#1: Cities by Anberlin
It was a very close call at #1, but Cities was just far too awesome to pass up. Anberlin put together the best disc of their career and the most complete disc of the year. I won't even hesitate to claim this disc as flawless. There is simply not enough time for me to sing the praises I want to about this disc. Every track is incredible. This is a disc you can immerse yourself in from start to finish and then do it all over again right after. The tracks are well-written, well sung and well played. They are catchy, they are thought provoking, they are emotional. I won't even claim one particular song as a highlight, because there is no one song that you can take from this disc. You have to experience the entire disc or you're missing out. It's this simple: GET...THIS...DISC...NOW!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Top 25 Albums Of 2007: #5-#2
#5: What A Heart Is Beating For by Chris Rice
Chris Rice has proven himself to be one of the top writers around over his past two discs. Amusing started the trend in 2005, giving Rice the #10 disc of the year that year. What A Heart Is Beating For continues the trend this year and gives Rice an even better posting in 2007. Rice focuses on love in all forms on this disc and does a great job with the subject. So Much For My Sad Song starts the disc off on an upbeat note, discussing the beauty of God's world and how it can really ruin a sad song. You Don't Have To Yell talks about getting your point across without being a jerk. A new version of Lemonade finds it's way on to the disc as well. But the highlight of the disc has to be Here Come Those Eyes, Rice's song devoted to that special someone who is very good at taking his breath away. Overall, this love disc does it's job well and puts the listener in a better mood than they were when they began the disc. Strong songwriting mixed with strong vocals and great music give this disc a Top 5 showing.
#4: Remedy by David Crowder Band
These next four discs all deserve the top spot for various reasons, yet only one of them gets the honor. Once again, David Crowder Band falls short of the top spot solely because of bands that put together absolutely amazing offerings. Remedy continues to prove why Crowder is the top worship act around right now. The band's versatility in their songs is astounding for a worship disc. Tracks like Glory Of It All and Everything Glorious give the disc's slow sides strong showings, while the "fun" tracks like ...Neverending... and We Won't Be Quiet do it loud and proud (And the addition of Ted Nugent on We Won't Be Quiet only gives the band even more credibility on the musical side). Every track is a highlight, and the band does well with another old school hymn with O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing. But, if you have to pick just one song on this disc to get, it has to be Never Let Go. A slow, understated track musically that builds into a strong ending, this track has it all. And this disc has it all too. There is no debate after a disc like this: Crowder is the top worship artist around today.
#3: Even If It Kills Me by Motion City Soundtrack
Motion City Soundtrack came back very strong in 2007. Commit This To Memory was an excellent disc that offered the listeners some very catchy tunes with few flaws. Even If It Kills Me kicks it up a notch, with a flaw very difficult to find on this disc. It is a complete disc, full of a wide range of emotions and sounds. It's another disc where every track is a highlight, making the disc a must-have. Tracks like Broken Heart, It Had To Be You, The Conversation and Can't Finish What You Started all let the disc go strong, and the listener is rewarded with a strong finish to the disc from the title track, with the last thought the listener is given being the last thought we will leave this review on: I so want to get back on track/And I'll do whatever it takes/Even if it kills me.
#2: Five Score And Seven Years Ago by Relient K
Relient K pulled off an epic of a disc in 2007 that very nearly took the top spot. In fact, it was back and forth almost the entire year between this disc and the disc that hit #1. Nevertheless, Five Score And Seven Years Ago is, far and away, Relient K's best and most complete disc to date. Forgiven is an incredible piano-driven rock song, while Must Have Done Soemthing Right has a very pop sound that got some heavy airplay this year. But the singles are just one tiny part of this disc, with tracks like Come Right Out And Say It and Give Until There's Nothing Left highlighting the disc. But it is the epic 11-minute journey at the end of this disc that really pulls everything together. Deathbed takes the listener on a journey through the life of a man on his deathbed who did a lot of stupid things and lost a lot of major parts of his life, yet "clings to his hope of the life in the next." The song is eight minutes in before the instrumental break, yet you don't even know it's been that long while listening. And ending the song and the disc off with a brief appearance from Switchfoot lead singer Jon Foreman and a finishing line of I Am love completes the song and the disc as a whole. This is definitely a must-have disc that nearly took #1 for the year but settles instead for a strong showing at #2.
#1 is coming up shortly.
Chris Rice has proven himself to be one of the top writers around over his past two discs. Amusing started the trend in 2005, giving Rice the #10 disc of the year that year. What A Heart Is Beating For continues the trend this year and gives Rice an even better posting in 2007. Rice focuses on love in all forms on this disc and does a great job with the subject. So Much For My Sad Song starts the disc off on an upbeat note, discussing the beauty of God's world and how it can really ruin a sad song. You Don't Have To Yell talks about getting your point across without being a jerk. A new version of Lemonade finds it's way on to the disc as well. But the highlight of the disc has to be Here Come Those Eyes, Rice's song devoted to that special someone who is very good at taking his breath away. Overall, this love disc does it's job well and puts the listener in a better mood than they were when they began the disc. Strong songwriting mixed with strong vocals and great music give this disc a Top 5 showing.
#4: Remedy by David Crowder Band
These next four discs all deserve the top spot for various reasons, yet only one of them gets the honor. Once again, David Crowder Band falls short of the top spot solely because of bands that put together absolutely amazing offerings. Remedy continues to prove why Crowder is the top worship act around right now. The band's versatility in their songs is astounding for a worship disc. Tracks like Glory Of It All and Everything Glorious give the disc's slow sides strong showings, while the "fun" tracks like ...Neverending... and We Won't Be Quiet do it loud and proud (And the addition of Ted Nugent on We Won't Be Quiet only gives the band even more credibility on the musical side). Every track is a highlight, and the band does well with another old school hymn with O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing. But, if you have to pick just one song on this disc to get, it has to be Never Let Go. A slow, understated track musically that builds into a strong ending, this track has it all. And this disc has it all too. There is no debate after a disc like this: Crowder is the top worship artist around today.
#3: Even If It Kills Me by Motion City Soundtrack
Motion City Soundtrack came back very strong in 2007. Commit This To Memory was an excellent disc that offered the listeners some very catchy tunes with few flaws. Even If It Kills Me kicks it up a notch, with a flaw very difficult to find on this disc. It is a complete disc, full of a wide range of emotions and sounds. It's another disc where every track is a highlight, making the disc a must-have. Tracks like Broken Heart, It Had To Be You, The Conversation and Can't Finish What You Started all let the disc go strong, and the listener is rewarded with a strong finish to the disc from the title track, with the last thought the listener is given being the last thought we will leave this review on: I so want to get back on track/And I'll do whatever it takes/Even if it kills me.
#2: Five Score And Seven Years Ago by Relient K
Relient K pulled off an epic of a disc in 2007 that very nearly took the top spot. In fact, it was back and forth almost the entire year between this disc and the disc that hit #1. Nevertheless, Five Score And Seven Years Ago is, far and away, Relient K's best and most complete disc to date. Forgiven is an incredible piano-driven rock song, while Must Have Done Soemthing Right has a very pop sound that got some heavy airplay this year. But the singles are just one tiny part of this disc, with tracks like Come Right Out And Say It and Give Until There's Nothing Left highlighting the disc. But it is the epic 11-minute journey at the end of this disc that really pulls everything together. Deathbed takes the listener on a journey through the life of a man on his deathbed who did a lot of stupid things and lost a lot of major parts of his life, yet "clings to his hope of the life in the next." The song is eight minutes in before the instrumental break, yet you don't even know it's been that long while listening. And ending the song and the disc off with a brief appearance from Switchfoot lead singer Jon Foreman and a finishing line of I Am love completes the song and the disc as a whole. This is definitely a must-have disc that nearly took #1 for the year but settles instead for a strong showing at #2.
#1 is coming up shortly.
Top 25 Albums Of 2007: #10-#6
#10: Cartel by Cartel
The "Band In A Bubble." Cartel made some waves by writing this disc in 30 days...in a bubble. The promotion with Dr. Pepper and MTV probably helped propel this disc to a bit more popularity than it would have had, but sometimes a good band needs a little boost like that. The incredibly catchy single, Lose It, led the way for this disc and helped make Cartel even more popular. But it's hardly the only song on this disc worth mentioning (Which certainly had better be the case for a disc in the Top 10). Tracks like Wasted, No Subject (Come With Me), The Fortunate and If I Were To Write This Song highlight the disc and give it some staying power. The disc is also helped by a second, remixed version of Wasted featuring Wyclef Jean, giving the band a little more credibility. Overall, this is one of the best pop discs of the year and is worthy of it's standing in the Top 10.
#9: Tomorrow Starts Today by Mobile
Probably the least known disc on this list, Tomorrow Starts Today is no less worthy of it's standing in the Top 10. Canadian band Mobile released this disc last year in their home country, but it took until late summer of this year for it to make it's way over to America. It was a disc definitely worth the wait. Every tracks sounds great and should be added to any collection. The disc is highlighted by Montreal Calling, Dusting Down The Stars, See Right Through Me and Bleeding Words, but, once again, any track on this disc would be a welcome addition to any collection. This is a truly impressive disc that deserves a standing on every end-of-the-year list, but will probably only end up in a handful of lists like this one.
#8: Lost Songs by Anberlin
It's not often that a band can make it into the Top 25 Albums of the year twice in one year (Keep reading for Anberlin's second appearance). It's even more rare that a collection of acoustics and B-Sides can even make the list, let alone find it's way into the Top 10. But Lost Songs is too incredible to overlook. The acoustics of tracks like Dismantle.Repair., A Day Late and Naive Orleans give the listener something they know in a different way. The same can be said about the AOL Sessions tracks. Meanwhile, cover songs like Creep (Also from the AOL Session), The Promise, and Like A Rolling Stone give fans a new look at some classic tracks. The original material (Like The Haunting and Uncanny) provide some fresh material for fans to get their hands on, and a few demo tracks pepper the end of the disc. And then there is the electronic version of Glass To The Arson, which takes a very, very different approach from the original song but actually turns into one of the disc's highlights. Overall, this disc is definitely one that you could play over and over and not get sick of.
#7: The Pursuit Begins When This Portrayal Of Life Ends by Evans Blue
Evans Blue returned very strongly in 2007. Following up a disc with popular tracks like Cold (But I'm Still Here), Beg and Over is never an easy task, but The Pursuit Begins... proves that Evans Blue was up to the task. The title track and lead single actually finished the disc off, which is a rare move in music these days. Nevertheless, it fit well at the end of the disc, finishing it off in a strong way. It begins in a strong way too, with In A Red Dress And Alone starting the disc off in a great way. Tracks like Q (The Best One Of Our Lives) and My Damsel: A Confession To An Adversary help the disc along as well, showing that this band has some staying power. It was a year for alternative music, and this disc is another one of those highlights.
#6: Please Come Home by Dustin Kensrue
Thrice has already appeared on this list, but frontman Dustin Kensrue also had his own offering this year. Taking an acoustic approach to things, Please Come Home was at the top of the list early in the year and stayed high on the list throughout all of 2007. Please Come Home was definitely a solid choice as the title track, as it is the strongest offering on the disc. That said, all eight songs show off exactly why Thrice is such a strong band and prove that Kensrue can be a strong solo artist as well. The songwriting on tracks like I Knew You Before, Pistol and Blood & Wine is absolutely incredible. The sound is so different from the Thrice sound, yet it works just as well for Kensrue, giving him a Top 10 disc on the year.
#5-#2 up soon.
The "Band In A Bubble." Cartel made some waves by writing this disc in 30 days...in a bubble. The promotion with Dr. Pepper and MTV probably helped propel this disc to a bit more popularity than it would have had, but sometimes a good band needs a little boost like that. The incredibly catchy single, Lose It, led the way for this disc and helped make Cartel even more popular. But it's hardly the only song on this disc worth mentioning (Which certainly had better be the case for a disc in the Top 10). Tracks like Wasted, No Subject (Come With Me), The Fortunate and If I Were To Write This Song highlight the disc and give it some staying power. The disc is also helped by a second, remixed version of Wasted featuring Wyclef Jean, giving the band a little more credibility. Overall, this is one of the best pop discs of the year and is worthy of it's standing in the Top 10.
#9: Tomorrow Starts Today by Mobile
Probably the least known disc on this list, Tomorrow Starts Today is no less worthy of it's standing in the Top 10. Canadian band Mobile released this disc last year in their home country, but it took until late summer of this year for it to make it's way over to America. It was a disc definitely worth the wait. Every tracks sounds great and should be added to any collection. The disc is highlighted by Montreal Calling, Dusting Down The Stars, See Right Through Me and Bleeding Words, but, once again, any track on this disc would be a welcome addition to any collection. This is a truly impressive disc that deserves a standing on every end-of-the-year list, but will probably only end up in a handful of lists like this one.
#8: Lost Songs by Anberlin
It's not often that a band can make it into the Top 25 Albums of the year twice in one year (Keep reading for Anberlin's second appearance). It's even more rare that a collection of acoustics and B-Sides can even make the list, let alone find it's way into the Top 10. But Lost Songs is too incredible to overlook. The acoustics of tracks like Dismantle.Repair., A Day Late and Naive Orleans give the listener something they know in a different way. The same can be said about the AOL Sessions tracks. Meanwhile, cover songs like Creep (Also from the AOL Session), The Promise, and Like A Rolling Stone give fans a new look at some classic tracks. The original material (Like The Haunting and Uncanny) provide some fresh material for fans to get their hands on, and a few demo tracks pepper the end of the disc. And then there is the electronic version of Glass To The Arson, which takes a very, very different approach from the original song but actually turns into one of the disc's highlights. Overall, this disc is definitely one that you could play over and over and not get sick of.
#7: The Pursuit Begins When This Portrayal Of Life Ends by Evans Blue
Evans Blue returned very strongly in 2007. Following up a disc with popular tracks like Cold (But I'm Still Here), Beg and Over is never an easy task, but The Pursuit Begins... proves that Evans Blue was up to the task. The title track and lead single actually finished the disc off, which is a rare move in music these days. Nevertheless, it fit well at the end of the disc, finishing it off in a strong way. It begins in a strong way too, with In A Red Dress And Alone starting the disc off in a great way. Tracks like Q (The Best One Of Our Lives) and My Damsel: A Confession To An Adversary help the disc along as well, showing that this band has some staying power. It was a year for alternative music, and this disc is another one of those highlights.
#6: Please Come Home by Dustin Kensrue
Thrice has already appeared on this list, but frontman Dustin Kensrue also had his own offering this year. Taking an acoustic approach to things, Please Come Home was at the top of the list early in the year and stayed high on the list throughout all of 2007. Please Come Home was definitely a solid choice as the title track, as it is the strongest offering on the disc. That said, all eight songs show off exactly why Thrice is such a strong band and prove that Kensrue can be a strong solo artist as well. The songwriting on tracks like I Knew You Before, Pistol and Blood & Wine is absolutely incredible. The sound is so different from the Thrice sound, yet it works just as well for Kensrue, giving him a Top 10 disc on the year.
#5-#2 up soon.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Top 25 Albums Of 2007: #15-#11
#15: Southern Weather by The Almost
The Almost is a side project of Underoath's drummer, but it actually improves on Underoath's sound. The group takes the strong Underoath sounds and makes it into something a bit more poppy. However, the singing is the key factor that makes The Almost more accessible. Songs like Amazing Because It Is, Say This Sooner (No One Will Ever See Things The Way I Do) and the title track give this disc some very strong sounds. This is not likely to be the last time we hear from The Almost, but it is a strong first effort.
#14: Alchemy Volumes I and II by Thrice
Thrice is one of the most consistent and strongest bands around. Vhiessu is easily one of the most overlooked and underrated discs to come out in the past few years. Incredible writing mixed with strong lyrics and excellent vocals really give Thrice the opportunity to make a strong case for themselves. This collection is the first two volumes of a four volume set of previously unreleased Thrice stuff, and it is no less exciting than their previous efforts. They display their typical sound and incredible songwriting talents. If you're a Thrice fan, you need to pick Alchemy up ASAP. And if you're not a Thrice fan, you need to become one.
#13: Captiva by Falling Up
Falling Up is a band that continues to mature and get better as they go. This is their second year in a row appearing in the Top 25 Albums of the year (Dawn Escapes was an honorable mention in 2005, while Exit Lights was actually in the Top 25 in 2006 at #12). Where Exit Lights showed they had the talents to make great songs when they get remixed, Captiva shows that they can do it the first time around too. Tracks like Maps, A Guide To Marine Life, the title track and Goodnight Gravity highlight the disc and really start the disc off strongly. The disc does not falter in the second half either, showing that Falling Up is beginning to come into their own as a band and find a sound that fits them and works very well on all levels. This is definitely Falling Up's most complete offering to date.
#12: Ultimate Victory by Chamillionaire
In a year where hip hop really faltered with a lot of incredibly lame songs that got far too overplayed, Chamillionaire shone through as an example of how to make a good hip hop record. This man actually had something to say on this disc, and he did it well. Yes, there are a few "typical" tracks, but they also happen to be the ones that aren't getting played. The tracks that are getting spun over and over are the ones that are actually a bit deeper. The Morning News, The Evening News, The Ultimate Victory and Hip Hop Police highlight the disc, while Spanky Hayes helps give a little comedic relief (Hinted at in the beginning of Standing Ovation and culminating on (Skit)). Overall, this disc was certainly one of the highlights of the year, and one of the few bright spots in an otherwise down year in the hip hop industry.
#11: Rival Factions by Project 86
That this disc didn't even make the Top 10 seems like a travesty, yet it's just a credit to the discs ahead of it. Rival Factions is another solid release from Project 86. Going back to a slightly older sound vocally but keeping the newer sounds around, this disc melds the best Project 86 has had to offer so far into one smooth package. Every track is a hard-hitter, highlighted by Evil (A Chorus Of Resistance), Illuminate, Pull Me Closer Violent Dancer and The Sanctuary Hum. This disc never lets up and can accurately be described as "pulse-pounding" throughout. This should be a Top 5 hit any other year, yet it ends up outside the Top 10 in 2007.
#10-#6 coming up.
The Almost is a side project of Underoath's drummer, but it actually improves on Underoath's sound. The group takes the strong Underoath sounds and makes it into something a bit more poppy. However, the singing is the key factor that makes The Almost more accessible. Songs like Amazing Because It Is, Say This Sooner (No One Will Ever See Things The Way I Do) and the title track give this disc some very strong sounds. This is not likely to be the last time we hear from The Almost, but it is a strong first effort.
#14: Alchemy Volumes I and II by Thrice
Thrice is one of the most consistent and strongest bands around. Vhiessu is easily one of the most overlooked and underrated discs to come out in the past few years. Incredible writing mixed with strong lyrics and excellent vocals really give Thrice the opportunity to make a strong case for themselves. This collection is the first two volumes of a four volume set of previously unreleased Thrice stuff, and it is no less exciting than their previous efforts. They display their typical sound and incredible songwriting talents. If you're a Thrice fan, you need to pick Alchemy up ASAP. And if you're not a Thrice fan, you need to become one.
#13: Captiva by Falling Up
Falling Up is a band that continues to mature and get better as they go. This is their second year in a row appearing in the Top 25 Albums of the year (Dawn Escapes was an honorable mention in 2005, while Exit Lights was actually in the Top 25 in 2006 at #12). Where Exit Lights showed they had the talents to make great songs when they get remixed, Captiva shows that they can do it the first time around too. Tracks like Maps, A Guide To Marine Life, the title track and Goodnight Gravity highlight the disc and really start the disc off strongly. The disc does not falter in the second half either, showing that Falling Up is beginning to come into their own as a band and find a sound that fits them and works very well on all levels. This is definitely Falling Up's most complete offering to date.
#12: Ultimate Victory by Chamillionaire
In a year where hip hop really faltered with a lot of incredibly lame songs that got far too overplayed, Chamillionaire shone through as an example of how to make a good hip hop record. This man actually had something to say on this disc, and he did it well. Yes, there are a few "typical" tracks, but they also happen to be the ones that aren't getting played. The tracks that are getting spun over and over are the ones that are actually a bit deeper. The Morning News, The Evening News, The Ultimate Victory and Hip Hop Police highlight the disc, while Spanky Hayes helps give a little comedic relief (Hinted at in the beginning of Standing Ovation and culminating on (Skit)). Overall, this disc was certainly one of the highlights of the year, and one of the few bright spots in an otherwise down year in the hip hop industry.
#11: Rival Factions by Project 86
That this disc didn't even make the Top 10 seems like a travesty, yet it's just a credit to the discs ahead of it. Rival Factions is another solid release from Project 86. Going back to a slightly older sound vocally but keeping the newer sounds around, this disc melds the best Project 86 has had to offer so far into one smooth package. Every track is a hard-hitter, highlighted by Evil (A Chorus Of Resistance), Illuminate, Pull Me Closer Violent Dancer and The Sanctuary Hum. This disc never lets up and can accurately be described as "pulse-pounding" throughout. This should be a Top 5 hit any other year, yet it ends up outside the Top 10 in 2007.
#10-#6 coming up.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Top 25 Albums Of 2007: #20-16
Alright, on to the next five:
#20: Vena Sera by Chevelle
Chevelle has consistently been one of the top alternative acts around. This Type Of Thinking (Could Do Us In) is easily one of the best discs to come out in the past 10 years. Vena Sera, therefore, actually comes to be a bit of a disappointment on the Chevelle scale. Nonetheless, it is easily one of the year's top discs. Chevelle continued to put out some quality tracks with this disc, including Saferwaters, Antisaint and Well Enough Alone. The whole disc is full of quality tracks that are a welcome addition to any full music collection. Chevelle continues to prove one of the best alternative acts around.
#19: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend by Miranda Lambert
This disc starts off with a bang...literally. Lambert returns with her sophomore effort and dives right in with Gunpowder & Lead, a song about getting prepared for the return of an ex-con ex. Lambert pulls no punches, getting her shotgun loaded and lighting a cigarette, ready to show him what she's got. And this song sets the pace for the entire disc, which rarely lets up. Tracks like Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Down keep the disc going strong, while Lambert shows off her vocal talents more on tracks like Easy From Now On, Famous In A Small Town and Desparation. On this disc, Lambert has solidified herself as one of the great acts in country music for years to come.
#18: 5th Gear by Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley continues to be one of the best male solo artists in any genre, and has definitely proven to be one of the Top 5 in the country realm. 5th Gear continues to prove this thought true, with a slew of impressive songs on all fronts. Vocally, Paisley is at the top of his game on this disc. Musically, he continues to stick more to a traditional country styling, which is a welcome change to many of the current country acts out there. And lyrically, Paisley continues to be one of the top writers around. Paisley proves that he can be funny on tracks like Ticks, Online, I'm Still A Guy and the ongoing chronicles of the Kung Pao Bucakaroos. Meanwhile, when Paisley actually gets serious, he does even better, with tracks like Oh Love (featuring Carrie Underwood) and Letter To Me showing off his writing talents and putting some deep thoughts on to the disc. Overall, this is definitely one of the year's must-haves from the country realm. Shockingly, this is the last appearance of a country disc on the list this year.
#17: The Altar And The Door by Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns has proven to be one of the most well-accomplished worship acts around in the past few years, though they are not specifically a worship group. This continues to be the case on The Altar And The Door, with some truly incredible tracks lighting up your sound system. Tracks like What This World Needs, Slow Fade and The Altar And The Door give the disc some great songs to sit around and listen to, while tracks like East To West and All Because Of Jesus give the disc some strong tracks to sing along to. Overall, this disc is a well done disc that continues to show why Casting Crowns is so popular.
#16: It Won't Be Soon Before Long by Maroon 5
Five years is a long time to go between releases for a band that burst on to the scene as much as Maroon 5 did a few years back. Sometimes, though, time is needed. Because, though Songs About Jane was an incredibly popular disc, it left a lot to be desired from the band. It Won't Be Soon Before Long leaves the listener with no such qualms. The songs are actually well performed. The vocals are better, the music is definitely improved (as well as more versatile), and the lyrics are definitely getting better. It's not a perfect disc, but songs like Goodnight Goodnight, Won't Go Home Without You and Little Of Your Time show off that this band does actually have talent. It Won't Be Soon Before Long gives this band hope for an even brighter future.
#15-#11 tomorrow.
#20: Vena Sera by Chevelle
Chevelle has consistently been one of the top alternative acts around. This Type Of Thinking (Could Do Us In) is easily one of the best discs to come out in the past 10 years. Vena Sera, therefore, actually comes to be a bit of a disappointment on the Chevelle scale. Nonetheless, it is easily one of the year's top discs. Chevelle continued to put out some quality tracks with this disc, including Saferwaters, Antisaint and Well Enough Alone. The whole disc is full of quality tracks that are a welcome addition to any full music collection. Chevelle continues to prove one of the best alternative acts around.
#19: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend by Miranda Lambert
This disc starts off with a bang...literally. Lambert returns with her sophomore effort and dives right in with Gunpowder & Lead, a song about getting prepared for the return of an ex-con ex. Lambert pulls no punches, getting her shotgun loaded and lighting a cigarette, ready to show him what she's got. And this song sets the pace for the entire disc, which rarely lets up. Tracks like Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Down keep the disc going strong, while Lambert shows off her vocal talents more on tracks like Easy From Now On, Famous In A Small Town and Desparation. On this disc, Lambert has solidified herself as one of the great acts in country music for years to come.
#18: 5th Gear by Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley continues to be one of the best male solo artists in any genre, and has definitely proven to be one of the Top 5 in the country realm. 5th Gear continues to prove this thought true, with a slew of impressive songs on all fronts. Vocally, Paisley is at the top of his game on this disc. Musically, he continues to stick more to a traditional country styling, which is a welcome change to many of the current country acts out there. And lyrically, Paisley continues to be one of the top writers around. Paisley proves that he can be funny on tracks like Ticks, Online, I'm Still A Guy and the ongoing chronicles of the Kung Pao Bucakaroos. Meanwhile, when Paisley actually gets serious, he does even better, with tracks like Oh Love (featuring Carrie Underwood) and Letter To Me showing off his writing talents and putting some deep thoughts on to the disc. Overall, this is definitely one of the year's must-haves from the country realm. Shockingly, this is the last appearance of a country disc on the list this year.
#17: The Altar And The Door by Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns has proven to be one of the most well-accomplished worship acts around in the past few years, though they are not specifically a worship group. This continues to be the case on The Altar And The Door, with some truly incredible tracks lighting up your sound system. Tracks like What This World Needs, Slow Fade and The Altar And The Door give the disc some great songs to sit around and listen to, while tracks like East To West and All Because Of Jesus give the disc some strong tracks to sing along to. Overall, this disc is a well done disc that continues to show why Casting Crowns is so popular.
#16: It Won't Be Soon Before Long by Maroon 5
Five years is a long time to go between releases for a band that burst on to the scene as much as Maroon 5 did a few years back. Sometimes, though, time is needed. Because, though Songs About Jane was an incredibly popular disc, it left a lot to be desired from the band. It Won't Be Soon Before Long leaves the listener with no such qualms. The songs are actually well performed. The vocals are better, the music is definitely improved (as well as more versatile), and the lyrics are definitely getting better. It's not a perfect disc, but songs like Goodnight Goodnight, Won't Go Home Without You and Little Of Your Time show off that this band does actually have talent. It Won't Be Soon Before Long gives this band hope for an even brighter future.
#15-#11 tomorrow.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Top 25 Albums Of 2007: #25-21
So, here we are at the end of the year. And that, of course, means it's time for end of the year lists. Movies will be coming soon, but there's still a few to see before the year's up. Meanwhile, however, we can go with the more important list, the Top 25 Albums of 2007.
2007 was a pretty solid year for music. Some truly talented artists put out some excellent discs. There were some definite disappointments, however, the top discs of the year were absolutely impressive and wonderful additions to any music collection.
So, let's get on with it:
Honorable Mention: Good Morning Revival by Good Charlotte
2007 was a pretty solid year for music. Some truly talented artists put out some excellent discs. There were some definite disappointments, however, the top discs of the year were absolutely impressive and wonderful additions to any music collection.
So, let's get on with it:
Honorable Mention: Good Morning Revival by Good Charlotte
Revival accurately describes this disc for Good Charlotte. Though the band has maintained a decent fan base in the past few years, their last disc (The Chronicles Of Life And Death) left a lot to be desired on all levels. The lyrics were poor, the music was sub-par, and it was a wholly unimpressive disc. Good Morning Revival was a return to respectability. Tracks like The River and Dance Floor Anthem gave the disc some radio power, and tracks like March On and Where Would Be Now kept the disc going strong. Though it was not the strongest disc of the year, it was certainly a solid disc and a surprise hit that just barely missed this list.
#25: Paper Walls by Yellowcard
This disc actually fell a bit short of the typical Yellowcard expectations, however, it was a solid disc nonetheless. Paper Walls boasts a strong array of songs including the title track. The disc's sole downfall that keeps it from being higher on the list is that there are no bonafide "hits." Every song is good, and a few of them are better than just good, but none of the tracks can really be qualified as "incredible" or some similar adjective. But with every track being good or better, Yellowcard did produce a quality disc.
#24: Indiana by Jon McLaughlin
This guy burst on to the scene with Beautiful Disaster and just kept getting more and more popular. Thankfully, though, he was no one-hit wonder. Indiana is easily one of the most well-written discs of the year. Every track is strong, and every lyric is even stronger. Tracks like Human and For You From Me give the disc some great tracks to look at, but there's no real missteps on this disc. It is definitely a worthwhile purchase.
#23: Riot! by Paramore
Paramore is another one of those bands that gets very popular very quickly the second time around. This sophomore effort proves to be worthy of it's popularity. The popular single, Misery Business, is actually one of the discs lowlights, which is a credit to the disc as a whole moreso than a discredit to the single (Because it is good). Tracks like Crushcrushcrush, Miracle, and For A Pessimist I'm Pretty Optimistic give the disc plenty of quality to go around. This is a very enjoyable pop/punk disc with some pretty solid writing to go along with it.
#22: Them VS You VS Me by Finger Eleven
Paralyzer is easily one of the year's catchiest songs and shows off Finger Eleven's versatility as a band. Creating a rock dance song is no easy task, and to pull it off in the way Finger Eleven did with Paralyzer is a rarity. But don't be fooled...this is no one track disc. Falling On and the title track are just two options among many that help this disc along at a strong, steady pace. Overall, this disc is very solid, and it has at least one must-have song in Paralyzer.
#21: The Shade Of Poison Trees by Dashboard Confessional
This disc was a return to form for Chris Carrabba and it paid off. After adding a band around him, Dashboard Confessional became one of the top alternative acts in the nation. However, it also came with some backlash, with some original fans feeling like Carrabba had sold out and didn't stay true to his original form. The Shade Of Poison Trees goes back to the simplicity of an acoustic guitar and strong lyrics (With the occasional light drumming thrown in). Tracks like Fever Dreams, the title track and Thick As Thieves highlight a strong effort from Dashboard. The disc is a nice change of pace from the past few Dashboard efforts, but it is no less of a quality release. Any Dashboard fan will need to have this in their collection.
#20-#16 tomorrow.
#25: Paper Walls by Yellowcard
This disc actually fell a bit short of the typical Yellowcard expectations, however, it was a solid disc nonetheless. Paper Walls boasts a strong array of songs including the title track. The disc's sole downfall that keeps it from being higher on the list is that there are no bonafide "hits." Every song is good, and a few of them are better than just good, but none of the tracks can really be qualified as "incredible" or some similar adjective. But with every track being good or better, Yellowcard did produce a quality disc.
#24: Indiana by Jon McLaughlin
This guy burst on to the scene with Beautiful Disaster and just kept getting more and more popular. Thankfully, though, he was no one-hit wonder. Indiana is easily one of the most well-written discs of the year. Every track is strong, and every lyric is even stronger. Tracks like Human and For You From Me give the disc some great tracks to look at, but there's no real missteps on this disc. It is definitely a worthwhile purchase.
#23: Riot! by Paramore
Paramore is another one of those bands that gets very popular very quickly the second time around. This sophomore effort proves to be worthy of it's popularity. The popular single, Misery Business, is actually one of the discs lowlights, which is a credit to the disc as a whole moreso than a discredit to the single (Because it is good). Tracks like Crushcrushcrush, Miracle, and For A Pessimist I'm Pretty Optimistic give the disc plenty of quality to go around. This is a very enjoyable pop/punk disc with some pretty solid writing to go along with it.
#22: Them VS You VS Me by Finger Eleven
Paralyzer is easily one of the year's catchiest songs and shows off Finger Eleven's versatility as a band. Creating a rock dance song is no easy task, and to pull it off in the way Finger Eleven did with Paralyzer is a rarity. But don't be fooled...this is no one track disc. Falling On and the title track are just two options among many that help this disc along at a strong, steady pace. Overall, this disc is very solid, and it has at least one must-have song in Paralyzer.
#21: The Shade Of Poison Trees by Dashboard Confessional
This disc was a return to form for Chris Carrabba and it paid off. After adding a band around him, Dashboard Confessional became one of the top alternative acts in the nation. However, it also came with some backlash, with some original fans feeling like Carrabba had sold out and didn't stay true to his original form. The Shade Of Poison Trees goes back to the simplicity of an acoustic guitar and strong lyrics (With the occasional light drumming thrown in). Tracks like Fever Dreams, the title track and Thick As Thieves highlight a strong effort from Dashboard. The disc is a nice change of pace from the past few Dashboard efforts, but it is no less of a quality release. Any Dashboard fan will need to have this in their collection.
#20-#16 tomorrow.
Monday, November 19, 2007
This Is A Test...This Is Only A Test...
That's a pretty good way to describe yesterday. No, God was not testing me. He doesn't do that. But I certainly feel like he was allowing me to be tested. What a crappy day.
First was church. I woke up early to go set up my laptop for service since the church's sound card is messed up and there were videos. And that's fine, not a big deal. But the song lyrics didn't transfer with the rest of the files, so I had to type them in myself. It took about an hour to get everything set up and ready. And then, of course, first service the lyrics for some of the songs were messed up, which was annoying. So the day didn't start out well.
Then we found out that Julie LaFond died at 4:00 AM that morning. Seeing Bob, his son, and Julie's family at first service made it very difficult to make it through worship. Hearing PK mention it in second service only made it worse. Bob was taking it about as well as you could expect someone to (He even went so far as to make a joke about fantasy football that he and I had a nice laugh over). But that was rough.
It only got worse at work. Why? Because we were dead early in the night and busy later at night. What does that mean? Well, it means that during the early portion of the day I had time to just sit and think while listening to music. And yeah, that's when it decided to hit me that Julie was dead. Why did it hit me so hard? Well, as Lindsay pointed out later that night, Bob's a good friend of mine, and I did have some sort of relationship with Julie. No, she was no more than an acquaintance from church, but she was also a huge fan of mine. She loved to hear me sing and told me so every time I had any sort of solo. She was, essentially, my #1 fan. And she's gone. And it hurts.
So then, at 7 PM, Aldo left, and not more than five minutes later, I got five or six tables at once. I was getting frustrated, for sure. And, after cleaning up most everything except my floor, a party of 15 came in (Around 9:30), and most all of them got eggs. It was like everything that could go wrong was going wrong, all in one day.
That being said, not all of yesterday sucked. I had lunch with Lindsay, which is always incredible. She came into Ram's Horn as well later that night (Though that was advantageous for her as well, since she got plenty of time to do her homework). And I have to tell you, I needed her there. My emotions were frayed as it was, and I was getting more and more frustrated by the second. Having her there calmed me. It allowed me to have a better night and a better today.
Wow...I really, really love this girl. I can't wait to marry her.
First was church. I woke up early to go set up my laptop for service since the church's sound card is messed up and there were videos. And that's fine, not a big deal. But the song lyrics didn't transfer with the rest of the files, so I had to type them in myself. It took about an hour to get everything set up and ready. And then, of course, first service the lyrics for some of the songs were messed up, which was annoying. So the day didn't start out well.
Then we found out that Julie LaFond died at 4:00 AM that morning. Seeing Bob, his son, and Julie's family at first service made it very difficult to make it through worship. Hearing PK mention it in second service only made it worse. Bob was taking it about as well as you could expect someone to (He even went so far as to make a joke about fantasy football that he and I had a nice laugh over). But that was rough.
It only got worse at work. Why? Because we were dead early in the night and busy later at night. What does that mean? Well, it means that during the early portion of the day I had time to just sit and think while listening to music. And yeah, that's when it decided to hit me that Julie was dead. Why did it hit me so hard? Well, as Lindsay pointed out later that night, Bob's a good friend of mine, and I did have some sort of relationship with Julie. No, she was no more than an acquaintance from church, but she was also a huge fan of mine. She loved to hear me sing and told me so every time I had any sort of solo. She was, essentially, my #1 fan. And she's gone. And it hurts.
So then, at 7 PM, Aldo left, and not more than five minutes later, I got five or six tables at once. I was getting frustrated, for sure. And, after cleaning up most everything except my floor, a party of 15 came in (Around 9:30), and most all of them got eggs. It was like everything that could go wrong was going wrong, all in one day.
That being said, not all of yesterday sucked. I had lunch with Lindsay, which is always incredible. She came into Ram's Horn as well later that night (Though that was advantageous for her as well, since she got plenty of time to do her homework). And I have to tell you, I needed her there. My emotions were frayed as it was, and I was getting more and more frustrated by the second. Having her there calmed me. It allowed me to have a better night and a better today.
Wow...I really, really love this girl. I can't wait to marry her.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Because Lindsay Actually Checks This...
I'll start out simple and go back into how I normally do my chart (This Week's Position, Last Week's Position, Weeks On Chart, Peak Position, all those meaningless stats that only matter to me) next week:
1. So Small by Carrie Underwood New #1
2. The Unwinding Cable Car by Anberlin
3. East To West by Casting Crowns
4. Southern Weather by The Almost
5. Lose It by Cartel
6. Free And Easy (Down The Road I Go) by Dierks Bentley
7. Amazing Because It Is by The Almost
8. Lovestoned by Justin Timberlake
9. Your Guardian Angel by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
10. Hotel Aquarium by Falling Up
11. Let It Die by Three Days Grace
12. The Pursuit by Evans Blue
13. Illuminate by Project 86
14. As If by Sara Evans
15. Evil (A Chorus Of Resistance) by Project 86
16. Calling You by Blue October
17. Sober by Kelly Clarkson
18. Never Let Me Go by Family Force 5
19. Hip Hop Police by Chamillionaire featuring Slick Rick
20. This Is For Real by Motion City Soundtrack
21. No Tomorrow, Just Tonight by The Crash Motive
22. Hallelujah by Paramore
23. Bleed It Out by Linkin Park
24. Shut Your Eyes by Snow Patrol
25. Potential Break-Up Song by Aly & AJ
26. Famous In A Small Town by Miranda Lambert
27. Broken Heart by Motion City Soundtrack
28. Island by The Starting Line
29. Stay by Sugarland Biggest Gainer
30. Breathe In Breathe Out by Mat Kearney Highest Debut
31. My Blue Heaven by Taking Back Sunday
32. Hey There Delilah by Plain White T's
33. Online by Brad Paisley
34. Pretty Handsome Awkward by The Used
35. The Evening News by Chamillionaire
36. Daisy by Halfway To Hazard
37. Awake by Seventh Day Slumber
38. Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now by Joss Stone featuring Common
39. Never Too Late by Three Days Grace
40. This Is My Life by Phil Vassar
41. Take Me There by Rascal Flatts
42. Thick As Thieves by Dashboard Confessional
43. I Get Money by 50 Cent
44. Human by Jon McLaughlin
45. Until The End by Breaking Benjamin
46. Wake Up Call by Maroon 5
47. A Beautiful Lie by 30 Seconds To Mars
48. Falls Apart by Thousand Foot Krutch
49. Beg by Evans Blue
50. Letter To Me by Brad Paisley
1. So Small by Carrie Underwood New #1
2. The Unwinding Cable Car by Anberlin
3. East To West by Casting Crowns
4. Southern Weather by The Almost
5. Lose It by Cartel
6. Free And Easy (Down The Road I Go) by Dierks Bentley
7. Amazing Because It Is by The Almost
8. Lovestoned by Justin Timberlake
9. Your Guardian Angel by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
10. Hotel Aquarium by Falling Up
11. Let It Die by Three Days Grace
12. The Pursuit by Evans Blue
13. Illuminate by Project 86
14. As If by Sara Evans
15. Evil (A Chorus Of Resistance) by Project 86
16. Calling You by Blue October
17. Sober by Kelly Clarkson
18. Never Let Me Go by Family Force 5
19. Hip Hop Police by Chamillionaire featuring Slick Rick
20. This Is For Real by Motion City Soundtrack
21. No Tomorrow, Just Tonight by The Crash Motive
22. Hallelujah by Paramore
23. Bleed It Out by Linkin Park
24. Shut Your Eyes by Snow Patrol
25. Potential Break-Up Song by Aly & AJ
26. Famous In A Small Town by Miranda Lambert
27. Broken Heart by Motion City Soundtrack
28. Island by The Starting Line
29. Stay by Sugarland Biggest Gainer
30. Breathe In Breathe Out by Mat Kearney Highest Debut
31. My Blue Heaven by Taking Back Sunday
32. Hey There Delilah by Plain White T's
33. Online by Brad Paisley
34. Pretty Handsome Awkward by The Used
35. The Evening News by Chamillionaire
36. Daisy by Halfway To Hazard
37. Awake by Seventh Day Slumber
38. Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now by Joss Stone featuring Common
39. Never Too Late by Three Days Grace
40. This Is My Life by Phil Vassar
41. Take Me There by Rascal Flatts
42. Thick As Thieves by Dashboard Confessional
43. I Get Money by 50 Cent
44. Human by Jon McLaughlin
45. Until The End by Breaking Benjamin
46. Wake Up Call by Maroon 5
47. A Beautiful Lie by 30 Seconds To Mars
48. Falls Apart by Thousand Foot Krutch
49. Beg by Evans Blue
50. Letter To Me by Brad Paisley
Sunday, October 14, 2007
My Current AIM Conversation
jabthejesusfreak (1:22:11 AM) : lol...you're a junkie who just needs a hit of j
UnashamedLove33 (1:22:24 AM) : Just one more, that's all I need
UnashamedLove33 (1:22:25 AM) : For today
UnashamedLove33 (1:22:26 AM) : Just one more
UnashamedLove33 (1:22:48 AM) : Come on, man! Just let me have ONE hug. It ain't that bad! I could quit him if I wanted, I just don't want to
That Feeling
Have you ever had that feeling?
You know the one I'm talking about. Or do you? Maybe you don't. But I do. Allow me to explain it to you. It's that feeling of not being able to get close enough to someone. No matter what you do, you can't get enough of that person. No matter how hard you try, you just don't feel close enough. It's an incredibly awesome feeling, even though it may not sound like it. I guess you just have to experience it to understand.
You know the one I'm talking about. Or do you? Maybe you don't. But I do. Allow me to explain it to you. It's that feeling of not being able to get close enough to someone. No matter what you do, you can't get enough of that person. No matter how hard you try, you just don't feel close enough. It's an incredibly awesome feeling, even though it may not sound like it. I guess you just have to experience it to understand.
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