Wednesday Tunes: “Revelation” by Third Day
Sep 3, 2008 Just Plain Awesomeness, Music
First off, a little bit about my “music management” habits.
I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 1300 cd’s. With that many, sometimes it is difficult to decde what to listen to. So, what I do is go into iTunes and make individual playlists of different albums. I will do this to about 10-15 albums at a time. As I listen to them, I will delete the playlist. When they are all gone, I will do it again, only with different albums.
The latest cd by Third Day, Revelation, is one playlist that has not left iTunes since I made it months ago. I have listened to that cd at least 30 times straight through. Other playlists come and go, Third Day’s Revelation has stood the test of time so far. I think Confucius said that or something.
Anyways, the cd is a great rock cd. Not alternative, not really pop, just rock. The same way you could describe the Black Crowes, Collective Soul, or Lenny Kravitz. You know, Rock N’ Roll, man.
Each track really stands on it’s own, and unlike most cd’s these days, there isn’t any “filler”. You know, the crap included on a lot of cd’s to get the track-count up. Nope, each one of these songs is solid. From a production standpoint, it’s flawless. The guitars and vocals are layered to perfection.
There are a lot of “little things” that for some reason or another, I just love. For example, on the opening track “This is Who I Am”, there is a little drum fill coming out of the bridge going into the last chorus. It’s like this:
…bah dunga dunga dunga dunga…
Trust me, if you listen to it, you’ll know just what I’m talking about. I love that part!
The harmonies are top notch (Slow Down), one song has a guest appearance by the lead singer of Flyleaf (Run to You), and one song has cowbell (I Will Always Be True).
Seriously, go to Amazon MP3 Store or iTunes, listen to some samples, and by the album!
Tags: Music, revelation, rock, third day
God Bless the Child
Aug 29, 2008 Music, Spirituality, Thoughts
Something about this song just makes me “reflect”. I know that sounds weird, but give it a listen. (Press the play button next to the link below):
God Bless the Child (by Michelle Featherstone)
God bless the child
Who can find the way home
God bless the child
Who is weary in soul
Oh, beware to take care of yourself
Or you’ll lack the strength to help somebody else
God bless the child
Who is broken and bruised
God bless the child
Who just wants to be good
Oh, beware to take care of yourself
Or you’ll lack the strength to help somebody else
So take care
So take care
Of yourself
Oh, beware to take care of yourself
Or you’ll lack the strength to help somebody else
So take care, take care
Of yourself
Tags: god bless the child, michelle featherstone, Music, reflection
Tuesday Tunes - Luther Wright and the Wrongs - “Rebuild the Wall”
Aug 19, 2008 Music, tuesday tunes
If you are a fan of Pink Floyd, you need to check this cd out. Luther Wright and the Wrongs have taken Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”, and rebuilt it from the ground up. Only, they have infused their old-time country/folk sound into it. They do a great job on each song, making each one sound as if you need to be having a hoedown while listening to it. There is plenty of slide-guitar, violin, and of course, banjo all throughout the album.
I want to also note that this cd is just as complex as Pink Floyd’s version. There are little background noises/sound effects/dialog, only they are crafted for the musical style of the CD.
Head to Amazon and listen to some samples. These guys have made a GREAT cover of an amazing piece of art.
Amazon MP3 link (with samples)
Tags: country, Music, pink floyd, tuesday tunes
My top 5 guilty pleasures - music edition
On my iPod, I have close to 20,000 songs or so. Most of that is music I am very proud to own, and I certainly would not mind listening to it in public with the windows down. That being said, I do have some tunes that I want to keep to myself. Of those, here are my top 5 (and some attempt at justification at each). Keep in mind, I don’t listen to these a lot, but if I can’t decide what to listen to, one (or all) of these will do the trick:
5. Britney Spears - Stronger
I think the video for this song originally got me hooked, or maybe it’s the refrain of the last chorus, but whatever it is, this song has a pretty solid groove!
4. N’Sync - Dirty Pop
On a production level, this song is so complex, I can listen to it over and over again, and each time hear a new sound effect or loop. And yeah, I guess the “we don’t take crap from anyone because we’re N’-stinkin’-Sync” theme of the song is ok. But listen to it, and you’ll find yourself singing DDDDDDDDDDDDirty pop, y-y-y-y-y-you can’t stop”.
3. Backstreet Boys - Everybody
“Dun, dun dun dun dun dun, dun, dun dun dun, O my God, we’re back again, dun, dun nuh nuh.” This song has a great beat, tune, plus I ripped it off several years ago when I needed a beat for a remix I made. I’m THAT guy that when the line comes on, “am I sex-u-al”, I always say “Noooo,ooooo”.
2. Various - Lady Marmalade
Christina Aguelara (sp?) has a great set of pipes (read: vocal chords), and she uses every bit of them in this song. Also, Pink sounds pretty good in this song. Plus, how often do you get to sing in French?
1. Hanson - Mmmm Bop
If you have a list similar to this, most likely this song is somewhere on it. I will freely admit that this song is one of the catchiest dang songs I have ever heard. Plus, when the video came out, I thought “Hey, that girl lead singer is kind of cute”. Then I found out she was a he. Now that I think about that, I kind of wish I had not revealed that here. All that aside, this is a fun song about who-knows-what, but it tops my list of guilty pleasure songs.
So, what are yours??
UPDATE: Celie Dion’s “The Power of Love” falls somewhere in this list. Just sayin…
Tags: backstreet boys, britney spears, guilty pleasures, hanson, Music, pink, songs
John Mayer is a Cool Guy
Aug 6, 2008 Found Online, Humor, Just Plain Awesomeness, Music
I’m a John Mayer fan. Dude can flat-out play blues guitar, is a good lyricist, and most of all, a funny guy. He’s famous and has been known to have a bit of an ego at times, but he can poke fun at himself. In this video he did with TMZ, you see a great example of that. Enjoy!
Tags: funny, john mayer, Music, tmz
Song of the week - “What You Want” by Caedmon’s Call
Jul 16, 2008 Music, Spirituality
“What You Want” is a song by Caedmon’s Call that is one of my top 5 songs of all time, and for 2 reasons. First of all, the lyrics are simple yet have a big impact. Also, the way that Derek Webb sings parts of it is just awesome. He tends to scream at certain parts for emphasis, and in mixing, they added a lot of reverb to those parts. I have bold-ed the parts I am referring to in the lyrics below. Press the little play button to listen.
What You Want by Caedmon’s Call
You’re softer than a cannon blast
But your effects much longer last
And I want you just like a hole in my head
But I need you like a meal and a bed
And you say, “Come on, I’m not what you’re after.”
But I know you’re not just anyone, anyone
But I’m not what you want
No, I’m not anyone
But if you needed me
Then I could be someone
And you’re an army in a horse
And you have taken me by force
And all the freedom in this world could not resist
The sweet temptation of your sweet elusiveness
So I say “Come on!” as the gate swings open
Cause I know you’re not just anyone, anyone
And the lie’s always cheaper than the truth
But the lie’s all I’ve ever known of you
Maybe none of this is true
But I’m not what you want
No, I’m not anyone
But if you needed me
Then I could be someone
Tags: caedmon's call, lyrics, Music
