MuteMath - "Chaos"

"Complication's my claim to fame
And I can't believe there's another
Constantly just another
Can't avoid what I can't control
And I'm losing ground, still I can't stand down
Yeah I know, yeah I know, yeah

I know You stay true when my world is false
Everything around's breaking down to chaos
I always see You when my sight is lost
Everything around's breaking down to chaos

It’s hard to trust anyone again
After all the letdowns I’ve been through
Haunted by what I’ve been through
Best to try while I still can breathe
And I’m screaming out give me hope somehow
And I know, yeah I know, yeah

I know You stay true when my world is false
Everything around's breaking down to chaos
I always see You when my sight is lost
Everything around's breaking down to chaos

Chaos, I know You stay true
Yeah, I know You stay, yeah

You stay true when my world is false
Everything around's breaking down to chaos
I know You stay
I know You stay true, everything around's breaking down
I know You stay true, everything around's breaking down

You stay true when my world is false
Everything around's breaking down to chaos
I always see You when my sight is lost
Everything around's breaking down to chaos"

It's been a little while since my last essay/post. Busy, busy weeks. I guess one could say it was its own little bit of chaos....ba-dum-ching.

I was fortunate enough to see MuteMath in concert last week. They were awesome. This song is probably my favorite of theirs so far.

It seems pretty obvious to me that the song is about God's faithfulness and presence in all times. When things are going horribly, God is there. When everything around is coming down, God is there. God stays true. Always. In a world ever-changing and crazy, God always stays true.

As things get complicated (and don't they always when people are involved?), we may feel like we lose ground. But the knowledge that God is true, that God is outside this chaos and able to handle it, should be a comforting fact, if only we can believe it. This isn't to say that by simply believing it things will all get better- that's simply foolish. But we can find comfort in knowing that God has this all in control. MuteMath has another song from their first EP entitled "Control." That song talks about surrendering to God and ceding control. But that can be hard to do when one has been let down, when things in the past tug at your intention of letting go. It's seemingly easier, or maybe I should say safer, to keep things in one's control. Chaos scares us (typically) and we tend to like to be in control, so the idea of willingly giving that control up runs counterintuitive. This song works for me as reassurance that it is okay, and even good, to trust in God's presence and capabilities. I mean, when was the last time I created a universe?

As far as the MuteMath sound goes, I've described it as "Electro-synth rock-meets U2" in my other blog. This song opens with pounding drums, a ringing guitar and a pumping bass line. Paul Meany's voice comes through clear and sincere, with a hint of his reggae roots (from his previous work in the band Earthsuit) showing. Making excellent use of his keytar, he adds a variety of effects and, well, just plain cool noises that add to the song without sounding forced. The songs drives on, the lyrics unfold, and it is simply awesome. I love this band, and I have a feeling they will continue to rise on my personal list of favorites.

If you'd like to find out some more about MuteMath, check out their website at http://www.myspace.com/mutemath or http://www.purevolume.com/mutemath. I imagine they will be making a name for themselves in the coming months/year. I have a slight hunch that they may "make it big." Good.

Thrice - "Music Box"

"We move for all mankind
A million miles from everything we've ever known
We're on their hearts and minds
A million heads are bowed to bring us safely home
Hemmed in by emptiness
A million ways that everything could be undone
This hollow in my chest is filled with reasons not to sing
But I found one

I know...

We are not alone
We feel an unseen love
We are sons and heirs of grace
We are children of
A light that never dims
A love that never dies
Keep your chin up, child
And wipe the tears from your eyes

In sleep we saw ourselves
A million years we had been waiting there it seems
While someone weaves a spell
A million stars look on in witness to our dreams

I know...

We are not alone
We feel an unseen love
We are sons and heirs of grace
We are children of
A light that never dims
A love that never dies
Keep your chin up, child
And wipe the tears from your eyes

We feel an unseen love
We are children of light

We are not alone
We feel an unseen love
We are sons and heirs of grace
We are children of
A light that never dims
A love that never dies
Keep your chin up, child
And wipe the tears from your eyes

Stand ready and tall, reflect the light"

I love this song. I'll just be upfront and say that. Of course, I probably love all the songs that I'll post here. Yeah, probably so. Back to this song...

I'm going to be honest here: the first time I heard this song, I was just awed. You ever have one of those moments where things just hit you from out of nowhere? This song was one of those. I suppose I should start with how I first started really listening to Thrice. I was going rollerskating with some friends for a birthday celebration (not mine). We were lost. Anway, we were riding along, and listening to the radio when Thrice's "Image of the Invisible" came on. I had heard that song once before maybe, on MTVu or something. But I had never really listened to it. It's an awesome song, and one I'll more than likely talk about on here at some point. Those of you who know me know my affinity for music. I'm always looking for new bands. So, after hearing "Image" I went out a day or two later and bought Thrice's newest CD, "Vhiessu." Awesome. I put it in my CD player, and cranked it. So I'm driving along, just listening and soaking it in. Thrice is incredibly talented. Just on that CD alone, they vaulted into my top 12 list of artists. Eventually, "Music Box" came on.

The song opens with, appropriately, a music box tinkling out its little tune like no one is watching. To me, it resembled something that could have easily fit in the Narnia Soundtrack. It sounds like I think snowfall might if it could pick its own theme music. Then the band jumps in like a punch in the face. You can hear the music box throughout the song, particularly in the verse parts. Its ethereal tones play counterpoint to the splashy cymbals in an excellent mix. Musically, this song it pretty good.

But my favorite part, as usual, is the lyrical aspect. The opening verse reminds me of, essentially, my situation here. Not to say that my life is all empty and depressing, but more just a dramatized version of what I am doing here- a proverbial million miles from home with many people back home who miss me and keep me in their thoughts (I think they might, anyway). So many things that could go wrong, with many reasons to really rethink why I'm here in the first place. But amidst all the problems, amidst all the trials and troubles, I found one reason to sing:

I know I am not alone.

I've felt this unseen love for a long time. Years. Just knowing that there is a God who loves each and every one of us no matter how many times I/we screw up is amazing. To know that I am a child of God, that I stand as heir in God's grace just floors me. Can you fathom the depth of love it must take for God to continue after all the horrible things we do? "A light that never dims, a love that never dies. " I spend most of my life just trying to like people, much less love them. I have no right, no claim to God's love. I have done nothing to earn it. None of us has. But yet, it's there, always, for us to take. That is what God's love is: always.

The lines encouraging us to keep our chin up, to wipe the tears, serve as a constant reminder to me to perservere. I know the only reason I keep going is God. God sustains us all. Even when I'm just tired of, say, writing papers or going to class, I keep going because of God.

The second verse is simply beautiful. The imagery of us all waiting for a million years while "someone" (my guess: God) weaves a spell, with the stars standing witness to our dreams is powerful for me. The idea that God even cares not just about us, but about our dreams too, is awesome. I believe we are given free will. I'm not trying to get into my theology here, but to say that God cares about our dreams, about what we choose, is cool. We have the free will to make this world a beautiful, amazing place, but look at what we've done. Wars. Hate. Fear. Pain. Frustration. We've done a sad job in our stewardship. I want to just wish it all back to perfect.

The last line, "Stand ready and tall, reflect the light" serves for me as a call to task. I am here to stand ready and to reflect the love God has for me, to reflect the light that dwells in us all. I don't, though. I fail. I shrink and wrap myself in the darkness, because it is easier. But every once in a while, I think we can get it right. When we reflect the light within, there's nothing more beautiful. I think it's in those times that God smiles and laughs in joy. For us, in reflecting the light within, we can realize that it is not our light. A reflection is not a source. A reflection cannot produce, just mimic. But even in mimicking, we shine brighter than we ever could on our own...

If you're interested in learning more about Thrice (how 'bout the fact that a portion of every CD they sell goes to charity), check them out at: http://www.islandrecords.com/thrice or http://myspace.com/thrice. They are incredible. I will be getting the rest of their CDs eventually. Feel free to comment. I'm interested in hearing your thoughts, I hear mine all the time.


We are not alone...