When someone mentions a  “good ‘ol country boy,” I immediately think of Uncle Hubert.  He was a gentle, caring man who had these amazing mutton chops sideburns and who would greet me with one hand a powerful handshake and the other hand a comforting pat on the shoulder.  He almost always had a smile on his face.

Growing up, my siblings and I spent some time on his farm. I have several fond memories of our time there.  I even can look back at nearly decapitating myself running into a wire strewn across the driveway in a positive light.

I shared this song a few months ago and I’ll post it again because it brings me comfort in times like this.  It helps me keep things in proper perspective.  I wrote it for aunt who passed away just over 10 years ago.

The song talks about the hope I have in life after death. I hope you enjoy the words. I wrote the song between my aunt’s death and her funeral and the only time I’ve played it for anyone was during the actual service.  Below are the lyrics and the rough audio is available here if you want to hear how the song goes (pitch and off-key as all get out).

::transcending 47 (a celebratory hymn)::

open shades
of the window
illuminsence
it fills the sky
rooted safely
minded love
intent eyes upon
the fading horizon

praises ring from all that i see
voices sing from the depths of my heart

a rusty moon
now an azure sky
and fields of grain
with the One Love
i’ll remain
enthralled
visions of light
beam before me

praises ring from all that i see
voices sing from the depths of my heart

time to sit
and be content
with joy
glistening glory
listening the silent vows
intermittent hands
fingers to thumb
melding the body of life

and how can i be
waiting here for You
in this love
endless love

and saving grace has brought a peace
everlasting, everlasting

(philippians 4.7)

1. If this is typical of how things work in Congress, I’m glad I’ve never watched it before.
2. Since they get paid to speak, I would expect nationally elected speakers to be better speakers.
3. Applying the Lens Principle to what politicians say can lead to a black hole in brain function.

Many years ago, I learned about the Lens Principle.  I learned it the way a lot of us are exposed to life’s lessons, the hard way, through experience.  I didn’t know what it was called at the time, but I figured out that a lot of the stuff that irritates you about other people are things you don’t like about yourself.  That is a crude interpretation of the Lens Principle but that’s how I phrased it.

Generally speaking, if someone has a hard time trusting other people’s word, they tend to not be trustworthy in themselves.   This also applies to the way we interpret other people’s motives.

It wasn’t until I started studying John Maxwell (you can follow John on twitter @JohnCMaxwell) that I learned a better name (and phrasing) of this idea: The Lens Principle.  Thanks to Google Books, you can read about it yourself in Winning With People.  The chapter is only 9 pages long, so it’s a quick read.

“Who We Are Determines How We See Others.”

“Who you are determines the way see everything.”

So back to the Health Care Summit, listening to politicians attack each other and talk about underhanded tricks or backdoor deals makes me wonder about where they’re coming from.

I wonder if  this is what Otto von Bismarck was thinking about when he famously said:

“Laws are like sausages. It’s better not to see them being made.” ~Otto von Bismarck

The isn’t a ranked list, most of this is in the order in which I wrote it.   Pretty much all these bands have some new material or teaser material one or more of their sites.

¶Standing Small – unknown (first half of 2010?)

The as-yet-to-be-titled Double CD should be released this year.  The band should be close to finish recording the tracks and send it off to be mixed and masterered next month.

One of the least well-known bands on the list, I was fortunate enough to catch these guys play with Cool Hand Luke a couple years ago.  And I have yet to be disappointed in any band that CHL tours with.  It’s acoustic-based, reminds me of the softer-side of CHL, and chock-full of talented musicianship with ample amounts of biblical truth.  Musically, they have grown tremendously since Sister Wisdom and I hope the trend continues onto the new record.

Check out “Call In The Troops,” presumably from their upcoming release.

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¶Mark Nicks of Cool Hand Luke – Of Man/Live CD

I’m usually a big fan of whatever music Mark makes.   I’m sure this will be no different.  Though the overall sound of the band (and now it’s just Mark) has changed over the years, Mark has a way of taking truth, some complex, some simple, and wrapping it with passionate music that makes me want to sing from the bottom of my lungs.

Mark’s working on two albums for the year.  One is a concept record about the Passion and the other is a live recording of Cool Hand Luke songs.

Check out a song from the Passion project called “Of Man.”

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¶The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang (June 15, 2010)

Their last album (The ‘59 Sound) was one of my favorite albums of 2008.  It is still on my Walkman.  I can’t get enough of Brian Fallon’s gritty vocals and their Jersey Shore (not the “reality show” on MTV) sound.

The lyrics, which hold more substance and more thoughtful than most, often contain references to literature, music , and movies.

This is the opening track off their last album.

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¶Desoto Jones – unknown

They are without a doubt the best band on Deep Elm.  They are also genuinely nice guys.  It’s unusual for a band of brothers to be able to make great music.  Owen’s lyrics are an amazing display of hope and a positive attitude that is absent in a lot of indie rock.  They released a few mp3’s on their website last year (that have since been removed) but Ean (the bassist) gave me permission to post this song.

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¶The Influence – unknown (Spring 2010)

I was shocked to find that this band has only been around for 3 years.  They have a great blues/rock/grunge/70’s vibe to them and I can’t wait to hear more of the new stuff. You can hear the softer side of the band here and one of the best songs released last year here.

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¶Sunny Day Real Estate – unknown

One of my biggest musical regrets is not going to Atlanta to see these guys rock out last year. They’re touring and writing a new album now.  It’s sure to have that signature SDRE sound. Here’s one of the better videos for their song called “10″

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I’m sure missing a few.  But these are the albums that I am looking forward to the most.  Undoubtedly there will be others and new discovering.  Some will be delayed, some bands might break up.  Some might be horrible.  But I remain hopeful.

¶Grammatrain – unknown

Their EP Kneeling Between Shields was great.  I was fortunate enough to grab my copy before it sold out.  It still sounded like Grammtrain despite being 10 years since Flying came out, but it didn’t sound stale.  It was what Grammatrain should sound like.  Note: the singer/guitarist Pete Stewart (no relation) is also releasing a solo record next month.  You can listen to the whole thing on his site.

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¶Anberlin – unknown (September 2010)

This album should be less poppy & deeper than “New Surrender” Their first major label release lacked the elements that made their previous efforts good, solid CD’s.  Hopefully this won’t end up on the most disappointing albums of 2010.

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¶E for Explosion – Why do i keep hitting myself with a hammer? ‘Cause it feels so good when i stop…

The best thing to come out of Kentucky since me.  Just kidding. With all humility aside.  I found this gem called “I Explode” (free download) and fell in love with band.

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¶Foxhole – unknown (first half of 2010)

I went to school with a couple of these guys and was good friends with the bassist.  I lost touch with him since then, but I’ve kept up with the band.  They are currently writing a new album. which is, unfortunately, their last record (probably).  They are an instrumental band that’s so good, you don’t even miss the vocals. Although I do have an old recording from the late 90’s that does feature vocals.

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¶Coheed And Cambria – “Year of the Black Rainbow” (April 2010)

This will be the prequel and let’s hope Claudio & Co. do a better job than George Lucas did with Stars Wars. Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait 20 years for this.  You can listen to “The Broken” on their site now.

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¶The Classic Crime – Vagabonds (April 6, 2010)

Twitter has kept me high on anticipation on this release.  “The Silver Cord” was an amazing album and they avoided the all-too-often sophomore slump. The title track from the song is giving room for hesitation and doubt to creep in. But that was  based on this acoustic radio performance.  Of note, all the profits from pre-orders of the new album will go to Haiti relief.

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¶U2 – Songs of Ascent (June 2010? or 2015)

I was disappointed in their last album, “No Line On The Horizon” but perhaps this one will be among their better albums. Recently there have been talks that the album might be delayed so the band can make it better.

Check out “Winter” which is supposedly going to be on the new album.

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These next few are a throwback.  I have this theory that the music you identify most and are drawn to is what you listened to when you were in or within a couple years of high school.  I think this holds true unless you listen to mainstream radio.  (This can also be attributed to when I had the mental acuity to discern what good music really was)

¶Stone Temple Pilots – untitled (May/June 2010)

I know this won’t sound like Core or Purple, but I can still expect a more-than-just-decent album.  The album is mastered and I guess we’ll hear what’s in store.

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¶Soundgarden – unknown

Thank you. some of the best news of the new year was this simple message posted by Chris Cornell on New Year’s Eve.  Chris has garnered the unusual achievement of having success with more than one band, but I am excited to hear what the new stuff is going to be.

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This is about a pretty specific situation and there’s not much depth here. These 40 words (or so) clock in at just over 4 minutes and that’s seems just about right.

Listen if you will.

::surely i do::

i do, i do
i do, i do

i’m sorry it took this long
to understand what this means to me
these simple words, their gravity
has finally got a hold of me

i do, i do
i do, i do
i do, i do
and i will, yes i will

i love you dearly
i’ll miss you more
i love you dearly
i’ll miss you more

In addition to running down the top songs, I’ll also give out some superlatives of a few songs that didn’t quite make it.  This is primarily a cardinal list, with the exception of the first five.

¶Manchester Orchestra – The River

The struggle of man. The duality of man. This is a conflicted story of redemption.

¶Cursive – What I’ve Done

Looking back at life’s regrets. Long, drawn out, and potent masterpiece. Watch a live performance here.

¶Desoto Jones – She Hit The Wall

A encouraging song about grieving a loss.

¶Thrice – In Exile

I hope my head can be filled with song of Thrice forever.

¶Regina Spektor – Eek

A more intelligent, more accurate “Ironic.”

¶Matisyahu – Thunder

The live version, definitely. Watch it here.

¶Manchester Orchestra – I Can Feel A Hot One

A beautifully tragic story, delivered only as Andy Hull could do.

¶Thrice – Circles

The best song about circles since “In Circles” by Sunny Day Real Estate.

¶Manchester Orchestra – Shake It Out

The humble yet mighty bridge is what makes this song. The contrast from the aggressive other parts of the song help you understand the turmoil the singer is going through.

¶Matisyahu – One Day

Shalom. Watch the live version here.

¶Cursive – From The Hips

The freedom of living life in the moment. Spontaneous & Unscripted.

¶mewithoutYou – Goodbye, I

Aaron speaks in parables.

¶The Influence – Old Bones

A modern classic rock opus. Somewhat official video.

¶Phoneix – Love Like A Sunset

A song so good it almost doesn’t need 27 words.

¶Mae- Seasons

Despite being a 13 minute piano instrumental, I can’t get enough of this song. Part 1 is below. Part 2 is here.

¶Best Country Song aka, I almost liked it

Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now” (video) Thanks, Carey!

¶Best Country Song I played on Rock Band and almost enjoyed it

Miranda Lambert – Gunpowder & Lead (video)

¶Best Song I Rediscovered This Year

Suzanna Daly – Digging Deep

¶Best Cover I Heard This Year

“Hallelujah” by Daniel Adams

¶Best not-so-new songs I discovered this year

“Heavy Hands” by Desoto Jones (weird fanime video)

When I first decided to write this post a few weeks ago, I hadn’t read anyone else’s lists and I wasn’t planning on doing so either.  But through posts on twitter, I was exposed to several.  Looks like my favorite album is a lot of people’s favorite as well.  My initial response was to re-calibrate my picks and re-evaluate my rankings since I rarely ever listen to popular things, much less thoroughly enjoy them.  But, to put it quite simply, if it’s good, it’s good; if it’s great, it’s great.  And this album is great.

I also stand firm that most of the people who will wind up reading this will hear at least one new band they hadn’t heard before.

Please note: This is entirely based upon music that I have listened to this year.  I’m sure there’s some great music I haven’t listened to that didn’t make this list, feel free to comment on your picks.

Best Albums of 2009

#7 David Bazan – “Curse Your Branches”

This is the first Bazan album I really liked since “Control” came out in 2002.  He has dropped the Pedro the Lion moniker and is writing more personal, first person material than before.  I think it’s refreshing that Bazan writes so openly about his struggle with faith.  I don’t think there’s anything wrong with question what you believe.  In fact, it takes a certain amount of bravery to do so. He questions God, the Bible,  and believers in their tenets of faith in such a way that encourages you no matter what your belief system is.

I find myself compelled into Bazan’s agnostic world and coming out stronger for it.  It seems Bazan talks to God more than a lot of “Christian bands” do.  Here are a few lyrics

Digging up the root of my confusion
If no one planted it, how does it grow?
And why are some hellbent upon, there being an answer?
While some are quite content, to answer “I don’t know

(from “Curse Your Branches“)

You long for the truth
We argue about it
But most of us doubt it can ever be found
Is a ship without a captain just as doomed as a ship without a crew?

(from “Heavy Breath”)

a shadow on the water
a whisper in the wind
on long walks with my daughter
who is lately full of questions
about You

(from “In Stitches”)

Standouts: “Hard To Be,” “Bless This Mess,” “When We Fell, “Lost My Shape”

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#6 Cursive – “Mama, I’m Swollen”

This might be one of the most under-appreciated albums of the year, perhaps some were put off because the opening track seems to be too repetitive.  But the band redeems itself with the second song, “From The Hips,” starts out with quiet introspection and it’s  begging for the band to let loose and go wild.  The build-up takes 90 seconds and then stops only to begin again about 3 minutes into it.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether Tim Kasher is talking about sex, politics, or religion. Perhaps that’s the point.  Either way, this is a great record, with lots to offer.  The record as a whole deals with finding meaning and purpose (or the lack thereof)  in life from relationships or religion and about the troubled condition of mankind. Much like Thrice’s “Beggars”, echoes of Solomon’s Ecclesiastes are eschewed throughout. But unlike Thrice, I have to supply my own hope.

I was hooked after watching this performance on Shockhound.com.

We are the sons of butchers
All in all we’re pawns
The darkness of mankind stirs in us all

from “Mama, I’m Satan“

We’re at our worst when it’s from our lips
From our lips we caused a rift
And this world is falling in
From Babel to barroom brawls
Our words have formed a death sentence
And I wish that we had never talked
Our hips said it all

from “From The Hips“

Going to write my Moby Dicks
More like scratching lyrics on paper plates
I spent the best years of my life
Waiting on the best years of my life
So what’s there to write about?

from “What Have I Done?“

Standout Tracks: “From The Hips,” “Mama, I’m Satan,” “What Have I Done?”

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#5 Matisyahu – “Light”

I have a lot of respect for Matisyahu.  He’s a devout Hasidic Jew who is unabashed in his faith and people respond to it.  After his breakthrough hit, “King Without A Crown,” (from “Youth”) I was unsure if Matis had staying power.  “Light” proves he does. As a whole, “Light” is a much better album than “Youth.”

The music on this album is there to compliment the lyrical delivery.  There’s an airy feel to these songs that leaves you open to receiving these songs.

Much like the title suggests, this album’s theme is light, what it is, what it looks like, what it doesn’t look like. Matis sings/raps about hope (“One Day”, about living a life of purpose (“Struggla”).  With his last album, “Youth,’ he wanted to set young people straight and now he’s urging us to move to a higher (spiritual) level.  He writes about leaving the darkness that lies within us behind (“Darkness Into Light” and “Thunder”).  The last song (“Silence”)  is a tender song of praise, a yearning to hear God speak, a yearning so fervent, “the silence kills” him.  The album ends appropriately enough with a Selah.  I’m left with an uncertainty as to whether it’s over.  The sounds and message still ring in my ear.  All I know is I don’t want it to be over.

I went to an in-store performance and there was a much more diverse audience than expected (a Phish/Widespread Panic crowd), from toddlers dancing around their yuppie parents to an older Jewish lady with her Star of David necklace.  All you have to do to get hooked on this album is watched his impassioned live performance on Pandora. He can sing, he can rap, he can beatbox, he can write, and he can praise God.

“‘One Day’ is the song I’ve been wanting to make since I started my career,” Matisyahu told Spinner. “It is an anthem of hope with a big beat — the kind of song that makes you bob your head and open your heart at the same time.”

Standout Tracks: “One Day,” “So Hi So Lo,” “I Will Be Light,” “Darkness Into Light”

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#4 The Glorious Unseen – “The Hope That Lies In You”

The Glorious Unseen, led by Ben Crist, has a fresh take on worship.  Listening to The Glorious Unseen reminds me of when I discovered Delirious back in the late 90’s, awesome, contemplative worship that felt genuine. When I first heard the band, I was thinking I knew Ben (or at least of him).  Turns out I was right, he went to Belmont when I went to Vanderbilt and played guitar in Colson,  a band one of my roommates played drums with for a while.  There’s a huge swell of sound that engulfs the songs of The Glorious Unseen. It’s big enough to fill the room, but somehow remains intimate.  This is nothing like you’d typically hear at church or on CCM radio.  A lot of worship music today is to “happy”.  TGU has a more honest approach, talking about doubts, fear, and the darker side of the faith.

This album was written out of a dark place.  The angst, anger, fear, desire, confusion breathes through the strained vocals and the encompassing instruments. This album could stand as the soundtrack of Job.  Or it could have been written by David while he was on the run for his life.  A lot of the questions asked on this album mirror those that David Bazan asks on “Curse Your Branches.” This album tells the whole story, while I’m hoping for a sequel to Bazan’s.

Through all the questioning, I’m still discovering myself.
And in the processing, I wonder if there’s something else that has a hold on me.

(from “We Can Be Renewed“)

Come down – we need Your hope to come down.
We need Your grace to pour out. We need the face of God now.
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

(from “The Hope That Lies In You“)

Most of these songs could stand alone as an anthem of hope and praise, but work so much better as a cohesive journey.

Standout Tracks: “All Around,” “How He Loves,” “Sustain,” “Sweet, Sweet Sound”

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#3 The Dirt and The Flood – “Garden”

It’s hard to believe that  honor students at Clemson University could put together such wonderfully crafted songs.  I saw these guys open up for one of my favorite bands, Cool Hand Luke almost 2 years ago exactly.  They started the show sitting on the edge of the stage with a banjo, a guitar, and four voices.  Who knew that within a few minutes, I’d find my favorite “local” band.  I hadn’t been this enthralled by a band’s introduction at a show since I first saw Cool Hand Luke in 1998.  It’s a shame that the band is on a break while the members pursue other efforts including, ministry at Mars Hill Church in Seattle. No doubt these individuals will go on to do great things, I just hope they will make music in the future.

Knox can tell a story.  Just listen to “Welcome Home” as he tells the story of the Prodical Son in such a way that makes it new.  The way he recounts the seemingly hopeless relationship in “Plans”  and then sings about the reconciliation in “Colors” is just simply amazing.  The music matches up with the heart of the fractured couple perfectly.

And you could throw it all away, but what’s out there?
You don’t wanna run away, for all that’s here.
So live away, you are free
And you don’t have to be afraid to come home.

from “Welcome Home“

I began to dance
I began to sing
Cause I know where I’m going
I know where you’ve called me

from “In Plain View“

what once was alive has turned to death
but what came from its ashes
is the soil for this garden

from “Colors (What Once Was Dead Has Come Alive)“

Watch an early version of “Come On And Trust.” This is the reason I fell in love with the band.

Standout Tracks: “Welcome Home,” “A Lament,” “Come On And Trust”

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#2 Thrice – “Beggars”

I was able to hear a couple songs from this CD early when I saw Thrice on the Warped Tour.  I am grateful that they got “The Alchemy Index” out of their system; a concept that was better than the record. They are back and better than ever.  The lyrical content of these remind of a modern-day Ecclesiastes. The themes of this is very similar to that of Cursive’s latest, except Dustin Kensrue inserts a hopeful tenor into the mix. The concept is not new.  There is a more kinetic energy on this record and I can’t wait to hear what’s next for these guys.

The album starts with Dustin singing about the seemingly limitless evil of mankind and at the sametime, the somewhat oblivious nature we share. These ideas are strewn through the record.

But the blind lead the blind into bottomless pits,
Still we smile and deny that we’re cursed.
But of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst.

Something’s gone terribly wrong with everyone;
All the world is mad.
Darkness brings terrible things; the sun is gone -
What vanity! our sad, wretched fires.

(from “All The World Is Mad“)

“The Weight” is about as aggressive a love song as I’ve ever heard.

Because a ring don’t mean nothing
If you can’t haul the weight,
And some of them won’t even try,
But I won’t leave you high and dry;
I won’t leave you wondering why.

Dustin is one of the best lyricist around. There are so many elements and I could probably write a dissertation on breaking down the lyrics.  The ideas are not new, but there is a hopelessness and frivolity that lies in the day-to-day toil of life.  There has to be a higher purpose, a reason for everything and that what this record does.  It takes you on a journey from the hopeless to the hopeful.

My heart is filled with songs of forever
A city that endures, where all is made new
And no I don’t belong here
I’ll never call this place my home
I’m just passing through

(from “In Exile“)

Despite facing certain death in “Wood & Wire,” Dustin sings:

The dawn is coming
All is well, I will rejoice

“Through With Glass” sounds like it could be an old Thrice and is the heaviest song on the record. The almost screaming in voice shows the frustration of not being able to communicate effectively.

The album closes with these words from the title track:

Can you hear what’s been said can you see now that everything’s grace after all
If there’s one thing I know in this life, we are beggars all

Standout Tracks:  All of Them.

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#1 Manchester Orchestra – “Mean Everything to Nothing”

This is my one inexorable pick. Andy Hull and company put out their best effort to date.  I can remember the first song I heard off the album, “I Can Feel A Hot One” on thesixtyone.com, a great music streaming website.  I didn’t know who it was at first, but I had to find out.  Turns out I knew who it was, I just didn’t know how good they were.  Sure, I’d heard of them, but I wasn’t a huge fan.  In fact, when I first heard “Golden Ticket” I thought I was listening to some really old Copeland I had forgotten about (listen here).

Things have changed and I’ve grown to love and appreciate the genius that is Manchester Orchestra.  To say that Andy Hull (songwriter, vocals, guitar) is my hero is an exaggeration, but not by much.  It’s even more incredible when you realize that  Hull is still in his early 20’s-it leaves me hopeful of many more albums and years of listening to the band’s music.

“Mean Everything To Nothing” is a gateway album.  After getting to know the songs on METN, I was able to go back and listen to the previous works and appreciate them.  The primary reason, as Deckfight points out, is that with this release, “finally…the band matches Hull’s vocal intensity.”

If you just listen to a couple songs, you will hear and feel the intrinsic value of how Hull combines his extremely personal, intense, and  intricate lyrics and hand crafts them over his guitar to create a sonic masterpiece.  You can hear this in the unexpected bridge of “Shake It Out” & throughout the river “The River.”

These songs stand up whether it’s the full band or just Andy and his guitar. You can watch the videos the band made for every song on the album on Vimeo.  The band has done some wonderful acoustic arrangement of their songs.

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Worst Albums of 2009

Switchfoot – “Hello Hurricane” I heard this described as the “Joshua Tree” of Switchfoot’s career.  Perhaps I am not their audience, I haven’t liked the band since New Way To Be Human came out and still think “Legend of Chin” is their best album.  I was hopeful when I watched the trailer but lost it when I listened to the entire album.  To think that these were the best of the 200 songs they wrote for the album makes me shudder.

Pearl Jam – “Backspacer” After what had to be the worst performance in the history of late night television on the debut of The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, I have given up on the band. It sounded like they were just rehearsing a song for the first time in someone’s garage. The mix was way off and it was hard to watch.  “Just Breathe” happens to be  a pretty good song. I long for the days of the 90’s Pearl Jam. I’ll stick with “Ten,” “Vs.,” and “Vitology.”

Jars of Clay – “The Long Fall Back To Earth” Who knows why I listened to this album. Nothing original and nothing that stands out.  The concept behind “Two Hands” is a good one but their end product is trite and simple.

Albums I Wanted To Like The Most

Mute Math – “Armitice” The raw music on this album is phenomenal; it’s the production on the actual recordings I didn’t care for as much. This is a prime case of  “I’d-rather-see-the-band-live-than-listen-the-CD.”

Stavesacre – “Behind The Silence” One of my all-time favorite bands, mostly for Mark Salomon’s lyrics.  This EP was one of the most anticapted records in a long time.  Jeff Bellow was back, but the end result was a lacklsuster EP that made me sad.

MAE – Make A Difference Project.  I love the idea behind releasing one song a month and donating all the money to a different project or charity.  However, I wasn’t too impressed with the songs.  It wasn’t until the latest song, “Seasons” that I enjoyed the song. It’s a 13 minute piano instrumental.  It’s one of the best songs of the year.  But it doesn’t make up for the other songs.

“New Year’s Project” by Further Seems Forever (the best incarnation of the band with Chris Carrabba on vocals) is a powerful song, especially at this time of year.

I might re-record this soon, but for now, enjoy the words.

*trail of tears*

and how can i expect you to know how i feel unless i say it
but i don’t know how
trapping all these feelings inside is numbing my senses
my sensitivity to Christ
i don’t know why but i bury my beliefs in your presence
and seemingly throw it all away

i wish i could translate all my thoughts into words that you’d understand
maybe i could figure myself out….and maybe you’d understand

so i cry a new beginning, finding my way back to God
His hands around me, assuring me i can begin again
i feel so wrong, that what i’ve done can’t be made right
when i look in the mirror, i wanna see You staring right back at me
so i cry a new beginning

a new day, a new year, another chance to be what i’m supposed to be
as tears stream down and as guilt follows
all that’s left is a memory and a lesson learned
and a desire to hear the beautiful sounds of june
(when You rained down and gave me life)

I spent some time over the past few days rewriting the music to make it something more appealing to my tastes now.  Perhaps I can get this and my new year’s song re-recorded with a great singer and share it with you soon.

For now, I’ll just post the words cause they mean so much to me. I’m not as cynical (probably) about Christmas as I was back then, but this is my response to worship.

*Worship Stone*

Worship Stone, I kiss Your hand
Now is the time when Your name is spoken
In vain, I pray, not
The power of Your name, it radiates
From the moment I spoke it

And I fall down and prostrate my self
In reverence and fear, I lay down these gifts

All these red and white tales permeate the air
They’re taking the place of what I hold dear
And it breaks my heart
I know it doesn’t matter when You were born
It’s matters why, how, and what You did

And I fall down and prostrate my self
In reverence and fear, I lay down these gifts

Oh, this wonderfilled night, shining so bright
More so than the stars
And all I can say is
Happy birthday
You are my King

A friend of mine recently texted that a video I sent him had very little to do with Christmas. I responded with:

“christmas has very little to with Christmas.”

Well, these post and these songs have everything to do with Christmas, the real Christmas. It takes a lot of talent, skill, and hard work to make a good song. It takes even more to make a good Christmas song. So much so, very few people have done this. But look no further, these are some of the best worship songs I’ve ever heard. Most are performed by their composers. There won’t be much commentary on this one, just some great music. Have some time to listen to words, get lost in their meaning, and reflect.

¶“Emmanuel” by JJ Heller

¶“Evergreen” by Switchfoot

¶“Glory Be” from Soujourn

¶“I Celebrate the Day” by Relient K

¶“If You Were Born Today (Song For Little Baby Jesus)” by Low

(I like the Jimmy Eat World version better)

¶“Savior of the Fools” by Puller

¶“When You Were Born” by Michael Trieb

I’ve listened to over 1000 Christmas songs (proof) over the past few weeks and have been keeping notes, both mentally and using Sticky Notes, which is just on of the great new features in Windows 7.  When I envisioned this idea, I thought it was going to be just one post, but after I started writing about the best Christmas albums of the year, I realized it would be way too long for one post.  So now I”m doing a post a day through Christmas.  You may ask, “What’s left after this post?”  Well, you’re gonna have to wait (and see and read).

Music upfront & descriptions to follow. Feel free to stream this as you do other things.

¶Angels We Have Heard On High

»Corey Crowder »Joe Monto

This was a tough choice since I’m love the drawn out syllables of the chorus and a lot of the version I generally like otherwise change the chorus, as evidenced by Hillsong’s version.  Truth Bomb has a pretty good version too.

South Carolina’s own Corey Crowder has a great version that appears on X Christmas from BEC Records. It’s  a pretty mellow & straight-forward version that heavily features a shaker.

I found Joe Monto’s video on youtube. You can watch it above in the video player.

I did come across this almost unique version set to the music “Crash” by the Dave Matthews Band.

¶Away In A Manger

»Bright Eyes »Relient K »Mannheim Steamroller

Though not very theologically sound (or logically sound, for that matter), this is a carol that has been around for a long time. I guess it’s a good thing I found out it wasn’t really written by Martin Luther.

Bright Eyes’s version is from their Christmas album aptly titled “A Christmas Album.” It has grown on me tremendously since my first listen.  It’s a slow, droning version with some weird percussion, a creaking barn door (or an electric shaver or tesla coil), and some animals.

That’s where Mannheim Steamroller comes in. They’re instrumental version is simply beautiful. It’s appears on the “Christmas Extraordinaire.” Several instruments take turn in playing the lead melody. A video of a live performance is available in the player above.

I love Relient K’s medley of “Silent Night/Away In A Manger” that transitions perfectly into one of all-time favorite Christmas songs, “I Celebrate the Day.”

¶Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella

»Sufjan Stevens »Jenny Gullen & Derri Daughtery

Sufjan brings a minimalist approach to the song and it works well.  You’ll need to turn up your speakers.

I don’t know much about Jenny & Derri. This was on an album from called “Noel.”  The shared duties of vocals and the strings makes this a great track.

This is an undersung classic. Jeanette and Isabella are two maidens who go to their stable to  milk their cows only to find the newborn Christ.  They go and tell the world. It does speak a lot to the humanity of Jesus.

¶Carol of the Bells

»EDDY »Sleeping Kings of Iona

I originally wasn’t even going to include this song since I don’t like it all that much.  Usually when I hear the song I am reminded of  the Burger King commercial and Peter Griffin from Family Guy. Someone had the great idea of combining the two and putting in on youtube. <–you might not want to click that, you may never hear the song the same again.

But then I heard EDDY’s and the Sleeping Kings of Iona’s version.  Then I heard the one by  and I had to add them.

EDDY’s version appears on “Ode To Christmas – Volume 1,” which you can download along with Volume 2 & 3 here.

The Sleeping Kings of Iona (every time I type that I want to type “Leon”) is mostly instrumental.  The only exception is Esther’s voice as a wordless instrument.

¶Do You Hear What I Hear

»Copeland

Hands down this is the best version of the song. Relevant thinks too.

“Guitars + Electronica bleeps and bloops + AutoTune = Copeland’s take on a famous carol.”

I can’t put my finger on exactly who Merry Ellen Kirk reminds me of. Maybe you can help me out with that. This is from her EP “Do You Hear What I Hear,” which can be downloaded for free from Noisetrade.

¶The First Noel

»Six Against Seven »Sarah McLachlan (DJ Shah Remix)

I know nothing about Six Against Seven.  They don’t even have a MySpace page. This song was on the long-out-print compilation “The Official 99x Soundtrack.

The DJ Shah remix featuring Sarah McLachlan is so good, it might actually put you in a trance.  It features a lengthy electronic intro.  Combine that with Sarah’s unmistakable voice, and you have yourself  a great song. It was available as a free download from The Vancouver Sun last week (since expired).

¶Jesu Bambino (The Infant Jesus)

»Plankeye

Granted this is the only version I’ve ever heard, but I’m not going to let that stop me. It appears on the compilation Happy Christmas Vol. 2 from BEC Recordings. I originally thought it was song the band wrote and used the chorus to “O Come All Ye Faithful.”  It is of only two Plankeye songs I like after the departure of  their frontman Scott Silletta.

¶Go Tell It On The Mountain

»Dustin Kensrue

A song that I didn’t equate with being Christmas-themed until I was a teenager. I guess I thought it was more an proselytizing song. The frontman from Thrice has a great acoustic version of this song that has a quaint folky feel to it.  The best part: the tacet outro. Unfortunately, this was not released on his Christmas EP last year.

¶God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

»Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchrestra »Brother Cane

The only thing that would make me like Shawn Lee’s version better would be without the extraneous vocals at the beginning.  The rest is so good, I can overlook that. It has the rhythm similar to “The House of the Rising Sun.” You will hear a lot of instruments you don’t normally hear in Christmas music.

Brother Cane’s version has a southern rock/blues take on the classic .  You can download this one from his website for free. You might know him as the guitarist for Alice Cooper or Whiskey Falls.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra also have a short instrumental version with a classical guitar.

¶Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

»Trans-Siberian Orchestra » Casiotone for the Painfully Alone

The TSO version is a medley along with “The March of the Kings,” and another instrumental masterpiece with a biting lead guitar melody line.

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone’s version appear on the holiday sample from It’s Hard to Find a Friend.  This is instrumental as well. It’s got keys, samples, loop, and more.

¶It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

»The Red West »Over The Rhine

I had never heard of The Red West before I bought the Peace on Earth samplers. It’s got some subtle and not-so-subtle loops around an acoustic guitar with the voice of Jason Belt, which is what happens when you combine Brandon Flowers of the Killers and Thom Yorke of Radiohead. Just when you think the song is over, things get a little chaotic and break down.

If you know anything about Over The Rhine, then this is exactly what you’d expect from this legendary Ohio band, beautiful piano with the mesmorizing vocals of Karen Berquist. A version that all you purists surely shall enjoy.

¶Joy To The World

»Jamie Barnes from Sojourn »Seabird

Both these versions change the melody and music of the song.  The guys from Sojourn Church are amazing.  Jamie Barnes’s version will take your breath away. It’s the opening track on “Advent Songs.”  You can download this song and one other for free.

You might have heard Seabird’s version  fall finale of “Grey’s Anatomy. It’s a great pop melodies from the Cincinnati band. This is from The Silent Night EP. ”

¶The Little Drummer Boy

»The 722 Band »The Almost »Mary’s Eyes & Candi Pearson

This was probably the easiest one for me to choose.  I first the 722 Band’s version about 10 years ago.  They were the worship band for Texas A&M and that’s where David Crowder, Shane & Shane, Chris Tomlin, and many others honed their skills. Thanks to a guy named Mephibosheth and his now defunct dyndns.org site, I was able to download gigabytes of mp3’s and a few videos.

Aaron Gillepsie is the drummer and singing vocalist  for the metalcore band Underoath.  The Almost displays his lighter side.  The cover is amazing. Pay attention to the way Aaron strains his voice to get those vocals out  You can watch the video above.

This week I found an mp3 on my computer by Mary Eyes & Candi Pearson.  Turns out Candi is the female vocalist in the 722 version.

¶O  Come All Ye Faithful

»Trans-Siberian Orchestra »Starfield »So Elated

The TSO version (medley with “O Holy Night”) starts off with a simple piano progression that quickly turns into a full band orchestration that repeats with a fury.  I can only imagine the intensity on the face of the lead guitarist.  Then the strings kick in.  Ahh, bliss.  This in inspired medley.

Aside from this song, I didn’t know much about Starfield.  Apparently they are pretty popular in Canada. The bridge the bands adds to the end of the song, leaves me want more.

So Elated put out a great Christmas Album, “The Bewildering Light.”  You can get it for free from Noisetrade. Ben Thomas holds true to the carol and adds unique instrumentation. The song (and album) close with a choir repeating the chorus a capella.

¶O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

»August Burns Red »Bodies of Water w/No Little Kindness »Rosie Thomas

I would have to agree with Rosie Thomas on this one:

“I always hated this song actually. It reminded me of old men with bad breath singing it in church, so slow and labored, but after reworking it I came to really love it and I saw the lyrics in a completely new way that was really beautiful to me.”

But this year I found 3 versions I liked, that makes this song what it was intended to be when it was written almost 1000 years ago, a call to worship.

August Burns Red’s appears on their new Christmas EP. Like their version of  “Carol of the Bells,” this is strictly instrumental.  But unlike “Carols” this one starts off heavy, complete with palm-muted distorted guitar and plenty of  hits from the double bass drum pedals.

The track by Bodies of Water w/No Little Kindness is from charity sampler Peace on Earth. Just when you think this is going to another instrumental, a women’s voice chimes in and adds her voice the mix. The slide guitar in the background give this a western feel.

I can’t believe I almost forgot about Rosie Thomas’s CD “A Very Rosie Christmas. She changes the melody and delivers her vocals strong while playing a minimal amount of chords on her piano.

¶O Holy Night

»Anathallo »Seven Day Jesus

Two great versions that take artistic liberty with my favorite carol. Read my previous post with the 7 best versions (plus 2 honorable mentions).

¶Silent Night

»Rosie Thomas »Seabird »Sinead O’Connor

This is another one of my favorite carols, even before I found out that this might have been written so that Father Josef Mohr could have a Christmas song he could play on his guitar.

Rosie Thomas adds her personal style to this song.  You can get Rosie’s version for free if you sign up for new newsletter. Not only does she change the melody slightly, she adds a second voice during the second verse.

Silent night (in a manger a Child is born)
Holy night (star of Bethlehem shines on Him)
Shepherds quake (the wise men bring their gifts to Him)
At the sight (angels on high watch over Him)
Glorious stream (in a manger a Child is born)
Heaven afar (joy to the world the King has come)
And Heavenly hosts (all who are lost can be found again)
Alleluia

Seabird released a great version of the song on The Silent Night EP.  It has the feel of The Fray with a steady beat and piano pattern. The speeds the song up, but not to the detriment of it. It’s a great modern-pop cover.

You might know Sinead O’Connor from either tearing up a picture of the Pope on live TV (for which she asked for forgiveness) or from her universal hit, a cover of a Prince song, “Nothing Compares 2 U.” One thing is undeniable, she can sing.  Some people hide their voice behind an instrument, but not Sinead; her voice isher instrument. Just listen to her sing from the bottom of her lungs. A video is also in the player above.

¶We Three Kings of Orient Are

»JJ Heller »Sufjan Stevens

This is a song that is usually not covered well.  These are 3 best versions I’ve heard.

JJ Heller is an artist I’m going to keep an eye (or ear) out.  After hearing her Christmas CD “Wake Up The World,” I’m going to check out her other works. She and her husband expand and retell the story of “We Three Kings.” with beautiful simplicity on “Star of Wonder.” You can get the EP for free from Noisetrade.

Sufjan slows things down slightly in this version.  As the song progresses, the layers build, keyboard, banjo, some light percussion, and a flute.