Walking Wounded

I was going to title this best albums of 2007 but decided that no one can really say that. All you can do is say what your favorites are. So here are my top 12.

12. Good Charlotte – Good Morning Revival

This album was a complete surprise for me. I’ve never been much of a fan of Good Charlotte and am hesitant with pop-punk music. Typically there songs are pretty boring and geared towards the “teenie bopper punk rockers” (what has the world come to that such a thing exists). However they stepped it up with this album and put something together worth listening too. I kept finding myself wanting to go back to this album and listen through it again. There are a couple songs I can’t stand like “Keep you Hands Off my Girl” but I simply always skip them and don’t notice them. There are 15 tracks so I can stand a couple I don’t like.

11. The Fold – Secrets Keep You Sick

The Folds first release had a few tracks that I loved and always fit well in homemade compilations. They have an energetic, lively sound with a lot of indie rock roots. However, the rest of the album got boring and I could never actually make it through the whole things. With there release this year they kept there same energy and unique sound but did a few things musically throughout to keep the album fresh beginning to end. I also connected with the lyrics on this album which helped draw me in more.

10. MXPX – Secret Weapon

I’ve been a fan of MXPX a long time. They are the reason I love punk so much. Teenage Politics was one of the first albums I ever bought way back in 1996. Since then, MXPX has tried all sorts of things stylistically. Some good and some bad. A lot of people say they kept leaving there roots. I would say Secret Weapon is almost the best of MXPXs sound over the years. This is album is catchy and a blast to sing along to (which is a main reason I listen to mxpx). I hope they continue in the direction of this album for the future.

9. Ivory – Ivory EP

Very few people have heard of Ivory. They are small band from Wisconsin that I found out about through Purevolume. I heard two singles off this EP and they made me melt. They have an ambient light rock sound with very light airy vocals. One of my favorite things about Ivory though is there vocals. They really capture emotion in there music. This was the first album I ever bought off of itunes (because it came without drm and a higher bit rate). Ivory has now changed every member except it’s singer and I’m not as big of a fan of there newer sound but I hope they can get back to the magic they captured in the first EP.

8. The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour

I was shocked to find out that the Weakerthans were putting out another album after a long hiatus. I’ve always loved there music. They unique form of coffee shop rock music with lyrics that are very poetic. I love their lyrics because they use very descriptive words and have a way of painting a picture with words that I never seen another band do. This album is just as grand as there first ones.

7. The Starting Line – Direction

The Starting Line started out as your typical broken hearted punk rock band. I liked them from the beginning because of their great lyrics and though not original, very solid sound. They have since then matured and evolved into a very talented and original band that has developed unique style of there own. I’m excited to see how they continue to grow musically because it seams they are no where near done yet.

6. Relient K – 5 score and 7 years ago

I actually don’t like the fact that I like Relient K so much. Why? Because every Christian who likes rock or punk seems to love Relient K (well those around my age). Well, it just so happens that they are good enough to deserve such a following. I did not think that Relient K could top Mmm Hmm, but this record came close if not actually accomplishing the task. I’m surprised they keep making there sound fresh, but I hope they can keep it up because I love it.

5. Jimmy Eat World – Chase This Light

Jimmy Eat World is my favorite band. I’ve been listening to them since Static Prevails Came out. I already wrote a review of this album so you know how much I like it. I was sure this would be my favorite album of the year but it didn’t stand the test of time. It is still an amazing album and I love it but it doesn’t have the replayablity of their previous albums and that’s why it’s only number five.

4. Angels and Airwaves – I Empire

I was sad to see Blink 182 break up but the result was two bands that are both better than Blink in my opinion. The drummer and bassist/singer went to +44 and the guitarist/singer started Angels and Airwaves. AA took U2′s electric echo sound and ran with it. It is the defining sound of their music. I can’t stop listening to this one. It is great car music too. This album stays interesting all the way through. Vocally, lyrically, musically all shine on this album.

3. Dashboard Confessional – In the Shade of Poison Trees

It may come as a surprise that I put DC at number 3 if you read my review of that album. However, this album stood the test of time and I liked it better on my 20th listen than I did to my 10th. I started to connect with the lyrics and really appreciate them. I began to love singing along to this album and notice how amazing the song witting is. I love this return to acoustic centered music from DC and I hope it stays this way.

2. Chevelle – Vena Sera

I think what bumped Chevelle up to the number two spot was the fact that I saw them in concert this year and they were amazing. They are rank as one of the best live performances I’ve ever seen. Chevelle has become quite popular on the radio over the past couple years and it’s well deserved. They have a great combination of melodic vocals mixed with driving rythmatic guitar and just the right amount of raw vocals.

1. Paramore – Riot!

Finally! It’s band with a woman lead vocalist that really rocks! Most of the time these “chick punk rock bands” are really bad. They don’t have talent, the girl can’t really sing, and people only like them because of the rarity of having a female up front. I heard their radio and loved it but was scared the album would be very repetitious. I was very surprised to find that the band branches out into many different genres of rock and that they pull it off very well. I wasn’t expecting this to become my number 1 album of the year but once I pitted it against all the others it came out on top.

First off, I’ll start with the bad news. The kitty is gone. She ran away one day when I wasn’t home. She was beginning to get accustom to the outside (but only under my supervision) so I’m guessing she must have sneaked out the door when someone opened it at some point during the day. I looked for her that day and then that night. The next day I combed the woods behind my house the best I could (They are quite overgrown now) but there was no sign of her. I put up fliers and kept searching but no luck. It’s been about a month now so I’ve given up hope.

In better news, and an unusual sequence of events, I now have a new roommate Gary. He’s in my small group and needed a place to go. The unusual part is that Gary was allergic to the cat and wasn’t going to move in. But with the cat disappearance everything worked out in that respect.

I’m still loving my church. It officially feels like home now. I’m still getting to know new people, while growing closer to those in my small group. I’ve been really blessed by the new friendships that have developed there. I’m still playing bass in the band as a fill in until the end of the month which I still having a blast with. I’m not sure how much I’ll be needed in the future but I hope I can be frequently involved.

In the topic of music I’ve really gotten back into the music writing swing of things. I recorded the one song that I wrote a while ago and have been writing new songs. I really hope I find the time to record them too.

Thanksgiving was a blast. I headed up to Atlanta to spend it with my extended family. I stayed with my Aunt Laura whom I love. I got to enjoy her cats in mines absence. For Thanksgiving I counted, I believe, 27 family members. That’s impressive! Now, I get to go back next week for Christmas, which I’m psyched about. I’ll get to spend twice as much time there as Thanksgiving. I can’t wait.
There isn’t much more to update on that isn’t too personal to blog about. If I could go there then I would be blogging everyday.

I did want to comment on my song. I wonder if people get the lyrics. I mean, it’s about giving up. What’s that about? Well, it’s not meant to be a motivational song in a direct sense. That song represents a way I’ve strongly felt before and still can feel at times. It’s not a suggested way to live, in fact it’s a peek into my brokenness. I hope people can relate to feeling like life is too much and wanting to give up. It’s actually the third song in a series of about 7 songs I wrote that all link together going through a couple years of my life. Just Breathe is the first of those. Maybe when I record the rest it’ll be better to get a sense of the whole picture.

I doubt I’ll have another update this year because I’ll be to busy. Possibly one this week if I find the time. So, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

That’s right. Three years later and I finally record another song. Check it out HERE. It’s a song I wrote about 2 years ago and it’s about things I felt about 4 years ago. The song has undergone many changes from when I originally wrote it though. But that’s not unusual for me. I wouldn’t call the current version I have up finished. I’m still in process of tweaking it, and may rerecord it all together. But I thought people would enjoy hearing it and I have been dying to post it so there it is.

I borrowed about all of Russ’ recording equipment and did everything on my own. This has been a HUGE learning experience for me. I’ve learned a lot of the dos and don’ts of music recording. There things I didn’t fix early on and they kind of bit me in the butt later. I’ve also picked up on a lot of tricks to make things sounds better and more uniform. Russ has been a great aid in this also.

I’m siked to be recording again. It has been a blast. Though, a lot more hard work than I actually expected. But I still love it. I would say expect more soon but I need to give Russ his stuff back. Don’t worry though (I don’t you were), as soon as I have the funds I’m going to pick up some of my own stuff. I plan to be recording again early next year. Hopefully as I go I’ll keep getting better at song writing and recording and begin to produce some really nice music. So, let me know what you think thus far.

P.S. December life update coming this week.