Bloomsbury Call Me the Seeker: Listening to Religion in Popular Music

One of very few books on religion and popular music -Covers a wide range of musical styles, from heavy metal and rap to country, jazz and Broadway musicals -The essays are written by academics and informed by their enthusiasm for the music Many books have explored the relationship between religion and film, but few have yet examined the significance of religion to popular music. Call Me The Seeker steps into that gap. Michael Gilmour's introductory essay gives a state-of-the-discipline overview of research in the area. He argues that popular songs frequently draw from and 'interpret' themes found in the conceptual and linguistic worlds of the major religions and reveal underlying attitudes in those who compose and consume them. He says these 'texts' deserve more serious study. The essays in the book start an on-going conversation in this area, bringing a variety of methodologies to bear on selected artists and topics. Musical styles covered range from heavy metal and rap to country, jazz, and Broadway musicals. Review "Gilmour has provided readers with a invaluable tool that will assist in the way we look at music aligning popular song with the core of its deeper religious message so that we might come to understand the full scope of the art form. Gilmour is one of the most knowledgeable religion writers in the country... Accordingly, "Seeker" is like no other book on pop music because it looks like at what's "behind" the medium- investigating the inner/sacred meaning of "song", dissecting the holy force driving the rhythms that drive us. Obviously, the text is quite bold and it covers much ground, with a through analysis of many of the religious themes that are found in popular music. Recommended because: Of its uniqueness and depth, and because it attempts to unmask a component of the art form that often goes unrecognized by scholars and critics...Michael Gilmour's book, then, is meant to shine a direct light on the fact that religion is found everywhere in the history of popular song. In the end, "Seeker" teaches us that if we can "see" what inspired the creation of the songs, a deeper richer experience will be attained by the listener. " -"electricreview.net, December 2005" --Sanford Lakoff--Sanford Lakoff "CHOICE "'This books gives a taste of the extent to which popular music in its range of productive and consumptive practices deals in ideas about God. That theologians should attempt to interact with this all-pervasive discourse seems not only timely but necessary. I for one hope that Gilmour's book will prompt publishers to see the merit in more extended work in this area.' Pete Ward, Kings College London, Studies in World Christianity--Sanford Lakoff"Call Me the Seeker should be the latest library addition for scholars and students working in the field of popular culture and religion. Gilmour's volume gives us what the field has been missing-a broad, expansive, and easily accessible study of popular music. Pick up this book, strap on the headphones, and follow Dylan, Guthrie, U2, Sinead O'Connor, Tim McGraw, and the like on a lyrical journey through popular culture and religion." -Conrad Ostwalt, author of Secular Steeples: Popular Culture and the Religious Imagination--Sanford Lakoff"Gilmour has assembled an eclectic collection of essays by 17 scholars from the US, Canada, Finland and the Czech Republic. Notes appear at the end of each chapter and the book is well indexed." -The Bible and Critical Theory, 2006"Reference & Research Book News/ August 2006--Sanford Lakoff--S. McCloud "CHOICE ""Gilmour hasprovided readers with a invaluable tool that will assist in the way we look atmusic aligning popular song with thecore of its deeper religious message so that we might come to understand thefull scope of the art form. Gilmour is one of the most knowledgeable religionwriters in the country... Accordingly, "Seeker"is like no other book on pop musicbecause it looks like at what's "behind