I’ve been the recipient of many book reviews recently. Several of my Christian friends have recommended books like, Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2, or Body Piercing Saved my Life, etc. These books good reads for anyone who’s grown up in the Christo-american culture. Their blunt observations can be eye opening and refreshing at the same time. However…
As a rule, I tend to distrust anyone who says they are a Christian. I know some of my reading audience will gasp at that statement; please read more. I haven’t come to this idea lightly, it’s been in development for most of my life. First, some background…
I grew up in a Christian household where my parents raised us on Christian values and by matter of course ended up interacting heavily with the Christo-american subculture back in the 80’s. You know, those big televangelists (literally) and their big-haired wives. Yeah, we watched ‘em every once in a while. You know, those T-shirts with clever (read cheesy) phrases that were supposed to bring sinners to their knees. Yeah, wore ‘em. You know, those Sunday School classes that painted life outside the church as evil and terrifying–just set foot in that den of the devil and you will ignite into flames! Yup, bought into it. My friends were those who attended church with me. I wouldn’t want to be caught talking to an ungodly sodomite when Jesus comes back, right?
This past Sunday, a band I help lead put together our own interpretation of the U2 song Grace. I was suprised how unknown that song seems to be (at least among the crowd we played for). I’d recommend you check it out on iTunes.
Anyway, Jeff Kirk played the skins, Scott Bivins grinded his smooth and crunchy axe, and Russ goosed us with his luscious bass. I did the fluff and vocal. :-) Oh, and Tim Bechtel did the live mixing and threw in the delay effects on my vox. I really dig it!
Let us know what you think!
Saw this on the NPR website. What do you do with a guy who shows off his graffiti talent by cleaning dirty surfaces? Yes, someone has decided to merge the art of coverup with the art of cleanup. Authorities don’t quite know what to do with him. Personally, I think it’s a nifty idea.
View the article (with audio interview) here (npr.org).
This is my first in a series of “songs written in a day” and the first of many more demo/scratch songs that I plan to post here. Click the play arrow above to hear it.
I wrote this thing yesterday. Yes, the whole thing in one day. Melodies, parts, lyrics, mix. So when commenting keep that in mind. :-) I played all the parts and programmed the drums from my favorite drum module, Stylus RMX.
Give me your opinion. I’m going to post my scratch musical ideas here because I want to gauge people’s reaction. It’s also a chance for me to force myself to write. I hope to have a new song posted here every other week or so. If I have an audience to offer critiques, I’ll be more likely to crank ideas out, which I hope will improve my writing each time. Enjoy!
chalk and blacktop where the children learn to fight for attention
choose your own adventure and hope you don’t deserve a detention
chutes and ladders, rung by rung
climb or fall it always comes undoneyou’ve still got nothing to prove
executive suites where they meet and sleep with the highest bidder
studs in white shirts on alert for anyone who pays better
playing with the bigger boys
gives the illusion of a wider choiceyou’ve still got nothing to prove
i see a man with his face in the sand
kissing up in the hope that his
life is getting better as he struggles to the top
of the food chain where he hopes to coast the whole way homeclimb or fall it always comes undone
you’ve still got nothing to prove