Tuesday, July 24, 2007
my life lately
I haven't been able to blog lately. However, lately I've been very busy. Last Monday I started Driver's Ed. and I'm doing very good at it. My driver instructor is very funny. I don't have my L.P. yet, but soon hopefully. Last Thursday I went to Maine to visit my bro. there and got back on Sunday night. After that, I worked and am working the week 9 to 3, then going to Driver's Ed. 5 to 8. So, you can guess how busy I've been. Anyway, God's been good as always and I hope He blesses you.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Rebecca St. James' If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something
CD: If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something
Artist: Rebecca St. James
Year: 2005
Music Type: Contemporary/Religious
*Lyrics/Songwriting: 10/10
*Instruments: 7/10
*Vocals: 10/10
*Message: 10/10
*Sound: 9/10
*Overall: 9.2/10
Comments: Rebecca St. James comes out with a complete masterpiece! With a high-energenic pop sound and the strong and beautiful vocals of an Australian Kelly Clarkson, Rebecca and her band have come out with an album with the spirituality of a worship album and the highly-addictive lyrics and sound of any contemporary band. The hit singles Come Alive, God Help Me, Beautiful Stranger, and You are Loved show the unique style of the band, but are not the only good songs. Songs like Love Being Loved by You, Take All of Me, and Forgive Me are as worshipful as Chris Tomlin or David Crowder and I wouldn't feel uncomfortable singing them in church. The album has much meaning to Rebecca where as the song Beautiful Stranger was written as a motivator for people to the missionairy field from when she visited Africa and You are Loved which was a song written to an old friend who left God. The album includes Thank You which has a guest rap solo by Toby Mac which adds to the uniqueness of it. This cd in my opinion is one of the 10 best contemporary christian cds in the past decade. Highly recommended.
Artist: Rebecca St. James
Year: 2005
Music Type: Contemporary/Religious
*Lyrics/Songwriting: 10/10
*Instruments: 7/10
*Vocals: 10/10
*Message: 10/10
*Sound: 9/10
*Overall: 9.2/10
Comments: Rebecca St. James comes out with a complete masterpiece! With a high-energenic pop sound and the strong and beautiful vocals of an Australian Kelly Clarkson, Rebecca and her band have come out with an album with the spirituality of a worship album and the highly-addictive lyrics and sound of any contemporary band. The hit singles Come Alive, God Help Me, Beautiful Stranger, and You are Loved show the unique style of the band, but are not the only good songs. Songs like Love Being Loved by You, Take All of Me, and Forgive Me are as worshipful as Chris Tomlin or David Crowder and I wouldn't feel uncomfortable singing them in church. The album has much meaning to Rebecca where as the song Beautiful Stranger was written as a motivator for people to the missionairy field from when she visited Africa and You are Loved which was a song written to an old friend who left God. The album includes Thank You which has a guest rap solo by Toby Mac which adds to the uniqueness of it. This cd in my opinion is one of the 10 best contemporary christian cds in the past decade. Highly recommended.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
My "Footprints in the Sand"
My ‘Footprints in the Sand’
By Micah Lang
It all happened so fast. I was with my best friend. I was in heaven. I was walking along the unseen ground with Him. He took me to a special place where I was with Him alone. I looked into the clouds and saw my past. I was crying and so was He.
It was so real and yet not quite the same. It seemed so different. I saw a man with his back turned facing God. This man was a murderer; a thief; a sinner. The God he was answering to was massive and powerful and angry. The God spoke but a single word and the man involuntarily fell to the ground, bowing before this awesome power. The man was subject to death for all his wrong-doings.
Right before the killing blow though, the God’s son approached; the son of which this God loved so much. He was His only son and of which no greater love could be given to from Him.
“What is it my beloved son?” the God said.
“I accept this sinner’s punishment as my own,” the son replied.
The man looked up at the God’s son. The son looked back with tears of blood in His eyes. He then looked back to His father.
The father stared back with tears in His own eyes. This was a great sight to see such a power and glory in such pain.
“Yes my son,” the God said.
Within an instance, the furious and awesome wrath of an angry God was poured in His own son. The punishment consumed the son and destroyed Him. All for the sinner; the guilty man.
“You are free to choose,” the God said and left in an instance.
The man was left alone to think of this and what had happened. He started walking away into the sunset, but he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and looked into the eyes of the son that took his punishment and pain.
“Why did you do that for me?” the man asked.
The son looked into the man’s eyes with nothing but kindness.
“You needed it,” the son said, “you had done nothing but wrong.”
“Everyone does wrong!” the man said furiously.
“Every man makes mistakes,” the son said, “but I did not. I lived a completely perfect life. I didn’t deserve any punishment.”
The man looked into the eyes of son, realizing the circumstances of what happened.
“Why did you do it then?” the man asked again.
“I had no other option,” the son said with tears in His eyes, “I love you far too much. The greatest of my love for you required it of me. There was nothing else I could do. If you felt the love I feel for you, then you would understand, but you can’t. Not yet. Come with me and I will take you to a place where you can experience this love.”
“I am free!!!”
“Yes, but if you don’t, then you will receive your punishment anyway.”
“I am free!!!”
“Please,” the son said, dropping to His knees, “please accept this gift I give to you.”
“I am free,” the man said and walked off.
It was then that I recognized the face of the man. It was me. It was all for me. I continued looking.
I was running; running as far away as I could. I kept looking over my shoulder to see if I was out of sight of my savior. He got very far, but was never out of sight. He was always looking at me; wanting me to come back.
It was at this point in my life where I stopped running. I realized what I was doing. My eyes filled with tears as I realized what my sin had done. I turned around and stared at Him.
I started walking back toward Him and as soon as I did, He came running to me with His arms wide open. He was there in an instance and embraced me as hard as He could. I embraced Him too and I felt a peace I never thought possible. Tears flowed from my eyes.
I realized that I was secure in His love, because now that I embraced Him, HE WOULD NEVER LET ME GO!
By Micah Lang
It all happened so fast. I was with my best friend. I was in heaven. I was walking along the unseen ground with Him. He took me to a special place where I was with Him alone. I looked into the clouds and saw my past. I was crying and so was He.
It was so real and yet not quite the same. It seemed so different. I saw a man with his back turned facing God. This man was a murderer; a thief; a sinner. The God he was answering to was massive and powerful and angry. The God spoke but a single word and the man involuntarily fell to the ground, bowing before this awesome power. The man was subject to death for all his wrong-doings.
Right before the killing blow though, the God’s son approached; the son of which this God loved so much. He was His only son and of which no greater love could be given to from Him.
“What is it my beloved son?” the God said.
“I accept this sinner’s punishment as my own,” the son replied.
The man looked up at the God’s son. The son looked back with tears of blood in His eyes. He then looked back to His father.
The father stared back with tears in His own eyes. This was a great sight to see such a power and glory in such pain.
“Yes my son,” the God said.
Within an instance, the furious and awesome wrath of an angry God was poured in His own son. The punishment consumed the son and destroyed Him. All for the sinner; the guilty man.
“You are free to choose,” the God said and left in an instance.
The man was left alone to think of this and what had happened. He started walking away into the sunset, but he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and looked into the eyes of the son that took his punishment and pain.
“Why did you do that for me?” the man asked.
The son looked into the man’s eyes with nothing but kindness.
“You needed it,” the son said, “you had done nothing but wrong.”
“Everyone does wrong!” the man said furiously.
“Every man makes mistakes,” the son said, “but I did not. I lived a completely perfect life. I didn’t deserve any punishment.”
The man looked into the eyes of son, realizing the circumstances of what happened.
“Why did you do it then?” the man asked again.
“I had no other option,” the son said with tears in His eyes, “I love you far too much. The greatest of my love for you required it of me. There was nothing else I could do. If you felt the love I feel for you, then you would understand, but you can’t. Not yet. Come with me and I will take you to a place where you can experience this love.”
“I am free!!!”
“Yes, but if you don’t, then you will receive your punishment anyway.”
“I am free!!!”
“Please,” the son said, dropping to His knees, “please accept this gift I give to you.”
“I am free,” the man said and walked off.
It was then that I recognized the face of the man. It was me. It was all for me. I continued looking.
I was running; running as far away as I could. I kept looking over my shoulder to see if I was out of sight of my savior. He got very far, but was never out of sight. He was always looking at me; wanting me to come back.
It was at this point in my life where I stopped running. I realized what I was doing. My eyes filled with tears as I realized what my sin had done. I turned around and stared at Him.
I started walking back toward Him and as soon as I did, He came running to me with His arms wide open. He was there in an instance and embraced me as hard as He could. I embraced Him too and I felt a peace I never thought possible. Tears flowed from my eyes.
I realized that I was secure in His love, because now that I embraced Him, HE WOULD NEVER LET ME GO!
Sunday, July 8, 2007
The Almost
CD: Southern Weather
Artist: The Almost
Year: 2007
Music Type: Hard Rock
*Lyrics/Songwriting: 6/10
*Instruments: 8/10
*Vocals: 6/10
*Message: 7/10
*Sound: 7/10
*Overall: 6.8/10
Comments: On his first side project, Underoath member Aaron Gillespie teamed up with superproducer Aaron Sprinkle for this mixture of rock, punk, and emo sounds. "Southern Weather" ranges from hard rock numbers to delicate acoustic anthems. The member has a hard rock voice that tends to whine in the slow songs, but they have good lyrical depth. The sound is catchy and has some very good cuts such as Say it Sooner, Drive There Now!, and the title track. I like it very much. It has a distinct sound that you have to like, but I would recommend it. Here is the CCM magazine review:
After stirring up buzz and expectations with seemingly random live dates late last year, Underoath drummer and vocalist Aaron Gillespie’s solo project (he plays nearly every instrument on the disc) more than lives up to the hype. With a unique and current sound, excellent songwriting and more than impressive performances, Southern Weather has all the makings of an indie rock breakthrough. Stylistically, The Almost is much more melodic than Underoath, with nary a scream to be found. It’s far from laid-back, though. Catchy hooks, diverse instrumentation, eclectic sonic ingredients and powerful lyrics combine thoughtfully throughout. The opening (and title) track establishes itself with an aggressively strummed acoustic guitar pattern à la Violent Femmes before tearing open into a power-pop gem that would make Foo Fighters proud. “Drive There Now” keeps the energy up while delving a little more into emo/indie territory before the third track, “Dirty and Left Out,” ambles in with slow strummed acoustic guitar and electric piano. If there hasn’t been an indie rock spin on Alt Country thus far, this is it. Pedal steel, aching harmonies and a wonderful gait make this not only a standout track on the album, but maybe for the year. (The borrowing from Bill and Gloria Gaither’s classic “Something About That Name” is used to perfect effect without a hint of irony or cynicism.) The bulk of the material keeps the beat fast, the melody dominant and the guitars thick. “If Your Favour is Small I’m Perfect,” “Stop It,” “Everyone Here Smells Like A Rat,” “Never Say I Told You So” and “Call Me When I’m Honest” all drive with intensity and will find great favor with fans of Dead Poetic, the aforementioned Foo Fighters and alternative rock legends Big Star. “Everything Makes Me Sick” boasts not only one of the hottest vocal performances of the batch, but some of the coolest chord progressions and melodic motifs in modern rock. Slightly Beatlesque pump organ sounds are retro enough to provide color, without sounding too quaint. Somehow, amidst the huge rock riffs, Gillespie manages to maintain an element of transparency and candor that inspires rather than wallows. Nowhere is this more apparent than the breathtaking “Amazing Because It Is,” an adaptation of “Amazing Grace” that ranges from deeply personal confessions via solo vocal and acoustic guitar colored by a string and horn section, all the way to a power rock coda sung by a simple choir and banged home with a driving hard rock beat. Perfect production, deeply heartfelt and spiritually powerful lyrics and a dynamic modern rock presentation make Southern Weather one of the first must-own sets of 2007. JOHN J. THOMPSON- CCMMagazine.com
Artist: The Almost
Year: 2007
Music Type: Hard Rock
*Lyrics/Songwriting: 6/10
*Instruments: 8/10
*Vocals: 6/10
*Message: 7/10
*Sound: 7/10
*Overall: 6.8/10
Comments: On his first side project, Underoath member Aaron Gillespie teamed up with superproducer Aaron Sprinkle for this mixture of rock, punk, and emo sounds. "Southern Weather" ranges from hard rock numbers to delicate acoustic anthems. The member has a hard rock voice that tends to whine in the slow songs, but they have good lyrical depth. The sound is catchy and has some very good cuts such as Say it Sooner, Drive There Now!, and the title track. I like it very much. It has a distinct sound that you have to like, but I would recommend it. Here is the CCM magazine review:
After stirring up buzz and expectations with seemingly random live dates late last year, Underoath drummer and vocalist Aaron Gillespie’s solo project (he plays nearly every instrument on the disc) more than lives up to the hype. With a unique and current sound, excellent songwriting and more than impressive performances, Southern Weather has all the makings of an indie rock breakthrough. Stylistically, The Almost is much more melodic than Underoath, with nary a scream to be found. It’s far from laid-back, though. Catchy hooks, diverse instrumentation, eclectic sonic ingredients and powerful lyrics combine thoughtfully throughout. The opening (and title) track establishes itself with an aggressively strummed acoustic guitar pattern à la Violent Femmes before tearing open into a power-pop gem that would make Foo Fighters proud. “Drive There Now” keeps the energy up while delving a little more into emo/indie territory before the third track, “Dirty and Left Out,” ambles in with slow strummed acoustic guitar and electric piano. If there hasn’t been an indie rock spin on Alt Country thus far, this is it. Pedal steel, aching harmonies and a wonderful gait make this not only a standout track on the album, but maybe for the year. (The borrowing from Bill and Gloria Gaither’s classic “Something About That Name” is used to perfect effect without a hint of irony or cynicism.) The bulk of the material keeps the beat fast, the melody dominant and the guitars thick. “If Your Favour is Small I’m Perfect,” “Stop It,” “Everyone Here Smells Like A Rat,” “Never Say I Told You So” and “Call Me When I’m Honest” all drive with intensity and will find great favor with fans of Dead Poetic, the aforementioned Foo Fighters and alternative rock legends Big Star. “Everything Makes Me Sick” boasts not only one of the hottest vocal performances of the batch, but some of the coolest chord progressions and melodic motifs in modern rock. Slightly Beatlesque pump organ sounds are retro enough to provide color, without sounding too quaint. Somehow, amidst the huge rock riffs, Gillespie manages to maintain an element of transparency and candor that inspires rather than wallows. Nowhere is this more apparent than the breathtaking “Amazing Because It Is,” an adaptation of “Amazing Grace” that ranges from deeply personal confessions via solo vocal and acoustic guitar colored by a string and horn section, all the way to a power rock coda sung by a simple choir and banged home with a driving hard rock beat. Perfect production, deeply heartfelt and spiritually powerful lyrics and a dynamic modern rock presentation make Southern Weather one of the first must-own sets of 2007. JOHN J. THOMPSON- CCMMagazine.com
Everyday Sunday's Wake up! Wake up!
CD: Wake Up! Wake Up!
Artist: Everyday Sunday
Year: 2007
Music Type: Punk Rock
*Lyrics/Songwriting: 8/10
*Instruments: 8/10
*Vocals: 7/10
*Message: 8/10
*Sound: 10/10
*Overall: 8.2/10
Comments: A very exciting band with a new sound and inspiration. After coming out with two cds that didn't bring much success, the band took a breather and prayed about their future. After much soul-searching, they came to the resolution of making their third cut with a new label. Produced by All Star United’s Ian Eskelin (Krystal Meyers, Stellar Kart) and mixed by legendary engineer J.R. McNeely (Relient K, Underoath), the resulting Wake Up! Wake Up! is charged by high octane energy. With crisp, clean power-pop in-fluenced guitar and drum riffs, Everyday Sunday has compiled 10 highly contagious radio-friendly tunes that remain artistically sound and sonically pleasing. This invigorating project is fronted by a trio of songs—“Let’s Go Back,” the album’s title track and “Take Me Out”—that hits fast and furious. Lead singer and primary songwriter Trey Pearson displays his growth as both a vocalist and lyricist on songs like “Find Me Tonight,” a heartfelt cry for God’s intervention. Most of the songs, however, deal with relationship issues, including some fun moments such as the autobiographical “I’ll Get Over It (Miss Elaineous),” a catchy 6/8 number about getting dumped. Personal favorites include Let' Go Back, Wake up! Wake Up!, Find Me Tonight, Apathy for Apologies, and Tell Me You'll Be There. Very recommended and belongs in all christians' music libraries.
Artist: Everyday Sunday
Year: 2007
Music Type: Punk Rock
*Lyrics/Songwriting: 8/10
*Instruments: 8/10
*Vocals: 7/10
*Message: 8/10
*Sound: 10/10
*Overall: 8.2/10
Comments: A very exciting band with a new sound and inspiration. After coming out with two cds that didn't bring much success, the band took a breather and prayed about their future. After much soul-searching, they came to the resolution of making their third cut with a new label. Produced by All Star United’s Ian Eskelin (Krystal Meyers, Stellar Kart) and mixed by legendary engineer J.R. McNeely (Relient K, Underoath), the resulting Wake Up! Wake Up! is charged by high octane energy. With crisp, clean power-pop in-fluenced guitar and drum riffs, Everyday Sunday has compiled 10 highly contagious radio-friendly tunes that remain artistically sound and sonically pleasing. This invigorating project is fronted by a trio of songs—“Let’s Go Back,” the album’s title track and “Take Me Out”—that hits fast and furious. Lead singer and primary songwriter Trey Pearson displays his growth as both a vocalist and lyricist on songs like “Find Me Tonight,” a heartfelt cry for God’s intervention. Most of the songs, however, deal with relationship issues, including some fun moments such as the autobiographical “I’ll Get Over It (Miss Elaineous),” a catchy 6/8 number about getting dumped. Personal favorites include Let' Go Back, Wake up! Wake Up!, Find Me Tonight, Apathy for Apologies, and Tell Me You'll Be There. Very recommended and belongs in all christians' music libraries.
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