706
Backers
$37,205
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Funding period
Mar 9, 2012 -
Apr 4, 2012
- 2 created · 15 backed
- Phil Madeira 1986 friends
- Website: mercylandmusic.com
Pledge $10 or more
318 backers
Early delivery of Digital mp3 album Mercyland.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $25 or more
150 backers
Pre-release CD plus early digital download of the album.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $30 or more
65 backers
Pre-release CD signed by Phil Madeira plus early digital download of the album
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $50 or more
78 backers
CD plus Limited Edition Mercyland T Shirt plus early digital download of the album. (we will request t-shirt size later).
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $100 or more
30 backers
One of a kind original 4"x6" "Bandaged Bird" watercolor painting by Phil Madeira + CD + Digitial download.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $100 or more
16 backers
10 copies of the CD to give to friends!
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $150 or more
18 backers Limited (32 of 50 left)
One of a kind original 4"x6" "Bandaged Bird" watercolor painting by Phil Madeira + T-shirt + CD + Digitial download.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $500 or more
0 backers Limited (5 of 5 left)
Attend the invitation-only Record Release Party in late April at a secret location in Nashville. Bring a guest with you and meet some of the artists and crew of Mercyland! (Winners must cover their own travel and lodging costs).
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $500 or more
3 backers Limited (5 of 8 left)
A 2 hour Songwriting session with Phil + CD. This will either take place in person or via Skype.
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $550 or more
0 backers Limited (10 of 10 left)
Large acrylic painting approximately 24"x30" of "Bandaged Bird" by Phil Madeira + T shirt and CD. Shipping outside of the Continental USA must be paid by backer.
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $2,000 or more
3 backers Limited (2 of 5 left)
Phil Madeira house concert in your home (Lower 48 States only), within 2012.
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $2,500 or more
3 backers Limited (2 of 5 left)
Come to Nashville, write and record a song with Phil! (Winner must cover their own travel and lodging expenses. (Within 2012 only)
Estimated delivery: May 2012
Creator Phil Madeira on April 25, 2012
Hey Backers, if you feel so inclined- please give Mercyland a review at Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Mercyland-Hymns-Rest-Us/dp/B007K7IAKI/ref=sr_1_1…
Creator Phil Madeira on April 22, 2012
Review:
Nashville Scene~
It came to light during the final season of Seinfeld that George Costanza's contrarian dad Frank had a method of celebrating the holidays without all of the religious and commercial hoopla: He flat-out made up his own holiday, Festivus, for the rest of us. It called for exchanging grievances, not gifts, and for no decoration more elaborate than an aluminum pole.
As it happens, Phil Madeira has a moving new project called Mercyland: Hymns for the Rest of Us — a devotional album without all the religious and commercial hoopla — and one wonders if the subtitle is an intentional reference. "Oh, that's hilarious!" says the veteran Nashville songwriter-player-producer when I bring it up. He maintains that it's an entirely unintended coincidence — a Seinfeldian slip, if you will.
Actually, the motives behind Madeira's album are more profound. Parked at a wrought-iron table on the front porch of The Frothy Monkey, he explains, "I think the most visible expressions of Christian faith are very exclusive, and I think that has been a real struggle for me."
The Kickstarter campaign Madeira launched to help fund Mercyland — and more specifically, an online exchange the campaign sparked — was the closest he came to the bantering humor of the '90s sitcom, and even then, the subject matter was considerably weightier than the show's. "One of the things that I wrote in my little plea for patrons was, 'If you're tired of fundamentalists, whether they're Christian, Muslim or atheist, maybe you relate to the idea of who the rest of us are,' " he says. "I actually had a fundamentalist guy write me and say, 'You know, I really want to give you my hundred bucks, but I'm really upset that you've left out the fundamentalists.' I mean, it was a trick question. And I thought, 'You're the people excluding everybody, not me.' "
Seeds of the album were planted while Madeira was on the road with Emmylou Harris during 2008's round of shouting-match presidential primaries. "The language that kept coming from people who were religious just made me sick and made me sad," he said. "So I went to her and I said, 'You know, this drives me crazy. I'd like to do a record that just tries to address the idea that God is love. And she was in from day one."
By that, he doesn't mean Harris sang harmony on a couple cuts. She co-wrote and performed the reverently reflective Buddhist-inflected ballad "I Didn't Know It Was You." There's also a track The Civil Wars recorded back before people knew who they were, along with inspired contributions from The Carolina Chocolate Drops, The North Mississippi Allstars, Buddy Miller, Shawn Mullins, John Scofield, Mat Kearney, Amy Stroup, Cindy Morgan and Dan Tyminski. Madeira co-wrote all but Harris' song and a pair of traditional numbers, but he chose to sing lead only on the title track, in favor of assembling an array of voices and vantage points.
He issued invitations to people he crossed paths with naturally. They're his regular co-writers or employers, or friends of theirs, or they've cut his songs, or, in the case of Kearney, they got to talking over gin-and-tonics at a party. Some are situated on the mainstream fringes, others are leading lights of the roots music world, and several share in common with Madeira past experiences in contemporary Christian music, though they've since settled elsewhere.
"When I moved here," he says, "the first door that opened was the Christian-music door. Not long after I got here, I was at The Bluebird one night, and I heard a group called the Kingsnakes, with Kenny Greenberg and Mike Henderson playing guitars. I'll never forget hearing Mike just sounding like a bluesman from the '30s. And I just thought, 'Wow, this is who I was before I got caught up into commercial music, and before I did any Christian music.' It was a real epiphany. And that night I said, 'OK, I've got to figure out how to get out of Christian music.' Then I slowly transitioned. Ironically, through Christian music, through Julie Miller, I started playing with Buddy Miller, and that has led me down a great path."
By design, Mercyland offers no guarantees about where its performers are coming from, and that wouldn't really fly in CCM or mainstream country, where much emphasis is placed on performers' clearly defined relationships to that subject matter. There's food for thought here, too, for further left-of-center (read: Americana) audiences. The project gestures toward the rich complexity of spiritual expression, and acts as a reminder that it's unwise to assume what a singer means, or doesn't mean, when she sings of matters of the spirit.
"I didn't care whether the people on the project believed what I believed or not," says Madeira. "I mean, there is a theme. There is an inescapable acquiescence to the idea of God is love. So there's a side of it that might as well be gospel, but it's still a different gospel."
Mercyland's is a pluralistic gospel that isn't aimed at bringing differently believing people into the fold so much as savoring the divine-human connection wherever it is found. According to "Give God the Blues" — delivered with wry, streetwise authority by Mullins — there's no need to try to convert anybody to anything, anyhow.
To prove how wide he propped the door open on this album, Madeira points to a conversation with Scofield, who leads a gorgeously lyrical instrumental version of "Peace in the Valley" on guitar. Says Madeira, "The night before we recorded, he was like, 'Hey man' — very jazzy, New York guy — 'So Phil, you know I'm not a Christian, right?' I said, 'Yeah, man. That's the point.' " Scofield nonetheless said he could dig the question, "What if Jesus was love?"
In a dozen songs, Jesus makes only one explicit appearance, and it comes during "If I Was Jesus." Years before The North Mississippi Allstars rendered their loose-as-you-like front-porch version, the song appeared on a major country album, conforming to comparatively tidier pop conventions. "They took a song that Toby Keith had cut and really made it their own," says Madeira. "I mean, you would never know it was the same song."
Another way of putting it is Allstars singer-guitarist Luther Dickinson delivers the easygoing, sing-talking cadence of a guy who sounds kinda stoned. "That's precisely what I love," Madeira responds with a chuckle. "He does sound lit up. He may be the straightest guy in the world. I don't know. But he sounds so earnest, too. And I think he sounds like a guy who wants mercy. That's all I really want."
Creator AJH on April 21, 2012
Well, what a beautiful album! My congratulations to all involved for leading us to think so deeply. So - ready for another 'God' story?
I had pledged to Guardian's campaign on the first day, and had been following their (slow) progress. Although I knew that if it was meant to succeed, it would, I also knew that it seemed unlikely as the deadline approached. I had no intention of upping my pledge, but was certainly open to the Lord's leading...
So last night I find myself up most of the night with two sick mini-dachshunds. I am at my computer, and check my usual 'stuff' and discover that Guardian's campaign ends early in the morning (before 6am my time). So I follow what is happening, and again pray for God to lead me. Should I increase my pledge?
I eventually notice that an anonymous backer has offered to match all new pledges or increased pledges. The required total is looking more reachable. So long story (inlvoving credit cards, debt, and God's provision) short I increase my pledge, and post about my night (and sick doggies).
The anonymous backer posts right back, says they love dachshunds, and that I can go ahead and withdraw my increased pledge because they have decided to take care of the rest!
This is the bare bones of the story, but again God is moving through 'old' musicians and scandalous rock music! He has a message for people - people who need to hear about mercy and grace and God's perfect, righteous love! And he's using us - Kickstarter is being used for the glory of God!
:)
Creator Janet Kelly Forrest on April 19, 2012
@ Allister Hill on April 4 ...
Beautiful Story! God is in the details everywhere! We just need to see them and HEAR them!
Thanks for Sharing!
Creator Janet Kelly Forrest on April 19, 2012
My New Fav Also!! "If I Was Jesus" is a perfect song, er, Hymn for my Christian Teen Group! They are gonna LOVE it!! :-) Thank You for pulling this project together!
Creator Tawni on April 18, 2012
This is my n;ew Favorite Album! I love all this music and have been playing it non-stop. Thanks for the tunes!!!!! How many of ya'll will be on Cayamo next year??
Creator Mary on April 17, 2012
Hey, Phil, the music is great!
Creator Phil Madeira on April 16, 2012
No, Marie, you'll be fine. I've got an iPad, too, and they're not the best for downloading music. We'll sort you out, no worries!
Thanks @everyone for the sweet comments!
Creator Marie Spodek on April 16, 2012
Phil, although I "seem" to have downloaded my copy, I cannot make it play on iPad. I will be home from my 10=day business trip, so I hope that I can access this on my Mac. Any suggestions? Please tell me that I haven't lost out forever.
Marie
Creator Joseph-Dylan Quintinita on April 16, 2012
Excellent Album, Phil!
Creator ArcNerd on April 14, 2012
Thank you for this excellent album! I absolutely love every song on it. I can feel the care and passion behind every song whenever I listen to it. Thank you again for thinking it up
Creator Stephanie L. Sharron on April 14, 2012
Wonderful!! I love the album and am so happy to have supported this effort.
Creator Teresa Reinhardt on April 13, 2012
Lovin' it, Phil!!
Creator Jeff Brumley on April 12, 2012
Just got it downloaded (and the mp3 info cleaned up :P)...loving it!!!! So happy to be a backer of this project. If anything, to finally get a studio version of "From This Valley" recorded....
Creator dan shedd on April 10, 2012
Well done! The frequent feedback and updates were great. Looking forward to adding to my iTUNES player. Congrats!! Great project.
Here is another music project that you might like that just got started:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/710927283/the-giuseppi-logan-project-a-free-jazz-album/posts/205231…
Creator Gail Dana on April 10, 2012
Congratulations to Phil Madera & friends. This is the first Kickstarter project I've backed and I wish you great success.
Creator Simone Keenan on April 5, 2012
I just read that story below from Alister Hill and funny how God makes things happen. I am so looking forward to this album. The week I saw the post on facebook for Phil Madeira's project I had finished a second Lyric, and both included a bird in the story line and both a little wounded from their circumstances in life. So when I saw the image of the little bird with the bandage and the title of the album and read about the great artists that would be on it, I knew it was something I had to back. It’s my first time backing on Kick starter and such a great project to start with. :-)
Creator Brett Nieland on April 5, 2012
Good deal, sir! I hope this is just the beginning of a whole lot of success for this project!
Creator AJH on April 4, 2012
Very impressive total! I for one am not surprised, as for many years pretty much every CD I've purchased (OK slight exaggeration but not by much!) has revealed a certain PM in the credits! Seriously, Phil has kept busy, and that is because he is a highly talented musician. So I thought I'd share a little story along these lines.
On March 15th and 16th, I was trying to decide if I should back this project. Phil was gracious enough to answer an email or two I sent him, and I was continuing to consider if it would be right for me to invest. As I was driving to the next town to pick my wife up from work, I was for the first time listening to an older album by a favorite band of mine. I knew the last song well, because it has been covered by various other people - but I'd never heard the original version before.
As I drove, I was thanking God for the the gift of music - for how He has gifted and used many people to minister to me through lyric and melody. One of the people I was thanking God for was Phil, on my mind because of this campaign. Should I or should I not give some money?
I pulled into my favorite parking space at the top of a parking garage and gazed out into the evening. The song I knew well but had never heard before started playing, and I opened the CD case to read the lyrics and liner notes as I listened.
You've guessed it! Phil Madeira's name jumped out at me like a beacon. The only song on the album he (I think) played on. One of my favorite songs of all time - despite having never heard the original (OK just found out that the album version is not the earliest version, but the story still works - perhaps even more wonderfully!). And this is how the song starts:
Go on up to the mountain of mercy
To the crimson perpetual tide
Kneel down on the shore
Be thirsty no more
Go under and be purified...
I 100% believe in God. Not 'a' God, but THE God, who is perfectly able to speak clearly and directly to each one of us in ways we cannot and should not ignore. All my thoughts and prayers of that day were answered in a beautiful, scandalous way. Sometimes (OK a lot of times) we are guilty of allowing theology (and theological differences) to cloud our thinking.
I went home, logged on to Kickstarter and pledged some money.
Like me, everyone else needs mercy far more than they need money (or anything else). I pray that God uses Phil and the others involved in this project in ways far greater and more eternally significant than they could ever expect.
I hope we all go on up to the mountain of mercy....
Follow Christ to the holy mountain
Sinner, sorry and wrecked by the fall
Cleanse your heart and your soul
In the fountain that flows
For you and for me and for all
At the wonderful tragic mysterious tree
On that beautiful scandalous night you and me
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white
On that beautiful scandalous night
Creator Rick McKown on April 4, 2012
Excellent finish! Over 700 backers, over $37K!
Creator Chris Andrews on April 4, 2012
Yay!
Creator mark popadic on April 4, 2012
Go Phil go! So excited for this project.
Creator CBABI BAYOC on April 4, 2012
i am real excited about enjoying your music in my home while i paint. congratulations on a successful campaign!
Creator Rick McKown on April 1, 2012
Seeing that tomorrow (2 April) is Emmylou's birthday, how about we all throw in a little bit extra into the Mercyland kitty in honour of the day!
Creator Teresa Reinhardt on April 1, 2012
I imagine you must be busy painting, hahaa!! This was so fun to watch - can't wait!
Creator Rick McKown on March 30, 2012
Woo hoo! Just broke $30K with almost 600 backers :-) Good going'!
Creator Paul Mills on March 30, 2012
Thot I'd just go ahead and kick this over $30k right quick. Rock on, Phil!
Creator Tina Smith (deleted) on March 25, 2012
This comment has been removed by Kickstarter.
Creator Rick McKown on March 22, 2012
Woo hoo! $20K goal achieved! Congratulations, Phil!
Creator Voyages of Rediscovery on March 19, 2012
Very excited! Thank you. Just posted it all over facebook! will there be any live shows or tour?
Creator Richard Shields on March 15, 2012
Blessings, Phil. Fine project!
Creator Shane Boyd on March 15, 2012
Hey Phil!
Glad to support your project! Im sure it will be amazing!
Creator Phil Madeira on March 13, 2012
You can "like" us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mercyland-Hymns-For-The-Rest-Of-Us/129433287173535
Creator Phil Madeira on March 13, 2012
Awesome! My old college pal Greg just pushed us into the five figures!
Creator Jonathan Brown on March 12, 2012
Phil,
Just found your project and totally love it. Wish I could do more but I'm glad to say I am a supporter of you and what you're doing. :-)
Creator Cindy Morgan on March 12, 2012
I am so excited Phil!!!!!!
Creator Holly Bishop on March 12, 2012
Looking forward to it. Phil, my friend Catherine and I used to babysit your girls way back in our Belmont years-- early 90's. Happy to see you still working away out there. I've been a fan from afar! (Virginia Beach, VA)
Creator Rick McKown on March 11, 2012
Wow, that is so neat! Really looking forward to this!
Creator Phil Madeira on March 11, 2012
Rick, it was literally 24 hours! Very exciting; I will post an update in a day or two!
Creator Rick McKown on March 11, 2012
Wonderful! Looks like the goal must have been achieved in under 36 hours! That's pretty good, eh? Nice to see the support come rolling in for Mercyland--like Chris Ford says, the world needs this kind of project, this kind of message.
Creator Phil Madeira on March 10, 2012
thanks Chris! pass it on!
Creator Chris Ford on March 10, 2012
The world needs this project right now. "So much trouble, so much pain..."
Creator Phil Madeira on March 10, 2012
Thankyoi, Tess!
Creator Teresa Reinhardt on March 10, 2012
This is so cool - glad to have a hand in this endeavor - can't wait!!
Creator Phil Madeira on March 10, 2012
Thanks David!
Creator David Lerner on March 10, 2012
Really? New music from Phil Madeira?? Just when I was starting to lose faith in mankind. Yes, please...