Marvelous Musings

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T18:49:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone.

Hope everyone's day was as picture perfect as the rest of my family got in Minnesota with the peaceful four inches of snow that fell. What I REALLY hope is that you all feel the love of God this season and come to a deeper understanding of what it means that He came to this earth to die for our sins.

Leap Year

2007-12-18T18:43:00.001-08:00

That's about as old school as -
What goes tick, tick woof?

Giggling Saltwater

2007-11-29T16:24:00.001-08:00

Why do mother kangaroos hate it when it rains?

Back on the Air

2007-06-11T16:39:00.000-07:00

It's been a few years, but I'm back on the air waves broadcasting ball games! I called a game Friday night, and I didn't realize until today how excited I am to do games again. I was a little worried about taking up too much of my free time and spending too much on gas, but I only average two games a week and gas is mostly covered. Throw in a small payment per game, and I feel I'm getting paid to have fun. It's kind of like playing in the NFL, only the lack of a good pension plan doesn't matter as much since I don't beat up my body...

Anyway, I'm calling about 15 games for the Waynesboro Generals, part of the Valley Baseball League. The league is 11 teams up and down the Shenandoah Valley. Each team is filled with college players from NAIA and JCs to big D-I prgrams. The goal of the league is to show talent to the scouts and provide college kids a chance to improve their skills.

Enough background...our games are webcast, so any of you can listen to me on the internet! Not sure if it's aired live, but I know they are archived, so you can listen afterwards. Here is the link:

http://www.futuremediaworld.com/waynesboro.htm

And here is the list of games I'm doing this year:
6-8: vs Haymarket
6-13: vs Covington
6-16: vs Luray
6-20: vs New Market
6-27: at Woodstock
6-28: at Staunton
7-7: vs Harrisonburg
7-13: at Staunton
7-14: vs Covington
7-15: at Front Royal
7-18: vs New Market
7-20: at Winchester
7-23: at Harrisonburg
7-27: at Haymarket

Hope you get a chance to listen to me.

Not consistent

2007-06-01T05:35:00.000-07:00

If you can't tell, I'm not very consistent with the ole blogging thing. Sometimes I think my bro, I mean "Nickel," posts more on here than I do. OK, that's science...he does.

I don't post a lot because I have such a wonderful wife. To be blunt, I like her better than I like being on the computer! I would rather go to soccer games with her. I would rather go camping and hiking with her. I would rather watch a movie with her. Shoot, I would rather sit on the couch and just "be" with her than be on the computer too much. And THIS weekend, I would MUCH rather go to Chicago with her to celebrate my birthday! (Her idea, not mine...she's a good one.)

Wrigley Field, here we come!!!

I'm no mother!

2007-05-15T04:22:00.000-07:00

Whoever wished me a Happy Mother's Day in my revious blog's comments...I've got news for you. My name is JAMES, I'm a MAN, and that makes it impossible to be a MOTHER. Then again, since the title of the day is "Mother's Day," I guess you could just be saying, "Have a happy day, which just happens to be Mother's Day." Anyway, as long as everyone understands I'm a man, I htink I'm OK.

And if there was any question, I'm not going to be an immensely consistent blogger. We finally got all of our stuff out of boxes (mostly), but if you guys want your wedding thank you's I need time, people!

I've really struggled with my devotional life recently. I get up at 7 in the morning and don't want to get up earlier. And when I come home from work it's time to eat and then I either have stuff to do or I'm just tired from a long day at work. I go to bed and WHALAH...I didn't do anything devotional. It's kind of frustrating and I'm a bit mad at myself. I know that I need to simply set aside time every day, but does anyone else have any thoughts on maintaining a devotional life for a young newlywed?

Don't Look Back

2007-04-09T13:28:00.000-07:00

As the last child in my family, I spent a few years without any siblings to play with. Hence, I have many fond memories of playing pool or army guys in the basement, listening to music. One song that sticks in my head from those years is "Don't Look Back" from the Fine Young Cannibals. No comments on the musical choices, please (although it's amazing how little content can go into a pop song...)

Anyway, the lyric that stuck in my head is "don't look back, it won't do no good." Hey, it was catchy musically. The lyrics though? I liked them, but they don't really fit me. I like history. Check that, I LOVE history! I think history and looking back IS good. It shows how someone or something got to be the way it is. It helps you understand. It reminds you that God IS in control and His ways ARE being accomplished.

As a vastly mature and married 30-year-old, I would subscirbe to the concept of "look back, just don't regret." Regretting won't do no good.

When I look back on my life, I don't regret a thing. I didn't ENJOY everything, I just don't regret it. I've had some pretty tough and trying times. Times I didn't exactly want to be in. But I think we're called to hold tight to God's promises. He doesn't promise us an easy life or one always full of friends or fortune. But He does promise us He will never leave us. I have found that the trying times in my life have been a way for God to pull me closer to Him. He's refining me. He's making me more like Him. Fun? Not always. But good. And good to look back on.

So look back, just don't regret. It may not be a catchy phrase fit for a pop song, but hey, you can't win them all.

No Yinka Dare

2007-03-31T20:13:00.000-07:00

Well, Roy Hibbert did what I asked. He wasn't a Trevor Winter. He played a solid game, showing a jumper and some moves. He'll get drafted high and be a good NBA player. Which leads me to Yinka Dare...at least he was drafted high. Jeff Green? I hope he stays another year with Hibbert and learns how to dominate a game when needed...

So here I am, sitting in front of the computer. It's been a Saturday with a few big events. Summary: church membership class all morning. Ate lunch and napped nearly the entire afternoon. No kidding. Watched basketball all evening. Very relaxing, yes, but somehow I don't feel like I accomplished much.

Good news, Sarah and I are tie in our brackets heading into the final game. Which means that for once, the number of points you get for picking the tournament winner is a moot point. It could be 1 or 32 points...if Florida wins, I win. If Ohio State win, Sarah wins. As a Florida State fan, I hate rooting for Florida. I'm still not, but I just can't see anyone beating them.

OK, my busy day has worn me out. Time for bed...

Texas and Trevor Winter

2007-03-19T15:23:00.000-07:00

Texas? Never liked the place. I thought the state was over-rated and the people too out-spoken. Give me a good Minnesotan who KNOWS we have the best state so we don't have to go spouting off trying to CONVINCE everyone we do.

There are two things going on in my life right now. One is settling into married life and organizing our home. I have enough boxes of books and presents and papers and my junk to deal with so that I don't want to write about it. The other thing is March Madness.

One cool thing this year is that I now have a permanent friend to fill out brackets with. What's fun is that she's actually good enough to be competitive. What am I saying? Sarah and I were tied after the first round. After the second round she now leads me by one pick!

I was let down by Texas. Kevin Durant and Company were supposed to knock off North Carolina for me, clearing the way for Georgetown to sweep into the Finals. Instead, "Company" disappeared and Durant couldn't single-handedly defeat USC. He's no Vince Young, I guess. Well, have fun in the NBA.

Nick Fazekas also failed me. He does every year, actually. His Nevada team needed overtime just to get by a Creighton team with no real inside presence. Then they couldn't beat Memphis like they were supposed to. I'm finally sick of Fazekas. I'm sure some NBA team will draft him, but he'll be over-rated and a bust. Kind of like Trevor Winter that way. Hold it, Trevor Winter was never officially a bust cause he was never really any good. Just a seven-footer playing in a land of six-and-a-half footers. Well, tough break for whatever NBA team drafts Fazekas.

My brackets? All I'm asking is that Roy Hibbert proves he is no Trevor Winter.

What's worse?

2007-02-23T16:53:00.000-08:00

That this blog is so out of date that I have spammers all over the place...or that I still have folks checking this site and noticing the spammers?!

True, true...in about one week, the aforementioned Sarah Harper will not exist as we know her. She will be Sarah De Boer. I can't wait! What a blessing she is.

Aside from the stress of planning weddings, there are a lot of exciting aspects. Family. Friends. Hotel stays. Famous Daves for a rehearsal dinner. Incredible food at the reception. And unbeatable deal on an all-inclusive honeymoon in Mexico. And God in it all.

Yeah, I'll be happy when everything is over with and it's just Sarah and I relaxing at home. And I wouldn't mind lowering the stress level one notch. But as I approach the wedding week...it's worth it!

Marc

2006-08-16T15:38:00.000-07:00

Don't worry, a proposal entry is on its way.

I forgot to mention that I saw Marc Broussard in concert with Sarah last month. (My sweetie got us tickets for my birthday and we stayed with my beat boxing homie Tony Brown in Memphis!)

Anyway, aside from it literally being over 90 degrees in the bar we were in, it was a good concert. His musical influences obviously extend outside of the norm...he's a mid-20s white guy who sounds like a mix of Stevie Wonder and any classic delta blues singer. Goodness, kids...that's not normal! But it was a good concert. His lead guitarist goes nutso when he does solos. And I just can't match Marc's singing without wearing out my voice, so I like it.

The heat, though, was amazing. Sarah and I stood next to a side wall the entire time and did little more than sit and watch. Yet I think we were close to dehydration! When we got outside, Sarah said, "I feel like I just jumped into a swimming pool with my jeans on."

But seeing as most of you reading this won't attend a concert in Memphis in the middle of July, I recommend seeing Marc Broussard. (Oh, just be warned that he'll drop a few f-bombs!)

Sporatic entries

2006-08-09T08:30:00.000-07:00

So it shouldn't be too hard to see that my entries have been a little on and off...or maybe hit and miss...or maybe just every once in a while. Truth is I've started planning a wedding. No, I'm not starting a new occupation as a wedding planner - I'm getting married!!!

Sarah is my wonderful sweetheart and we got engaged in June. We'll get married early next spring in Delaware and I have to say I don't think I was aware how much work goes into planning a wedding. I guess it makes sense. I've planned concerts, tours, athletic events, and random special appearances and it's obvious to me that if you want something to come out nice and well-organized, you have to put some work into.

We're making a trip out to Delaware in September to do some planning. Sarah will be there a couple more days than I to plan with her mom (mom's like to buy wedding dresses with their daughters!) I'm pretty excited about taste testing the food for our reception, an engagement party, and going crabbing with her dad. Mmm, I'm picturing rolling out onto the Chesapeake early in the morning and dropping cages in the water. You know, I hope Papa Harper likes me...he could be dropping ME into the water!

Well that took a while

2006-07-27T15:29:00.000-07:00

Man, I didn't intend for my Top 23 list to take so long. Any surprises for anyone? Anything you own that you think should be mentioned? Anything you think I definitely need to buy because it's just so good? Let er fly....

Keep me hanging on!

2006-07-18T16:44:00.000-07:00

And now....NUMBER ONE!

Silers Bald - Real Life

You may never have heard of these guys, but stick with me.

One of the problems with the bubble gum pop crap music that is out there now is the loss of a distinctive musical sound. The good music relays a feeling of where the music actually came from. Yes, I'm talking about the geographical location of the band! A lot of California bands do that...you can picture yourself driving down Santa Monica Blvd. Marc Broussard does that (as most blues artists do.) And Silers Bald does that like no other. When I first heard this CD there was a point in one song where I literally felt like I was on an Appalachian mountainside with a beautiful winter snow falling around me!

Silers Bald is from western South Carolina...the Appalachian Mountains! You can sense that mountain feel (it's like bluegrass or Americana, maybe) in the guitars, violin, flute, and especially the dulcimer. Shoot, one of their songs is simply titled "Carolina Line." I can't describe it in words...you HAVE to hear it.

And their lyrics are outstanding. (You would almost think they're Reformed! I think they referenced Francis Schaeffer once in a blog!) "My Heart Will Sing" hooked me on these guys. They don't pretend to sing a simple cheesy song about God. They flat out say they can't put God into words (because you can't) but their heart will sing. And "Emmanuel" is an incredible song about a wedding...what pictures it paints! "Feel" turns up the rock sound of Silers Bald in a great way. "Turn" continues what appears to be a trend of great songs with single-word-titles. (ha.)

But one of my favorite songs (besides "Feel" and "Emmanuel") was actually penned when the group members were struggling one night in their creativity. So they sat down and free wrote...and out came "Truly Gifted." It is not ready for mass consumption whatsoever...and it is delicious! I love the music and the lyrics...and the four-bar musical interlude that paints a wintery scene in the mountains.

Sadly, I haven't heard much of anything from these guys since this album was released on Essential Records a few years ago. I think they are now an independent band, doing a couple of dates a year, but that is all I know. Serious, I'll give somebody money or a CD if they can give me some solid info.

Regardless, get out and hear this music. Go to their website. Find their page on MySpace. Ask about it in a store. HEAR IT!

Nearly at the top

2006-07-06T21:15:00.000-07:00

No. 2: Smalltown Poets - Smalltown Poets

The group's self-titled debut remains not just their best, but one of the best albums ever. A combination of great rock and roll, great production and great lyrics put this baby up there.

I'm thinking that a five-piece band is turning into my favorite sound. Two guitars, bass, drums, and a creative keyboardist just get me. Then you throw in the solid production work of John Hampton and Dana Key (yeah, from CCM pioneers DeGarmo & Key) and you just have an incredible sound. My love of Smalltown Poets' sound is exemplified in the ripping intro of "Everything I Hate" and the light reverberations in "I'll Give."

And how about packing a punch...I'll take the first six songs on this album against a string of six of another album any day. Prophet, Priest and King; If You Let Me Love You, Everything I Hate, I'll Give, Anymore, and Who You Are. They show great writing, instrumentation, vocal range, and production.

Now let's talk lyrics. I could rattle on for a while, but I'll keep this short. "Everything I Hate" is about the classic battle that continually wages inside of us. Paul writes about it in the Bible. The war of what we want to do and what we DO do. That battle has never been put into poetry and song so well before.

Now let me devote some time to "I'll Give." This song is one of the best songs ever. This is an example of the instrumentation matching the soul of the song perfectly. This song is what I want my cry to be. If the chorus doesn't say enough (I'll give and I'll hold nothing back) check out the stripped away sacrifice in the bridge...

My hands are open so take what you see
And I'll keep nothing, hold nothing back from me.

OK, #3!

2006-06-28T15:15:00.000-07:00

We will hold an official press conference later.

No 3: Evanescence - Fallen

Serious, since the top 5 hit, these albums have gotten astronomically awesome! I can listen to these things for two weeks without feeling the desire to move on...hmm.

These guys are classified as Goth-rock, and I have never really known what that actually means. I'm starting to think it might mean hard rock with strings and classical choirs...plus some painful, introspective lyrics. That's pretty easy to understand, isn't it?

First off, the sound of Evanescence blows apart anything ever done in Christian music (where it was originially marketed) and still is a sound all its own in mainstream music. The power and crispness of the guitar is unparalleled. Lyrically, wow, there are some painful, introspective lyrics. (In fact, after lead singer Amy Lee's mother heard the music she asked if Amy wanted to see a therapist!) Many, however, hold a very spiritual base.

Do you remember me / lost for so long / will you be on the other side / or will you forget me / I'm dying, praying, bleeding and screaming / am I too lost to be saved / am I too lost? / My God My Tourniquet / return to me salvation.

I seriously can't pick out favorite tracks...maybe Going Under, My Immortal (rock version), My Last Breath, and Hello. That last song holds my favorite lyric on the album, which can only be felt by swimming in the depths of Lee's painful yet beautiful vocals interlaced with a lonely piano and cello. "Don't try to fix me I'm not broken."

I believe the magic in the album lies in the combination of Amy Lee, co-founder and guitarist Ben Moody, and keyboardist David Hodges. Both Moody and Hodges are Christians. Lee was six when her three-year-old sister died from an illness. Moody has struggled with depression. The two bonded through their music and their pain.

Evanescence is releasing a new album later this year, but I seriously wonder if the group can recapture the magic. Hodges left the group when Lee and Moody wanted to steer the group more into mainstream music. And Moody excused himself from the group while they were in Sweden on tour, although both he and Lee were glad to have him out of the group. So Lee is guiding the ship now, on her own.

What I like about "Fallen" is not that Evanescence had a neatly packaged set of uplifting lyrics, or even that the members effectively worked through whatever issues they have, but that they put out 11 tracks straight out of their insides. These songs are "blood and guts" and insides. They are painful. They are powerful. Some have hope and some don't. And product of what came out is so unique that I really don't think it can ever be duplicated again.

Hopefully you don't think *I* need to see a therapist for liking this album...

Back for Four

2006-06-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

Wow, that was a break...vacation to Illinois will do that!

No. 4: DC Talk - Jesus Freak

How can you not include the most influential, ground-breaking, and significant Christian album of all-time? (Yes, and I DO still put three albums on top of this!)

DC Talk had already made a name for itself as a Christian rap group. With Jesus Freak, however, they turned the Christian music world on its ear. The bevy of talents and strengths of Toby McKeehan, Kevin Smith, and Michael Tait exploded into a style NO ONE has EVER reproduced, Christian or mainstream. The resulting album established DC Talk as the most influential group in Christian music and also helped open the door for Christian crossover music (which was later blown open by Jars of Clay with "Flood.")

Let me list off the names involved with the Jesus Freak album - some were big names when the album came out in 1995, some used it as a springboard. Aside from the three members of DC Talk there was Mark Heimerman (song writer and producer), Charlie Peacock (song writer and Christian music extraordinaire), Billy Graham (evangelist with "audio cameo"), Todd Collins (future Gotee Brother and producer), Otto Price (stud bass player and future producer), Jerry McPherson (guitars and future lead of Seven Day Jesus), Chris Rodriguez (solo Christian artist), and Zilch (backing band with later turned into Sonicflood.) Wow, that is THE most heavy weight list of names I have ever seen.

The artistry and poetry of the album are rarely duplicated in Christian music. And the single "Jesus Freak" has to be one of the best songs in Christian music ever.

What can I say?...Jesus Freak was just an outstanding album. Just outstanding. Hail to the Chief(s).

The best number

2006-05-23T07:03:00.000-07:00

And now, on with the countdown...

No. 5: Tree63 - The Answer To The Question

I've been listening to this CD non-stop for two weeks and I didn't want to stop! Turns out I like it a lot! For that matter, I think I'm liking most much that comes out of South Africa and Australia...it's unique, fresh, and able to take on mainstream music without sacrificing its message. (And Tree63 is from South Africa!)

Tree63 is the most delectible three-piece band I've ever heard. They can do power. They can do simple. They can mix it up in the same song. Oh yeah, and they layer in some other instruments on a few songs, too...

The guys rip out some incredible rock tunes in "King," "You Only," "The Answer To The Question," and "So Glad." They do great on the light songs of "I Stand For You," "Let Your Day Begin" and "Overdue." And of course just an outstanding version of "Blessed Be Your Name."

"The Answer To The Question," is my favorite track on the CD. Frontman/writer John Ellis started writing down all the things he knew Jesus to be and it came out as this song. The song holds one of the most incredible lines I've heard in music. The lyrics are "How can I not cry? Watching as the world dies Without a prayer; They run to their owns gods, roughshod Blind to the living God of earth and heaven; How could they sing Of everything but him?" And shortly after the band cuts out to just Ellis on the guitar playing a few reverbed high notes...ooo, it's entrancing!

Tree63 also has some of the best "Christian" (what I like to call "vertical") lyrics I've ever heard. It's not the cheap bubble gum Christianity you hear in a lot of Christian music.

And I think what keeps me stuck on this CD is that it's incredibly well-done and it's short. Ten songs and I think about 35 minutes. There are even a few songs that are only two and a half minutes long! You don't have enough time to fully digest all the good things you are hearing!

Highly, highly recommend.

Couldn't resist

2006-05-20T08:41:00.000-07:00

Remember Danny Almonte? The guy who pitched in the Little League World Series while lying about his age?

Well, these days he's 19 (really!), hoping to get drafted this summer, and now...married. To a 30-year-old! I wonder if he lied about his age to her?!

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/draft2006/news/story?id=2450606

Wow

2006-05-19T07:26:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted anything. Shoot, my last CD listing was about two weeks ago, wasn't it? Well the good news is that I'm still listening to my next CD and still enjoying it. Usually I'm ready to write my review and get to the next CD, but I just keep playing this one over and over in the car. So as you wait on pins and needles know this...it's a good one!

I'll try to get my review done this weekend...today is graduation day for my girlfriend and I DO have to work a few hours Saturday afternoon. And I have a family vacation coming up...ooo, what a crazy few weeks here!

So who thinks the Cubs can turn it around this year?

The Da Vinci Code

2006-05-09T21:50:00.000-07:00

I never read the book, and so I know little about the movie, but I thought this guy had a good approach to how we are to deal with movies like this. From what I know, NO, I don't agree with what the book or movie proposes, but I do think I want to see the movie (if I get free tickets!!!) It will help me understand my culture.

Anyway, this guy proposes that The Da Vinci Code will be good for Christianity. What?! He says the only reason this book/movie succeeds is because Christians don't know what they believe, and something like this will force Christians to figure that out. Wow, who would have thought...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,194665,00.html

A legendary get-together

2006-05-02T06:32:00.000-07:00

Saturday night Sarah and I went to see Bob Dylan and Merle Haggard together in concert. Yeah, two music legends. Frankly, neither of us knew a thing about Merle except he was a country icon. And I knew a few Bob Dylan songs, but wouldn't call myself a fan. Basically, we were just going to be able to say we did.

OK, first off...you know all those people who say you can't understand Bob Dylan when he sings? They're right. Let me put it this way - during the first or second song, Sarah started laughing and then asked me, "How did he make it this long?" Musically, he's good. But I really think listening to his stuff while reading the lyrics would be a good idea.

Sadly, (speaking as an anti-country music man) both Sarah and I enjoyed Merle Haggard better. His sound was much cleaner, he talked with the crowd a few times, and we could understand most of his lyrics! As a new Johnny Cash fan (thanks to "Walk The Line") I equated the two. Merle has a similar baritone to his voice and both are old-school "outlaw" country, which is OK in my book. As he walked off the stage, he looked even older than his 69 years...I guess the effects of a hard life.

Perhaps as much fun, was people watching here in Jackson, MS. If you can imagine, Bob Dylan and Merle Haggard attracted a lot of "good ol boys." Never meanin' no harm...

Coming Home

2006-04-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

No. 6: Marc Broussard - Carencro

Two years ago, I was working at KSOU radio in Sioux Center, IA, preparing for a move to Jackson, MS. Even though we belonged to a music servicing group, Island Records still sent us a lot of singles and albums. The music director there often gives them the obligatory 10-second listen before he dumps them.

Now picture "Carencro" from Marc Broussard. Who? I was there when he popped it in, and the first song was on a slow fade in...and finally some weird drums or stomps or something came in. And then a delta bluesy guitar. And then a grovelly old black man. HOLD IT!!! Wasn't there a young white guy on the cover? Yeah! But the guy singing sounds like a B.B. King or John Lee Hooker! Yup, still a white guy. When I noticed that the song was actually about driving to New Orleans, that combined with the black-sounding white guy and blues guitar and unique drums/stomps, and I took home the CD.

Before the following Christmas, I was hooked on Marc Broussard and had vaulted "Carencro" to one of the best albums I owned. Yeah, that's how good it is!

This is one of the most unique and versatile CDs I have ever heard, and you really need to go to the website to get a better feel for the music. (www.marcbroussard.com)

"Home" is all I made it up to be, and has splashed in rock and country markets. "Come Around" sounds like a Harry Connick Jr. jazzy tune. "Rock Steady," "Save Me" (my favorite) and "Where You Are" are top-notch pop rock songs. "The Wanderer" and "Hope For Me Yet" are stripped-down acoustic tunes that are simply outstanding. Broussard even has the vocal flexibility to pull off some club jazz in "The Beauty Of Who You Are," "Lonely Night In Georgia" and "Saturday."

It's impossible to put this album into one category. It's incredibly unique and really that good. Really.

An electric combination

2006-04-21T06:38:00.000-07:00

No. 7: No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom

No Doubt is kind of like a buffet line...you have all these great options for food, so why would you keep taking the same dish over and over? I say load your plate with as many things as possible!

Enter No Doubt. Eric Stefani, the group's founder, was still with the group as Tragic Kingdom was being recorded. He brought the ska feel and the love of an 80s group, Madness. Eric forced his little sister Gwen to sing, and she was inspired by Julie Andrews from "The Sound of Music." Bass player (and song inspirer) Tony Kanal was into marching band and jazz. Guitarist Tom Dumont had recently joined and added his heavy metal background. And then there was drummer Adrian Young, who became more famous for wearing g-strings on stage than for lying about how long he had actually been playing drums.

So the influences...ska, Julie Andrews, jazz, marching band, heavy metal, and...well, who knows about Adrian Young. And out comes 14 incredible, incredible songs. Everyone has heard "Spiderwebs," "Just A Girl," and "Don't Speak."

I love "Different People." It's one of those songs where every different instrument or vocal is delectible. And Gwen shows off some incredible control of her voice...from nearly whispering to nearly screaming, and the tight vibrato she flairs during high "screaming" notes blows my mind.

This entire album is packed with goodness (and a bit of vitamin C!) and it just seems fitting that the 14 tracks end with "Tragic Kingdom." The music continues to increase in tempo at a suicidial rate, finally culminating in an explosive "death" as a trumpet plays "Taps" and a saxophone plays "Star Wars." And that's it!

Tasted good, didn't it?

Little Dylan

2006-04-17T07:03:00.000-07:00

No 8: The Wallflowers - Bringing Down the Horse

If it wasn't for my girlfriend buying this CD for me a couple of months ago, I would not have been able to include it on this list. I knew it was an awesome CD, don't get me wrong, but I didn't own it for some odd reason (I know, sometimes I defy logic!)

Anyway, it's hard to believe that it was 10 years ago that Jakob Dylan and his band came out with this album. The radio hits are well-known: "One Headlight," "6th Avenue Heartache," "Three Marlenas," and "The Difference." My favorite is "One Headlight" with "The Difference" a close second.

But don't forget about the "B-sides." There are 11 good tracks on this CD..."Laughing Out Loud" and "Josephine" being good examples of the "other" songs.

What I like about The Wallflowers is their music and Dylan's voice. It's a voice I can't do. Maybe "One Headlight" is the hardest, but it's so breathy and yet grovelly that my throat is too dry to sing halfway through the song. But I love the blues rock (almost country!) guitars and the B3 organ. And the vocal harmonies are enticing. Sometimes there are no background voices, but you can still hear harmonies. I like that.

What ever happened to The Wallflowers?

Needed to talk about Maddux

2006-04-14T19:37:00.000-07:00

Chicago Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux turned 40 today. He may not be the best pitcher in the game anymore, but ESPN's Tim Kurkjian calls him the 6th-best pitcher of ALL TIME!!!

Few things are as entrancing to me as a pitcher who has control of his pitches and the game. I still remember Kerry Wood blowing 20 strikeouts on the Houston Astros in just his 5th major league start. His curveball was insane. I still remember Kevin Brown pitching the San Diego Padres into the 1998 World Series. And Greg Maddux. Wow. Leo Mazzone, who was his pithcing coach in Atlanta for about a decade, said Maddux is the smartest pitcher he has ever seen and will ever see. He plans out a game in his head and has even said he would get a certain guy to pop out to third base in the third inning. And he did, of course.

Anyway, check out Kurkjian's article. Very nice.

The volcano erupts

2006-04-10T06:57:00.000-07:00

After stewing quietly, the volcano suddenly spews out more than anticipated...

No. 12: Newsboys - Love Liberty Disco
No. 11: Newsboys - Take Me To Your Leader
No. 10: Newsboys - Thrive
No. 9: Newsboys - Step Up To The Microphone

I like the Newsboys...can you tell? Basically anything from the Jody Davis era (guitar) I love. Let's see, how can I keep this short?...

LLD - wow, what an afro by Davis. A unique, 70s, retro sound for sure, but I really like it. Every Newsboys album has some incredible track at or near the end that turns the listener to God in a heart-wide-open moment. It's "I Surrender All" on this CD.

TMTYL - "Cup O' Tea" and "Lost the Plot" are two of my favorite Newsboys songs ever. Both have my required tempo change/explosiveness feel. "Lost the Plot" was the encore on that tour, and Peter Furler playing his guitar alone on stage in the dark to open it up before everyone exploded in with video images showing on the backdrop...eah, that image and feeling will forever stay pasted in my head.

Thrive - Oh, this whole CD is incredible. "The Fad of the Land" into "John Woo" is one of my favorite album song transitions of all-time. And Davis' guitar work on this album are drool-worthy. The album closes with "Lord (I Don't Know)," which IS the Newsboys' best album-closing song ever.

SUTTM - Can you imagine the concert spectacle of three huge microphones hanging from the backdrop? Each one smokes and is layered in lights... Nice. Um, yeah...the CD. "WooHoo" gets the listener as excited as it's title would suggest. "Entertaining Angels" might be the best Newsboys song ever. "Hallelujah" is an odd yet enticing song with a dance beat. (gasp!) And the album closer, "Always," sums up the comfort of our Father in heaven..."to be my father in the fatherless days."

The Newsboys. Love em. Lots.

And now, on with the countdown

2006-04-02T13:40:00.000-07:00

No. 13: Steven Curtis Chapman - Declaration

Let me first say that from here on in, these are albums that I can listen to ANYtime. Sometimes I only listen to certain music when I'm in certain moods, but the final 13 albums on my list transcend mood.

Frankly, I never got into SCC's music all that much...I only own two of his albums. But I guess based on two things I bought this CD. I met him once and he seemed incredibly humble, knowledgeable, respectable, and...normal; and two, a couple songs on this album are written about a missionary martyr I was named after.

Steven Curtis Chapman. Declaration. I hesitate to write about this one because I can't do it justice. Theologically it is probably one of THE best albums I have ever heard. And the production is simply outstanding...I continue to hear little sounds, phrases, layers, instruments...oooohhh, and that is what makes music good to me.

"No Greater Love" and "God Follower" are the two songs about the story of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Pete Fleming, and EdMcully. Mincaye, one of the five's murderers who is now converted, chants in his native tongue on "No Greater Love." And that transition from that song and Mincaye's chanting into "God is God" (both musically and thematically) is divine.

"Bring It On" is an incredible flair on something Oswald Chambers wrote, "Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them." And "Magnificent Obsession" is a cry I only wish my heart had for God.

Please, if you're going to buy one album out of all the ones I talk about here, buy this one. Declaration is incredible. I only put it at 13 beacause my musical taste is a little more towards rock than SCC usually does. But for anyone with less of a rock taste than me (which is most of you reading this), this is for you!

Countdown Extra!

2006-03-28T06:54:00.000-08:00

In true Casey Kasem style, I'm pulling in a countdown extra...

Shaun Groves - Invitation to Eavesdrop

To be honest, I kinda forgot this album when I was making my list. It has a few songs that make me tired and few songs that are some of the best songs ever. "Welcome Home" is one of those best-songs-ever. A beautifully crafted pop song with a piano base and explosive strings and instrumentation...it's about how we try to keep parts of all of our lives from God. We try to keep windows blocked, or closets locked, or just something...but God wants all of us. The song begins and ends with simple lyrics over piano: "Take me, make me all you want me to be, that's all I'm asking, all I'm asking."

My other favorites are "Should I Tell Them?," "Move Me," and "After the Music Fades."

Groves invites music lovers into his mind and his thinking with this album (a rare occurance these days!) and that's why it's my countdown extra!

I don't know, either!

2006-03-25T13:29:00.000-08:00

Apparently Blogger, my host for the blog site, was having some problems most of htis past week. And apparently it's better now! So you didn't miss any of the countdown...I'll resume shortly... Thanks for your patience.

A White Soul Band

2006-03-20T06:32:00.000-08:00

I'm back.

No. 14: Maroon5 - Songs About Jane

These guys released "Harder To Breathe" to radio, and I loved it. I loved it. (Still do!) I had to find out more on these guys.

They are five guys who got together, and while they were "figuring out their musical identity" they lived in an African-American neighborhood. The music they heard largely affected their sound. The lead singer, Adam Levine, sounds like a mature Justin Timberlake with a band...he has a talented, smooth, and high-ended voice. And the music DOES sound like five rock guys playing soul music...a bit of R&B, funk, hip hop, and pop all thrown together.

Their unqiue sound yielded other hits as well: "This Love," "She Will Be Loved," and "Sunday Morning." I was going to list off my favorite other tracks, but I really like em all. Maybe "Shiver" and "Not Coming Home."

Lyrically...ugh, nothing too special. All 12 tracks, surprisingly, about Jane. Love songs. (Or break-up songs.) Nothing unique there. A few of the songs deal with psychological aspects of relationships...I can't say I want MY relationship to look like anything they portray, but at least it's not total cheese lyrics that way.

Good stuff, though, that Maroon5. This is something I can handle singing to!

No. 15 is 14 years old!

2006-03-15T07:26:00.000-08:00

Gin Blossoms - New Miserable Experience

I loved this album when it came out and I still like it. It was the first time that I realized a specific aspect of music that I like...guitars that, in effect, banter back and forth with the singer as opposed to simply playing background chords.

NME was the breakthrough release for Gin Blossoms of course. It gave us the huge radio hits "Hey Jealousy," "Until I Fall Away," "Found Out About You," and "Allison Road." Quite a list.

But two of my favorite songs are "Mrs. Rita" and "29." (Although "Hands Are Tied" has a great driving rock sound to it!) "Mrs. Rita" is about someone who wants to know answers about lovers. (I never said this stuff was deep!) Favorite lyrics there:
Tell me Mrs. Rita, what's it say in my tarot
Read my palm and tell me why do lovers come and go
(and)
I've been keeping myself busy
With my books and with my tapes
Everyday's much better since I slowed my drinking pace.

"29" is about getting old and looking at yourself. (Not that 29 is old!!!) They use the word "indifference" in the song, and I just like a song that can use a word that unpoetic.

Again, I never said these lyrics were deep or hard to decipher. They're fun(ny) and the music is very easy to listen to and enjoy. I just love the guitars here and the overall sound.

Oh, I gotta leave you with one more lyric to show how goofy this stuff is...
You can't call it cheatin'
Cause she reminds me of you.

And on that shallow moment, have a good one...

Land Of Redemption

2006-03-13T07:22:00.001-08:00

No. 16: Caedmon's Call - 40 Acres

How can I, someone from the Great Plains farmland, not like a CD entitled "40 Acres." Caedmon's Call seems to be saying that we as sinful human beings have messed things up...that is the cities and concrete and strip malls. And God offers the plains...a new start, a hope, a place of redemption. Cool.

First off, I must say these guys can write above my head. I've never been that good at understanding what good poetry means, and that is how I know CC writes good songs!

I tend to enjoy the songs that are easier to digest, and I love tracks two and three..."Thankful" and "Shifting Sand." The back-to-back songs display the fight that is in every single human being. "Thankful" says how grateful we are because we are sinful and can play no part in the work of redemption yet "Shifting Sand" shows a desire to have more faith to assure security in heaven, yet realizing that grace is the only avenue. That dichotomy is inside every saved child who hasn't yet reached glory.

And for "fun," Derek Webb spins some great tales about being single, "Table for Two" and "Daring Daylight Escape." How can you argue with a song whose first lyrics are "Danny and I spent another late night over pancakes; We talked about soccer and how every man's just the same." What I like the the song is that it is the interior battle of a young man who wants to know his future, in this case in regards to marriage. But the last lyrics of the song provide peace for a man struggling to know.

And You know the plans that You have for me
And You can't plan the ends and not plan the means
And so I suppose I just need some peace just to get me to sleep.

New Way To Do Music

2006-03-10T06:29:00.000-08:00

Coming in at No. 17 is one of the most revolutionary Christian albums of all-time...Switchfoot - The Beautiful Letdown.

What's so revolutionary is not that these guys got major major mainstream success with this album, but rather the way they approached their music. It's different than the way most mainstream groups approach their music, and flat out shocking in the world of Christian music (where most of it sounds the same.)

Switchfoot had recently added a fourth member, Jerome Fontamillas, to their already successful trio of San Diego surfer dudes. That added a new dimension which allowed the group to successfully erase a "Switchfoot sound." Their revolutionary approach was simply to look at each song and find what was best musically for that song...NOT to take a song and make it sound like how "Switchfoot" would play it. I find the resulting album incredibly refreshing. In fact, I reviewed the album when it first came out and KNEW that it would be majorly successful. It was.

I like every single song on "The Beautiful Letdown." That's rare. It doesn't even happen on all the CDs that I ranked above this one! Do I have A favorite? Yeah, tracks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8. Seriously, probably "More Than Fine" or "Dare You to Move."

OK, let me sumarize...I can't speak to the sonic genius of this album. The sound is simply amazing and unique and perfect for each song. And the lyrics? Check em out...

We want more than this world's got to offer
We want more than the wars of our fathers
And everything inside screams for second life.
We were meant to live.

Maybe redemption has stories to tell
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
Where can you run to escape from yourself?
Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna go?
Salvation is here.

Rockin' out at 18

2006-03-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

Coming at #18 on the the Top 23 Best Albums of All-Time* (*that James De Boer owns...) is Audio Adrenaline - Bloom

I can still remember buying this album cause it sounded OK on a listening center at the bookstore, then taking it home and playing pinball as the first song faded in. BOOM!!! "Secret" is an incredible rock song, an incredible way to start an album, and probably one of my favorite rock songs of all time. Who knew Christians could rock so well?!

Most people have heard "Never Gonna Be As Big As Jesus" and "Good People." "I'm Not The King" is another great rock song. But this album is more than just rocking out. Songs like "Walk On Water" and "See Through" are great songs are personal desires in a Christian walk.

And then "Free Ride." Love it. Can't remember which 70s rock group originally did it, but I like AA's version better. And then the final song, "Memoir," is a stud song.

Bloom is one of the best Christian pure rock albums ever. Easy.

Breaking the teens

2006-03-06T18:52:00.000-08:00

No. 19 – Train

From what I read, major record labels were lining up in the mid-90s to sign Train. And from what I heard on their self-titled album it makes sense.

I have a soft spot in my heart for most California-based music (Train, No Doubt, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cake, P.O.D., Switchfoot, etc.) but these San Francisco boys released one of the best-produced songs I have ever heard, “Meet Virginia.” I can seriously sit down and listen to each different instrument for the entire song and be blown away. The vocals, the guitar, the bass, the drums…outstanding.

Chances are, “Meet Virginia” is the only song you have heard of from this album. If so, that’s too bad. There is some REALLY good stuff on here. I love “If You Leave,” “Homesick,” and “Free.” Patrick Monahan brandishes some excellent vocals with great range and control.

Some of my favorite lyrics on this album (outside of “Meet Virginia”) are “You wanna go where they still pump your gas for you, where they remember your name.” And the hidden tracks are great.

As I finish this up, I can’t believe how far down the list I put this album. I mean, I think the same thing about MOST of the albums on my list, but this one in particular. The self-titled CD is Train’s best album…no offense to the boys, but all chugging has been downhill since then.

Who's at #20?

2006-03-04T15:32:00.000-08:00

Dishwalla: And You Think You Know What Life's About

Dishwalla who? You might only know these guys from their one big hit, Counting Blue Cars (Tell Me All Your Thoughts On God). One of this album's songs made radio for a short time and that is the only reason I knew they MADE a second album (and I don't even remember which song it was!) Why don't more people know about this CD? Because their record label went stupid on them right after the first song got released to radio.

Now, before you right this one off...let me tell you that it really hurts to put this album all the way down at #20. This is a rocking CD that is incredible sonically...ie, the sound. Just incredible. And lyrically? This is one of the hardest-hitting, addressing some REAL thoughts efforts I've heard from a mainstream group in a loooong time.

OK, from "Bottom of the Floor"...
You're not the one to live for, you're not the one to die for; And you think you know what life's about, but when the bottom of the floor starts falling out...And there will always be this thing you just can't live without, so pull your head out.

"Until I Wake Up" makes my all-time list of songs that I most identify with (as someone with an overactive mind!)...
I rest my head, between the bed and sky, download my dread, disarm my mind, make it dry; There's nothing in motion, and I'm satisfied, No disappointment until I wake up.

This album is too good. Check out "So Much Time," "Stay Awake," "Once In A While," "Healing Star;" and the messages of "Pop Guru" and Truth Serum.

Serious, I assume that most of you have never heard of this album. Give it a chance. Find a Barnes & Noble or a place where you can listen to the CDs first. It's worth it.

No. 21

2006-03-03T07:37:00.000-08:00

No. 21 is INXS - Kick.

I fully realize that this album is nearly 20 years old (1987) but it still sounds good. I am amazed by their sound. The guitars are tight and clean, the horns and saxophones actually sound cool, and Michael Hutchence...oohh! He's got one of my favorite male voices...rich and refined and incredibly well-controlled. I'm jealous of his voice. And I just love the fresh sound that the Australians brought to the music scene.

But really, you'd be surprised at home many songs you know off the Kick album. New Sensation, Devil Inside, Need You Tonight, Never Tear Us Apart, Mystify. Shoot, as I listen to this CD, I actually forget which songs made radio. Generally it's easy to "remember" which songs were on radio, cause the rest stink, but not on Kick.

I feel a bit like a geek putting INXS on the list, but I've done it, so deal with it...

No. 22

2006-03-02T13:33:00.000-08:00

Coming in at #22 on the countdown...Acappella - Hymns For All The World.

From what I understand, this is Acappella's top-selling album in Japan! My boys have put out some great albums (Act of God, Sweet Fellowship, Beyond A Doubt) but Hymns is one I can almost always listen to. Duane Adams makes a bid for my favorite Acappella voice with his work on Softly & Tenderly. Bass Robert C. Guy flashes his incredible range on "In The Garden." And I could devote a book to what "Just As I Am" means to me. Lyrically it rocks, of course. But musically it sounds great on CD and translates just as beautifully live and on-stage in concert. (Barry Wilson doing it live could bring a tear or two to my eye every single time.)

For all of you who know me, I'll tell you this is the only Acappella album I put on the list. Is it fair to call Hymns their best album?

Drum roll, please!

2006-03-01T07:38:00.000-08:00

OK, we'll save the drum roll for No. 1. But here comes my list of all-time best albums* (*albums which I own and are not a greatest hits collection!) Again, thanks to Wave Review for providing the incredible financial support needed for this undertaking!

No. 23: Glory - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Seriously the best movie score from one of the best movies of all time. James Horner composed and conducted; he is a genuis. The Harlem Boys Choir performs. (And as one of my friends has said...there is nothing like a good, young boy soprano...these kids can sang!) Horner captures the feel and emotion of the movie in music. My favorites are the snare drums and timpani (and the incredible vocal range of the boys!) Just a beautiful album. (And if you haven't seen the movie, check it out!)

The Number 23

2006-02-27T14:57:00.000-08:00

The list of my top albums of all time is nearing completion. I boiled it down and could come up with no less than 23 albums for my list. You may call it the Michael Jordan conspiracy if you wish, but in all honesty, I picked 23 because that was Ryne Sandberg's number!

Be out with it in a day or two...

Stupid TV

2006-02-24T06:28:00.000-08:00

Sorry, my list of top albums IS coming out, but I was thrown a little off track Tuesday night. The Tuesday night of Valentines I was a bit surprised that Love Monkey wasn't on TV...I thought it maybe got bumped for the week since they had this "great" celebrity love special with Dr. Phil. I was a bit gunshy, though, because of watching "Ed" get yanked around (in relation to its timeslot) before it got cancelled.

So this week I thought I would check up Love Monkey too see what they said about Tuesday night's show. The show still had a site on CBS' web page, but it wasn't listed to play that night...NCIS was listed to air TWICE! So I did some google searching and it turns out Love Monkey is officially "on hiatus," althought CBS has no plans to bring it back. Stinkin, stinkin, stinkin! I was really starting to like Love Monkey...it had Tom Cavanaugh and it was about music!

Stupid CBS and stupid TV. I again have NO reason (besides sports and weather) to watch TV. Apparently, the only shows that can be aired nowadays have to be either law, crime, or reality. Stink.

My own list of music

2006-02-19T15:56:00.000-08:00

Some people are amazed by the number of CDs I have (approaching 300, I think.) But really, what is amazing is that I own more than the average person, yet I hardly even scratch the surface of the overall amount of music albums out there. There is just so much music out there. I own some really great albums...and there are some really great albums I don't own. Then there are times when I let a friend borrow a CD...a group or an album that they didn't have a clue about. I enjoy sharing a musical/lyrical experience with someone who otherwise wouldn't have had that experience.

And so...I thought I would make a list of my favorite albums. I thought a Top Ten...but I already have too many for that...so it will be 15 or 20. Just albums that I really enjoy...musically, lyrically, production-wise (I don't think "productionally" is a word, so I used "production-wise.") Each album will have something I really like about it...something that sets it apart from your average, everyday music. My only limits on my list are: 1) that I own it, and 2) that it was an new album and not a greatest hits collection.

I'll start the list on here shortly...and I'll write a little paragraph about each album and why it's good. Wave Review (wavereview03@yahoo.com) is sponsoring my efforts. Wave Review has done some great CD reviews of their own! But when I start unveiling stuff, please tack on your comments and thoughts on the albums. When I'm done, I'll post a list of all of them again, so you can see them all in one place.

She made TV

2006-02-13T16:27:00.000-08:00

Deb Remmerde and her record-setting free throw streak made national TV Monday morning. (And that's big news for NW Iowa!) CBS' The Early Show apparently featured her this morning...basically giving her a little interview and then having her shoot free throws the entire show. She made 580 of her 585, including a string of 256 in a row! To say it nicely...crap monkeys! (She has apparently hit 485 in a row in practice once.) Click here for more, including video options.

Something Lighter

2006-02-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

I have been following the season of a basketball player from back in NW Iowa...this week she broke an all-time record for all levels of basketball. Deb Remmerde, sophomore at Northwestern College in Orange City IA (my alma mater's main rival), lives basketball. Yes she plays, but she lives it as well. Spends hours a day shooting in the gym. She originally went to the U of Iowa, but transfered out after getting a stress fracture in her foot and missing her family. Anyway, I saw her play in high school and she is amazing.

And this year, as a sophomore at NWC, she just broke all known records by making 133 free throws in a row. The last known record she passed was 126 by a boys HS player from Louisianna in the 1970s. The NBA record is 97. I think Deb missed like four free throws all of her high school career. Great accomplishment. If you want more reading, click here.

Bono on "Christian" music

2006-02-07T17:05:00.000-08:00

I read some comments and thoughts from and on Bono today. (Bono being the lead singer of the rock super-group, U2...if you didn't know.) And I was intrigued on what he had to say about "Christian" music, especially since so much of U2's stuff seems quite tinged by Christianity, if not blatant about it. What I found was a blog entry by Jay Swartzendruber, editor of CCM Magazine, after he attended a National Prayer Breakfast which included Bono (and some guy named George Bush.)

Swartzendruber talked with Bono later in a small group session and asked him about his thoughts on the Christian music industry in the light of U2 seeming to make a point to say they are not a "Christian band."

Bono said:
I've never seen why there should be a separation...much of my life I've been asked, 'Why doesn't your music proclaim Christ?' ...It does!...Creation has its own proclamation [of its Creator). I'd like to think our music has had the same qualities to it. When I read scripture, there are no compartments to your life... When I read scripture, these men are wild with a greed for God and mammon.

I loved reading Bono's words about "no compartments to your life." But check out the whole blog Swartzendruber wrote...it's very good, also explaining a lot about Bono's thoughts on AIDS in Africa.

Click here for Swartzendruber's blog.

You can also check out some related articles on U2, Christian music artists, and AIDS...

This one concerns a meeting in Nashville between Bono and CCM leaders and musicians.

This one concerns Jars of Clay's Dan Haseltine and his thoughts after that meeting in Nashville.

An inspiration in art (and radio)

2006-02-02T16:12:00.000-08:00

I'd love to make a change in radio. I'd love to find (or start) a station that plays ALL music. Jack FM plays most everything, yes, and that is my favorite thing there. But my dream is a station that plays Christian AND mainstream music all mixed in. Truth be told, I'm not sure why CCM needs its own industry. What makes "Christian music" "Christian"? I'd rather see "Christian" music be vertical, worship music (aka "praise") and the rest be "music" (aka real music about life.) That's side ranting in relation to this blog, but really, how many Christian songs or musicians are out there in mainstream music? More than we realize, I'm guessing.

Anyway, I want a station that plays ALL music. And now I'm even more focused on WHY. I found a journal entry from Warren Bazemore (from Silers Bald) saying their band has always strived "to be more relevant, more creative, and more excellent at the gift of calling ourselves artist." God doesn't just give us gifts and abilities to do our job (or calling) and just "get it done." He has called us to subdue the earth and have dominion over it (ie do the best we can.) And I think the Christian music industry as a general rule needs a major kick in the pants to be more creative and get out of the streamlined rut it is in.

But read Bazemore's journal entry (called "Apathy as Art.") He references Francis Schaeffer's "How Should We Then Live" which notes that a defining feature of the Roman Empire before it collapsed was apathy in the world of art. (Apathy in art? Hmm, that sounds familiar!) Go to Silers Bald's website and click on the "Journal" link...the article should be the current post (even though it is from 2004!) (And good news! Silers Bald is working on a new album!!!)

Why do we play what we want?

2006-01-26T17:35:00.000-08:00

Because now we're officially the best!!!

Congrats to my new co-workers at JackFM, as today we were named Best Radio Station in Jackson, MS. (And to think that was BEFORE I came on board!) The Jackson Free Press had people vote on a few categories of "Best Of" in Jackson, and we won the best station. (And our "cluster-mate," Rock 93.9, got second along with Best Radio Personality.)

Here is the write-up from the Press...

Best Radio Station: Jack FM 94.7.

Jackson has been begging for fresh radio since the legendary ZZQ left the local scene. What was most advertised got listened to, and satellite radio hasn’t yet measured up to Internet radio or iPod archives.

Living in the only state where you can hear the public radio network no matter where you are doesn’t hurt. It seems more JFP readers like intelligent public radio than Top 40, with MPB at No. 3. But they do like to rock out and bang their head more than they like classical flower- and bean-growing. WLEZ plays music from before many of our readers were born, with its low bandwidth starting to fill Jackson’s need for college radio by adding some great local niche shows. Until Edward St. Pe offers me a radio show of my own, the only place to hear The Cure is indeed Jack FM (like their advert says). Sure, it’s bad karma to follow Zeppelin with Kool & the Gang and Kajagoogoo, but wait a minute, and they will play something you enjoy, alas to be followed by something making you ill. We JFP’ers wait, and look on the Python bright side of life.—Herman Snell

For the full article from the JFP, click here.

Love Monkey

2006-01-24T20:45:00.000-08:00

Have you guys seen Tom Cavanaugh's new show called "Love Monkey"? It's on at 9pm (central) Tuesday nights on CBS. Tom Cavanaugh? You may know him better as "Ed," the bowling alley lawyer. When "Ed" ran its course a couple of years ago, I seriously had no more reason to watch TV (besides sports and weather, I mean!) But my boy has now returned with a mid-season addition and I'm regaining a reason to watch TV.

Cavanaugh plays a record A&R guy (oddly named "Tom") and so the show includes plenty of music and music references and music cameos (both songs and artists.) I mean, how much cooler can you get? Tom is somewhat of a musical nerd, randomly talking about artists and favorite all-time songs. I mean, how much more up my alley can you get? AND, Tom is about the music and not necessarily finding the big hit. WHOAH, now we're really up my alley! As we watched the show tonight, one of my friends commented on how much Tom was like me. She meant the character "Tom," but I've been compared to Tom Cavanaugh's other main character, "Ed," before as well. Maybe that's why I liked "Ed" so much...and now I'm liking "Love Monkey."

It sounds like the new show is getting a week off next week, so make sure you look for it again during the first full week of February. It's making TV worth it again!

Cotton Hiking

2006-01-19T20:19:00.000-08:00

While I'm talking about flying, I MUST add that I could stare out the airplane window for an entire flight. The clouds amaze me and the sky up there is my favorite shade of blue. I love watching endless cloud banks flow by beneath me...I hypothesize that they are soft like cotton and I just want to get out and hike and climb on them. Somehow though, I don't imagine the fact that clouds are merely condensed water bodes well for my walking on them. Oh well, I guess I'll have to settle for the most pure and righteous hue of blue known to man...

The Friendly Skies?

2006-01-16T07:06:00.000-08:00

Did you ever notice that no one smiles at airports?

I flew twice over Christmas and I can only think of one person who was happy (and it was not me...I was too tired of being in airports!) I wanted so much to be smiling to add at least a thought of cheer to all the busy travelers and harried workers. I mean, it's Christmas people! But alas, I was sick of being stuck in airports for three hours after having slept only two hours the previous night...I was physically not able to be full of cheer. Thankfully there WAS one gate attendant who was quite helpful in a friendly way with me when I was trying to get a different flight. I'm not saying she smiled, mind you, but she was friendly. And that was much appreciated!

So can we all, here and now, start being the agents of joy at airports?

The Boys are Back in Town

2006-01-09T20:28:00.000-08:00

Well now, I've been away for a while. I was out of town three weeks, slept in seven different beds in five different states, and drove through four other states. The weather was decent when I was back up north...a lot of 25 to 30 degree weather at home and 40s on the East Coast. This morning, as I drove to my job at 10:45am it was already 68 degrees. Then I saw someone fly through a red light and I thought, "ah, it's good to be back in Mississippi."

All I Want For Christmas...

2005-12-19T14:30:00.000-08:00

It's not what I would have asked for, but hey, give the man credit for knowing what he wants. Check out what Roy Oswalt, pitcher for the Houston Astros and MS native, got for pitching his team into the world series...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2265422

Oompa-Loompas

2005-12-12T06:44:00.000-08:00

I finally saw "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" the other day. How long from when it was in theatres has it been? And I finally saw it for the first time? Anyway, the point is that I finally saw the movie...

A couple of my friends had watched it before me, and all they had to say about it was, "It was good. But it was kinda weird." And they were right! I, however, think my definition of "weird" was more positive than my friends'. I really thought it was a delightful little movie. My appreciation for Johnny Depp continues to grow. I thought he did a great job of a nutso pirate captain in "Pirates of the Caribbean," and now he totally changes his face as Willy Wonka. I could hardly believe I was looking at Johnny Depp. (I think my favorite part of his look was the straight hair!) And if "froofy" is actually a word, I would use it to describe his character as Willy Wonka. He's off-the-wall as much as someone who has been excluded inside a chocolate factory for years. And the icing on the cake? His little laugh. It's kind of a mix of a "huh" and a "ha"...and is just perfectly silly.

And that's just it about "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"...it's perfectly silly. There are some nice little "moral to the stories" wrapped in there, but I liked the movie from its perfect silliness. Sometimes we just need to laugh and be goofy.

Was it weird? You bet. But, more importantly, it was silly and laughable and goofy. Good stuff, kids, good stuff.

Walk The Line

2005-12-06T16:19:00.000-08:00

Dude, SEE IT!!!

I saw "Walk The Line" Saturday night and it exceeded expectations. (Oh, if you don't know what "Walk The Line" is, it's a movie on Johnny Cash.) As a story, it traces a major theme in Cash's life (drugs). As a social study, it traces the struggles Cash had in feeling accepted by his dad and the resulting effects. As a music documentary, it shows the world of touring musicians quite well. (Kinda scary, actually!) As actors, Joaquin Phoenix (Johnny Cash) and Reese Witherspoon (June Carter) give outstanding performances. (I mean, if I didn't know what Cash actually looked like I would have thought Phoenix WAS Cash!) As musicians, Phoenix and Witherspoon do the singing for the movie and do it incredibly. (Carter is easier to "copy," but for anyone to copy the baritone voice of Johnny Cash is exceptional.)

In summary...dude, SEE IT!!! It might be the best movie you see all year.

In Your Room

2005-12-01T08:42:00.000-08:00

They say that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. And I've heard that the eyes are the window to the soul. How about your room? I propose it is the picture of a person's life.

My room has always been messy. A t-shirt laying here and there, some shorts in the corner, my sleeping clothes by my bed. Then random piles of paper and mail with a toppled stack or two of books. Some CDs here, there and everywhere. I have a few framed pictures hung or on shelves and a few piles of of unsorted photographs. My bed? It's never made. And historically (since I moved out of my parents' house at least) I've generally had a trail or two of cleared space leading to the important places in my room...my bed, my stereo, my clean clothes, and maybe my computer. And speaking of my mom, she has always claimed she could find money "hidden" somewhere in my room...even still at their place, where I haven't lived for over ten years!

Say what you will about my room, but I generally know where things are located. For the most part, when I need something I know what stack it's located in and how deep it is. And also, I'm not shy about my room...I don't really care if you know how messy it is. The door is always open.

But I think my room gives you a snapshot of me. Not always clean or organized looking, but I generally know where the important stuff is. And while I may not invite you in, the door is always open and you are always welcome.

What does your room say about you?

The last great newspaper comic strip

2005-11-11T21:30:00.000-08:00

Two years ago I lost all need to watch TV when "Ed" was cancelled. Ten years ago I lost all need to read newspaper comic strips when Bill Watterson retired. With him went "Calvin and Hobbes," the best comic strip ever. A boy and his stuffed tiger. Sounds simple, you say? Nah, it was simply the best. "Calvin and Hobbes" was more than just a comic strip, it was a social commentary that not only took jabs at the questions and problems in this world but also at itself. I'll stop now. Read this article about a new, full "Calvin and Hobbes" anthology.

http://www.slate.com/id/2129373/?GT1=7407

To my friends and family, please put this 1,440-page, 23-pound hardback on my Christmas list. That and a Chicago Cubs license plate...

Embrace and Be Aggressive

2005-11-07T23:30:00.000-08:00

"The industry's greatest challenge is to be creative and take risks. I'm encouraging everybody to go on the offense. Don't play defense with new technology. Embrace what's out there, use these new technologies where it makes sense, and be aggressive."

—Joel Hollander
CEO, Infinity Broadcasting

This quote is from the world of radio broadcasting, but just imagine for a second this thought in a generic context. (pause for a second.) OK, now back to radio. No, I take that back...re-read that quote from a generic point of view.

God didn't put us on this earth to simply hang out and putz around. Didn't He want us to subdue the earth? I think He did. He gave us each unique and special abilities, and He wants us to use them to the fullest of our abilities all for His glory. To me that means being at the forefront of understanding, developing, and the use of technology, philosophy, embryo transfer, curriculum, art, radio programming, sanitation, sticky labels, and even window cleaning supplies. Some of what is developed isn't worth using and some is, but the point is that Christians should be at the forefront of these things. Christians should be up at the front lines, using their gifts for God's glory.

Props

2005-10-28T08:42:00.000-07:00

Hey all, I thought I would give you all a break from my blogging so you could fully digest the incredible dimentions of my most previous blogs. That baseball is deep stuff!

Everyone has props in their life. Here are some of mine.

Props to Lake Powell, the houseboat, dry heat and those who remember it. Props to the Strat Basketball Association. Props to the doctors who continue to improve on microfracture surgery. Props to my great family. Props to having a girlfriend and the growth that leads to. Props to the 16U Shamrocks. Props to the Natchez Trace Parkway and the wonder of sitting quietly in nature. And last, but certainly not least, props to poppyseed chicken and all those who make it.

Uh Oh it's magic

2005-10-10T08:33:00.000-07:00

Well, so I was wrong on the magic of the Braves. I guess their magic was only meant to be an incredible 18-inning loss. That happens. I'm losing my desire for the 2005 season and postseason. Cubs are done. Braves are out. Red Sox are out. Shoot, the only team I'm left rooting for is whoever is playing the Yankees! (Go Angels!) And at this point? Go Angels. I'll root for a few individuals, too...Roger Clemens, Larry Walker, Joe Girardi (make that man the manager in Florida!)

I still like the Cubs!

2005-10-07T07:41:00.000-07:00

The Cubs will always be my team. And, frankly, I kind of DIS-like the Braves. But I DO enjoy reading about players I have seen in the minors and seeing something "magical" happen...something deeper simply than the final score of a ballgame.

It happened earlier this summer, when former Mississippi Brave Jeff Francoeur drilled a huge homerun to centerfield in a game against the Cubs. The Cubs had already blown their lead in that game, but Francoeur's homer signaled more than just the Braves' win. It signaled the end of the Cubs' playoff thoughts for the 2005 season, even though it was only July. And it signaled that the Braves had some "magic" in them, and were going to be a special team this year.

Last night, in game two of the NL Divisional Series between Houston and Atlanta, fellow Braves rookie Brian McCann (who became John Smoltz's personal catcher after a mid-season callup) jacked out a three-run homer off of Roger Clemens. Yes, Roger Clemens! It was McCann's first postseason at-bat, AND his first postseason swing! A three-run homer. The Braves won the game, of course. Postseason "magic"?

ESPN's Jayson Stark wrote a great article about the homerun. He approached it from a standpoint that is deeper than just the final score of the baseball game. It's the "game" beneath the game, and that is what I like about sports. Check it out.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2005/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2183208

Stories and such

2005-09-30T08:20:00.000-07:00

Check out this article about movies and how important they can be to understanding the postmodern generation. As a teaser, Denis Haack, the writer, says: "Missionaries have long insisted that if we want to understand another people group we must listen to their stories. Every generation, every culture has stories which bring to life their fears, values, beliefs, and yearnings...We will fail to understand the postmodern generation if we fail to comprehend that the stories of our culture are found in the movies."

I'm serious.

OK, I can't get the editor's hypertext link to recognize some important little characters, so just go to this website - www.byfaithonline.com - and search for "movies generation haack." That'll work. Sorry for the hassle, but it's worth it.

Forget Yourself

2005-09-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

I ran across an article on ESPN.com today that was interesting. Whether or not you like basketball or even sports in general, this article made some prodding comments about how you play "the game." The Americans have been finding out in recent international basketball contests that they play a different style of basketball than the rest of the world...and I don't necessarily mean that in a good way!

Mickael Pietrus, a European (French I think) who plays for Golden State in the NBA, said that "when you play for your country you can't put yourself first...you need to make sure you forget yourself and start thinking as a group."

Just so I'm not messing too much with copyright stuff, check out the link for the full article. If you don't want to read the whole article, check out the ten paragraphs that come directly before the "Elsewhere:" heading which is towards the end of the article.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2170086

What's the point? Just read the ten paragraphs and I think it should be pretty obvious. If that doesn't do it, do a case study of teams like the Detroit Pistons and New England Patriots and figure out the common link they have which contributes so majorly to their success.

Impressions

2005-09-16T17:40:00.000-07:00

Check out these quotes I read from a mailing for radio people...

"It only takes seven seconds to make a first impression. If your first impression is not your best, it may take a lifetime to wear down the negative impression you did make."

—Beverly Washington
Founder/President, Image Factor

"Unfamiliarity is almost always a negative. To hold listeners, a station must be consistent in numerous areas, including the formatic structure of its clocks, the targeting of its music selection, and the reinforcement of the station's positioning and slogans."

—Brad Burkhart
President, Brad Burkhart Christian Media and Publisher, The PDAdvisor

Seven seconds? Dude. I won't deny that bad first impressions are hard to overcome, but can't we take more than seven seconds to judge things? Isn't that kind of shallow to think you can know someone or something that quickly? I remember the first time I heard Eric Carmen's "Make Me Lose Control." (It's from the 80s...) I thought, "Man, that piano beginning is the stupidest thing I have ever heard." After a few more listens, that piano line introduced one of my favorite songs. I'm glad I didn't write off that song as quickly as I had wanted to.

Unfamiliarity being negative? How selfish are we? Again, I'm not going to deny that there is comfort in familiarity, but get out there! People-wise? Of course. Musically? Most definitely. I look at radio and see mostly stagnant programming. In other words...repetitive! And I don't mean that in a good way. I can't stand most radio these days...so many stations repeat their top songs every two or three hours. That drives me nuts! I find that a slap in the face of the listeners. It's like radio programmers don't feel their listeners are capable of handling more than a small handful of songs.

Someday, kids. Someday we can break these accepted theories...

Don't Have To Live Like A Refugee

2005-09-09T16:42:00.000-07:00

Man, in the pregame show for the Jackson Academy football game Friday night they interviewed the newest Raider...a kid from the coast of Mississippi. It struck me as I had forgotten the effect on all these kids...this kid talked about how good their "old" team was and how all his teammates are now scattered throughout high schools in the South...from Atlanta to here in Jackson. It's cool that all these displaced students can be absorbed (and accepted, hopefully) into other schools, but wow, think about if RTS (or whatever school you are or have attended) got destroyed and suddenly everyone got scattered to other schools.

On a similar note, a new guy just started at our radio station. His home is currently in water (and oil) down in the New Orleans area. But he has always wanted to get into sports talk radio and just couldn't crack the big market in New Orleans. And lo-and-behold, he finds himself working at SuperSport 930 the week after Hurricane Katrina chases him out. You know, the more you dig and the more you see how MANY lives are affected and how MUCH they are affected, it's amazing to know there is a God and He is working things out to accomplish His plans. How truly awesome.

Katrina Cleanup

2005-09-07T14:59:00.000-07:00

Sooner or later I’ll dig into some music stuff on this here blog, but things keep coming up…like hurricanes and such. (Speaking of which, go Noles!)

After getting out of town for a chunk of last week, I drove back into Mississippi Monday evening. It was sad. While I still marvel at the different directions trees have fallen and how road signs can just be snapped right off, I could also sense an air of sadness in the South. The worst part is, I was still a few hours north of the coast where the real destruction is. But it was still sad to see the brokenness and hurt.

What was truly amazing to me, however, was how God spoke to me through the mess I saw. We had a CD playing in the car, and one of the songs was called, "It’s All About You." Lyrically it was simple, but sometimes "simplicity" speaks the deepest.

It’s all about you Jesus
And all this is for you
For your glory and your fame
It’s not about me
As if you should do things my way
You alone are God
And I surrender to your ways.

What a great re-frame (or paradigm shift) for how I was looking at things. Hurricane Katrina was not about how much hurt people had, how much they lost, or even God "punishing the wicked." Hurricane Katrina was and still is about the Glory of God. Everything we see with our human eyes should funnel into that mindset.

Ridin' the storm out!

2005-08-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

I've seen plenty of tornadic weather in my life, and blizzards galore. But I finally experienced my first hurricane. Hurricane Ivan came through last fall and they called of school at RTS, but it didn't rain one drop in Jackson from that one. Hurricane Katrina, however, began doing its own thing early last week and building up more steam than originally predicted in the Gulf of Mexico. And, while most previously hurricanes since I got here have gone east of Jackson, Katrina decided otherwise. She came up through New Orleans and passed maybe 60 miles east of Jackson. Which, for those of you who don't know, is plenty close to the eye to give us a good taste.

It was raining already Monday morning when I woke up. And blowing. Our part of town lost power at 11:15 or so. And, did I mention that is was blowing? I've not heard how much rain we got, but my friends tell me it was officially "a lot." And the wind was pretty consistent around 30 to 40mph, I think, with good gusts into the 60s. I'm used to blizzards on the wide open prairies, but this was nice.

I like bad weather. My family knows that. My friends back home know that. And my friends in Jackson are beginning to know that. They convinced me to not drive around anymore than the one trip I did to WalMart. So I had fun. It rained. It blew. We had 10 to 12 people in our apartment most of the day. We played games and read by candlelight. We grilled. We got annoyed at having that many people in a small space that long. You know, the normal. A three of us stayed up all night talking...I thought a fitting way to ride out a hurricane.

That was all the fun stuff. The next morning, my roommate woke me up by saying, "We going to be without power for a week. My parents have power and we're going there. Grab some stuff." And now I'm finally understanding that I've gone through a natural disaster. I got displaced. We could have stayed in our apartment - we were safe - but we didn't have electricity or water. The biggest loss being no AC! But I got displaced. I grabbed some stuff, and I don't know how long I'll be gone from my apartment. We won't have school again until we have power, obviously. And, officially, "there is no way to know how long we will be without power."

But I feel pretty blessed. Sure, I don't know when I'll get back to my apartment, but I CAN go anytime. I've now watched video of people getting rescued from their roofs via helicopter. Judging by the floodwaters up to the shingles, the chance of those people EVER getting back into their houses are pretty slim. I'm in a house with AC, food, INTERNET (amen!), friends, and a good family to house us.

And about that severe weather stuff? I still like it. I feel bad for the people who have bore the brunt of this storm, but I still have no choice but to stand in awe of the hand of God. I walked around some during the storm yesterday...to get pelted in the face with rain and see winds that are strong enough to toss large branches out of large trees or uproot aged tress that crush the walls of a house and crumble storage sheds...I have no response but to stand in awe.

Something New

2005-08-23T21:07:00.000-07:00

So I just got back into my apartment a couple of weeks ago. I was kindly ask to temporarily move out so that we could get a new paint job, carpet, countertops, kitchen floor and the like. Frankly, I was a bit annoyed by having to move out of my place for two weeks. I mean, don’t people know how hard it is to clean up the mess I keep in my room?! And to just move it all less than 100 feet only to move it all back in 14 days seemed a little pointless.

Many of my friends and neighbors asked if I was excited to have my apartment refurbished. It was hard to answer people with my annoyance when they had more joy in my apartment being remodeled than I did. But, as the last person out of my "old" apartment, I saw more of the work I was "forced" to do than the joy of the newness.

Anyway, during the remodeling process I checked out the apartment almost nightly just to see what had been accomplished that day. There still wasn’t much enjoyment on my part…I was just checking to see if they would be done when they said they would be. They were pretty close on the timing, and after sweating up another storm to move everything back to my original apartment, I left my room a mess and started organizing the living room.

Every day, it seemed, I would end up at the furniture warehouse grabbing a couch or a lamp or something. Before long, the living room started to look pretty nice. A nice couch or two, a kick-butt table, a dartboard, and some "guy" décor…a splattering of license plates and a wooden duck. And my attitude started to change. The new paint, carpet and flooring took on a whole new light. I began to be proud of my new apartment. It hit me one night, "Man, I have REALLY done a nice job with this place."

And then it really struck me…how shallow am I to think that *I* have done all this? The carpet? Not me. The paint? Not me. The flooring? Not me. The clean sinks and bathtubs? Not me. Yet within a few days, I took credit for the whole thing being made anew. It’s kind of like what we try to do with God’s grace to us.

A Bald Joe

2005-08-18T16:50:00.000-07:00

Last night we were out celebrating my roommate's acing of his Greek exam and there was this stud singer/songwriter (Joe Rohan) there with his acoustic guitar (and a shaved head...an interesting combo.) After giving him some extra cash for his CDs, I was happy to scour through the sleeves and check out who produced, who played what, etc. I looked through his thanks, and his first shout out was to "the Good Lord above." Cool. His other CD gave a full sentence of thanks. Double cool.

I'd say I heard two thirds of Joe Rohan's three-hour set, and he never mentioned God from stage. He wasn't singing "Christian" songs, just songs about life and love - your typical stuff. Was I disappointed that he didn't hit up a "Christian" message from the stage or break out in praise songs? No, not at all.

I, of course, don't know the genuineness of this guy's Christianity. But then again, how many hearts can I actually decipher anyway? I respect someone for doing what he or she is gifted at, and for doing it well. He was using his God-given gifts well by simply DOING them well and that praises God. The guy could play guitar well, he could write songs that have more than three chords, and he could sing on key. I'm not calling Joe Rohan a musical superstar, but his stuff was original, memorable, and simply well done. Rockin.

Welcome to my freak show!

2005-08-13T17:59:00.000-07:00

Phew, it's good to finally get this thing going. I meant to start a blog a few months ago, but things came up...like temporarily moving and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004. So now it looks like I'm copying a handful of friends who have blogs, while in reality I'm only copying one friend. Anyway. You win some, you lose some.

So I am now part of a tight-knit community of ten bazillion bloggers...cool. What makes mine worth reading? Frankly, me. I guess I hope my blogs will be worth reading no matter if you know me or not, but my blog will be an expression of me. Seems basic, I know, but that thought really fits with where I am right now.

I've been busy learning about myself in a new environment for the past year, an environment and culture with many differences from the one in which I grew up. After pounding my head against a wall for most of that year trying to make myself fit in with my new environment, I have finally realized to simply be the person who God created me to be and let that person fit into my new environment. I hope that by now, I can understand myself better by knowing in what areas I have been gifted and in what areas I have NOT been gifted. In retrospect, how elementary!

So what will my blog be about? Whatever. Really, it will be about whatever is going through my mind. I have few agendas, although you'll see I have themes. I often feel I have few answers, although I'll have plenty of questions. And I hope you have thoughts, questions, and even "answers" for me and the others who happen to be reading. What's going on in my head has always been as open as you care to make it, so get as involved as you care to be. I don't expect to be understood perfectly all the time, and I know even my good intentions can turn out bad results. But I hope to grab life by the horns and persevere to finish the race laid out before me.

As a man I admire once wrote, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

...don't be a stranger