In This Moment I Am ...

Listening to: Johnny Cash's American V online (wow) & Chris plucking out downhere's "Reconcile" in the background
Feeling: Sweaty (just moved in the rest of the chairs to our sanctuary - bye bye pews)
Drinking: day-old ice tea
Wishing: I had a freezie in my hand & that I was in a pool
Considering: Seeing a movie tonight, but leaning towards playing tennis or going to the driving range
Thinking: I've got a lot of work to get done in the next 36 hours ...


Watched Kingdom of Heaven this morning (yes, this morning. I decided to heed my wife's threat and stay at home for a bit before I went to work). It's the second time I've viewed it and I want to watch again in the near future. There's a lot to mull on in the movie regarding peace/tolerance/co-existence of differing beliefs, determining the will of God, (just/right) war, etc.
Though I thoroughly appreciated the tasteful and well-done picture of the Crusades-era, I can't equate peace with tolerance. I've said it before, tolerance is the secularization of peace. Tolerance is saying, "I won't fight with you over our unbridgable differences." Peace is saying, "Let's live in harmony with one another because we live under the same God." Peace - the peace we read of and are promised in the Good Word - can only be achieved through co-existence under the one true God. Call me a bigot, religious fanatic, whatever. I 100% believe that tolerance that promotes non-violence is fantastic, but it is only a step towards the true peace that we all seek. Don't compromise for tolerance if it means giving up on the promise of peace.

Just some thoughts.
Grace & Peace.

The Abbotsford Canuck: Brad Moran

Finally, something that is not music related. This week the Canucks signed Brad Moran to a deal. Not only is the guy from Abbotsford, he went to the same elementary school as me in Mt. Lehman. I don't remember much about the guy, except I think when I was grade 3-4 he landed on me in a soccer game and I recieved an awesome denim burn on my cheek. I knew his brother Mike better who was a year older than me. It would be pretty cool to see this farmer boy who grew up in Bradner play a little hockey at GM Place!

OK ... there is work to be done ...

Free Download of Sleeping at Last

The music keeps coming! Thanks to Infuze, Sleeping at Last just jumped on my radar and it's love at first sight! MySpace has a few tracks (notice the rad vocals and sound similar to Radiohead), but I found a couple downloads @ this dude's blog. These boys are going to be huge some day!

Cheers.

Free Download of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

OK, this is not a new song nor is it Christian, but "Ain't No Easy Way" was one of my top 5 fav's of last year. I found it free @ Hybrid Magazine last night. If you haven't listened to it yet, check it out! It has that neo-southern "Jonny Cash is my hero" rockin' style.

Toodles.

Album Review: Downhere "Wide-Eyed & Mystified"

Repeat these words after me: "IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!" Downhere rises like a phoenix and crafts which is arguably their best album yet. Was it worth the wait? No. I hate waiting, especially for these BBC boys. When will Downhere finally get its mass appeal due?!

Pros: The cream of the crop for me is that Marc and Jason are back sharing vocal duties. I don't know who's idea it was the last time around (I'm taking a guess, but I'll blame their label Word), but they seriously cut back on Jason's vocal duty. Not cool. But all is now well! "Remember Me" stands out, not for the music or the lyrics, but for the vocals - more of that below. Other tracks include the 'un-Downhere' "1000 Miles" which seems to be taking a page out of Jack Johnson's play book. Rocking tunes like "Miss You Here" and "The More" will also be repeated often.

Cons: I say that this is "arguably their best album yet" because I was so much a fan of their music prior to being signed. I think for the most part Downhere has left their folksy-college rock behind them and that makes me sad. I don't know if there will ever be another "Calmer of the Storm" (and that's OK because they are probably sick of playing the song). Musically these guys won't take you anywhere new and the lyrics aren't anything you haven't heard before. It won't challenge your intellect and you may end up skipping a few songs in the middle like I do (such as "Little is Much", "Forgive Yourself" and "Unbelievable").

Defining Moment: The seven (?) notes Marc hits in the chorus of "Remember Me" makes the CD alone worth buying. I'm not kidding you. Listen to what he does and then try to repeat it. Christian Music Today was no fool for crowning him top male vocalist back in 2003.

Stars: *** & a half (out of five)

Links:
MySpace
Official Site (click the "Buy Now" link and you will be led to a site where you can download three of the of the tracks as MP3's! That's right: free music!)

Reviews:
Christianity Today
Jesus Freak Hideout

Album Review: Red Umbrella "Wishing For Boardwalk"

An outstanding debut album from some Canadian boys who sound like they are seasoned pros. This definitely doesn't have the feel of a rookie album. It's original, it's catchy, and it's probably worth your dollar. I can't wait to see and hear this band develop into greatness.

Pros: A believable vintage British sound which sets the ground work for three standout tracks, "Storm Warning", "Straitjacket", and "Home". These three songs can be found on their MySpace site and were rotated endlessly on my computer until I finally succumbed to temptation and bought the album. They are not afraid to talk about their faith, which comes through their music in a non-preachy sort of way (the rest of the CCM genre please take note!)

Cons: I'm having a hard time enjoying the album beyond the three songs mentioned above, but I'm getting there. The signature sound which is so well developed on the first bit of the album seems to be lost and muddled by the end as every song begins to sound the same. A few tracks - no matter how much of a chance I give them - get downright annoying (case in point, "Already Won"). I'm not usually one to endorse downloading just a few tracks instead of the whole album, but in this case I wouldn't put up a fight.

Defining Moment: The humor of 7Spin Music is right on. Read the small print on the back of the case and you will find written permission to give your friends tracks 4 and 6 and a biblical warning (Ecc 12:13). Not too mention the CD also came with a guitar pick and the liner notes fold out to be a signed poster from the band!

Stars: *** (out of five)

Links:
MySpace
Official Site

Reviews:
Jesus Freak Hideout
Christianity Today

Album Review: The Elms "Chess Hotel"

I call it rowdy & dirty American rock. Marie hates it (she thinks they only play 2 chords per song). Chris calls it "80's butt rock". I think it's best stuff out of the three albums I bought last week.

Pros: It's straight up rambuctious rock. Nothing else but gritty, raw, infectious rock 'n roll that makes you want to crank up the volume. The instruments are tight, the vocals fit the bill, but most notable are the sweet guitar solos. Killer tracks would include "She's Cold!", "The Towers & the Trains", "I've Been Wrong" and "Nothin' to do with Love". In fact, there's not a song I don't skip. It's a musically solid album from start to finish from a band who must be good at what they do (they were picked up by Universal after being on a Christian label for a couple albums).

Cons: It's hard to relate to any of the lyrics. They seem to be written about someone else's life. Though they thank God in the liner notes and support initiatives such as World Vision and Blood Water: Mission, there isn't a whole lot of spirituality on the album. There is a reference to playing drums in the "church house", praying, crying at the altar and the second verse of "The Way I Will" could be addressed to God, but that's it.

Defining Moment: The chorus on "She's Cold!" It's so catchy and was the clincher for purchasing the album (well, it also helped that I found it for $9.99 @ HMV).

Stars: **** (out of five)

Links:
MySpace (Scroll for a download & some brief reviews)
Official Site

Reviews: (Just to prove to you my high rating isn't without good company! In fact, try to find a bad review of this CD - outside of my family of course!)
Jesus Freak Hideout
Hybrid Magazine
Hollywood Jesus
Phantom Tollbooth
Christianity Today
All Music

Radar Alert: Spur58 & House of Heroes

Looking backwards, showcasing music seems to be a reoccuring theme early on here in my blog. Here's another dose! I caught a blurb on Spur58 @ JFH this morning. I swung over to their MySpace and found a pretty sweet download. Their music is similar to Starfield. I like the new arrangements on the old pieces. I tend to cynical and nit-picky when it comes to the worship genre, but musically this is OK. It doesn't take you any where new, but it is done well.
Later on in the evening I was reminded by a band I checked out a while ago, House of Heroes. For some reason they sound better now then this did last year! They also have a free download at their MySpace.

Sidenote: I don't know if it's just me, but I'm using FireFox and when I download a tune from MySpace, it comes out as an unrecognizable file. I just add a .mp3 to the end of the file name and then WinAmp has no problem reading it. I just wanted to throw that out there if anyone else is experiencing the same thing.

Peace.

The Weekend in Review

(Daniel & Renee Derksen)
There was a wedding @ Gardom Lake

(Shawna, Cheyanne, Mike, Danelle, Andrew, & Marie)
There was family

(Gina, Danielle, Bryce, Marie, Danelle, Andrew, Ryan, Chris & Cory)

There was Crazy 8's Countdown

Let's toast to the good times, to roasting marshmallows during a wedding reception, drinking chocolate from a glass, another round of Code, and keeping our conversation to a respectful level. It was a snapshot of heaven.

Grace & Peace.

Free Downloads of Derek Webb Music

I just wanted to mention, if you haven't clicked the "Derek Webb" link to your right, you should because he has posted four songs for download at his MySpace site, three of which are from his last album. Fantastic music. Additionally, his wife (Sandra McCracken) also has a song for download at her MySpace site.

"...don’t teach me how to live like a free man
just give me a new law..."

Cheers.

A Thousand Words

(Sunset @ Pender Island)

Two weeks ago we were there.

(Our new home in Arnold)

Now we are here.

Click on "Our Photo Album" for pictures.
Toodles.

Free Download of New Switchfoot Song

The title says it all. Click here to download "Daylight to Break". At JFH just click on the "Music News" in the upper right-hand corner and follow the links. For some reason, my direct link the page wasn't working :(

Cheers!