one sentence allowed

Herro there. Chilling here in bed with some coffee and such on a sick day. Not complaining really.

In case you guys hadn't noticed...I kinda like music. A lot. I'm always craving new music, whether it's something that would be made in 3271 or in 1877. My iTunes library would be the Amazon jungle if it were a tree. (Bad analogy...)

my life, in a nutshell 

So here are probably my 12 favorite albums, ever. (No particular order, blah blah blah) 
The challenge? To describe why I love this album in one, non run-on sentence. Here we go. 

1. Coldplay- "A Rush of Blood to the Head" 

Why I like it: This is the classic Coldplay sound, imo.

Tracks worth hearing: "Amsterdam", "A Rush of Blood to the Head" 

2. Mew- "And the Glass Handed Kites" 

 Why I like it: Art/Scandinavian rock at it's best, and this is a flawless, cohesive album.

Tracks worth hearing: "Special" "Zookeeper's Boy" "Louise Louisa" 

3. Paper Route- "Absence" 

Why I like it: Too underrated... perfect balance of all kinds of elements: tonal/instrumental, vocals, good beats, well executed electronics.

Tracks worth hearing: "Dance On Our Graves" "Gutter" "Are We all Forgotten"

4. Arcade Fire- "The Suburbs" 

Why I like it: It's a beautiful/creative telling of the tales and pains of getting older, and this is such a good album...all songs flow together, and none resemble the others.

Tracks worth hearing: "Sprawl ii" "Rococo" "Half Light I" 

5. The National- "High Violet" 

 Why I like it: This album is peacefully calming and kinda disturbing all at once..and they're vibe is so unique.

Tracks worth hearing: "Conversation 16", "Afraid of Everyone" "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks" 

6. Animal Collective- "Merriweather Post Pavilion" 

Why I like it: One question- Where's the rave at? This is feel good music, yet an acquired taste..and the album cover is free and endless entertainment.

Tracks worth hearing: "My Girls", "Summertime Clothes" "Brother Sport"

7. Fleet Foxes- "Fleet Foxes" 

 Why I like it: Mountain music ftw! Perfect harmonies, beautiful guitars, and vocals...this is organic music. 

Tracks worth hearing: "White Winter Hymnal", "Meadowlarks", "Blue Ridge Mountains" 

8. Florence + The Machine- "Lungs" 

Why I like it: This girl is art with a powerhouse voice on legs. A true artist..I mean, she makes the harp sound modern in an age of electronic music. 

Tracks worth hearing: "Cosmic Love", "Drumming", "You've Got the Love" 

9. elbow- "The Seldom Seen Kid"

Why I like it: Elbow is proof that some of the best music is made in the UK..Guy Harvey's voice is to die for, and this album has one the best first/last track combinations ever. 

Tracks worth hearing: "Starlings", "Friend of Ours", "Grounds for Divorce" 

10. Local Natives- "Gorilla Manor" 

 Why I like it: VERY impressive for a first album... these guys are talented in all aspects.

Tracks worth hearing: "Wide Eyes", "Sun Hands", "Cards and Quarters" 

11. cults- "cults"

 Why I like it: This motown inspired group sounds both new and vintage...this album grew on me fast- SO CATCHY. 

Tracks worth hearing: "Go Outside", "Oh My God" "Abducted"

12. Switchfoot- "Nothing is Sound" 

 Why I like this: This album is PERFECT- unmatched lyrical prowess, seamless flow, a message that asks us all to question the how and the whys of life on this planet..and these boys forever have my heart. Thank you Switchfoot.

Tracks worth hearing: "The Blues", "Daisy", "The Shadow Proves the Sunshine" 

Til next time...this was fun yo.

daisy, let it go.

I go out for walks quite often now, especially now since summer is over and the air is cooler and has a quality about it...I don't have a word for it. It's late, forgive me.
 

When I have the privilege to enjoy it, 4 am is my favorite time of day. I have the whole world to myself. It's late enough that I'm at peace with the fact that yesterday is gone and there's the anticipation of whatever tomorrow has right on the horizon. It's beautiful. I actually went out for a walk some days ago around this time because I simply couldn't sleep and I needed to clear my head. I needed to try and make sense of this. Why this earth is still intact, why the rights are now wrongs, why humanity fails to make good use of their power, why, why, why. I couldn't make sense of why millions are enslaved at this very moment and we choose to only feel sorry and do nothing about it. I couldn't make sense of why an atrocity called famine was happening in the horn of Africa. How can famine exist in a planet filled with abundance? And don't you dare tell me that there isn't abundance. It's there, it's just we've made sufficiency and excess synonymous. I couldn't make sense of why a society that man built and ruined himself couldn't also be fixed by man himself. I am pretty discontented with mankind at the moment. Angry even. I couldn't make sense of why the rich are getting richer and the poorer even poorer. I couldn't make sense of how people who live in $500k homes in suburbia and people who live is slums elsewhere can co-exist on the same planet. It shouldn't happen. (This is why capitalism is a disguised evil, imo. But that's for another day.)

I tried making sense to this all. There is so much wrong with this planet we inhabit and I used to wish that I could just pick up a megaphone and knock some sense into some dumb people with a lot of corporate paid power. But I guess I've realized that before I try to point out all that's wrong with the world I need to look at the person in the mirror first. Maybe I should change. Maybe it's my fault after all. Why do the enslaved remain in such way? Because I haven't gotten up off my couch and done something to organize a rescue mission. Why are there children still dying due to famine? Because I haven't sent money or food etc over there. Why haven't we been able to fix this broken system? Because we don't know what compromise and community mean anymore. Why do children still eat out of dumpsters in slums? Because I haven't done anything to house and feed them myself. The answer to every single malady of this earth is in us! But then again, is there anything really that I can do about it? Is there really something that I can do to change?  Yes. No. Yes. No. Maybe. Maybe this all needs to go from bad to worse before it'll all change. I am eternally grateful that there is hope in JESUS. Oh my goodness yes. Everyday I anticipate his coming even more. I cannot wait to be on the other side with him. Forever. Where this will all be made whole. Where I will be made whole. I am so glad I don't belong here.

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot makes a lot of use of the term entropy in his writing. I used to be terrified of the idea of this planet being in a continual state of decay and evolving chaos but now it is the most comforting thing. Until then, I'll do my best to do my part. If I don't, then I will have failed at everything in life. But if I know I can do something but don't...God forbid. Life is still for living. Do everything you can. Love your neighbor as yourself. And trust me...from what I see, there are a tonnnn of self loving people out there. Somewhere in me I still believe we can do good. I want to set this world on fire. I want to see things change.

I'll leave you on this final note. The chorus from Switchfoot's "Daisy"

"Let it go
Daisy, Let it go
Open up your fist
This fallen world
Doesn't hold your interest
It doesn't hold your soul
Daisy, let it go" 

Let it go. 

P.S. I'm sorry if this blog makes no sense. I swear everything I say only makes sense in my head. Oops.