The wave of the future

The intelligent future of this country was packed into a theatre last night to hear Incubus (for those offended - the word was found by Mike (guitarist) when he was 14 in a thesauruses - linked to this definition:  "An oppressive or nightmarish burden."  - the way the 14 and 15 year old members felt about the future of society at the time of the bands conception...)

Anways....The intelligent future of this country was packed into a theatre last night to hear incubus promote love, individual thought and opinion, encouragement for others, anti war, ect... messages. 

In short, these people are the enlightened ones.  Those around me.  They can listen to music that has a deeper meaning than simply boy likes girl, girl won’t call boy, boy throws fit and...IHATEeveryonethatdoesn'tHATEveryonewithme.

People stand out in the cold for 4 hours and as a reward get spots at the front of the stage.

People stand in line for five minutes...and then decide to rush the stage in between the opening band and Incubus.

 I was with the crowd that stood in line for only a few minutes.  The view was good.  The sound - amazing.

But I felt sorry for those ahead of us.  When you take an already full room, and suddenly have the back people rush the front so much that it clears up half the floor space...you get several people trying desperately to escape - some of them being carried out. 

The future of the nation doesn't seem like all it claims to be.  Love and Peace are screamed to the rooftop - but if I'm not closer than you to scream it...let me spill my beer and throw a few punches trying to be. 

To cry or laugh.  The question.    

Dig

My pick from the top five fan music videos submitted to the bad incubus for their newest single "Dig".

We all have a weakness
But some of ours are easier to identify.
Look me in the eye
And ask for forgiveness;
We'll make a pact to never speak that word again
Yes you are my friend.
We all have something that digs at us,
At least we dig each other
So when weakness turns my ego up
I know you'll count on the me from yesterday
If I turn into another
Dig me up from under what is covering
The better part of me
Sing this song
Remind me that we'll always have each other
When everything else is gone.
We all have a sickness
That cleverly attaches and multiplies
No matter how hard we try.
We all have someone that digs at us,
At least we dig each other
So when sickness turns my ego up
I know you'll act as a clever medicine.
If I turn into another
Dig me up from under what is covering
The better part of me.
Sing this song!
Remind me that we'll always have each other
When everything else is gone.
Oh each other....
When everything
Else is gone.

Insomixtry 01197

~Insomixtry~

Didn’t have much time to find newer music this last month.  This is a collection of music I already had.  Pretty eclectic, but not much to appease the harder rock fan.  I’ve been on a huge postrock binge, so I’m going to post a postrock Insomixtry here within the next couple days.  As always, I haven’t looked up any of the lyrics.  I think the only one of the group that claims Christianity is Psalters.  If you know some good underground Christian artists please let me know!    

P.S.  I DID spend some time today getting some newer stuff…and it’s amazing.  I will include it on the next Insomixtry.    

Instructions: 

1)  Follow the link to Insomixtry 2 (part a).

2)  At the bottom center/right there is a countdown.  Look over the track lists while it counts down any number of seconds.

3)  Click on the download button that appears after the countdown is finished.  Save it in your music folder.

4)  Once it is downloaded, unzip the files.  Be sure to unzip them into a folder (something like “Amazing Mixtape 1”

5)  Highlight the tracks and select them to play in your default media player. 

6)  Be sure the tracks are in numerical order (01, 02, 03, ect…)  I spent a few minutes putting them in that arrangement for a reason. 

7)  Repeat the process for the link to Insomixtry 2 (part b).  Unzip in the same folder as (part a).

8)  If your ears need a break – The mood halfway point is “Azure Ray - November” That is also where (part b) starts. 

Insomixtry 2 (part a)

http://www.4shared.com/file/9153719/caf116af/Insomixtry_2.html

Insomixtry 2 (part b) 

http://www.4shared.com/file/9155402/63151fe3/Insomixtry_2b.html

(Track name – Band name) 

1.  Get Me Down – Psalters

2.  History Song – The Good, the Bad, and the Queen

3.  I am John – Loney, Dear

4.  She Had a Dream – Elanors

5.  Some Kind of Chill – Arizona

6.  Everyone’s a Winner – The Meligrove Band

7.  We Haven’t Turned Around – Gomez

8.  Dynamite Mine – Murder by Death

9.  Bowie 4 – Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground

10.  November – Azure Ray

11.  Let Up – Now it’s Overhead

12.  Tearing Up the Oxygen – Maritime

13.  Spanish Bride – Panda Band

14.  Hitchhiker – Teitur

15.  Bleary Eyed – Annuals

16.  Swimming Eyes – Jeniferever

17.  Our Father – Psalter

Google Options for the Adventurous:

“Psalters.org” -- in the media/audio section you can download several of their songs (13 actually) for absolutely free. 

“Explore Faith Radiohead” -- Music isn’t mindless.  Check out this amazing article that explores worldviews and Radiohead’s unique insight on today’s world.  Christian Author. (Direct Link:  http://www.explorefaith.org/music/radiohead.html) 

*BONUS TRACK*  --

http://www.4shared.com/file/9155910/9cd8dcdd/11_Paranoid_Android_-_Sia.html

Paranoid Android – Sia 

I’m a huge lover of Radiohead and any rip off genres/bands.  Sia gives a simple cover that is uniquely haunting in its own right. 

My Quick Takes for those interested: 

1.  Get Me Down – Psalters 

A “tribal” nomadic worship “band”.  Certainly drum driven, hand clapping, group singing focus.  Isn’t afraid to be political.   

2.  History Song – The Good, the Bad, and the Queen 

A return from the last Insomixtry.  Good guitar riff only gets amazing when the rest of the instruments swirl around it. 

3.  I am John – Loney, Dear 

The first minute I deemed cool - if Sufjan.  However, he built the song to a great ending that helped define how he isn’t like everyone else.  

4.  She Had a Dream – Elanors 

Big sound with sudden simplicity and interesting/different chord movement. 

5.  Some Kind of Chill – Arizona 

Another return from my last Insomixtry.  I really like these guys.  I think it’s the melody/vocals more than anything.  Obvious “oldies” influence. 

6.  Everyone’s a Winner – The Meligrove Band

Piano bouncy with the normal “alt” vocals that current radio loves.  Good groove.  Some nice creative add ins and 2^nd vocal lines. 

7.  We Haven’t Turned Around – Gomez 

Strings are one of the keys to my music heart.    I love “chill” music that actually goes places.  You decide if it does. 

8.  Dynamite Mine – Murder by Death 

MbD = “old west” somehow.  See to believe.  Great musical composition leads to a great song – if somewhat depressing. 

9.  Bowie 4 – Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground

Orchestration with a groove.  Different but somehow almost too pop.  Jaw harp.  Pretend that’s “high” – like flying. 

10.  November – Azure Ray

Hauntingly beautiful.  Yes.  Strings could be a theme in this Insomixtry.    (Love the harmonies btw).   

11.  Let Up – Now it’s Overhead 

Amazing song and one of my Fav. on the list.  Vocals remind me of Burlap to Cashmere.  Great mix of electronic and acoustic percussion. 

12.  Tearing Up the Oxygen – Maritime

Good rock with a faint electronic feel (at least compared to the rest of my selection this mix).

13.  Spanish Bride – Panda Band

Obvious influence of modest mouse, but a wide range of instrumentation and a few complex layers keeps them interesting.

14.  Hitchhiker – Teitur

Many think this should be Zach Braffs newfound joy.  Musically I love this song.  Lyrically I can only say…what? 

15.  Bleary Eyed – Annuals

Seemingly normal acoustic song quickly merges into something not fully expected.  Synth lines with a taste of postal service and emo vocs. 

16.  Swimming Eyes – Jeniferever 

Electronic and atmospheric.  Female Vocs that fulfill the mood.  Best with Headphones on a rainy day. 

17.  Our Father – Psalter

Psalters version of the Lords Prayer.  Don’t you dare leave this track until at least giving the drum intro a chance.   

Have a good one everyone. 

Things for contemplation

So yeah.  Insomixtry is a little bit behind.  I have everything together, I just need to zip the tracks and upload them.  Haven't even had much time to do that...so...yeah.  Since everyone (ha ha ha) has waited so patiently I’m also going to do a *special edition* postrock mix.  Postrock is music that doesn’t have singing with it…but tends to be very emotional.  You will love it.  I promise.   

 I'm sharing at YouthGroup this evening.  I really have so much on my heart that I don't fully know what I'm going to say.  I have a fairly rough outline, but hopefully I don’t overrun them.  The burden I get when at youth group for these guys is strong - really strong.  And not just them - but everyone like them.  I want to get up and shout...plead...I just feel like I'm going to explode.  Of course that isn't wisdom (fully).  There is a place for passion...but I'm so afraid that I would be speaking out of 1) hypocrisy and 2) judgment I just do what everyone else does.  I’m sure fear of man is also in there somewhere. 

What is really hard is distinguishing the difference in a burden and judgment.  Sound funny?  It is.  One thing I have been learning is to stay far away from judgment.  We all start at fallen.  None of us can move past that without God's grace.  Fallen is fallen...and to judge someone else for being fallen you merely judge another aspect of yourself.  In essence...you become what you judge.  Don't believe me?  Eh...start watching.  Everything from "I'm never going to discipline my kids this way when I'm a parent" to "I would never be an alcoholic..." proves my position in my experience.  Judge not lest you be judged has more weight than I first thought.  I have more on this topic...but I'm tired and kind of just rambling so lets move on.  Leave me a message if you want some more thoughts on this topic.

 So yeah.  Read some more out of "Knowledge of the Holy" by Tozer.  Good stuff...but I also found randomly on our bookshelf "Foxes Book of English Martyrs" I started reading it in the middle.  Really interesting and challenging.  It’s amazing what these guys (and women) went through merely to read the bible.  I wonder if that sacrifice was made more apparent if people would put more weight on the importance of the Word.  Like Braveheart...do people that watch that movie recognize the value of freedom more because they witnessed what one person did for its sake?  Braveheart is child stuff compared to these martyrs.  I didn't know people lived through stake burning...even unto being legless and armless. 

Would I know what to say if I was on trial for my faith?  Would I keep my wits while being burned?  The even more amazing thing is the number of people that recanted their beliefs (mostly 'confession doesn't need a priest' and 'the bread isn't physically Jesus') in the middle of strong torture (I.E. Rack - dismemberment) only to have the recant weigh so strongly on their conscience that a few months later they would renounce and say they were wrong to forsake the Truth and recant in the first place, knowing full well (because they experienced it) what still waited for them...torture and death. 

I was glad I found the book.  Tales build courage and tales such as these build faith.  Especially in a time where devotion to a faith looks more like a Christian T-shirt and prayer over a cup of starbucks than singing songs of praise and forgiveness while your charred right arm falls off. 

In other news I am almost done with my first compilation.  I let the Scotts and a few others listen to it and they really were challenged.  So after one minor change I will be ready to make it available.  What is a compilation you ask?  This one is a sermon by Paul Washer.  I edited the sermon from about 1hr and 15 minutes down to 50 minutes.  I then added various music tracks under his sermon that helped propel the “intensity” if you will.  A lot like revival hymn...though only one preacher.  The sermon really challenged me, though theologically I hardly ever agree with every statement someone makes.  *grin* I think it’s really applicable to today’s Christianity.

I didn't want to go to school this semester.  But I am in the morning.  I wanted to be free...my heart wants to go places.  I don’t know where...but if something pops up I want to grab it.  I think school will tie me down.  But after much prayer - I need some discipline in my life.  I'm floating at the moment.  I have so many different thing that I can’t tell which way is up or down.  yay...so I'm a nebulous floater.  I've had some prophesies really confirm this, and encourage me that the end will happen.  I look forward to when I can get a hold of a clear vision for my future.  Until then God reigns.  May I still be a living example of his Glory...eh?  It is weird though.  I know whatever I decide to do I will do fine.  I could pretty much do anything...not to be arrogant.  But I can’t decide.  So I do nothing.  And nothing isn't good.  So school for now.

I just realized this is really long.  Sorry about that.  Tend to ramble at this time of night.  I got to look at some notes for the upcoming youth group meeting.  May the spirit speak through me...not myself speak through me. 

Cya round web land.   

Been busy.

This months mix will be up within the next week...for those of you who actually care.

God bless. 

Insom.