Michael Ethington, Believe - A Review

Do you know about Neighborhood and Friends? It’s a Facebook-kind-of-a-thing for LDS people.

I made a friend there the other day named Michael Ethington. I read his profile and checked out his web site and found out he’s a musician and has a CD out. The NPR station I listen to plays jazz, and I prefer something else to think by as I’m driving, so I thought I’d give Michael’s CD a listen.

I really like it. Some tracks are soothing, like “Lead Kindly Light.” His setting reminds me of sitting at anchor in Echo Bay, listening to the incoming tide lap against the shore. And “Sweet Hour of Prayer” is as sweet as its title and has the bonus of “Come Thou Font of Every Blessing” thrown in. (Do you ever wonder who made the
decision to take that hymn out of the book?)

Michael’s rendition of “Come, Come Ye Saints” is full of energy and drive, even when it switches to a minor key. At first I thought it was too hard-edged, but it grew on me, and now it’s one of my favorites.

I’m no musician. Anyone who has been forced to hear me play the baritone (which is anyone who comes to visit) can tell you that. But I love music. Michal Ethington’s CD is nice music to drive to. You can get lost in thought during his improvisation, and then you’re pulled back to the hymn when he brings it back to the melody.

His own compositions are nice, too, and he included a piece written by his father, to whom this CD is dedicated.

Check out Michael’s web site at and give it a listen.