Jars of Clay - "Good Monsters"

"All the good monsters open their eyes
To see the wasteland where the home fires rise
And the people shouting, "Why, why, why"

Do you know what you are?
Do you know what you are?

All the giants wake from their sleep
And roll outside of safety's keep
And the pain makes them feel so alive

Do you know what you are; do you know what you are?
We are bored of all the things we know
Do you know what you are; do you know what you are?

Not all monsters are bad
But the ones who are good
Never do what they could, never do what they could

All the good monsters rattle their chains
And dance around the open flames
They make a lot of empty noise

While all of the bright eyes turn away
As if there wasn't anything to say
About the justice and the mystery

Do you know what you are?
Do you know what you are?
We are bored of all the things that we know
And we are forms of everything we love, we love..

If good won't show its ugly face,
Evil won't you take your place?
Nothing ever changes, nothing ever changes
By itself

We are bored of all the things that we know
Do you know what you are?
Because we are so in love with ourselves

We are forms of all the things we love"

This one sticks with me. I'll write more soon, but I wanted to get this out before it slipped my mind.

Thrice - "The Alchemy Index, Vol. I"

It has been a very, very long time since I wrote anything here. I almost forgot this thing existed. But I'm back, after realizing how much I missed talking about music.

I sat down today and listened to this album again, and was once again floored by how incredible it is. The Alchemy Index is a concept album, or rather a 4 EP set, each disc focusing on one element, each disc devoted to one of the four elements- earth, air, fire, and water, each with its own distinct feel.

As I lay sprawled out on the floor, listening to Thrice's "Water" disc from "The Alchemy Index," I spent half an hour soaking up an amazing work of art. The fire and water albums, which are part of "The Alchemy Index, pt. I" are out now, with earth and air coming out as pt. 2 this spring. The fire album is raw molten metal, brimming with a prophetic defiance. Water, on the other hand, has a more introspective, solitary feel, making excellent use of digital effects to give each song a distinctly aquatic feel. If you're interested in some amazing music with intelligent, though-provoking lyrics, check them out. They're my favorite band...ever. I can firmly say that. Each album finds them getting better and better.

The songs of each EP center on the title element; on Water, each song focuses on something aquatic. Nautical metaphors are put to wonderful use, as Kensrue sings of facing the call of the sea and looking headlong into the abyss. On Fire, he sings of the crawling of flames and the rush of the inferno. Earth and Air come out this spring, and I will surely be picking them up.

I cannot recommend this album more. It is amazing. Go buy it. I'll talk in more detail later.

David Crowder Band - "You Are My Joy"

"And He set me on fire,
And I am burning alive.
With His breath in my lungs
I am coming undone.

And He set me on fire,
And I am burning alive.
With His breath in my lungs
I am coming undone.
And I cannot hold it in
And remain composed.
Love's taken over me
And so I propose
The letting myself go.
I am letting myself go.

You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy!

You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy!

And He set me on fire,
And I am burning alive.
With His breath in my lungs
I am coming undone.

And He set me on fire,
And I am burning alive.
With His breath in my lungs
I am coming undone.
And I cannot hold it in
And remain composed.
Love's taken over me
And so I propose
The letting myself go.
I am letting myself go.

You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy!

You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy!

I need to catch my breath,
I need to
I need to catch my breath,
Give me a moment now.

You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy!

You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy!

You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy.
You are my joy!

I'm laughing so hard
And I'm laughing so hard
And I'm laughing so hard..."

It's been a long, long time since my last update. I suppose I got busy with the end of the school year, and then starting my new job, and I let this blog slip. My bad; I know all my thousands of readers were horribly disappointed (mmm...sarcasm).

Anyway, I'm back with this amazing song. I recently spent a week in New Orleans doing some work with Habitat for Humanity, helping to bring New Orleans back to life, piece by very small piece. This song served as a theme for me for the trip. We listened to it numerous times while riding around in the vans, and I think most of the group really enjoys Crowder, and this song in particular. I love it.

I only started listening to the David Crowder Band a few months ago. I didn't erally pay them any attention when they came onto the scene a while back, because I find a lot of worship music kinda boring and repetitive. But DCB somehow made its' way into my rotation (probably starting with with my boss Alfred's enthusiasm for the group), and the band has firmly planted itself into my "Dirty Dozen," the 12 bands I would pick if I were ever stranded on a deserted island.

This song is such an uplifting and powerful song for me, signifying the reliance we should have on God, and the fire inside that is a result of our relationship with God (ideally). The lines "I cannot hold it in and remain composed" or "I am burning alive" stick out to me and remind me that if I really do hold any faith in God, if I really will let myself go (another great line) that only then can I feel alive/on fire. The chorus, which is simply "You are my joy" lends itself to being screamed at the top of one's lungs (a prominent feature of DCB concerts, which I learned earlier this summer at Atlantafest).

I think that's something Christians often forget- the joy of God. In our rush to do the right things, to be "good Christians," I think we ( I ) miss out on something so awesome and important- with God as our joy, we should be some pretty happy people. I'm not talking about a "everything is rosy," happy-go-lucky goofiness (not to say that is a bad thing- it definitely isn't), but a real joy in knowing that God loves us, and really wants us to have that relationship. So this song serves as a reminder to be joyful and enjoy God.

Musically, DCB isn't the average praise and worship band (which is probably why I enjoy them so much). There probably isn't a musical instrument they wouldn't consider using, including everything from keytars to turntables. Just recently the band came out with a bluegrass ep ("B Collision"), containing reimaginings of 7 songs from "A Collision," the album on which one may find this song.

This song pulses and soars with timely drumwork and resonating chords. The verses are somewhat subdued and sparse in terms of instrumentation, but the chorus really cranks it up, a sort of loud/soft dynamic (often found in Nirvana songs, for example), which, to me, just makes me want to sing out the chorus. The song winds down and closes out with the line "I'm laughing so hard..." Personally, I enjoy a good laugh, and the message of this song, that God has set us on fire (figuratively, of course) and that we should be bursting with God's joy, makes me laugh. A true, joyous laugh, not like the kind of laugh when someone falls down, or when you hear a good joke, but a laugh that really resonates with the soul, a laugh that only God could provide.

For more info on DCB, please check out their websites: http://www.davidcrowderband.com, or http://www.myspace.com/davidcrowderband. Be sure to catch them in concert- they put on an amazing show. Not only does Crowder look like a crazy crack addict, but he plays a mean keytar, and the band is great at getting the crowd involved. You will sing along. You will whistle. You will scream at the top of your lungs. You will be joyous...

Demon Hunter - "The Tide Began To Rise"

"I don't belong here
I never saw this on the path I walk
The blood-stained walls, the lines of chalk on the floor
It's getting so hard
I never saw the backlash when the tide began to rise
I can't remember
The way it was when everything felt right
My mouth held shut and my eyes sealed tight with control

So I remember on the inside...

I found a dark, infernal place
I don't want to face anymore
Somehow, I won't stop feeding the pain
My heart's just the same as before

And somehow...

So now I'm stuck here
Between the guilty and the insincere
The words I spoke have left me here all alone
I should have known this
I never saw the backlash when the tide began to rise
I wish it all gone
I could've burned it when I had the choice
And now I'd die to kill this noise in my head

So I remember on the inside...

I found a dark, infernal place
I don't want to face anymore
Somehow, I won't stop feeding the pain
My heart's just the same as before

If this is all the love my spirit can give
Just take it back tonight
There is not a reason more to live"

I first stumbled across Demon Hunter a couple years ago, right after their first CD (self-titled) came out. I heard one of their songs "My Throat Is An Open Grave," and absolutely loved their sound. The first album was pure metal- loud, angry, screaming. "My Throat" was the single ballad-esque song on the album. Their sound has since become a bit more melodic, but with more than adequate levels of screaming metal goodness. Ryan Clark, the lead singer, has a great growl, like he half-swallowed some charcoal and tried to chase it with Drano. Their second CD "Summer of Darkness" showed the band developing a slight melodic edge, with more understandable lyrical parts (sometimes with metal, I really have to look up the lyrics to see what is being said. I'm a weakling, I know). Their most recent CD "The Triptych" expands on the melodic aspects while still keeping enough metal to set off any detector. For more info on Demon Hunter, check their sites: http://www.demonhunter.net or http://www.purevolume.com/demonhunter.

This song comes in both the regular CD version, and an acoustic version, both of which are good. The album version enters with a nice piano part, and a steady yet subtle beat. One interesting feature of the album version is the almost chainsaw/motorcycle-sounding effect the band uses, which is very interesting. There is also some synth-sounding work near the end, along with some very pleasant harmony. Yes, harmony. The acoustic version is, naturally, beautiful guitar work and a very similar sounding vocal track. There is a faint hint of echo, almost like it was just the singer, and the guitars in the room, nothing else. Amazing work, whichever track one chooses. I love them both.

Lyrically, I really enjoy Demon Hunter on the whole, especially this track. This song is about regret, remembering one's past and acknowledging the darkness within. It resonates with me. I have done some crappy things in the past, and will no doubt do crappy things in the future. But this song encourages me to look inside, to realize what I am, but to also realize the fact that I can change.

I think the thing that I love the most about this song is the final bridge/chorus/whatever: "If this is all the love my spirit can give, just take it back tonight, there is not a reason more to live." Soe may see those lines and imagine they are depressing- "if I can't do it right, I don't want to live". I find them to be something else. These lines call to me to love and to give, because if I don't do that, what good am I? If I cannot love, both those around me and myself, then I don't need to live, for the two are completely linked for me. To live is to love; to love is to live. Recently, I've had friends go through some tough times. This song reminds me to love, to give, even when I don't feel like it. When I feel like the answer is so simple, and I just want them to realize it, this song encourages me to love the person and help them realize the answer themselves. I cannot just give it to them. Change, true change, comes from within.

On a personal level, this song really reminds me of my past. It helps me stay motivated to change, to not regress to those dark infernal places that I know are inside. They are there. I have been there. I know those places. And I know enough to know I don't want to stay there. I have to change, I have to get out of those places. I have to love.

So I rememer on the inside...

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...

The First Post Should Be The Namesake, I Suppose

Project 86 - "Wordsmith Legacy"

"Knock knock knock
Sound the blows to the forehead from the
Mock mock mock
Of the words, a voice I hear every morning

Like stalking me from yesterday
The taunts of one who sought to frame
The picture of this desolate
This figure cowering

Every word a double edged sword
A double edged sword
My every word

Drop drop drop
Sound the sledge to the metal
Shot shot shot
Sound the pin to the chamber
My own words pound after me
Intentions bent on conquering
The very will I proudly claimed
Was the very axe that cut the nape

Every word a double edged sword
A double edged sword
My every word

(I'll never, ever look back
Sitting still, sitting still
Arrogant mindset of lusts
They search and strain and drink and stagger
When we are hollow
Sitting still, sitting still
You hate us cause we'll never go away)

You can drown
In your own mistakes
Burrowing into the black
Or you can take my hand

Double
Edged
Sword
My every word

This gift was never yours
So why would you ever think
That the words you said were your own?
I have chosen
And breathed
And forgiven
And changed
And purged
And cleaned
And forgave
And bathed
And carried
And soothed
And burned
And spoken and spoken and spoken and spoken and spoken and spoken and spoken...
Yours is not to proclaim...but only to obey."

From the quasi-staccato, atmospheric opening, to the winding down of the final chords which drip like the pigment in a Dali painting, this song rocks. When the chorus clarifies and the guitar kicks in, shredding the subtle brewing storm, I get a slight adrenaline rush. From Andrew Schwab's powerful voice to the weird drum work of Alex Albert, I really love Project 86's sound. While I love the music itself, I'm not very musically talented, and I couldn't read a sheet of music if my life depended on it, so I focus on the lyrics, which I can handle. Typical Project 86 in its near-scream-somewhat-grolwled-yet-still-listenable lyrics, I really think this song resonates with me for several reasons.

Namely, the fact that we all have to live with every word we speak. And especially those which are actually written down. But yet we cannot be controlled by them. I'm reminded of James 3 with these lyrics, if one wants to get biblical with them; the issue of taming the tongue is laced throughout these words. I especially love the closing line of the song: "Yours is not to proclaim...but only to obey." Sometimes, we get so caught up in the sound of our voices, we forget to simply shut up and follow. The final verse reminds me that my words are not my own. I picture God saying the last verse, reminding me that God has handled everything from creating to burning. My job is simply to obey.

Project 86 has now put out five albums ranging from the self-titled debut to this most recent work. I own their last four (I gotta find that debut somewhere!), and I love them all. The sound has evolved over the years, but it's still distincly Project. I highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys some high-quality hardcore with insightful and thought-provoking lyrics. Check them out at: http://www.project86.com for more info, tour dates, biography, etc.

Until next time...