sunday happiness*10

I feel tired and cranky and need to clear my head and finish a writing assignment before bed. So hey... let's make a list of happy things. I haven't done one of these in far too long...

1. Surprise belated Christmas cards in the mailbox! I'm cool with extending the party... and I've been really missing the holidays lately. This made me smile. Thanks, Jenipher!
2. Had a great interview with Brandon Heath last week. It's been a while since I've done one so I felt really out of practice, but it went well, and I look forward to sharing it.
3. Cracking the ice of the writer's block, even if slowly. Sure, it's reviews and interviews and random blog bits, but it feels good to put words down again.
4. Developing ideas for this here blog... I'm suddenly excited about writing here again. That's a good thing.
5. Clean laundry. (it's the little things)
6. Finally finding some good, not-so-expensive Asian food/sushi near where I live. Hey, we're moving up in the world.
7. Catching up with a friend that I haven't seen in a while today.
8. Having a couple of quiet weekends before February hits and everything gets crazy again.
9. Finishing my writing assignment and feeling considerably less cranky than I was when I started this list. :)
10. New Decemberists in my CD player. SO good. Arty indie folkiness FTW.

awesome of 2010: 11 favorite albums

Yes, I know... January is almost over and everyone is pretty much over the old year. I should just scrap this last unfinished Awesome of 2010 list. But y'know what? I don't think I can move forward until I make the list for the topic closest to my heart... music! It's never too late to gush on your favorites, right?

Here's the deal: I spend at least 10-12 hours a week in my car.* I work in radio. I write album reviews. And the closest I come to having a compulsive shopping problem is buying cheap albums on Amazon Mp3. I pretty much always have some kind of soundtrack going on. I listen to a LOT of music (probably more than a lot of sane and normal people). So, in honor of 2011, the top 11 2010 albums, according to me.** Please forgive the massive length of this post.

PS: If you care to see my Top 10 List for the Christian market, head on over to the JFH Staff Picks. My list is the fourth one down. A lot of those albums reappear here, but this one includes heathen music.*** :)

11) Florence + The Machine - Lungs
Lindsay introduced me to the video "Dog Days Are Over." It kind of freaked me out and blew my mind all at once. And Lungs was mine immediately. Florence Welch's voice is a stunner, alternating between sweetly melodic and howling with passion, and "The Machine" provides a quirky, genre-bending musical backdrop. Epic. Highlights: Dog Days are Over, Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up), Cosmic Love



10) Brandon Flowers - Flamingo
Bought it on a whim because I like The Killers and the "Crossfire" video has ninjas. It surpassed my expectations. An 80's flavored pop record that blends sweeping aural landscapes with singer-songwriter introspection and storytelling to evoke the loneliness and humanity beneath the lights of Las Vegas. Highlights: Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Hard Enough, Jilted Lovers and Broken Hearts



09) Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
I was new to the magic of Sufjan this year (like "first heard Illinoise in September" new), so I was quite excited to find out there was a new album on the way. And then it was... bizarre. Sufjan ditches the banjos and sad folkiness for electronic experimentation that sounds strange and noisy at first, but reveals beauty in the chaos with repeat listens. Highlights: Too Much, Vesuvius, Impossible Soul



08) Jónsi - Go
If Sigur Rós is what Heaven sounds like (and I'm pretty sure it is), then Jónsi's first solo album is the sound of overflowing life and joy. Quirky, bright, and simply delightful. Highlights: Go Do, Animal Arithmetic, Tornado






07) Anberlin - Dark is the Way, Light is a Place
Um, it's Anberlin. I'm biased, okay? :) New Surrender didn't really do it for me, but Dark reminded me why I loved their music in the first place. A tight, quick-paced album that sounds great and explores the tensions and contrasts in life and love. Or, at the very least, a straight up fun rock record. (Second Opinion JFH Review) Highlights: Impossible, Closer, Pray Tell, Art of War



06) Audrey Assad - The House You're Building
After falling in love with Audrey's Christmas song "Winter Snow," this was one of my more anticipated debut albums in Christian music for 2010, and it didn't disappoint. What sets her apart from most CCM/worship is her poetic, vertical lyrics and understated piano-pop sensibilities. (My JFH Review) Highlights: The House You're Building, Breaking Through, Run Forward



05) Gungor - Beautiful Things/John Mark McMillan - The Medicine (tie!)
This was the year I swallowed my pride about "worship music" and learned that there is more to the genre than repetitive praise choruses and hyper-emotional key changes. Gungor caught me by surprise first -- I signed up to review the record with little knowledge of the band and found something unique and amazing. And John Mark's intense, personal lyrics and gritty, Southern gothic style won me over from the start. (I reviewed Gungor for JFH and gushed about JMM here) Highlights: Dry Bones, Beautiful Things, Cannot Keep You / The Medicine, Carbon Ribs


04) Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
I know, I know... I was late to this party, not picking up this album until December even though I'd heard a million good things about it. But oh, I'm glad I finally did. Turbulent, raw, passionate folk-rock at its finest. Highlights: Sigh No More, The Cave, White Blank Page, After the Storm





03) Brooke Fraser - Flags
Okay, so maybe I jumped the gun writing a 5 star review for it after only owning the record for three days... but I still stand by the statement that Brooke's newest was one of the best pop records of the year. Eschewing some of Albertine's melancholy, folkish introspection, Flags tells stories in an alt-pop style that effortlessly swings between the sweet and cheery and the stirring epic. A simply perfect pop record. (JFH Review) Highlights: Something in the Water, Betty, Orphans, Kingdoms, Coachella, Crows & Locusts (um... pretty much every track.)


02) Andrew Peterson - Counting Stars
I have to admit... up until this year, I wasn't too familiar with Andrew Peterson, and even then I didn’t really get to know him until his fantasy novel On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness and Rabbit Room website caught my attention. Counting Stars left me wondering what I've been missing for all these years. This understated gem is filled to the brim with poetic lyricism that brings out the sacred in the everyday. I am a fan for life now. Highlights: Many Roads, Dancing in the Minefields, Fool with a Fancy Guitar, The Reckoning (How Long)


01) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Some call it brilliant. Some call it sellout. For me, it was more like a revelation. In the span of less than a month, I bought the entire Arcade Fire discography, and though Neon Bible first hooked me, The Suburbs secured me as a fan. Lyrically, this sprawling alt-rock record explores the emptiness of modern life, while capturing the tension between wanting to grow up and escape "the suburbs" while longing for the innocence left behind. That may sound like a downer, but there is still some hope and optimism just below the surface that "something pure can last." Musically, it feels perhaps more accessible or mainstream than their past albums, but it works for me. I love it. The end. (If you're still not convinced, check out the interactive video for "We Used to Wait" at TheWildernessDowntown.com. That pretty much sums it up.) Highlights: Ready to Start, Modern Man, Suburban War, We Used to Wait, Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

So there you go. There are actually quite a few more, I'm sure, and I'll remember them in time and kick myself for forgetting. But these are easily the 11 I listened to the most last year.

Feel free to share your favorites/dispute my list in the comments below.

And now... we can move past 2010 and onto better, newer things around here. :)

* Wow, that looks frightening in writing.
** That is, this is a subjective list of stuff I dig, ignoring what the critics, experts, and music snobs say. I'm done with music snobbery. But that's another tale for another post...
*** Heathen Music = a joke. Don't be alarmed or take offense plzkthx.

lines & love

photo © 2010 Allen Skyy | more info (via: Wylio)It if it weren't for the array of Martin Luther King Jr. quotes flying around Twitter, today might have slipped by unnoticed for me. It was a Monday as usual, and it was almost 4pm before I realized why we didn't get a visit from the mailman today.

But this one, found floating somewhere amidst Floridian rainy day angst and Golden Globes commentary, gently lodged itself in the front of my mind and took up residence there:

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

And for good reason... I've been thinking a lot about love and hate and the lines between them lately.

Maybe it was the little flare of tension after the shooting in Arizona, where shock and mourning turned to politicizing, finger-pointing, and defensiveness all too quickly. Or perhaps it's just divisions in general that make me frustrated -- the idea that we can draw lines around ideas, focus on being right, rather than being open, merciful, kind -- and everything surrounding this just drove it home in recent days.

Maybe I'd just like to see Rev. King's mentality make a comeback.

Because here's the thing: hate is easy. Picking sides and drawing lines is easy. Love requires an effort to see people as they are, to open our hearts, to understand, even if we don't agree. Love is hard.

But, unlike hate, it won't kill you.

The reason we remember the Monday after January 15, perhaps, is to celebrate a man who chose to look at the hatred and lines around him, who had every right to be angry, and wage love instead. Who took the high road of peace instead of violence, hope instead of despair.

I want that, for all of us, more than anything.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. " ~ MLK Jr.

Susan Isaacs, by the way, explores this idea in her slightly sarcastic, always thoughtful way in today's blog post What Would MLK Do? Yes and amen. Go read it please. :)

awesome of 2010: favorite books

I won't even dare try to rank books I read this year into a Top Anything list. I'm pretty sure I went through a lot, between blog tours, the library, and those random used bookstore/hey-I-got-a-Borders-coupon! finds. (My to-read pile is even scarier this year! and yes, it's a literal pile.)

So here are just a few standouts from random categories. Feel free to share your favorites in the comments!


Favorite Non-fiction Debut: Rachel Held Evans - Evolving in Monkey Town

I love Rachel's blog, and was happy to be part of the blog tour for her first book, a memoir about navigating faith and doubt in the heart of the Bible Belt. Smart, funny, articulate, and moving in its honesty. From my review: "the "evolving" in the title is less about big bangs and monkeys and more about faith evolution, that sometimes, in order for faith to survive life's harsh environments, it has to evolve not through having the answers, but through asking questions."


Favorite Fiction Debut: A.S. Peterson - The Fiddler's Gun

I've never been one to seek out historical fiction, but well.... it's a Rabbit Room author! And they've never steered me wrong, so I decided to give it a try. (besides, look at that gorgeous cover! You totally want to read it now.) Set during the American Revolution, A.S. "Pete" Peterson's debut is not only a fun adventure tale, but, at its core, a beautiful story of redemption. I found myself stunned at the ending and ready to hear more of Fin's story. In fact, the sequel The Fiddler's Green is next on my to-read stack, and I'm eager to finish my darn library books so I can dive in. :)


Scariest/Most Thought-Provoking YA: Suzanne Collins - The Hunger Games

What can I say that hasn't already been said about this creepy, engaging dystopian tale? A story that left me thinking long after the last page was turned, the most disturbing aspect of this book was the emotionally distanced writing style that left me worried that I wasn't more disturbed. (I explain more in-depth in my review here.)




Guiltiest Pleasure: Maggie Stiefvater - Shiver

I know, I know... it's Twilight without the vampires and I should hate it on principle. I'm sorry. I picked this up because the cover was pretty and I'm a sucker for werewolf action, even though I fully expected it to suck. But surprise surprise, it didn't suck... that much. :) The best moments of this paranormal romance in the cold woods of Minnesota are haunting and poetic, and speak to that inner emo kid that lives in all of us. (wait... you don't have an inner emo kid? uh oh.)



New Favorite Author: Frederick Buechner

I read his sermon collection Secrets in the Dark because people I respect rave about him, and I was quickly hooked by his thoughtful, heartfelt, and honest writing style. I'm thoroughly enjoying the anthology/devotional Listening to Your Life this year, and have his novel Godric next in line. (After Fiddler's Green. I have a lot of reading to do.)





Most Likely to Make Me Cry: Marilynne Robinson - Gilead

Don't be fooled by the slim size.... this is one dense, beautiful book, overflowing with lovely prose, gentle wisdom, and intriguing characters. Written in the form of letters from a dying pastor to his young son, the journal style story wanders between philosophy and memory, and has to be read in small doses to take it all in. It's a book you feel more than intellectually understand, if that makes sense. This weighty meditation on life and death is one of my new favorite novels.



Book I Probably Should Have Read in High School: J. D. Salinger - The Catcher in the Rye

Is it horrible that I didn't read this until right after the author's death? Possibly? But regardless, I missed this in high school, and figured I'd better give it a shot. Though it didn't change my life the way I hear it often does (probably because I didn't read it in high school), I loved the dimension and voice in Holden Caulfield, and caught some astonishing glimpses of beauty in the prose. Franny and Zooey is on my list this year, I think.



Proudest Literary Accomplishment: Flannery O'Connor - The Complete Stories

Felt like reading some Southern lit. Up until this point, I'd never read a full author anthology like this, and I honestly don't know when I will dare try again. But hey, it might've helped my literature nerd cred a little bit. :) O'Connor's Southern gothic style and quirky, twisted characters are haunting, telling, and true. But my head nearly exploded from the effort. ("Revelation," however, is still one of the best shorts I have ever read. Ever.)


I know there are many more I read, but these stood out the most. Readers... what were some of your favorites this year? Doesn't have to be a 2010 release... just something that stuck with you this past year.

awesome of 2010: concerts, part 2

Continuing my "Awesome of 2010" series with Concerts, Part 2! The latter half of the year had some great ones, including an epic busy fall run....

Imogen Heap // House of Blues // June 1
Of all the concerts I saw this year, with all the meaningful songs and moments that go with them, the rare chance to see Imogen Heap stateside was a beautiful, magical experience I'll never forget, impossible to put into words. (and yep... after U2 in '09, she was the new top of my AIMSBIDoTR* list.) Probably the best moments came when she built her intricate sonic landscapes solo, piece by piece, especially when she improvised an instrumental based suggestions from the audience. One of the best performances of my life.

Thousand Foot Krutch // Disney's Night of Joy // Sept 10
Night of Joy was kind of a fail for me this year. Oh, the weekend was awesome, with lots of radio and music friends in town for the CMB Momentum conference (along with awesome food and music all day!), but let's be honest... a late Florida summer night at Disney after a busy day is a hot, humid, crowded, exhausting, grumpy-making event. But if I only got to see one band at NoJ proper, I'm glad it was TFK. (and really, this was it. I only saw one band.) I admit, I hadn't listened to their music in a while, but this was a crazy fun rock show worth braving the crowds and rain. We jumped and sang and threw up our rawkfists. And then went back to the hotel to pass out. That's the sound when the rock hits, I guess.

Jason Gray // One Homeless Night, Downtown Orlando // Sept 17
Over the past year, I've become a big fan of Jason Gray's music, partly because I feel like I'm hearing my own story in his songs, and partly because once you get to know him, you can't help but like someone so genuinely kind. He was the first artist I ever interviewed, and since then I feel very honored to call him a friend, as well as one of my new favorite writers.

One Homeless Night, an annual event hosted by Orlando Union Rescue Mission, was special because it was there that I met my Twitter-Turned-Real-World friend Kaitlyn, and the three of us made a little downtown Starbucks run after sound check (note: GPS is very un-helpful when roads are blocked and buildings are tall, but it makes for great stories/inside jokes later.) Sadly, I was working and missed a lot of the concert, but the pre-show adventure and opportunity to get to know Jason and Kaitlyn better was one of the best moments of my year.

Andrew Peterson // Riverbend Community Church, Ormond Beach // Nov 7
So Kaitlyn and I had such a blast at One Homeless Night, we did it again a couple months later.... with a little road trip up to Ormond Beach for Andrew Peterson. This was the year of writerly folk music and Rabbit Room culture for me, so to finally see one of AP's full shows was a treat. Two hours of music and stories, laughter and wonder, from a writer and musician I greatly admire. I also discovered the music of Ben Shive that night, a phenomenal musician you may have never heard. Double bonus! (Oh, and AP covered my favorite Rich Mullins song ever. I may or may not have almost cried for joy.)

Switchfoot // House of Blues // Dec 2
I first saw Switchfoot in 1998, and ever since then they've been one of my favorite bands. But up until now, I'd never seen a headlining show... just opening acts and outdoor festival stints here and there. This night was worth the 12 year wait. Truly one of my favorite live bands ever. This was also where I rediscovered -- and officially fell in love with -- Damion Suomi and the Minor Prophets. A local guy, and incredible live. Go get to know this dude now. You'll thank me later.

Jason Gray // Real Life Church, Clermont // Dec 26
Yes, he makes the list twice, because I had a hard time deciding between two shows that I loved for different reasons. Sue me. It's my list. :) My second time seeing him (first where I could relax and enjoy it) was actually a church service, the third and last of the day. By this point he was battling exhaustion and a fading voice, but still pulled it off beautifully. In a blend of familiar and new songs, stories, humor, and worship, it was a special, even healing close to 2010. I needed it. (And it nearly made up for missing the epic tour he'd just finished.)


So that's my year in concerts, a year that reminded me why I came to love music in the first place. Is it a coincidence that both my first and last shows of 2010 were quiet acoustic events centered on hope, stories, and community? I don't think so. In a way, it sums up my entire year.

Friday, more listy fun... probably books, though I'm not so sure yet.

*Artists I Must See Before I Die or They Retire. In case you weren't paying attention yesterday. ;)

awesome of 2010: concerts, part 1

In honor of a new year, here are a series of posts about my favorite live music, books, and albums of a year gone by, and perhaps, a list of random stuff too! Should be fun to reminisce. :)

I go to concerts like it's my job or something.* (Well, sometimes it actually is, and I couldn't be more thankful for that.) 2010 was an incredibly good year for live music, checking one off the "Artists I Must See Before I Die or They Retire" list and making memories with friends that are sometimes even better than the show itself. So here we go... my top 5 from the first half of 2010. (The rest will follow Wednesday.)

Heavy & Light // House of Blues Orlando // January 9
First show of the year! Gotta admit, I'm feeling a void this year without Heavy & Light in my January. Last year's, admittedly, had issues (like a 4.5 hour runtime... people were passing out), but with a lineup of some favorite artists and a sweet presence of hope and love, this frozen January night was one for beautiful memories. I remember there were supposed to be snow flurries in Orlando that night. I don't know if they ever happened, but the potential was there, and that, as you can imagine, is even more special. (I wrote all about it here.)

Needtobreathe // House of Blues Orlando // March 12 (and again Nov 27!)
Twice in one year? Same venue? Oh yes. Both spring and fall tours came to HOB, and of course, I was there. I would say the March show was my favorite, simply for introducing me to Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers (one of the most crazy fun openers I've seen) but I gotta admit... front row at the November show was pretty sweet. (for more, here's a review of the fall tour that I wrote for JFH)

Gungor // The Plaza Theatre, Orlando // March 18
I never thought I would go to a show for a primarily worship band without it being work-related. But after signing up to review an album by a band I didn't know, Gungor turned out to be one of my biggest musical surprises of the year, and I had to catch their show at the historic Plaza Theatre. In spite of an unfortunately slight turnout and a room plagued with sound issues, this was a beautiful and artistic evening of worship.

Anberlin // FMF 2010 at Wall St. Plaza, Downtown Orlando // April 23
The first time I saw them in 2005, Anberlin won me over as five guys having the time of their lives up on that stage. No matter how much my musical tastes shift, I'll always have a special affection for this band. I've probably seen them more than any other artist since then, but I have to say their homecoming show at Florida Music Festival may be the best one yet. Late night, downtown, front row with two of my dearest friends, singing along with every word. And then they played their first single "Ready Fuels" for the encore... super exciting for us old school fans! (More on the show, including a video and why I claim partial credit for the encore, here)

The Dead Weather // House of Blues Orlando // April 26
Truth be told, I didn't really know this band or want to go to this show (Monday night, after FMF and a weekend away from home) but at Lindsay's prodding and insistence I'd hate myself if I missed seeing a Jack White band, I caved and bought my ticket. I'm glad I did. Moody, gritty, and atmospheric, this show was a memorable experience. And hey, I can say I saw Jack White and impress music people. Bonus! (I also blogged about this show here. 'Twas a busy weekend.)

Part 2 Wednesday!

* I credit my friend Kaitlyn with this delightful expression she picked up on a summer stint in Minnesota (and, subsequently, passed on to me. along with "boom! roasted!") When you don't have the right first line, steal it from someone else. :)