life, and a little more

Top 10 Best Hard Rock Albums of 2009

Dec 18

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Top 10 Thrash Albums of 2009

Dec 17

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Top 10 Metal Albums of 2009

Dec 16

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Top 10 Albums That Need More Listens of 2009

Dec 15

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Today’s video discusses a unique category in my “Best of 2009″ lineup.  These are albums that I enjoyed but just didn’t get a chance to listen to enough.  I can’t dismiss them but need to give them some more time to grow on me

Top 10 Mellow Albums of 2009

Dec 14

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I love heavy metal and hard rock.  I listen to those genres of music probably 90% of the time.  But when I do want to mellow out and listen to something different, these were the bands I turned to for 2009.

Top 10 Most Disappointing Albums of 2009*

Dec 11

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*IMHO of course.  I realize that some people probably love these albums.  I love all of these bands and know they have created some very excellent music at some point in their career.  That said, the albums in my review are probably good in their own right, but didn’t live up to the hype I placed on them as I anticipated their release.  If you disagree, please leave a comment and let me know why!!

The Top 10 Album Covers of 2009

Dec 10

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Time For Some Top Ten Lists

Dec 09

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2009 will soon be coming to a close.  That means it is time for “Best of”  and “Top Ten” lists!

Since I’m mildly obsessed with music, I plan on making a few videos with my “Top Ten Music” lists, but to whet your appetite until those are finished, here are my top 30 artists as compiled by Last.fm.

Let it be known that total listens doesn’t equal best band or album of 2009.

My top ten lists of 2009 will include:

Top 10 Best Album Covers
Top 10 Best Finds (of older albums)
Top 10 Best Hard Rock Albums
Top 10 Best Mellow Albums
Top 10 Metal Albums
Top 10 Thrash/Metalcore Albums
Top 10 Albums that I need to listen to more to really like
Top 10 Biggest Disappointments
Top 21 Honorable Mentions

Concert Of A Lifetime

Nov 16

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I am fulfilled.  I have seen Stryper in concert and they surpassed all my expectations!

I’ve been an enormous Stryper fan since 1988.  They played a crucial part in my coming to know Jesus Christ in a very real way.    I’ve memorized every note and lyric of every song of every album they have released.   I just had never seen a live show.

Until this past Saturday, November 14th that is.  And man, what a freakin’ eh awesome show it was.

Stryper at the soundcheck:

I had the privilege of getting a “meet ‘n greet” pass that enabled me an early entry into the concert, a chance to hear the sound check, and a chance to meet the band.

This didn’t go as well as I’d hope.  We were supposed to get in at 5pm but weren’t given entry until 6.  The band was on stage and as I walked into the club, it was like I was in a dream!  There was Michael Sweet, the Stryper frontman!  Right there, 5 feet away from me!  Tim Gaines, one of the best bass players in music, right there!  Mr Oz Fox, guitar player extraordinaire, right there!!!  Robert Sweet was behind his drum kit, so I didn’t get to see him so well.   I was a little overwhelmed!

The band ripped through 2 songs and it was magical!  The club stagehand was being a little pushy as they were an hour behind and sat the band down at a table and put everyone in a single file line to get an autograph.  At this I was more than a little bummed.

I don’t care about autographs.  I just wanted to tell these guys “Thank You” from the bottom of my heart.  They helped me get through those tough teen-age years with my sanity and faith intact.  We were rushed through the line and I did get to shake hands with all the guys except Michael.  I got to say thanks, but it wasn’t what I had hoped for.

All that activity took us to about 6:45pm.  I went straight to the front of the room where and got my place almost dead center.  There was just one problem: the concert didn’t start until 8:30pm.  Oh well….I just got my legs locked and waited almost 2 hours in one spot.

Finally the lights went down and on came 3 young guys from Canada (eh!) that made up the band Manic Drive.  I wasn’t expecting much, so I was taken aback as they came out and rocked the house!  They had a lot of energy and looked like they just loved to entertain.  I liked ‘em so much I bought both of their CDs at the merch table.

Manic Drive:

The next band to hit the stage was called Flight Patterns, featuring Michael Sweet Jr on guitar.  I had never heard their music, but was hoping to like ‘em.

That was just too much to hope for.  Flight Patterns just plain sucked.  They were off key and off pitch, and they sounded like a very bad wanna-be Relient K cover band.  The bass player was super annoying and played an open E string for every song.

Flight Patterns:

Eventually Flight Patterns got off the stage and it took about 45 minutes for the roadies to set up Stryper’s equipment.   My back was aching and my feet hurt for standing up for so long, but the moment of truth was near!!!

The lights went out…..long silence…….and then DUN DUN DUN DEDUN!  Stryper came on stage ripping through Soldier’s Under Command!!  Yellow and black leather (not spandex!), long hair, ah, everything I dreamed of!

It is all kind of a blur, but I remember they played through most of To Hell With The Devil and The Yellow and Black Attack.  They played probably 3 or 4 new songs from Murder By Pride and even covered Judas Priest’s Breaking The Law.  I will say this…every song they played they played with an intense fervor and energy.  Say what you want to about the yellow and black and the big hair and all that, but Stryper are some absolutely awesome musicians.

They played their encore to To Hell With The Devil.  It was one of the most bestest moments of my life (aside from my wedding and kids and such).

Now I can check off a life long goal to see and meet Stryper.  Thank you Jesus!

Stryper Pictures:

Stryper Live:

Beautiful Bride

Nov 11

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Every once in a while a song will come along and make you think in ways you hadn’t thought before.

Flyleaf’s new album, Momento Mori, has one such song.  Entitled “Beautiful Bride”, the song is an amazing example of creative music and intriguing lyrics.

Beautified diversity
Functioning as one body
Every part encouraged by the other
No one independent of another
You’re irreplaceable, indispensable
You’re incredible
You’re incredible

(Chorus)
Beautiful bride
Body of Christ
One flesh abiding
Strong and unifying
Fighting ends in forgiveness
Unite and fight all division
Beautiful bride

Strengthen your arms now
Train your fingers for battle
Urgency’s here now
Train your fingers for battle
Fighting this violence
With your feet wrapped in peace
Sad tears and silence
Now screams of joy
Victory

(Chorus)
Beautiful bride
Body of Christ
One flesh abiding
Strong and unifying
Fighting ends in forgiveness
Unite and fight all division
Beautiful bride

Beautiful bride
Body of Christ
One flesh abiding
Strong and unifying

We’re not gonna fall and forget
How far You went to pick us up
If one part’s hurt the whole body’s sick
If one part mourns we all mourn with Him
Rejoice, we’ll sing with you
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

(Chorus)
Beautiful bride
Body of Christ
One flesh abiding
Strong and unifying
Fighting ends in forgiveness
Unite and fight all division
Beautiful bride

Beautiful bride
Body of Christ
One flesh abiding
Strong and unifying
Fighting ends in forgiveness
Unite and fight all division
Beautiful bride

Beautiful bride
Body of Christ
One flesh abiding
Strong and unifying
Fighting ends in forgiveness
Unite and fight all division
Beautiful bride

It’s not very often that a song will stop and make me think.  When I did, I thought about this wondrous group of people I belong to, the Body and Bride of Christ.  It is a humbling thing to think of the great men and women who came before me and how many gave up their lives to live and love for Jesus.  I think of my friends now who struggle with every day issues of pride and anger and lust;  yet for all our weaknesses, Jesus still loves us enough to call us His Love, His Bride.