four new albums I’m listening to:
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musings and mishapse of a technical creative
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Two-Fifty Tuesday
Alright there are a ton of projects just sitting out there right now I’m working on either in concept or totality, and I’m gonna dump them on here.
- Summer Children’s T-Shirt design.
- Childrens Ministry Fair design concept/execution.
- VBS concept and build out.
- Youth Stage Design Concept.
- Gym System build coming up.
- Volunteer Schedules.
- Continuing Projector Lamp change outs across campus.
- Projector upgrade spec out.
I just got confirmation of lumber from a fence being pulled down for part of the ministry fair. I’m building a board walk and need some old looking lumber, and free trumps anything else I could come up with!
Personally I’ve got a few projects i want to get started on my own. I want to create some wall art, painting etc. I also want to build a unique coffee table out of reclaimed barn wood. I’ll be posting pictures of all of these projects before to long.
I just moved back in with my parents. They came down to Houston after I did and when my lease came up they offered to let me move in with them for a while to save some money for a potential new car purchase etc. So that rocks but it’s gonna be an adjustment. i’m used to having a ton of space! But I’ll have a garage which is why I’m gonna be working on some projects for myself.
I bought the new Adele album 21 – Adele good stuff. Love her rich voice.
What are you working on?
A musical note
I haven’t put a music addition up here lately so here is what has been inspiring me musically lately.
I have had this album on repeat quite often the past couple weeks since it has been out and I haven’t gotten tired of it yet. I’ve been using it to tune systems, to gather my whits, to sing loudly in the car, to sketch some ideas or just plain relax. This would be my one must have I have probably bought in the last year or so and I can’t wait to go see her in concert
other mentionables to create to.
music
Alright so this is a lot of music, so I’ll give you in order left to right top to bottom Artist, Album – why I like it – buy the whole thing or part.
Peter Bjorn and John, Writers Block – A funky hipster album totaly grows on you – Buy it All
Barcelona, Absolutes – A cool rock album that makes your heart warm – All of it every ounce
The Boxer Rebellion, Union – Kind of Coldplayesque meoldy with punkier vocals great driving music – All of it
Carolina Liar, Coming to Terms – A fun poppy album useful for break ups or bad moods – Hit or miss really I could skip some songs
Doves, Kingdom of Rust – A catchy grungy album with again a likeness to coldplay I heard it on Zombieland and fell in love – It’s all worth a spin
The Morning Benders, Big Echo – kind of a fun throw back stylistically with a great analog sound – I can listen to it on repeat for hours
MIA, Kayla – The song Paper Planes is on Slumdog Millionaire such a great one! – That is the only song I’d suggest I didn’t care for anything else
Robbie Seay Band, Miracle – Robbie is a great worship leader and writing the next generation of impactful songs – all
The Raconteurs, Counselors of the Lonely – Kind of got that White Stripes groove without the obnoxiousness of Jack White – I like it all but it may not be for you
The Temper Trap, Conditions – This one’s vocals took a bit to grow on me but I dig it kind of an 80′s mod clash with a bit of grunge synth thrown in – buy it all
Telepopmusik, Angel Milk – Fun electronic music with vocals that sound like Norah Jones can’t go wrong with that – buy it all
Jonsi, Go – Sigur Ros without jibberish nuff said – buy it all
Patty Griffin, Downtown Church – Ok Norah Jones second album meets the irreverence of Patty Griffin LOVE IT – buy it all
Carlos Whittaker, EP – Another next gen worship album with some thoughtful songs – buy it all
Seabird, Rocks Into Rivers – I’m partial because they’re from where I grew up but still stellar style – all
Music Monday on Tuesday
I haven’t done a music post in a while so here is what I’ve downloaded and listened to, loved and hated. These are my personal views, and may not reflect your thinking. If everyone thought like you the world would probably be a pretty boring place.
I enjoy Paramore like a fat kid enjoys ho-hos. Seriously. I love Hayley’s vocals. I love the way the band rocks. I love the spiritual aspects of their music while keeping it mainstream. Yeah it’s poppy, but it’s not your moms soda pop either. To each their own, this album may not be entirely catchy like their last two but if you give it some time it will grow on you. There are some sick melodic strains and some amazing acoustic pieces.
The Black Eyed Peas….I don’t like to like this. I’m white…I don’t dance, but this makes me want to. yeah there is a gross over usage of auto tune. Thank you Kanye for ruining music this year. Regardless it’s a killer fun album for something different. More of a guilty pleasure than anything, and not every track on here is stellar, but most of them just have that cool way over produced value.
Friendly Fires. This is just a great pump you up but still chillaxed album. Something I work to often. If you like chilled out semi electronic music with plenty of ambient space check this out.
Alright John Mayer…first off…on this album artwork you look like you had a nose job. It just makes me laugh. Easy listening is an understatement. This album is so easy to listen to it’s ridiculous.
Phil Wickham has a way with words, and music. There is nothing particularly churchy about this whole album but when you’re done with it you feel like you’ve been to church. I love being able to feel the intent and worshipfullness of an album. If you’ve never listened to Phil Wickham do it right now. You won’t be disappointed. Vocally inspiring and lyrically challenging.
I think the first time I was introduced to this band was in a Cadillac commercial. Blown away. This is one of those funky ambient albums that you just can’t help but get into. Just something a little out of the ordinary to make your work day go by smooth.
I enjoyed the Bravery. Fun, energetic band with tons of catchy hooks for all the kids on the dance floor. This album isn’t that. The vocals are tense, and over produced. To much reverb to the point where you can’t understand most of what’s sung.
Thirty Seconds to Mars…Same album different name. People complain that this doesn’t sound like Jared Leto…ummm this album is the spitting image of the last…in fact I think they borrowed some hooks from their hits. What was new is that on almost every song you have a huge chorus of fans (or whatever you want to call them) chanting and singing in the background. It actually sounds like a Hillsong album with all of the WOAH OH OHHHH’s. It’s actually a little aggravating to listen to. So if you don’t like the crowd chant/sing deal…don’t buy this.
I downloaded Seabird’s new album today and have yet to listen to it, but the first two seconds of the first song and I’m already in love. Listen to Seabird, they’re from my home area in the midwest.
Mute Math: Goodbye?
I bought the new Mute Math album.
I find it kind of funny…I find it kind of sad…the first album I heard from them was the best they ever had. I guess you could chalk it up to the sophomore slump, or that they’re solidly on Warner’s label now. Don’t get me wrong this is a solid piece of music, but that seems to be it, one piece of music. The album doesn’t have much get up and go considering their first release was all over the place musically. There is no drive or energy in 90% of the songs and the songs that have potential energy never see it released.
Armistice’s dynamics don’t actually exist, it seems like Paul Meany and the band wrote this during a massive relationship break up and forgot to let everyone else know why they’re crying. My first inclination during some of the songs was, if I was going to go cut myself I’d do it to this song.
Pieces that made the first album so enjoyable was the energy, the techno elements and the massive builds and drum break downs. The drums on this album are solid, but they’re predictable. The techno elements are minimal and the builds just aren’t there. As far as energy, it’s got energy if you’re melancholy. I’m not impressed, but im not disgusted either. Have you lost your way? because most of your songs kind of lean towards that on this album, and it would make sense.
I remember seeing Mute Math release their music at the GMA’s a number of years ago with such passion and energy it put everyone else to shame. Paul Meany talked about how he had come back to music with a renewed passion for God. Some of their music even related to Christianity (not that music has to, that is a debate for another day). Now with the attitudes seen in interviews and music taking a turn for the dark you begin to wonder where is that bright eyed band that told everyone they were back?
Can I have my mute math with a side of awesome sauce again?
music for the masses
Last night I was driving back from the gym and Anberlin’s The Feel Good Drag came on. This wasn’t the same song I remembered liking the band for. It was kind of thin, cold and didn’t connect. Tempo was awkward and the drums seemed to be playing catch up with the vocals and guitars. So I let the song play out on the radio and then i popped in my iphone and brought up the original version from their 2005 release: Never Take Friendship Personal. Yes, this band has been around a while, and for all of you rockers out there who don’t listen to “Christian” music Anberlin isn’t new, and The Feel Good Drag definitely isn’t their newest stuff.
So on to the song. I played back the original and it had a fullness and warmth that the radio re-mix didn’t have. While the radio version “rocked” it made me feel like there was an ice pick being shoved through my temple every time the drummer hit the snare. Way too much snap. The guitars didn’t have much of a presence either. Over all it lacked the body of the original. No fullness, no spirit, no energy. Not that this is the best anberlin song, or that anberlin is my favorite band and I feel wronged. Far from any of that, it just bothers me that a band jumps to a major record label and all of the sudden the have to jump into the cookie cutter.
I don’t have a big problem with cross overs. I don’t think that there should be such a split between “christian” music and “secular” music anyways. They’re not music genre’s they’re lyric descriptors. No one else sees a split except the Christians, they want to have sanctified music so they can feel ok about listening to something with a beat. I do have a problem with bands who compromise their sound or their values once they cross over. A lot of bands that get started in the “christian” circle today end up doing so because they need a start somewhere, not because they’re Christians. The once the band ‘crosses over’ they sell out and lose their original sound that made them good.
Anyways lets get away from that and lets leave you with something you can listen to and not feel like you’ve sold out or want to go jump off a bridge.
Silversun Pickups: Swoon. A spectacular driving album. All of the songs sound like one another and kind of mesh into one really long song. I say perfect for driving because half of the time it’s just background noise and it’s kind of nice to have one really long song playing as you go. Solid instrumentation and vocals are a bit like coheed’s. So if you don’t like the guy’s voice then you might not want to pick this up off the shelf.
1000 Robota: Du nicht er nicht sie nicht. Yeah this band isn’t from around here. German vocals with this kind of new wave pop music. Great for creative inspiration whilst you work. Mainly because you can’t get distracted while you work because you don’t know and can’t sing the lyrics!
Patty Griffin: Flaming Red. A folk rock bliss. Some country influence but not enough to make me run away. Clean vocals with a nice grunge behind her. It kind of makes you want to sit out on the back porch and sip some lemonade.
other notables, and not so noteworthy.
War Tapes: The Continental Divide. A grooving rock album that grooves along the lines of The Killers or the Koooks.
Young Love: One of Us. An electronica pump fest. They remind me a lot of Brandston which I like. If you like some odd electronica you’ll like this.
Explosions in the Sky: The earth is not a cold dead place. Great background music! Seriously! Same concept as This Will Destroy You or Unwed Sailor.
Dredge: The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion. Meh. This is all kind of sleepy music. No drive, no energy and nothing to really keep your interest.
Mat Kearney: City of Black and White. This album was a sad follow up to Kearney’s first release. First off there is no white man rap. That was what made his stuff in my opinion, the spoken word stuff was just rich with character. This CD is just bland.
Taking Back Sunday: New Again. What made their last album listenable makes this one just as easy going down. Grungy vocals and music with good energy and drive.
Emery: In Shallow Seas. What can I say, scream in, scream out. Their melody’s are great, still haunting vocals and catchy licks.
Paper Route: Absence. If you like Postal Service, Cold Play, U2 etc. you’ll enjoy the melodic strains of Paper Route. Just good easy listening.
Other Albums worth giving a spin:
Copeland: You are my Sunshine.
Lovedrug: The Sucker Punch Show
House of Heroes: The End is Not the End
Robbie Seay Band: Give Yourself Away
The Classic Crime: The Silver Cord
