Search the City

Awhile ago I went out of a limb and bought the freshman album for Search the City, "A Fire So Big the Heavens Can See It". I’d come across their MySpace page maybe a month or two ago because they just signed with Tooth & Nail Records, and I check out anyone they sign. Tooth & Nail has signed some pretty awesome bands within the past year or so, i.e. Ivoryline, Secret & Whisper, Children 18:3, The Almost, Ruth, and I seem to like almost all of them. So I trust T&N, I really do and they usually hold up their side of this bargain. They definitely did with Search the City.

It takes a lot to impress me. I’m a sucker for a complete package of great vocals, great lyrics and great music. If something is missing or something is off, it bugs me and I simply can’t waste my time with it. Maybe that’s harsh, but I really think it gives me some sort of a refined musical taste. Search the City impressed me and wrote their release date of April 1st, 2008 on my little list of must-buy’s (even though I wasn’t 100% sure yet) and maybe forgot about it a little. But then the album came out and I decided to got out and by it. 

After I bought it, I played it in my car on the way to my choir concert and blasted it all the way down the highway. The opener, "Son of a Gun", starts out with an organ and then kicks in with awesome guitars and drums. Once the vocals come in, I was blown away. Then comes the chorus, "Woah! For heaven’s sake, I see right through you.", you want to dance or head bang or do something so you can be a part of it. Josh Frost’s vocals match perfectly to the lyrics that are subtly emo and witty. When you transition from the first track to the second, "To the Moon For All I Care", Josh’s voice becomes sweet and sing-songy but still amazing in the way that it could never bore you or keep you from listening. Throughout the entire album, every song is different with changing enthusiasm and emotion, but still amazing.

Recommended tracks: (1) Son of a Gun, (4) Ambulance Chaser, (6) The Rescue, (10) Clocks and Timepieces

I am so impressed by these guys, I probably couldn’t say it enough. I highly suggest that if you like bands like Jimmy Eat World, Mae or Anberlin, you’ll definitely like these guys. And even if you don’t like those bands, they might just blow you away. If you’re skeptical, head over to their MySpace and take a listen.

The Classic Crime

Give me wings, give me peace. These are the things that I need. I'm tormented, broken and shamed; are you listening? Give me shelter from the storm; I know it's a lot to ask for. Considering how recent I've piled the dirt on your name. Are you listening? I will wait for you to come again, and I can't pretend like I'm confident; and I can't pretend like it makes much sense when it doesn't. I have heard that winter's cold will give way to summer's warmth. Oh no! Like salt in the snow, I'm melted and left all alone on the side of the road.

These are lyrics from The Classic Crime's song "Salt in the Snow." I absolutely adore this song; it's probably one of my favorites of all time. This is a song describing the struggle all people, and especially believers, have in their relationship with God. I'm always asking for God to "give me peace." It's something I need all too often when I fall. I love the very end of the song where it is said, "I can't pretend like I'm confident; and I can't pretend it makes much sense when it doesn't." Our faith and the grace from God (even when we "pile the dirt on his name.") that we recieve doesn't always make sense to us, but faith is all about accepting what we do not understand.

This is just one of the songs by The Classic Crime that really appeals to me as a Christian. They are definitely a hard rock band but they also put out an amazing acoustic EP about a year or so ago. They are well reounded and really appeal to a lot of different types of people.

I think it's great that groups like this can bring people together in such a special way. I've never been able to see the in concert, but I would love to someday.

TRS.

The Rocket Summer is Bryce Avary. Bryce plays all the instruments you can hear in his songs, but has a band when he goes on tour. His music is pretty amazing. It's pop-rock driven mostly by piano and Bryce has a pretty high voice. I've had friends confuse him for a girl before but that really doesn't bother me. A good voice is a good voice, and he's got it.

Bryce is a Christian and although many of his songs are mainstream, there are many quite a few that are wholly influenced by his faith. My favorite is "TV Family":

"I'm so glad you made it." "Oh well Jesus thank you so much for saying that." Because the truth you know is that i have just been hating so many things I do. But now I realize forever that you're my friend, no matter what you will never leave me to fend. I don't know much but i know we will be as happy as a 1950's TV family. Except times infinity.

I love this song so much because it reminds me how held by God I am at all times. He's my best friend and my protector, no matter what. I am never alone or abandoned by Him, even when I do things that deserve it. He's made me perfect in His eyes, without Him, I am flawed.

Julia Nunes

I am absolutely obsessed with his girl Julia Nunes. She started out by making YouTube videos of her play covers of popular (or not so popular) songs on her guitar, ukulele, and/or melodica. She's a genius and creates some absolute beautiful music. Mostly I just plain enjoy her music and watching her videos, but she's also given me the motivation to learn the ukulele. I'm not doing it to become a YouTube superstar but I just really want to learn a music instrument and take it seriously (for once) and I'm really excited about the ukulele. I haven't gotten it yet; it's going to be a Christmas present from my Dad.

Apart from her covers of song, Julia does write her own songs. The lyrics in her song, "Balloons", really mean a lot to me:

Years went by and we go older. Remember the days when gas was sold for 1.50 a gallon oh how things have changed. Like those stylish fads and the look on your face when you see me for the first time in years. We swore we'd never end up here. Well I won't be alone, if it’s gone I'll move on.

Everyone goes through a break-up a relationship or a friendship and I definitely know how that feels personally. Sometimes it take a long time to get over but in my personal experiences, if you leave it up to God "it's gone" before you know it. I don't think that's whayt Julia meant by "I won't be alone" but that's how I took it, and that how I take it.

We're chasing all that is fading..

A few years back I went to this random concert at a random church about 5 minutes away from my house. The artists were Falling Up, John Reuben and two I'd never heard of, Mainstay and The Wedding. To make a long story short, I ended up loving all the artists and I look back on that night as one of the most fun of my life.

The band that I by far loved the most was Mainstay. Me and my friends met the guys that night and kept in contact with them for a year or two until we finally saw them again at Creation Festival 2 years ago. They are super amazing. It's a shame because the lead singer, Justin Anderson, was in a serious car accident about a year ago and the band is on hiatus indefinitely, but I have faith they'll make music together again some day.

Even though it's years old, my favorite song by them is "Life As A Vapor." It was released on their little EP that I got at that concert all those years ago. It wasn't even put on either of their albums since. I don't know why.. but I love it because I feel as though it's my little gem of a song:

I keep on looking for life where I know that there is none to find, no. I slipped right into the cold without a thought for You. Oh, this life is only water vapor, here and then it's gone. We're chasing all that is fading, what will last when all of this burns? From this dream you waken, awaken. We search for something new, compress the void into shapes like toys. Sober up and discern someday all of this will be over. What do I value? I keep on looking for, what do I value? We look for something new. What do I value?

I just love this song so much because it makes me think about how much my life counts. God has created us to serve Him through our lives and when we don't do that we're wasting the life God has blessed us with. I know we're not perfect but why not live your life trying and failing rather than never taking a chance at all. This goes for love, dreams, and any other type of risk (within reason of course). God gave us life, so why not live it for Him with our whole hearts? And when we struggle, we can keep in mind that we do not belong on this earth but in the most beautiful heavenly place with our Father.

This is one of their other earlier songs "Take Away" live:

"And it's all from Your hand, and there's nothing that's mine.
And all that You give You're free to take away."

Ruth

Today I'm going to talk about possibly my favorite band of all time Ruth.

I discovered them at Creation Festival two years ago. They didn't perform but Tooth and Nail was handing out samplers of these two bands they just signed (The other band was The Send. I love them too!). That fall I saw them in concert with Relient K and Switchfoot and I met them afterward. They are an awesome group of guys, I'm lucky to have met them personally.

I saw them again this summer actually at Creation and they remembered me while was nice. They played some new songs off of their album that comes out next week. I'm pretty excited for it!

The main reason I like them is the fact that no matter what their music is encouraging to me. Every single one of their songs can be related to my walk of faith. The name "Ruth" itself is actually an acronym:

Return
Us
To
Him

That is exactly what their music does for me.

"This is where it starts, this is where it ends. You set it when I'm ready. It's the start of something new, and it's creeping inside you to the heart of who you are. You're gonna cross this line and now's the time. You're gonna know it, going.

Tell me that you want me, tell me that you see me. I'm giving you everything I have, I'm giving you everything I am. Tell me that you want me, tell me that you see me. I'm telling you right now, here I am."

This selection of lyrics is from Ruth's song "Cross the Line." Basically, my interpretation of it is a call to God, letting Him know that we're all in. We heard His call and now we want to live in His light.

This song encourages me to value myself because God wants me, not because of the standards of the world. God finds me worthy of His love and beautiful in His eyes.

We cannot do this without "crossing the line" of normalcy. It's not hip to give your life to God, it's hard and crazy. But He calls us to this life.

Vol. 1

I bought it.
It is glorious.

Tooth and Nail Records

I'll start this blog off with an explanation of my love for Tooth and Nail Records. I listen to a lot of artists and I would have to say that a majority of the artists signed by Tooth and Nail are on my list of favorites. I don't know what it is about T&N that just clicks for me, I've never really thought about it. I guess they just have a different set-up than most record labels. T&N is technically a christian record label but they don't sign "worship" bands or "christian" artists. At least not in the sense the the world views them. Tooth and Nail is an example of a new generation of Christians who don't have to force feed the world their faith. A lot of the artists on T&N have fans that aren't Christian and maybe some of them (like Underoath) are outnumbered. There's a lot of controversy over whether or not Tooth and Nail is a Christian label signing Christian bands or not. I feel as though they are Christian people who run a record label that signs bands in which their bands are Christian. Tooth and Nail does something totally different. They sign different types of artists with different stories and sounds from all across the world. I would love to meet (or be) the person who gets to go out and find all of this amazing music.

Alright. That brings me to my favorite Tooth and Nail band (and one of my favorites, period) Anberlin. These guys are just great. I've only seen them in concert twice but I met them once and I keep up with everything they do. The lead singer, Stephen Christian, has written a book on injustice and even documented a trip he took to India going into the Red Light Districts. They're just an inspiring group of guys. Their newest CD came out TODAY, "New Surrender." The sad thing is.. I really wasn't too excited about it. They re-made one of their older songs for the CD and the one song I heard I didn't really like. Don't get me wrong, it was good.. it just wasn't the GREATNESS I was used to. But early this morning I check my e-mail and went on iTunes to buy the CD. I listened to a little bit of it while eating my breakfast and I was thankfully surprised. Thank goodness because I really did not want to have to write a bad review on an album by one of my favorite bands. I'm having a lot of fun dancing in my seat right now to "Haight St." but I'd have to say my favorite song is "Breathe." It's so beautiful:

"No need to hide anything anymore, can't return to who I was before. I can finally breathe, suddenly alive. I can finally move, the world feels revived."

These lyrics simply describe a call to new life. Simple, yet very profound. How can we return to who we were before when we've found grace?

I'll make this next one short and sweet:

The Becoming. One of the newest artists signed by Tooth and Nail. Their debut CD, "Vol. 1", came out today as well. I haven't bought it yet.. I'm not really sure about it. Well, I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy it I just need to get over the guilt of spending money on my budget.. which is nothing. However, once I get past that I'm going to buy it. They kind of scared me at first, they've all got funky, black hair and piercings and tattoos, but they're really good! This definitely isn't the first time a band really surprised me and they totally have. I really like the lead singer's voice, it's deep and just resounds really well. It's kind of hard to explain. I've been listening to their full album on Purevolume.com and my favorite song so far is probably "We're Already Dead" or "The Night That Has No Morning." There are 13 songs on the CD and it's only $7.99 on iTunes (this is me convincing myself to buy it)!

Seriously, they're good though. If you like 80's rock or even just rock, you'll like these guys.

Lyrics from The Becoming's song "Your Love":

"Many times I've wandered and more times I've been lost. But You've always found me because You're never gone. Now this single requiem; a funeral in my name. It's a haunting thing to hear.. if it were not for Your grace. Your love it takes me home from all I've ever known."

P.S. That's one of my favorites too.

Yahweh, show me the kingdom!

Today I'm going to talk about Bethany Dillon!

Bethany is an artist that I constantly find myself listening to. Sometimes I don't even consciously do it, I just find myself singing something that describes and/or comforts my exact feelings at the moment. I can always relate to her music and lyrics. They are very personal.

This song is called "The Kingdom":

"Teach me how to hum it
Because I don't know the words yet

Help me see the light
I'm reaching through the fight
Yahweh, show me the Kingdom
Arms open wide
Death swallowed up by life
Yahweh, show me the Kingdom"

I feel sometimes like I'm always dwelling on the uncertainties of life. But aren't we all uncertain most of the time? A relationship with God means we can attempt to put aside our worries and uncertainties and trust Him with it all. This is exactly what this song describes to me. We need to not only ask for help from God but we need to ask for Him to teach us how to get through things. With the gift of strength we can persevere through whatever problems we may be going through at the moment and just open up to God. When we do that, we are shown the kingdom. I think that the kingdom is most definitely heaven but we can see tiny glimpses of that even here on earth when we hand over our all to Christ.

"So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (The Message)

Also, Tooth and Nail Records has a newly signed band that it coming out with an album this coming Tuesday. I might like them, I'm not sure yet: The Becoming.

You're a little bit country and I'm a little bit.. folk/soul/alternative?

Welcome to a new week of my music appreciation. It's definitely going to be obvious in this post that I listen to a lot of different types of artists.

(I'm warning you: this is long!)

To the left you see Justin Nozuka. He is a Canadian folk/soul singer. His sound is kind of different from a lot of the stuff I'm into. He's kind of like Jason Mraz but not quite as poppy in his sound; there's way more soul in his voice. I find it really amazing that he can sit on a stage with a guitar and it could sound better than if he had a full band behind him. He's only 19 years old and capable of absolutely beautiful music which blows me away.

Justin's album "Holly" is named after his mother who is Kyra Sedgwick's sister. This makes Justin Kevin Bacon's nephew. That's a little interesting fact for you.

One of my favorite songs off Justin's album is "Down In A Cold Dirty Well."

"Painted a picture of how it’s supposed to turn out
Down in a cold dirty well and I cannot climb out
Can’t see no light
Can’t hear no bells
They walk right over me
Can’t hear my yells

They state me missing and search all over the town
Look left and then right but don’t ever look down
Dig me my grave, I won’t be saved
No I won’t be saved, so dig me my grave

Helpless, Hopeless,
Cold and lonely
Only you can save me now
Trembling and shivering, scared
I want this all to end if only you could hear me now"

These lyrics are very powerful in describing a dark time in a person's life. Even if this was not written as cry out to God it could definitely be interpreted that way. The lyrics speak of being in a state that no one can understand but even if they did only "you" can save.

The next artist I'm going to talk about is Ashton Shepherd. She is a country singer. Country, country. I honestly can't believe I like her but I love her. I recently got pretty into country music and if you would've told me a year ago that I'd be rocking out in my dorm room to country, I would have laughed at you!

Out of all the artists I've come across in my venture into country music Ashton is by far the best (she's up there with Miranda Lambert). She's in her early twenties and already married with a son. You can hear the experiences she's had in her music.

Her album is called "Sounds So Good" (it does!) and the title track is my favorite.

"Hey baby, let's jump in yo' truck
We'll ride and watch for lightnin' bugs
We'll ride with the windows let down
There's nowhere else I'd rather be right now

'Cause there ain't nothin' like the sound
Of a cooler slushin' on the bed 'a yo' truck
And ain't nothin' like the sound of real country music
C'mon, turn it up
And I love to hear the whippoorwill sing any night
And the crickets out in the woods
Ooh, don't it feel so right
Don't it sound so good"

This song just makes me want to go outside and appreciate God's nature. Most of all this song is a tribute to life. Sometimes we take everything we have for granted. God gave us family, friends and millions of other blessings! This song reminds me of how much I love everything I've got.

This one was long, I apologize! But I hope you enjoyed it all the same.

FIRST POST!

Hi! Welcome to my blog.

If you've read the description you already have some idea of what I'm going to do here but, just to cover it again, in this blog I'll pretty much talk about what music I'm listening to at the moment, new artists I've discovered, albums I want to buy, as well as albums I recommend (or don't).

Let's start it off with a bang:

The Jakes.

I came across this band a few days ago when they were featured on Purevolume.com along with one of my favorite bands, Deas Vail. I've made it a habit of checking through the feature artists every once in awhile and sometimes I come across a real gem. The Jakes are way more than a gem. I think I like them because they have a really unique sound but it also reminds me of bands I aldready know and love. They remind me a lot of The Killers, The Feeling, and Mutemath. If you like any of these bands you'll probably like The Jakes even more.

The kicker in this situation is that half of the guys in the band are still under 21. They are so young! I find it amazing when I come across such a talented group of young people.

I'm not sure if their music is meant to be encouraging to my faith, but it is. The lyrics in their song "Cough Syrup" really depict the struggle we all can deal with from day to day:

"Life’s too short to even care at all
I’m losing my mind losing my mind losing control
These fishes in the sea they’re staring at me
A wet world longs for a beat of a drum

If I could find a way to see this straight I’d run away
To some fortune that I should have found by now

So I run to the things they said could restore me
Restore life the way it should be
Waiting for this cough syrup to come down"

When I look at this from a Christian perspective I see a longing for help and guidance. We search for restoration in our times of trouble when we are drowning in this "wet world". God is the "cough syrup" coming down to restore and cure us of our pain forever.

Some CD's coming out soon that I can't wait to own:
- Jonezetta - Cruel To Be Young (9/16)
- Nevertheless - In The Making (9/16)