Top albums of '05 and why I am an idiot

Well, the year of 2005 officially ended 7 days ago, so I thought it would be appropriate for me to do a list of my favorite albums of the year. It was tough, but I think I narrowed it down to my 12 favorites... and I think I have a pretty good order. Oh, and by the way, I do not claim in any way to be any kind of music expert or critic. I siimply know what I like and what I don't. Oh well, here goes:

1. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois

In my opinion, Sufjan Stevens is one of the freshest voices in music today. With his signature densely layered folk/pop instrumentation mixed with his surprisingly straight-forward and honest lyrics, Illinois is easily his most accessible and catchy album to date (and, in my opinion, his best). If you haven't heard Sufjan Stevens, Illinois is a great place to start.

Highlight: "Casmir Pulaski Day"

2. The Decemberists - Picaresque

I discovered the Decemberists last Christmas when I got their first CD, Castaways and Cutouts, from my parents. Their latest album, Picaresque, finds main songwriter Colin Meloy at his best, matching his beautiful melodies with even more ridiculous yet heart-warming/wrenching fictional stories.

Highlight: "The Engine Driver"

3. Coldplay - X&Y

"The New U2's" third CD shows that while they haven't nececarily broken any new ground, they don't have to. Solid songwriting and instrumentation make the whole album great from start to finish. And while their core sound remains mostly unchanged, a shift to a more technological sound with more delayed guitars, synthesizers, loops, and all kinds of bells and whistles keeps things from getting stale.

Hightlight: "Fix You"

4. David Crowder*Band - A Collision

In my opinion, David Crowder is the most original voice in worship music today. "A Collision," essentially a concept album, is one of the most creative works in the genre that I have heard in a long, long time. Crowder, with this album, not only made worship music "cool," but he made it challenging and thought-provoking.

Highlight: "Rescue Is Coming"

5. Wilco - Kicking Television: Live in Chicago

Wilco is easily my 2nd favorite band in the world (behind Radiohead, of course), and their latest album, a 2-cd live album, showcases the band with pretty much their most cohesive and talented line-up yet. Hearing them play old songs from their 2nd album "Being There" with a newfound burst of energy is easily my favorite aspect of the album.

Highlight: "Misunderstood"

6. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Simply fun, danceable music. While their lead singer's voice takes a little getting used to, you can't help but tap your foot to this stuff. Perhaps the most amazing thing about this album, however, is that it was recorded, mixed, produced, and distributed by the band themselves without any help from any record label of any kind. Impressive.

Highlight: "The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth"

7. Sigur Ros - Takk...

The Icelandic group that sounds like a half-man/half-elf/half awesome-creature-I-don't-even-know-about-yet, has put out simply a record containg a great, emotional ride (even though I can't understand the words at all). I haven't heard any of their other albums, so I can't compare Takk... to any of their past albums, but I do know that I like this one a whole lot. Ubben is going to see them live in February, and I am extremely jealous.

Highlight: "Hoppípolla"

8. Death Cab for Cutie - Plans

Death Cab's Ben Gibbard is a great songwriter, and his backing band is very good, as well. We have always known this. And while their new album is very good, it doesn't show us anything new about the band. I'm not complaining, though, because what we get is still a great collection of pop songs, some sad, some happy, that add up to one of the better albums of the year.

Hightlight: "I Will Follow You Into The Dark"

9. Ben Folds - Songs for Silverman

This is the first Ben Folds CD I have heard, but it makes me want to check out his back catalog. His beautiful melodies and impressive piano playing mixed with his always clever lyrics make for a fun, if forgettable album. My favorite song on the album is probably his tribute to the late singer/songwriter Elliott Smith called "Late."

Highlight: "Late"

10. Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary

Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock produced this album, which sounds quite a bit like an album Modest Mouse could have made. The thing is, I would take these guys over Modest Mouse any day of the week.

Highlight: "Shine A Light"

11. Jack Johnson - In Between Dreams

Jack Johnson... the guy will probably never make a "great" album, but he will most likely never make a bad one. He has been essentially playing the same song for 5 years, but it is a good one. His choppy strum patterns with his smooth vocals and surfer-dude mentality make "In Between Dreams," and every one of his albums for that matter, great stuff to put on in the background and swing in a hammock to.

Hightlight: "Better Together"

12. Spoon - Gimme Fiction

Somewhere, a long time ago, pretty pop music and elemental rock n' roll met and had a love child known as the band Spoon. They have always had a stripped down sound, using usually just a guitar, a piano, drums, and sometimes a bass--but with Gimme Fiction, the minimalist approach sounds more exciting than ever.

Highlight: "I Turn My Camera On"

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Whew, that took a while.

I guess, in other news, I am an idiot. I'm an idiot because I have started too many books at one time. Before Christmas, I was in the mididle of both C.S. Lewis's "Surprised by Joy," and his Narnia book "Voyage of the Dawn Treader." For Christmas I got Donald Miller's "Through Painted Deserts" and St. Augustine's "Confessions." I immediately had to start the Miller book, as his first book, "Blue Like Jazz," I consider to be a key part of my spiritual formation. Then I was browsing through Barnes and Noble a few days after Christmas, and I decided I had to pick up Lewis's "Miracles," and "Reflections on the Psalms." I also bought a book called "Emerging Churches" by Eddie Gibbs and Ryan K. Bolger and thought it too interesting to wait to read. So here I am, with 4 books going in addition to daily scripture reading, and several more staring me in the face begging me to read them. I'm never going to finish any of these. I'm an idiot.

Adios.

It's Christmas time!

So this first first semester of college just flew by. I mean, it really got out of hand fast. It literally feels like I just moved into the dorm a few weeks ago.

I started telling myself right before school started that whenever I finished my first semester I would post a huge blog about college and how it has affected me. But, to be honest, I really don't feel that different at all. Sure, class was a little bit harder than High School and finals were definately a pretty stressful period, but, other than that, everything was pretty standard.

I think it's great that I am still hanging out with my cell group guys and that I have met a bunch of new solid Christian friends. There are so many pitfalls that you hear about people falling into once they get into college and experience "life on their own," but with these guys and girls, its been just like the old days. I am truly thankful for these people and our friendships--God is, indeed, good. At the same time, while I have met quite a few new people, I feel a little bit like I could do a better job of branching out. Its easy to stay in your own little comfort zone when you have so many people that you're so close to around you all the time. Hopefully I'll figure out how to balance these things.

So, no, I don't have any Earth-shatteringly insightful observations after my first semester. It sure was fun, though--I'll tell you that. And I'm definately looking forward to the next couple of years. Maybe I'll get a huge revelation later... if I do, I'll keep you posted.

Moving on, Christmas time is here. Before I say anything else about it, I feel like I need to plug some music. Sufjan Stevens, one of my favorite singer/songwriters has a, as far as I can tell, completely legal and completely free collection of 3 Christmas EPs called "Hark! Songs for Christmas." Download them here. He plays a great mix of traditional Christmas songs and new ones written by Sufjan himself. My two favorite are probably "O Come O Come Emmanuel" and "That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!" Do yourself a favor and check it out.

My Birthday is about a week before Christmas, and my parents got me my birthday present early, and it is an awesome, awesome gift. They got me a Latin Percussion Conga and Bongo set with stands and everything. I've been banging around on them for a couple of days now, and while I have absolutely no skill on them right now, I can't wait to put some serious practice time into them.

One thing I'm kind of bummed about, however, is the fact that we don't have a Christmas tree at the Lake House (where we're staying until our new house gets built). Its not a big deal at all, but I just like the tree as a big visual reminder of the Holiday.

I really don't have much else to say (and I know I haven't said much up until now, either). I guess I just felt like blogging, even though I really had nothing new to add. Oh well. If there is anyone that reads this that I don't see on a regular basis, do me a favor and have a Merry Christmas for me. I would really appreciate it.

A Question of Conviction?

I've been thinking on and off for a while now about the kinds of movies, tv shows, and music I expose myself to--or for that matter, the kinds of movies, tv shows, and music that all believers in Christ expose themselves to.

I know some believers that say they listen to only Christian music because they only want to hear things that are spiritually edifying. They feel that if a song doesn't discuss or directly point to God, it is a waste of their time.

Others I know pretty much refuse to listen to any Christian music because they feel that the music itself, in 99% of the cases, is derivative and uninspired. They sometimes even feel that some (although certainly not all) aspects of spirituality, nature, the human condition, etc. are better expressed by some of today's secular bands than by most Christian artists.

In my opinion, both sides are valid. I fall somewhere in between, typically.

Movies are a little more of an intense subject. I know many believers that if an 'R' rating is mentioned at all, consider the movie to be unboubtedly a tool of Satan. If a movie has a bad word, a hint of sexuality, or extreme violence anyone who watches it is simply exposing themselves to filth and is separating themself further form God.

On the flip side, many believers have (or so they claim) no convictions at all about what they watch. They can watch 100 children be decapitated, 3 explicit sex scenes with gratuitous nudity (although, when is nudity not gratuitous?), and a hailstorm of F-bombs and S-words and have no convictions about it. And if convictions are there, they simply ignore them.

Again, I fall somewhere in between.

But I know why I fall where I fall.

My opinion is generally something like this: We are given pretty clear instructions in the bible on how we are supposed to act in most situations. But, seeing as how there were not movies back in biblical times, Jesus did not say anything specifically about what kinds of movies we, as faithful believers, can watch (although some would insist Jesus recommends a PG cutoff :-)). But here is what we do know:

Matthew 5:30 "And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."

Obviously if there is anything in our life that causes us to sin, we must flee from it. This is cut and dried. But there is also this:

Romans 14:13-16 "Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed becasuse of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what ou consider good to be spoken of as evil."

Romans 14:20-21 "Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but is is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall."

I know that this verse is literally talking about food and how many Jews were upset with other believers eating foods declared by the law to be unclean. But, I think, for the most part, the underlying principle applies to what we're currently talking about.

If I watch a movie that does not cause me to sin in any way (although, they definately can and have--but I'll talk about that later), I see really no reason in scripture that I should not be able to watch it. That is, unless me watching that particular movie causes a brother in Christ to stumble and struggle. In that case, I believe it is my responsibility to not watch that movie around him, discuss it around him, etc. I do not take that series of verses to mean that if any believer anywhere has a problem with a movie then the whole body of believers must refrain from watching it. I don't think that Paul was suggesting that every believer stop eating certain meats because it made certain Jews uncomfortable. No, I take it to mean that the loving thing to do was to refrain from eating those foods in the presence of those who were offended, to refrain from talking about them, etc. So, it follows that even if a number of believers disagree with a certain film, and as long as it does not cause you to personally sin, it is scripturally ok to watch it.

So the next issue is this: what kind of content can I honestly say does not cause me to sin? Well, obviously it is going to be different for every person, as well all have different sin struggles that affect us more than others. This is a personal conviction call. I can say this, personally--excessive/extended/graphic sex scenes are a no-no for me. Outside of that... I don't know. Violence typically does not make me feel the urge to commit a violent act, watching drug abuse does not make me in any way want to try drugs, and hearing crude language typically does not make me want to start using those words. Maybe it is becasue most of the movies I watch do not glorify these things, but show the evils of them.

But how can I watch a movie with repeated drug use, unbelievable acts of violence, and crude language and still walk away saying that I "enjoyed" or even "loved" said movie with a clear conscience? Well I can tell you that if the movie glamourized or promoted drug abuse, I would have a very hard time enjoying it. But nearly every film I have seen dealing indepthly with drug abuse has portrayed it as the evil it most certainly is. And to the filmmakers of those types of films I say "Bravo."

I think there is a difference between a movie with "bad" content and a "bad movie." That many movies would contain detestable behavior is nearly a given--it happens all around us. If a movie is trying to show us a truth about the real world, its probably going to have to deal with the real world as it is--bad guys and all. Even scripture makes surprising references to things that could earn a boycotting by hardcore Fundamentalist Christian moms. Let us not forget the stories of Rahab the prostitute, Abram, Sarai and Hagar, aspects of Ruth's story, the countless old-testament wars, the Song of Solomon, etc. I am no expert on the Old Testament by any means, but that list right there is a pretty good start. Its some pretty head-turning stuff. The reason they are not viewed as "bad," however, is because they are used to illustrate greater points from the real world. We don't focus on the fact that Rahab was prostitute, we focus on her great faith that she developed even after years in a job like that. And nowhere in scripture are things like adultery, prostitution, and killing glorified. They are shown as elements of the world we live in that we cannot ignore.

Now I'll give you this: many filmmakers, well, most filmmakers push it too far. They show more of these types of activities for one reason or another than is necessary to establish their point. That is where it comes back to conviction. Has the filmmaker crossed the line from thought stimulation to personal sin temptation? Has the filmmaker crossed the line from presenting a bad situation as it is to celebrating said situation? These are the things we need to consider. And for the most part it comes down to the individual. Do YOU feel like the movie crossed the line? Do I feel like the movie crossed the line?

These are really my thoughts on this issue right now. I concede that I am just an 18 year old kid, and I still have a lot that God has to teach me. Any and all input on this subject will be greatly appreciated.

--Cameron

P.S. I love you.

First Audiopost

Hey guys, I just realized that I could publish audio to my blog with my Cell Phone, so I thought I would set it up and give it a go. I really have nothing to say, but I may take advantage of this sweet feature in the future, so be on the lookout for that. But, anyways, without further ado, here it is:

I apologize, again.

Popular Music

Every now and then I forget to bring my iPod with me when I get into my car. On those fateful days, all I have to feed my musical appetite is my handy dandy FM radio. I oftentimes wonder if the quality of popular American music has gotten any better since I swore off the radio a year or two ago. The answer is, of course, no.

The sheer ridiculousness of the majority of the music I hear on the radio blows my mind. It seems like every new "hit" song is just trying to one-up the one before it in a contest of "Who can make the most absolutely ridiculous sexual reference?" I've never heard so many bad puns, double-entendres, and made-up words in my entire life. I can't believe the media still refers to most of these people as "artists."

And so, without further ado, I give you

Heger's Most Ridiculous Songs of 2005:


3.) Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl

Uh huh, this my ****
All the girls stomp your feet like this

A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just gonna happen like that
Cause I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl
[2x]

Oooh, this my ****, this my **** [4x]

I heard that you were talking ****
And you didn't think that I would hear it
People hear you talking like that, getting everybody fired up
So I'm ready to attack, gonna lead the pack
Gonna get a touchdown, gonna take you out
That's right, put your pom-poms down, getting everybody fired up

A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just gonna happen like that
Cause I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl
[2x]

Oooh, this my ****, this my **** [4x]

So that's right dude, meet me at the bleachers
No principals, no student-teachers
Both of us want to be the winner, but there can only be one
So I'm gonna fight, gonna give it my all
Gonna make you fall, gonna sock it to you
That's right, I'm the last one standing, another one bites the dust

A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just gonna happen like that
Cause I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl
[2x]

Oooh, this my ****, this my **** [4x]

Let me hear you say, this **** is bananas
B-A-N-A-N-A-S
This **** is bananas
B-A-N-A-N-A-S
Again, the **** is bananas
B-A-N-A-N-A-S
This **** is bananas
B-A-N-A-N-A-S

A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just gonna happen like that
Cause I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl
[2x]

Oooh, this my ****, this my **** [4x]

Commentary: First of all, I don't know what a "hollaback girl" is, but I wish she was one so she could just shut up. Oh Gwen, why? Why did you make this song? You're better than this, No Doubt is the proof. This is one of those songs that got stuck in everyone's head, so no matter where you went you always heard someone humming or singing it. I don't really know what the song is about, but here is what I've gathered: Apparently someone was "dissing" Mrs. Stefani and she wasn't too happy about it, and seeing as how she's "a few times been around that track", it ain't gon' happen like that. She perfectly summarizes the state of the situation by proclaiming it to be "bananas." And then she spells it... a lot.

2.) Pussycat Dolls - Don't Cha

I know you like me (I know you like me)
I know you do (I know you do)
Thats why whenever I come around shes all over you
And I know you want it (I know you want it)
It's easy to see (it's easy to see)
And in the back of your mind
I know you should be on with me

Dont you wish your girlfriend was hot like me
Dont you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me
Dont cha, dont cha
Dont you wish your girlfriend was raw like me
Dont you wish your girlfriend was fun like me
Dont you, dont cha

Fight the feeling (fight the feeling)
Leave it alone (leave it alone)
Cause if it aint love
It just aint enough to leave a happy home
Let's keep it friendly (let's keep it friendly)
You have to play fair (you have to play fair)
See, I dont care
But I know she aint gon wanna share
Hmmmm....

Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me
Don't you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me
Don't cha, don't cha, baby
Don't cha, alright, sing
Don't you wish your girlfriend was raw like me
Don't you wish your girlfriend was fun like me (big thrills)
Don't cha

See, I know she loves you (I know she loves you)
I understand (I understand)
I'd probably be just as crazy about you
If you were my own man
Maybe next lifetime (maybe next lifetime)
Possibly (possibly)
Until then, Oh friend you're secret is safe with me

Dont you wish your girlfriend was hot like me (oh)
Dont you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me (like me)
Dont cha, dont cha, baby
Dont cha, alright, sing
Dont you wish your girlfriend was raw like me (raw)
Dont you wish your girlfriend was fun like me (big thrills)
Dont cha, dont cha

Commentary: The answer is no. No, I don't.

1.) Black Eyed Peas - My Humps

What you gon’ do with all that junk?
All that junk inside your trunk?
I’ma get, get, get, get, you drunk,
Get you love drunk off my hump.
My hump, my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump,
My hump, my hump, my hump, my lovely little lumps. (Check it out)

I drive these scrubbers crazy,
I do it on the daily,
They treat me really nicely,
They buy me all these ice-ys.
Dolce & Gabbana,
Fendi and then Donna
Karen, they be sharin’
All their money got me wearin’
Fly gearrr but I ain’t askin,
They say they love my *** ‘n,
Se7en Jeans, True Religion,
I say no, but they keep givin’
So I keep on takin’
And no I ain’t fakin’
We can keep on datin’
I keep on demonstrating.

My love, my love, my love, my love
You love my lady lumps,
My hump, my hump, my hump,
My humps they got u,
She’s got me spending.
(Oh) Spendin’ all your money on me and spending time on me.
She’s got me spendin’.
(Oh) Spendin’ all your money on me, on me, on me

What you gon’ do with all that junk?
All that junk inside that trunk?
I’ma get, get, get, get, you drunk,
Get you love drunk off my hump.
What u gon’ do with all that ***?
All that *** inside them jeans?
I’m a make, make, make, make you scream
Make u scream, make you scream.
Cos of my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump.
My hump, my hump, my hump, my lovely lady lumps. (Check it out)

I met a girl down at the disco.
She said hey, hey, hey yea let’s go.
I could be your baby, you can be my honey
Lets spend time not money.
I mix your milk wit my cocoa puff,
Milky, milky cocoa,
Mix your milk with my cocoa puff, milky, milky riiiiiiight.

They say I’m really sexy,
The boys they wanna sex me.
They always standing next to me,
Always dancing next to me,
Tryin’ a feel my hump, hump.
Lookin’ at my lump, lump.
U can look but you can’t touch it,
If u touch it I’ma start some drama,
You don’t want no drama,
No, no drama, no, no, no, no drama
So don’t pull on my hand boy,
You ain’t my man, boy,
I’m just tryn’a dance boy,
And move my hump.

My hump, my hump, my hump, my hump,
My hump, my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump.
My lovely lady lumps [x3]
In the back and in the front.
My lovin’ got u,
She’s got me spendin’.
(Oh) Spendin’ all your money on me and spending time on me.
She’s got me spendin’.
(Oh) Spendin’ all your money on me, on me, on me.

What you gon’ do with all that junk?
All that junk inside that trunk?
I’ma get, get, get, get you drunk,
Get you love drunk off my hump.
What you gon’ do with all that ***?
All that *** inside them jeans?
I’ma make, make, make, make you scream
Make you scream, make you scream.
What you gon do with all that junk?
All that junk inside that trunk?
I’ma get, get, get, get you drunk,
Get you love drunk off this hump.
What you gon’ do wit all that breast?
All that breast inside that shirt?
I’ma make, make, make, make you work
Make you work, work, make you work.
She’s got me spendin’.
Spendin all your money on me and spendin’ time on me
She’s got me spendin’.
Spendin’ all your money on me, on me, on me.

Commentary: Absolutely, without a shadow of the doubt, one of the dumbest, most lyrically incompetent, degrading, and embarassing songs I've heard in a long, long time. I just pulled up my iTunes, and sure enough, this song is currently the #1 downloaded song. Unbelievable. People actually paid money for it. Just when you thought the Black Eyed Peas had made the worst song they could possibly make in "Don't Phunk with my Heart," they throw us a curveball and unleash the masterpiece that is "My Humps" to the world.

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I don't think this is what God had in mind at all when he allowed us to "create."

In closing, these are the "hit songs" that our (well... your) children are listening to and memorizing every word of.

Thanks for listening.

He's a pretty dark knight--you should really come see this knight

What do these items equate to?

1 part 7-year-old Batman costume
3 parts Under Armour
1 part toy Batman utility belt
1 part black Converse All-Stars
1 part black workers gloves

The answer? 1 disgusting Batman suit--that I just happened to wear to work at the Mall on Halloween night. My boss dared me to wear a Batman suit to work, but little did he know that I would actually do it or how... uh... "form-fitting" my suit would actually be. Needless to say, this was probably the dumbest thing I have ever done. But, to be honest, it was worth it.

Enjoy these nice prowling shots:

"Freshening up the room a little bit"



"The Heisman"



"On Lookout"



"Just jamming out a little bit"



"Household chores"



"Classic hero pose"



I'm an idiot.

---------

On a similar note, Todd Sisson, Robert Sanderson, Dustin Moser, and James Miller dressed up as the Channel 4 News team. It was glorious. Ginger McKinney dressed up as Veronica Corningstone, or, as Sandy kept repeating, "His little china doll."



From left to right: Miller as Champ Kind, Sisson as Brian Fantana, Sandy as Ron Burgundy, Ginger as Veronica Corningstone, and Moser as Brick Tamland. That may or may not have been the greatest night of my life.

A Collision Tour

Tuesday night I went down with a crew of people to see David Crowder Band on their "A Collision Tour" in Tulsa. I'm not gonna lie to you... it was awesome.

I know that after I saw Coldplay I said that I probably never see a better show than that in my entire life, but I may just have. I'm not sure, its too early to tell. I'll have to let the experience sit and simmer for a little while.

Either way, though, Crowder was incredible. The 2 opening bands, I wasn't such a fan of, though. Robbie Seay Band opened, and while they were definately talented, I felt like they were quite generic. They were great musicians, its just that their songwriting didn't seem particularly interesting. Maybe I'm the only one...

Shane & Shane went up next. A bunch of the people I was with were already big Shane & Shane fans. I had never heard them (although I had heard a couple of their songs--I was told we sing them in FSM/The Grove quite often). Whichever shane played guitar was a very, very good guitar player. Musically, even though they apparently screwed up a few times, they were incredible. Whoever their drummer was was freaking unbelievable. But, much like I was with Robbie Seay Band, I wasn't particularly interested in their music, for the most part. I would be willing to give one of their albums a shot, though.

When Crowder came up, it was insane. They opened with "Do Not Move," a song I was seriously hoping they would play. Very intense song. When they got to "Foreverandever Etc." Crowder came out with a keytaur and discussed the "phatness" of the beat he layed down with it. Man, the guy can engage a crowd. I would love to see how he engages a community of believers while leading worship.

"You Are My Joy" was the peak of the show, I think.



They ended with "Rescue is Coming" (which, also, was awesome), left the stage, and then came out and encored with Robbie Seay and Shane & Shane on stage with them singing "Be Lifted or Hope Rising." Very, very cool.

I just realized that I have never given my impressions of the new Crowder CD "A Collision" on here. I guess now would be a good time.

I love it. I think David Crowder*Band is one of the only truly creatively progressive bands in worship music today. They're essentially the only "Christian band" that I can with confidence say is one of my favorite bands. They're probably the only "Christian band" I've ever heard that is not content with being reactive to the secular pop music scene. It seems to me that most Christian artists tend to come off as being "the Christian [insert popular band here]"--gaining their popularity by emulating a sound that a secular band got popular with. Crowder is forging his own sound, and doing a wonderful job of it. I even put Crowder up with the ranks of Radiohead, Wilco, Coldplay, Sufjan Stevens, and Guster from both a pure personal enjoyment standpoint and a creativity standpoint.

Now, with the CD "A Collision or 3+4=7", Crowder has outdone himself. He has created a very, very complete concept album. All of the ideas come off as fully realized. What is the concept? What it means for a Holy being to lower itself (in a manner of speaking) while raising us up to him for us to be able to interact (or Collide, if you will), and how death, life, forgiveness, hope, and abandonment tie into that idea. It is so densely layered with ideas and actual musical layers that it seems like every time I listen to it I discover something new--a new way to interpret a lyric, a new lyric itself, a beautiful banjo part that I had previously never heard, etc. This isn't just a collection of songs, it is a fully realized concept album from start to finish--every part seems to have a meaning. It seems like this is the album that their last CD, "Illuminate" wanted to be (another concept album with the theme of luminious vs. illuminous objects and what it means for us to reflect Christ's light). And while Illuminate was an amazing album (most likely the best contemporary Christian release in 5 years, and one of the best albums period of the year it was released), its smaller scope and narrower focus pales in comparison to "A Collision." Ok, I'm rambling. Lets just get down to the basics: I love "A Collision" and I think it is one of the best albums of the last couple of years, one of my personal favorite albums ever, and probably the most important Christian release since Dc Talk's "Jesus Freak" in the 90s.

I have a pretty funny story to tell about when I met David Crowder Band's lead guitar player, Jason Solley, Tuesday night, but my hands are getting tired. I'll post about it in a few days.

Thats all I have for now.