unreal, boys. 

I could go on. I could write about how “Bones” is the second song that makes my eyes well up the most. I could do this for every song – and maybe you wish I would. But I’m lacking words, I really don’t know else to say. I haven’t stopped listening to it since I downloaded it, and it has a way of becoming more and more beautiful. 

Thank you, thank you for this album. 

Stream: “Just and Just As”

Just And Just As

Stream: “Duet”

Duet

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What was your experience with the Kickstarter campaign like:
Kyle: It was so great – we went back in forth about using it, but decided that it would be a good chance to involve others in our adventure. Tons of generous people donated and we are so thankful for it. The site is crazy easy to use also. We’re still in the process of redeeming people’s rewards (including yours!)

Describe the new album in five words or less:
Kyle: Very pretty and soulful folk.
Andy: Music I would wanna hear.

What is “Tenboom?” I guess from Corrie Ten Boom? I’ve been intrigued since I heard the title announced.
Kyle: You nailed it. It’s named after Corrie Ten Boom – we love her story and we love her name. Both beautiful.

(If you can pick) what’s your favorite song on Tenboom:
Kyle: Currently it’s “A Woman Caught.” It’s my favorite song to play live right now. It switches all the time though.
Andy: Mine is still “Duet.” My favorite musical moment in the album is that stand-up bass solo in the middle of the song…

Anything else you want people to know about your music, or this album:
Kyle: Somebody told us to write music we would wanna listen to….and so we did!!

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Listen to Tenboom here.
And then buy it.