Exodus 15:2

The LORD is my strength and song...

A year ago this March, I had written a post about "Indie Christian Music" or contemporary Christian music that actually sounded like popular secular music in the indie scene. I felt, at that time, that there was a great lacking in this area and went on to compare Skillet to Nickelback. I apologize now for comparing ANY band to Nickelback, who now has less Facebook fans than a pickle... but I digress.

Lately, I have found that Air1, the Christian "positive alternative" station, has actually exposed me to CCM that I genuinely enjoy. My absolute favorite discoveries so far are Switchfoot's "Your Love is a Song", Jars of Clay's "Dead Man/Carry Me" and TobyMac's "City on Our Knees".



Switchfoot was a band I actually enjoyed when I was going through my Linkin Park/Creed/3 Doors Down phase back in my early teens but I fell out of love with them a few years ago and didn't think I would be going back anytime soon. However, when I heard "Your Love is a Song" on Air1, I was soooo enamored with the music, the vocals (which was a bit of a departure from his normal style), and the lyrics. This song spoke to me and it has been on heavy rotation on my iPod for awhile now.



Jars of Clay's first album is one of my all-time favorite albums period. Christian or not, every note of that album makes me shiver. It also happens to house my all-time favorite CCM song, "Love Song for a Savior". That song makes me feel like God is holding me in His arms, letting me know that everything is going to be OK. After their first two album releases back in the early 90s, I never really followed their progress. Just the other day I was, again, listening to Air1 when I heard a song that sounded eerily like The Killers. I thought to myself, "OK, this definitely isn't The Killers because they might be self-proclaimed Mormons but their music is NOT spiritual in the least. I need to know who is trying to be Christian version of The Killers RIGHT NOW!" So, I got out my trusty smart phone, opened SoundHound and discovered, to my astonishment, that it was Jars of Clay! WHAAA???!!! I couldn't believe it, seriously. I investigated more of their recent stuff and found that I loved it all. I can't believe I've been missing out for several years now!



Finally, good ol' TobyMac. I absolutely LOVED "Momentum" when it came out in 2001. I was scared that TobyMac, without his dcTalk buddies, would be a little one-dimensional and... a little cliche, maybe? However, his debut solo album rocked my socks off. It absolutely blew me away! Then came "DiverseCity" and "Portable Sounds" and... well, I was less than impressed. They each garnered a lot of positive attention but they just weren't my style. I was really surprised that "DiverseCity" didn't cling to my ears at that time because I was a total Bob Marley fan back then! Just didn't work for me, I suppose. Then comes "Tonight" and I love all three of the tracks that have made it to Air1 so far. My favorite, "City on Our Knees", I first heard at the TobyMac concert I was able to attend last year with my family. He ROCKED THE HOUSE with that tune. Absolutely brought us to our knees! I was hooked again on my Toby and I can't get enough.

Needless to say, I have fallen in love with Christian music all over again and I feel it is the perfect time of my life for it to be so. Every time I become depressed, I either put on David Crowder Band on my iPod or switch on Air1. It always brings a smile to my face. God has always spoken to me through music, so I couldn't be happier that His words are now coming from Godly people with God-given talents.

Alright, enough of my ranting retrospective :)

p.s.
On a related note, check out just about EVERYTHING Jon Foreman, the lead singer of Switchfoot, has done solo. THIS SONG IS SOOOO CUTE AND RIGHT UP MY ALLEY! AHHH!

Dustland... With a Little Drop of Poison

Dustland Fairytale- The Killers




Little Drop of Poison- Tom Waits

Ce Soir, Ce Soir

Tonight, Tonight- Smashing Pumpkins (1995)






Tonight, Tonight- Passion Pit (2010)

Passion Pit- To Kingdom Come

On Repeat:

Our Song

Our song is the slammin' screen door.... Uhhh, just kidding!



By Your Side
Beachwood Sparks

You think I'd leave your side baby
You know me better than that
You think I'd leave you down when you're down on your knees
I wouldn't do that

I'll tell you you're right when you want
And if only you could see into me

Oh when you're cold, I'll be there
Hold you tight to me

When you're on the outside baby and you can't get in
I will show you, you're so much better than you know
When you're lost and you're alone and you cant get back again
I will find you darling and I'll bring you home

And if you want to cry
I am here to dry your eyes
And in time, you'll be fine

You think I'd leave your side baby
You know me better than that
You think I'd leave you down when you're down on your knees
I wouldn't do that

I'll tell you you're right when you want
And if only you could see into me

Oh when you're cold, I'll be there
Hold you tight to me

Oh when you're low
I'll be there by your side

Oh when you're cold, I'll be there
Hold you tight to me

Oh when you're low
I'll be there by your side

On Repeat

Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect- The Decemberists

Saeglopur- Sigur Ros

This band often brings my brain to a melt. A glorious, melancholy, magical melt.

Burial- Miike Snow

My new obsession of the moment. I haven't been listening to much else the past week!

I will admit, it's whack. I will also admit that Devendra's facial hair is not my favorite. HOWEVER, he is still a dreamboat and this vid is awesome.

In the Sun- She & Him

Oh, to be in this picture...

Andy, Edie, and The Velvet Underground

Delia's Gone- Johnny Cash

This video... So 90s, yet so beautiful. This is one of my favorite Cash songs of all time. It is ridiculous, I know, but it is also terribly awesome.

Happy 78th Birthday, my friend.

Vampire Weekend- Give Up the Gun

Feed Your Head

I think Grace Slick needs to be my new friend.

The Beta Band- Dry the Rain

Loves like a hurricane

He is jealous for me
Loves like a hurricane
I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy

When all of a sudden

I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory

and I realize just how beautiful you are

and how great Your affections are for me

And oh, how He love us so
Oh, how He love us
How He loves us all

We are His portion

and He is our prize

Drawn to redemption

by the grace in His eyes

If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking

And Heaven meets earth like an unforseen kiss
and my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way...

That He loves us.

Summer Stock

I just finished watching Summer Stock with Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. SO CUTE. Gene Kelly is a dreamboat and Judy Garland's voice makes me want to cry. Not to mention that Gloria de Haven! I've never even seen or heard of her or any other film or tv show that she's been in which is a shame- her voice is unbelievable!

Anyway, this was my favorite song besides "Get Happy" which has been a favorite of mine for awhile now, even before I knew it was in this film.

"Friendly Star"
There's a star for everyone
Brightly shining in the sky
It seems to be a part of our destiny

Ev'ry night I eagerly,
Watch them all go twinkling by
But I can't seem to find the one the heavens
Assigned to me...

Friendly star, where could you be hiding
Smile for me from out of the lonely night
Friendly star, my fate needs deciding
How I need the glow of your guiding light

I know that you are near, for I am strangely dreamy
And so if you can see me from afar
Won't you kindly, light my way

Lead me to my lover,
Just point him out,
And whisper,"there you are, there you are"
Then my love, you will be
Standing here, close to me

In your eyes, I will see my friendly star.


(Sorry I don't have a clip of the actual music. I couldn't find a good video or streaming clip anywhere! Guess you'll just have to view the film to hear it for yourself!)

"The Last Beat of My Heart"

Siouxsie and the Banshees

Imagine... Imogen is back!!

When Imogen Heap's most popular album came out back in 2005, I was immediately hooked. She quickly became my favorite singer EVER and I was able to see her live my senior year of high school. She was amazing!!! Then, when I went to see Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, I almost started crying when I heard her voice during the end credits! Overall, I think quite highly of her. Well, she's been hiding away for the past four years recording a new album and it's finally being released! I want to buy the actual CD when it comes to stores August 24th but it's streaming online as we speak! SO, as a true and loyal fan, I have provided you with the ability to listen to her greatness for yourself.

ENJOY!

iPod Mixtape #2

This time, I skipped three songs that were just not worth putting on a mixtape of any sort. Don't ask why I still have them in iTunes. Anyway, I improved my iPod Mixtape by adding links so you can hear the songs that surprised and inspired me today! Again, in case you forgot what the deal with this is, I put my iTunes or iPod on "shuffle" and picked my faves! This time I did eleven. Enjoy!

1. Crane Wife 1 & 2- The Decemberists
2. Para Que- Juanes
3. Let's Call the Whole Thing Off- Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
4. The Porter- Vetiver
5. Inner City Pressure- Flight of the Conchords
6. Into the Flood- As Tall as Lions
7. Michelle- The Beatles
8. Dress Me Like a Clown- Margot & the Nuclear So and So's
9. Three Seed- Silversun Pickups
10. Rest of My Life- Rilo Kiley
11. By the Light of the Magical Moon- T. Rex *

*This song is amazing! I'd never really truly listened to it before and hearing it in shuffle mode was awesome. It was like unwrapping a unicorn blindfolded. Also, it totally reminded me of Devendra Banhart. He could cover this splendidly.