Resolutions

I tend to do them every year. They're never really "you must do this or else." I have found that tends to fail. I prefer to have loose goals. Don't hit it by the end of the year? At least you tried and learned.

One thing that I always forget to do is write them down in a place I will look a lot. 3 months from now my list of goals will be different due to losing the list and having to re-write... maybe I should make that a resolution... not losing my resolutions!

This year most of my resolutions are
professional or hobby related. Becoming a better audio producer, video editor/director/camera man, guitarist. It's actually a long list. Good thing I have 12 months.

And after almost $300 in windshield wiper repair, I'm tempted to take an automotive repair course.... stupid freezing rain.

What about you? What are you resolving to do this year?

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

Helping The Least Of These (Behind The Screens)

Last week you got to experience my first "major" motion picture (major meaning using real mics and shooting it in a room other than my bedroom).
Little would you know, but there was drama, daring and intrigue that plagued production for the entirety of the day.

Here are the top 3 things I learned.

#3 - Malls like when you ask if you can use them 
After getting kick out of one mall for bringing film equipment into it, we were kicked out of a second (this time we started out checking with management). Thankfully the security guards were very nice at the first mall... intimidating, but nice.

#2 - Sunnidale Park has a lot of blind hills
While setting up, we managed to have numerous people wonder in out of the blue/ be scared silly by a camera crew in the middle of a forest.

#1 - Shooting an outdoor video in November is a really really really stupid idea
For the record, it was supposed to be an indoor shoot (see lesson #3)... but the lack of coats/gloves began to wear on us... it took 3 hours to regain all the feeling in my legs...

In the end, I'm still happy to say it worked out... frozen hands and feet aside.

My iPod (Which I don't really have...)

I have seen loads of these floating around the interwebs (and the LIFE dj blogosphere).
I don't tend to listen to songs on their own outside of LIFE... I usually listen to the entire album, but here goes nothing.

Owl City - When Can I See You Again



Anberlin - Someone Anyone



KJ-52 - Brand New Day



Mute Math - Typical



And that is pretty much what you will sit through when you go on a super long car ride with me.

Why I Love Fall

Fall is awesome. Why? Here is my list.

1. Colors 
The leaves are incredible. Reds, oranges, yellows, pinks all swirling around in the breeze... gets me excited every time.

2. Air

I can actually go outside without feeling like I'm being doused with smog/sauna/ a heat ray. I like the cold. Cold starts in fall.

3. Thanksgiving
Turkey, pumpkin pie and gravy on potatoes... lots and lots of gravy...

4. Being Thankful
This is a reflective time. There is so much to be thankful for, even if we don't think so. Even if everything has gone haywire all year, we can be glad that God still loves us and that we are alive.

5. Making Fun of the Leafs 
The annual pastime of making fun of Toronto's hockey heroes is not happening this year. This makes me sad... more time to build material for next year.

6. Remembering Why I Want A DSLR Camera
See reason #1. All that color, leaves reflecting in the water. The pictures almost take themselves.

7. Christmas Shopping
The strategy and planning begin now. Yes, I am that type of person.

8. Bonfires
They are better in fall.

9. Daylight Savings Time Ends
I get an extra hour of sleep. Can you spell A-E-W-S-O-M-E?

10. I'm out of stuff now... list is over
 Go eat some turkey or ham or a candy or something.

Time for Christmas shopping

I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas shopping.

On the love side:

A. I get to think of creative gifts that the recipients will never guess

B. I get to give people stuff

C. I get to mindlessly wonder around stores and usually wind-up getting myself a Christmas present (don't judge me... you've done it to!!!)

On the dislike side:

A. I become trapped in a mall surrounded by thousands of people for hours on end with nothing but my instincts to survive the lights, smells and prices

B. Having to find interesting gifts by the 25th

C. Hiding the gifts from the recipients

I like to be done my shopping by December 1st, ya I know, unrealistic and early. The method behind the madness is simply this -- the sooner I get the shopping done, the sooner I can start to focus on the real reason for the season.

It also has something to do with the year I didn't start Christmas Shopping until the 20th of December... that was stressful.