The Decade’s Best

I’ve noticed quite a few Christian music sites giving their choices of the best music from the past decade (2000-2009). I may be no connoisewer, but I sure have my opinions and that’s all that lists are,right? So what I will do is go through my personal CD collection and note what I think is the best from this past decade in no particular order..

Petra–Jekyll & Hyde (2003)
This classic band bowed out halfway through the decade, but they left off with one of their best studio albums. This album can rock with the best of the modern day acts, and even better (these songs actually rhyme)..If you enjoy classic rock, pick this bad boy up (it’s also a quick, 31 minute listen).

Stryper–Murder By Pride (2009)
Okay, this may not be the best album of the decade, in fact, it sounds exactly like the band just picked up where they left off in the 80′s…mainly because they did..But nevertheless, there’s a little more meat on album lyrically and it was very pleasant to listen to a Christian album that was straight-up gospel and didn’t bother meandering into to social justice issues.

Jars of Clay–Good Monsters (2006)
Pretty much every album they’ve released this decade could go on this list but the Jars’ subtle commentary on Christians’ obsessions with “junk”(or sin) is the best of the bunch (in my opinion, of course). The cover art of the band being “filled” with said junk adds to the weight of this clever album.

Seabird–‘Til We See the Shore (2008)
I still can’t get over this album. I was seriously spinning this disc constantly for nearly a year before I wore it out. The mature messages of transitioning into life were exactly what I needed as I headed into college. Even though I may not keep the CD constantly in my player like before, i still turn to some of these songs for comfort.

Jon Foreman–Fall and Winter EPs (2007-2008)
Really his entire EP set (from Fall to Summer) should be here, but the Fall and Winter collection stands out the most in my mind. It’s dark and realistic, but being realistic allows it to offer more realistic hope. The music is seemingly simplistic, yet charming and the biblical messages run deeper than I had expected.

David Crowder Band–A Collision (2005)
I must admit I’m not a huge DCB fan. But I have to give credit to good, clever, and creative music when I hear. This album is certainly creative, clever, and even intriguing. The music’s not much to my test, but I can’t turn down most of the lyrics and smile at the ingenuity and insanity of this group.

Runner’s Up (in other words, they’re good, but not the best)…
II Guys from Petra–Vertical Expressions (2007)
First, you have to admit the cleverness of the name..this group is Petra founder Bob Hartman and Petra’s last lead singer John Schlitt giving fresh takes on classic modern worship songs. They decided to just call themselves that since that’s what everyone would call them anyway. Humorous and witty. The musical arrangements are just as clever. Their version of “God of Wonders” blows that Third Day corroboration thing version clear out of the water–this version has a real solo. The other arrangements are just as good and fresh. If you’re looking to buy this album (and if you love the praise and worship genre,you should), you can buy it online at Petra’s merch store.

John Schlitt–The Grafting (2008)
What’s striking about this album is how mature it sounds, simply because it tackles issues from a biblical perspective (why don’t more Christian groups do that?). What this album could’ve used was some guitar solos (or any solos) and a break from a lyrical pattern that grew redundant. It also had a sort of low-quality feel to it which is a shame, cause this album has a lot of potential.

Chris Tomlin–Arriving (2004)
It made him popular and for good reason. The worship songs are stellar and the feel is perfect for a modern church atmosphere.

Kutless–Sea of Faces (2004)
In my mind, this is Kutless’ best. They were driving their points home with the gospel and not much else. They became a little more ambiguous on Hearts of the Innocent, but avoid that on this album. Instrumentation is lacking on this disc though.
—————————
So that’s it! Whew! What do ya think?

Childhood and Time

This past week was fall break (yes,the entire week). On Monday I met up with friends to see Toy Story 1 and 2 in 3D. I almost cried during the opening credits of the first movie because it brought back so many childhood memories. Then on Thursday night I was “kidnapped” by some other friends and ended up reliving more of my childhood memories by playing NES games–especially Ninja Turtles the Arcade game! My friend and I gave our best shot but we failed in the end…about halfway through the game…but it’s allright,we’ll improve our Ninja Turtling skills and return to do something we had never accomplished during our childhood..actually beat the darn game. 

So the break was something of a “blast from the past,” to borrow an overused cliche. Coming off the break was different. I think I’ve gotten over the whole going home and feeling weird only to adjust and return to Boyce and feel weird again only to readjust. The transitions are smoother. But when I did return this time I suddenly realized all of the projects, assignments, and papers yet to be done. Suddenly I didn’t have time. Time has become such a problem this semester. It’s not that I’m not trying to stay ahead of the game, it’s just that I have more on my plate and so I’m running out of time before I get a firm grasp. It’s like I began the semester on the wrong foot and now I’m stumbling my way through the rest.

It’s a topic that’s been hit on before, but I want to take a moment to relate childhood and time. When I was young, I had so much time. So much time to play video games, watch TV, play with toys, let my imagination run wild. Now my schedule is cramped and overwhelmed. Oh to have that time again!

“In time, to wonder where the days have gone.In time, to be old enough to wish that you were young.”- Jars of Clay, “Boys”

“When I do count the clock that tells the time,
And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;
When I behold the violet past prime,
And sable curls all silvered o’er with white;
When lofty trees I see barren of leaves,
Which erst from heat did canopy the herd,
And summer’s green all girded up in sheaves
Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard;
Then of thy beauty do I question make,
That thou among the wastes of time must go,
Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake
And die as fast as they see others grow,
  And nothing ‘gainst Time’s scythe can make defense
  Save breed to brave him when he takes thee hence.”-Shakespeare,”Sonnet 12″

“But wherefore do not you a mightier way
Make war upon this bloody tyrant, Time,
And fortify yourself in your decay
With means more blessèd than my barren rhyme?”-Shakespeare, “Sonnet 16″