Ep. 40 – First albums of the New Year – Jan 10th, 2009

A couple days ago i went back to record time.  I decided i didn’t really like the Trenches album i had picked up so i sold it back to them at a loss.  I told the guy that i had bought it brand new from them and litteraly played it once.  He was cool about, i lost money, but he gave me 5$ for it which is better than they usually give ya.  So armed with those $5 and a little bit more cash i browsed and found a couple worthwhile albums.

“mmhmm” – Relient K

I’ve been looking for this one for awhile.  I got into this album sophomore year of high school.  It really reminds me of a girl i used to date.  They were her favorite band and i got her the album for her birthday, then i burned a copy of it off of her.  I really ended up liking it, it was a little more mature sounding than Relient K’s previous releases, and after giving it a couple spins it really grew on me.  The album has alot of catchy songs that get stuck in your head — lot of great songs to sing along to.  It’s a must-have for any one who really likes christian pop-punk!

Genre: Pop-Punk

Christian or Secular?: Christian

Track-listing:

1. The One I’m Waiting For
2. Be My Escape
3. High of 75
4. I So Hate Consequences
5. The Only Thing Worse Than Beating a Dead Horse Is Betting on One
6. My Girl’s Ex-Boyfriend
7. More Than Useless
8. Which to Bury, Us or the Hatchet
9. Let It All Out
10. Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been
11. Maintain Consciousness
12. This Week the Trend
13. Life After Death & Taxes (Failure II)
14. When I Go Down

Price Paid: ($6 – $5 store credit =) $1

“Love is for the Rich” – Surrogate

I heard about this album about 6 months ago and then kind of forgot about it.  I saw it in record time the last time i was in there and made a mental note of it.  I went home then and ruckus’d the album and low and behold i really dug it .  So this time i decided to get it.  I’ve given it a fews spins since then and i am quite impressed.  It’s folk-y acoustic music from the lead singer of Number One Gun.  He said he wanted to try something different and i’d say the album came out really good.  Pretty laid back, and really enjoyable.  Give it a try!

Genre: Folk / Emo

Christian or Secular?: Christian

Track-listing:

1. Shift the Blame
2. 15
3. Talk of the Weather
4. Photographic Memory
5. Death Penalty
6. Problem Solving
7. Easy
8. Papertrail
9. Fix Another
10. Stay Out of the Sun
11. Upside Down Pictures
12. The Fence

Price Paid: $6

Good start to the New year!

Stay tuned for more updates!

Ep. 39 – New this (now last) semester (part 2) – Jan. 6th, 2009

Here’s a few more album i got during the tail end of 2008 that i am just now getting on here… I know, i know… i have no excuse…

“Save me from Myself” – Brian “Head” Welch

I heard about this guy awhile back and downloaded some free tracks from his myspace.  They were ok, but I didn’t really get into them.  A few years later now, he’s come out with an entire album, and I have to say it’s better than his earlier stuff.    Now, you may not know who this guy is, but you have probably heard of his former band: Korn.  Yes, that Korn.  He was there guitarist and he accepted Christ and left the band.  His band-mates were really cool about it.  From the lyrical content of his music I can tell that he has really taken his faith serious and matured greatly.  It’s really encouraging to see.  The album, though not the best I’ve ever heard, is not bad at all.  It still reflects that eerie quality that Korn was famous for, but the album features a great addition: HOPE.  Not a bad venture from mister Head.  Not bad at all.

Genre: Metal / Rap Rock / Industrial
Christian or Secular?: Christian

Track-listing:
1. L.O.V.E.
2. Flush
3. Loyalty
4. Re-Bel
5. Home
6. Save Me From Myself
7. Die Religion Die
8. Adonai
9. Money
10. Shake
11. Washed By Blood

Price Paid: $14.30

“Doubt becomes the new addiction” – Flee the Seen

I got this when I came home for thanksgiving weekend.  I went in record time and found this in the clearance section.  I listened to it in the store and decided to go for it.  I really like it now that I’ve had a chance to listen to it for a while.  I’m am usually skeptical of female fronted rock bands, but I have to say these guys (and girl ) are one of the best I’ve heard so far; and the best I’ve heard in their genre I think.  It’s very scene hardcore / emo-core but not annoying.  I like the album a lot.  Lyrically they tackle some pretty good issues; the one that sticks out in my mind is the fact that our culture is so obsessed with the self, and so consumer focused. (Track: “Right before you Disappear”)  Some pretty good writing lyrically as well, sighting the same song as an example, check out some of the lyrics:

“Prioritize the purchases
Fist clench the receipts that
Keep you accountable
That make your life make sense, to make cents
I have this so I am this”

I have to say, I picked a pretty good one for never having heard these guys before.  Well worth it.

Genre: Scene / Hardcore / Emo-core
Christian or Secular?: Christian
Track-listing:
1. Celebrate the Static
2. Wardrobe Full of Fiction
3. Do You Think Dallas Is Still in the Slammer
4. I’ll Be Back on Sunday
5. November 5th
6. Wire Tap Out
7. Broken Thoughts of Praise
8. Interlude
9. Right Before You Disappear
10. Start the End Again
11. 300 Voices at Liberty Hall

Price Paid: $2

“45 Days” – Demon Hunter

This is a new 2 DVD 1 CD box-set from one of my favorite metal bands; Demon Hunter.  The first DVD is a film about Demon Hunter; it’s an artistic documentary about them touring and their fans and such.  It’s really cool.  The second DVD is a live concert and the CD is the original music from the film.  A good set all in all, recommended for the serious Demon Hunter fan.

Genre: Metal
Christian or Secular?: Christian
CD Track-listing:

1. “Closing In” – 2:21
2. “Turn Loose the Hounds” – 4:08
3. “Ours Alone” – 6:35
4. “The Deep” – 2:00
5. “Dust and Smoke” – 3:21
6. “Purified In The Storm” – 7:03
7. “The Scars We Don’t See” 2:48
8. “Perseverance” 7:23
9. “Fading Away (Acoustic Version)” – 4:18
10. “Carry Me Down (Piano Version)” – 4:35

Price Paid: $28.99

“Dial M” – Starflyer 59

Jason Martin never dissapoints.  Seriously, I know i’ve said it before but it’s true.  His newest release, “Dial M,” has been well worth the wait since “My Island” which I got a couple years ago.  There is not a single song on Dial M that is bad.  Jason’s sound continues to evolve and it seems that everything he puts his hand to turns to gold.  This album takes a somewhat new direction but still delivers a great sound.  It’s a very hard to describe sound, but trust me, it’s good…  If you’ve never given Starflyer 59 a listen before, this would not be a bad album to start with as long as you understand that no two sf59 albums are alike.  Give it a try, seriously.  You can get a taste of the sound over at his myspace.  Then buy the album.

Genre: Indie Rock
Christian or Secular?: Christian
Track-listing:

1. “Minor Keys”
2. “The Brightest Of The Head”
3. “Concentrate”
4. “Who Said It’s Easy?”
5. “M23″
6. “Taxi”
7. “Automatic”
8. “Altercation”
9. “Mr. Martin”
10. “I Love You Like The Little Bird”

Price Paid: $10 (I think, I can’t quite remember, I bought it new at Record Time thankgiving weekend.)

So their you have it, a few more of my final aquisitions of 2008, if i think of anymore i’ll be sure to post them…