Pa rum pum pum pum

On Tuesday, November 25, 2008, The Almost released their five song EP, titled "No Gift to Bring."  Around 12:30 a.m. on the 25th, half an hour after it had been released, I had it purchased from iTunes and sitting in my music library.

I must say, I was very pleased with what I heard.  The track listing is as follows:

1. Awful Direction
2. Little Drummer Boy
3. Amazing (Because it is) Full Version
4. Your Love is Extravagant
5. Dirty and Left Out (McTague-Lectro Version)

Awful Direction is their only new song on the album.  It is entirely acoustic (a simple guitar and drum set) which sets the mood for the rest of the album.  Lines like, "I've been wrong, I've been right, but tonight, I just want to be Yours," are straight from the heart and reflect the struggles of a life faithful to God.

The Little Drummer Boy version is one of the best I've heard (I guess I really haven't heard that many versions, but you catch my drift).  It has a unique rhythm and Aaron Gillespie's voice adds a new flavor.

Tracks 3 and 5 were on the previous album, Southern Weather, but this time with a new twist.  The electric sensation of Dirty and Left Out caught me off guard but I am really warming up to it.  

Your Love is Extravagant has always been one of my favorite praise songs, so to see The Almost cover it this Christmas season is very refreshing.

Well done guys.

photo courtesy of fye.com

So, I'm giving iTunes a shot

I'm not usually a huge fan of technology.  Some of it can be pretty sweet, but for the most part, I find it unnecessary and excessive.  Everyone knows about iTunes and how it along with Mac is taking over the world, and up until now, I was successfully able to block it out of my mind.  I don't have anything against them (I own a MacBook and love it) but I just didn't have a need for iTunes so I didn't really deal with it.

Well, at camp this summer, one of my camper's mothers gave my co-counselor and me a $10 iTunes gift card.  For the longest time, it just sat in the bottom of one of my drawers.  Then, as I posted a few days ago, I won another $25 in iTunes money at the open mic.  So with $35 in iTunes money, I figured it was time I acted on it.

Well, in the last 3 hours, I have gone through this shopping list:

1. rented "Garden State" and watched it (incredible movie - the soundtrack is killer, I may have to blog on it)
2. bought The Almost's new 5-song EP (another potential blog post)
3. bought a $10 software update which allows me to download applications
4. downloaded Relevant Magazine's podcast
   
5. downloaded a couple pointless but entertained applications

I've only got $16.50 remaining.  Hopefully it's not gone by the time I go to sleep.  Perhaps I should turn off my computer and think about my purchases before I go through with them.  Because once I run out of gift card money, there's no more buying to be done.

Confirmed: Shane and Shane are the best ever!

Last Saturday, Nov. 15, I went to see Christian/acoustic duo of Shane and Shane perform at Mount Vernon Nazarene University and I don't even know where to start.

I saw them play at the youth leaders convention a few weekends ago, but this time was different - way different.  At the convention, they only had time to play four or five songs, while everyone was standing at the front of the stage. This was the opposite.  Now usually I would be all for standing at the front of the stage, but given this recent concert was in a sanctuary, there really wasn't a concert-type stage as one would imagine.

So into the church we went, (myself and nine others) and three of us ended up sitting second row, about thirty or forty feet away from the two Shanes.  It was so relaxing to just be able to sit and listen to them play.  We didn't have to worry about tired legs or seeing over anyone (being 6'3" always helps me in that respect).  And there acoustic sound doesn't really call for standing and jumping around.  It was such a great time to relax, listen to great music with even better lyrics, and be reverent to God all at the same time.

What was interesting is that I could kind of tell that the guitarist, Shane Bernard, was having an off night.  He had trouble tuning his strings to begin and there were a couple other spots where it was obvious he was just having a rough time.  But the great thing - it made no difference at all.  He was just up there having a great time, singing and praising God.

In most concerts, it is just song after song after song, but in this situation, there was time when the two Shanes were conversational with each other and with the audience which goes to show that it's not just some routine for them.  Each concert is genuine.  Shane Bernard even took several minutes to share the Biblical story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo and the fiery furnace and how they refused to bow before the king, even knowing it would cost them their lives.  This then transitioned into their song "Burn Us Up."

I could write for days on how amazing these guys are - their voices, their harmonies, their modesty, their genuine attitudes.  I just hope this wasn't the last Shane and Shane experience I have.

Finally, another open mic

Last Thursday was the first open mic on campus in the last two semesters.  I love coming out and just playing my guitar and singing, so to be able to do that again was a lot of fun. 

 Normally, there is no prize for the winner, but this time there was, and there was a catch to it.  The event was also a food drive.  The audience voted for their favorite performer with non-perishable food or money that would go toward food.  Here is a blog that talks more about it.

The cool thing...I won.  I started off with "Beautiful," by Shawn McDonald.  Throughout the week, I had been practicing it, and when my suitemates found out I was playing it, they immediately assumed it was James Blunt's "Beautiful."  So, since I had time to play two songs, I played "Beautiful" again.  It was quite the contrast in sounds and moods.  (Disclaimer: I don't really like James Blunt, but I've been told I have a good impersonation of the British singer and it's funny to sing in falsetto.)

My prize was a $25 iTunes card.  I kinda wished it was cash.  I probably would have just given it back to them to go towards food.  I don't really use iTunes.  Maybe I can sell it to someone for 20 bucks or something.  But anyways, it was loads of fun and there had better be more in the future!

If you'll recall last Tuesday, I made a post about how musically filled my weekend was.  I mentioned how I heard Starfield perform, that they were "up-and-coming" and then had to retract my statement because that are already well-known.  Well, I have to do it again.

In the post, I didn't even mention hearing Matt Maher.  Why?  Because I thought he was just some guy that they chose to lead praise and worship.  I assume that he's a modest guy and wouldn't want me to hype him up as more than just a guy singing and playing his guitar, but I really undermined his successes.

As I browse my google reader looking for ideas, I kept seeing his name for winning awards.  The name sounded familiar so I looked at an article and realized it was the same dude.  Maher has recently won two awards for his work.  The first award received was for "Praise and Worship Album of the Year" for his album "Empty and Beautiful" at the Covenant Awards 30th Anniversary.  That's quite the prize considering other praise and worship artists such as Chris Tomlin and Charlie Hall - not that any of it is a competition for them.  The second award, received a day later, was for "Artist of the Year" at the 9th annual Unity Awards.

One of Maher's popular works, "Your Grace is Enough," was released on "Empty and Beautiful" and was also recorded by Chris Tomlin, who seems to sing just about every praise and worship song these days.

So, along with Starfield, Mercy Me, David Crowder, and Shane and Shane, I also got to enjoy Matt Maher.  Dang, that was quite the weekend.

photo courtesy of CMSpin

Above the Golden State

In July 2008, Portland Christian-rock band Above the Golden State released their debut album.  It typically takes bands a few CD's before they reach that breaking point.  I have a feeling it won't be the same for these guys.  Their self titled album has only been out for a few months and is getting great reviews.

Whenever I buy CD's, I typically like to have listened to at least a few of the band's songs prior to purchasing, or I'll take a recommendation from a very trusted ear.  But this past weekend, I heard about 45 seconds of one of their songs playing through a loudspeaker and knew it would be a great CD.  So I bought it.  And I haven't been let down.  Their west coast rock/pop sound is unique and very appealing.

Songs like "Love," which fades right into the next track, "Chapter 13," (indicating the scripture in 1 Corinthians 13) really resonate with me.  There's more to that scripture than just great lines to read at a wedding, and Above the Golden State really brings that out through their music.

Here are a couple example: "Gaze Into Your Eyes" and "The Sound of Your Name"

I look forward to wearing out this CD and sitting in waits for a new release.

Christmas With the Shanes

I don't know that I've ever listened to an entire Christmas album.  For the most part, they're all the same songs, just a different person singing them.  Well, I finally found one that does Christmas remakes justice - Shane and Shane's "Glory in the Highest."

The newly released Christmas record is the first of the kind in nearly a decade of 

playing from Shane Bernard and Shane Everett.  On the album, the acoustic duo covers several popular tunes, such as "Silent Night," "Away in a Manger," and "O' Come Let Us Adore Him."  Most people who have heard the Shane's sing would

 agree with me that they can cover just about any song and take it up an extra step.  Some of the songs are a bit unusual sounding, simply because an upbeat style is not associated with some of the hymns.

The track that stands out most to me is the opener - an upbeat, spunky version of "O, Holy Night."  When they sing "fall on your knees, O hear the angels' voices.  O night divine, O, night when Christ was born," the soaring harmonies are hard to describe.  (Please watch the video link in here.  It's incredible.)  I still don't understand how two guys can sing that high and that beautifully.

If you're looking for a Christmas record that still gives you the true message of the season, but is unique in sound and filled with great harmonies, this is a must get.

Starfield Already Stars

If you'll look just two posts ago, you'll see that I called Starfield a band that was "relatively unknown and are starting to make it big."  I just found out that I was wrong - they are already making it big.  They've been making it big for a few years now.  On October 24, the band took home six trophies at the Covenant Awards.  Here is exactly what they won.  In no way do I want to undermine how well they are doing.

It's funny that as soon as I comment about them I find that I am completely wrong.  Maybe I should pay attention a little more in the future.  It's great to see another Christian band making an impact on those around them.  Keep it up, Starfield.

It's More Than Just Music

Music can be many things to many people.  For me it's a form of entertainment, it's how I relax, it's how I express myself.  For others, it can be that and so much more.  For my world music class, I watched this film called "War Dance."  In it, a small Ugandan school is competing in a national music contest that displays music of their culture with instruments and dance. 

 What this school doesn't have in common with the other schools is their tragic story.  Most of the kids are living in small huts in a displacement camp with only one parent (if any) because their original village has been attacked by the "rebels."  Their area of Uganda is at constant war and the inhabitants have become accustomed to hearing gunshots at all times of day.  Throughout the movie, profiles of students are seen and the audience is able to get a small glimpse of the physical and emotional pain and anguish they are forced to deal with.  

For this culture, music is their source of hope for something better.  The kids practice day after day and actually do well during their judged performance, but more important than that is how detrimental music is to them.  One young man, Dominic, is seen sitting in front of a tree playing his xylophone.  He says that he wants to be the best xylophone player ever and that when they go compete he will make a name for himself and show them that his people are strong.

I guess I just find it fascinating how vastly different music is around the world.  The simple idea of music and song is anything but simple.

A Musical Weekend

This past weekend had been like no other for me when it comes to live music.  From Friday night until Sunday night, I saw four amazing bands perform.

It started Friday night with a David Crowder concert.  A group from the college along with some folks from a nearby church trekked three hours to Cedarville University to see the band perform.  I had never seen them live before, but they sound just as great live as they do on their recordings.  The dynamics of their sound is what's most astonishing.  They range from their typical upbeat rock sound to bluegrass and into praise and worship, using a variety of electronic creations along the way.  The highlight is when David grabbed a Guitar Hero guitar controller.  He wasn't just going to act like he was playing - the thing actually made guitar noises.  The sounds weren't just five notes like you'd hear on the game.  Different combos of buttons made different sounds.  It was awesome.

The next day, I was at a youth leaders convention in Pittsburgh and due to it being large-scale, it brought in a lot of good artists.  The first I heard was Starfield.  They are relatively unknown but are starting to make it big.  I don't remember much about their sound, but I did like it.

After them was Mercy Me.  I was fortunate to see Mercy Me perform their hit song "I Can Only Imagine" back in 6th or 7th grade before they were popular, so it was neat to see them again.  I didn't know much of their stuff, but it was still great to hear them play.

The next day was the highlight.  The morning started of with a short session with none other that Shane and Shane.  These two guys, both named Shane if you didn't figure that out, are absolutely incredible.  They have the best voices I have ever heard and their live sound is ridiculous.  I honestly cannot put into words how great they are.  And what makes them go above and beyond any other band is the power of their lyrics.  Many Christian artist sing about how great God is, which is not wrong at all - it's great to sing about that.  But they tend to refrain from singing about struggles and songs of lament.  Shane and Shane don't hesitate in singing about what's Biblical truth.  Their line in the song "Beg" that says "at the end of the day, my words get burned as wood."  This shows that if a Christian isn't into their faith whole heartedly, then their words mean nothing.

Capping the night and the conference off was another dose of David Crowder, this one much superior to the one on Friday.  The first reason is that I was right at the front of the stage.  When they let us in, we had to run to get good seats, but we got them.  Secondly, the audience was much more into it.  There was more energy which made it more enjoyable.  It was pretty much the same set (just a little smaller), but none of it felt repetitive.

I don't know that I'll ever have another weekend with as much stellar music in it again.  I better soak it up while it's still fresh.