Top 10 of 2012

It's that time again! Where I give you what I loved in 2012. Before you start asking where x, y and z bands are on this list, this is only stuff that I've heard. I know I will likely love Fireflight's new one, Flyleafs, Future of Forestry's, The Classic Crime's and Anchor and Braille (Anberlin's side project) however, I have yet to hear them.
This is my list based on what I have heard.
If you should feel compelled, leave me your list in the comments.

10. KJ-52 - Dangerous 

We get things rolling with some rap...and rock...and techno...and dubstep. This album really is all over the map stylistically, but, it never feels out of place. My only grips are the second and third song. I know they probably sound good to a fan of heavy rap, I'm not much of a fan of heavy rap. Too rappy, not enough singiness. Otherwise, I have no complaints.

9. Owl City - The Midsummer Station

Listening to this album in the middle of winter is kinda funny considering the name... seriously though, back to the review... If you've been looking for some Christian Top 40 dance pop, this is your album.
It wont be everyone's cup of tea, but if you like to pound your foot to a four on the floor kick with synths all over the place, check 'er out!

8. Thousand Foot Krutch - The End Is Where We Begin

This was a Kickstarted album. I expected it to look and sound like it was. Thankfully, the guys made good use of their goal smashing $100,000. Not only is the album art worth the price of admission, the cd ain't so bad either. It's not constantly profound or cutting edge, but it is a good album to throw on and unwind with.
Besides, Be Somebody may have been one of my favorite singles of the year. War of Change is also really good.

7. For King and Country - Crave

I saw these guys at Kingdom Bound last year. After just one song, I was hooked. The band is a duo of brothers (who are also the brothers of Rebecca St. James). Not only are the harmonies really good, the lyrics are AMAZING. The Proof of Love is a great example of that. Taking 1 Corinthians 13 and making it more accessible and relatable. Also of note is Fine Fine Life and Pushing On A Pull Door.

6. Children 18:3 - Always on the Run

I love how fun these guys are. Nothing overly professional, just good old fashioned rock punk. It's not so much an album to listen to during the winter, but come summer.... It will be cranked!
Check out tracks like We'll Never Say Goodbye, Always on the Run and Why Are You Afraid of the Dark.

5. Andrew Peterson - Light for the Lost Boy

I love vivid lyrics. Especially when they deal with weighty subject matter. Throw in really ambient music some folk roots and you get Light for the Lost Boy. It deals mostly with straying from God and then returning. Great images. Come Back Soon, Cornerstone and Day By Day are all great to relax to or listen to if you feel like chewing on some lyrics. Plus it may have the best artwork of the year.

4. David Crowder* Band - Give Us Rest

This album got the year started in awe. It's a work of art from start to finish. Classical piano thrown into a fray of guitars, synths, drums and moving lyrics. The sequence tracks alone make it worth buying. Plus the fact it's not one but TWO(!) cds long. Check out I Am A Seed, Blessedness of Everlasting Light and Come Find Me. The only reason this didn't hit #1 was the overuse of bluegrass. I like it, just not on half the second disc.

3. Anberlin - Vital

Don't tell Scott Jackson, but I love this album. It's wrapped not only in soundscapes of soaring guitars and vocals, synth rifts, ambient pads but, lyrics that are cleaver and sometimes
(by sometime, I mean almost always) cryptic. It's Anberlin almost at their best.
The main problem with it is the fact it can be a little too cryptic and "muddy" sounding at times. If you can get past the "mud" on the songs. You'll love it.

2. Paper Route - Peace Of The Wild Things

No, not the book (or the too freaky for kids movie). This is a triumph in pop. It's not their debut Absence, which turned me off on the first listen. However, upon countless repeats, I realize it's special in it's own way. While Absence was mostly about toxic love, this is about redemption. Seeking forgiveness when we mess up our relationships. Plus it's uber catchy. It's not the most "Christian" album on this list, however Glass Heart Hymn and Calm My Soul still give me chills/encouragement

1. House of Heroes - Cold Hard Want

This album was everything I wanted it to be and more. A foot stoppin' rock fest with awesome lyrics and a lot of grit. It's not "The End Is Not The End" but I doubt anything ever will be. This is a great album. Look for highlight tracks Remember The Empire, the single Touch This Light and the chilling Suspect... plus everything else

Most Anticipated 2012

While most of these albums don't have a name yet (or in most cases a release date) I'm still stoked!

5. Relient K - Untitled
I wont lie, I wasn't a huge fan of the stuff that I heard on Forget and Not Slow Down. Not as fun and goofy as the Relient K I know and love. Here's hoping that when this album comes out, that will change!

4. Gungor - Live
Since I discovered how awesome these guys are in 2010, they have released an album every year (yes, I'm pretty sure that is a coincidence... maybe not though...) This year it's going to be a live cd/dvd combo. I've actually already purchased this glorious worship compilation through Kickstarter. Now, to wait for a release date...

3. Anberlin - Untitled
Every since these guys left Tooth and Nail, they've gone from being all rock to more of an alt rock deal. I'm not complaining. Dark Is The Way Light Is The Place was stellar. Ballads, soaring rock tracks, twists, turns, all juggled in a very nice balance. Plus, this one will include guest appearances from random fans on vocals!

2. Owl City - OCTMS (I think???) 
Adam Young doesn't stop. The odds of him being a machine that just makes music day and night are pretty good at this point. After the catchy/summery/dreamy All Things Bright And Beautiful that came out last year, he has said this will be more of a dance album. BRING IT! (And I love Shooting Star... just saying)

1. House of Heroes - Cold Hard Want
By just saying "new House of Heroes" to me, you will cause me to as excited as a squirrel on Red Bull! Really weird analogy aside... There are very few rock bands that get the mix of deep and cleaver lyrics with insanely well planned out and executed music. House of Heroes is one of those bands! Proof of this can be found on the single Touch This Light (You can catch it on the Slam and 3SN) or the really hard to find Comfort Trap. It's awesome! Seriously, try to find it online. If you do, it will be worth the effort! Bring on July 10th!!!!

Top 10 of 2011

I did this last year and since I like lists as well as opinionateing on music, I thought I'd do'er again!

10. Hawk Nelson - Crazy Love

The boys from Air Raid 20 kick things off. Crazy Love is a fun album with some great foot tapers. One of my favorite songs is L.A.X. It's about being stuck at an airport, great for a laugh.

9. Peter Furler - On Fire

While not what I was hoping for from the former Newsboys front man (I was hoping for a Newsboys album to be honest), this cd was great. If for no other reason just to hear Peter's voice in a song. My favorite songs were On Fire, Closer, All In Your Head and one you'll know from LIFE 100.3, Reach.

8. The Natatorium - The Natatorium EP

I only found out that this band existed a few weeks ago when we started to play the song Burning Out. The cd isn't "ground breaking" par say, but it is different. Banjo, synths, guitar all mixed into a strange sound that is really great. Look out for Burning Out and Too Believe.

7. Hawk Nelson - The Light Sides

This is available with the Deluxe edition of Crazy Love. It's a lot of the Hawk songs that you know and love, with an acoustic twist. Some songs (Friend Like That) just take the electric guitars and make them acoustics (which is cool) and others change the sound totally! (California is all acapella).

6. Needtobreath - The Reckoning

O.k, a disclamer... I don't own the album ... but, that will change soon! Drive All Night will get stuck in your head for at least a day... maybe two... or four... Not to mention the soaring opener Oohs and Aahs.

5. Owl City - All Things Bright And Beautiful

Sooooo it's a little mushy.... even sappy, but it's a fun cd all the same. Yacht Club is a fun synth trip, Honey And The Bee is an acoustic driven pop masterpiece and Galaxies, well Galaxies is awesome. Another gem is Plant Life. This track features Mat from Relient K.

The only draw back is Kamikaze... it's .... meh.

4. Abandon - Control

When I started listening to this, I forgot it was a Christian cd. The music sounded like something you'd hear in any mall across Canada, but the lyrics, left no doubt as to where the guys faith lies.

Under Fire, Control, New Years Eve, Help.... plus it was $10 @ the Treasure House!

3. Jason Gray - A Way To See In The Dark

This one is the Dark Horse on the list. While the music doesn't reinvent the wheel, the lyrics do. They are great! Thought provoking and yet, he wears his faith on his sleeve. Even the song Good To Be Alive (which borrows from one of the most over used themes in music [living for today]) is good. My favorite is No Thief Like Fear.

2. FM Static - My Brian Says Stop But My Heart Says Go

This song was suppose to be #1, but Swichfoot kinda killed that for the T.F.K side project. This album is probably the most fun I had all year listening to music. Hey, I Want It, You Don't Know Me and Firefly are all great tracks, not too mention F.M.S.T.A.T.I.C and the title track (which I'm not typing out again). It's catchy, simple, not too deep just great. That not too deep thing is a slight problem on one had (not very spiritual), but when I just want to rock, this album is my first choice.

1. Switchfoot - Vise Verses

The album is awesome. And that's all I can say... From soaring rock master pieces like Dark Horses and The Original to soft balads that pack a punch like Restless and one of my personal favs Thrive. One of best on the cd is Rise Above It, it's catchy, has great lyrics and has flawless instrumentation. I also liked Selling The News, it almost is Newsboysesq with a slightly sarcastic lyrical tone.

The album art even rocks.

The only downside is Souvenirs. I just don't care for that track...

0. David Crowder* Band - Give Us Rest (A Requiem Mass in C [The Happiest of All Keys])

I haven't heard the album yet... but it's a double disc compilation... and it's the last Crowder Band record. It will be good... when it comes out on the 10th...

That wraps up the portion featuring bands you've heard of... now for...

My 3 Favorite Unheard of Cds of 2011

3. Kye Kye - Young Love

Yes, they beat Mat Kearney to the cd name... Side note aside, this is ambient electronica at it's best, very little to no drums, synths coming out the ears and amazing lyrics. Any doubt these guys are Christian leaves when you listen to one of their songs on YouTube, their lyrics feature scripture references right next to the line!

2. The Hawk In Paris - His + Hers

Who? Well believe it or not, it's Jars of Clay front man Dan Hassletine's side project. It's sorta electric, sorta dancy... really good all the same.

1. Gungor - Ghosts Upon The Earth

These guys made my list last year, and thanks to recording a new cd this year, they've made it again.

The album is epic. That's really the only word for it. Soaring string sections, banjos, pianos, cellos, driving bass lines no song is what it seems at first. This is worship at it's finest!

And there you go! That's my list. What was your favorite cd this year?

In Christ Alone

I found this on Owl City's Blog...

... I have always liked this hymn (I think it's hymn at least... if it isn't it should be). This song lays out the gosspel so simply. From the birth of baby Jesus to his death, reserection and return, it's truley a work of art. Plus this version is by Owl City... you just can't lose!!!