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Post V. 1.0: New Blog/David Crowder Band
Greetings. So I figured since I've had this blog for a couple weeks now and have not actually POSTED anything yet, I should at least attempt to say something.
So here I am, in B.C., adjusting to life here and trying to balance all the spinning plates around me. At least that's how it feels a lot recently, like I'm struggling to find a balance between the Tyranny of the Urgent and living a purposeful, meaningful life that transcends survival and is not rooted in Consumerism, but is driven by stewardship and powered by faith. How do you like that run-on sentence? Anyway, I find that in my life, one of the best barometers of were I'm at is the music that I gravitate to at any given time. I guess in some ways the Music I listen to is a diary of sorts, not necessarily lyrically, but in a more visceral way; a lot of times the tone, mood, and essence of a song reflects me in some way. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I just want to rock out or chill out and in some ways, I guess the music I choose then reflects that as well, but more often I think I choose music because some aspect of it resonates with something within me intellectually, emotionally, or spiritually. That's why I love making mix CDs and listening to other people's mixes.
On that note, I thought that I would share a song from an album that I've found myself loving recently. The album is Sunsets and Sushi (Experiments in Spectral Deconstruction) by the David Crowder Band. It's mostly a collection of electronic remixes of previous material from the band, but while other remix albums seem to be a lame way to push tired reworkings of songs, each song on this album seems to take on a new life and become something new, or at least riff off of something different than the original version did. It's one of those albums that you need to listen to a few times to really digest, but there's just something about it that feels very authentic and unforced, and like all the music I like, the songs really do resonate with something in me as the listener. Here is the song "Intoxicating" from the album, possibly my favorite from the album at the moment.If you like it, I highly recommend getting the whole album which is only 8 songs, and is less than $8 on itunes. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the song and maybe it will resonate with you like it does with me, or maybe in an entirely different way. I guess that's one great thing about music.
Comments
I'm reminded of my father's hostility toward advertising growing up. He wouldn't let us wear any tshirts with brand names on them, killer in the late 80's, when everything cool was Vuarnet, OP, B.U.M., etc. I remembered being so frustrated with the limitations that set on what I could wear. Now, I think he was on to something. Oh, adulthood, revisor of all my early opinions.... :)
...a purposeful, meaningful life that transcends survival and is not rooted in Consumerism.
I hear you on this. I'm working in similar space. Asking the question, what does it mean to arrive at something permanent? or do I have to spend money all the time? Is there some way for me to have a fun Friday night without buying something? It's scary how I have a bad day/week, and get this urge...to just go buy something, to feel that rush that comes from the receipt, the plastic bag, the new thing, the promise, anticipation of new experience with that. Feeling that the emotional tone of life will be different with this new cd, movie, book, frying pan, juicer, grill, car, vacation, camera, multifunction knife, etc, in it. I'm laughing at the truth of this in my life, even as I type it!
Interesting to think about "need" within this context, without going overboard into guilt about buying anything other than food, basic clothing.
[The banner ad below the window is flashing for a product named "Urge". The examples, they write themselves...]
I guess in some ways the Music I listen to is a diary of sorts.
This is definitely true of you. We hadn't talked in over a year, you sent me a mix cd, and I felt like I was hearing the emotional tenor of the year in each of those songs. In a sense, just hearing the cd went a long way towards catching me up with where you are. Incredibly communicative part of your personality. I think of the song you wrote for your wedding, such a deep expression of your self, your feeling for M.
I like the song. It's striking the way that electronic instruments changes the whole tonal landscape of a song, it just leaves it with such a different feel. You should put the original up to compare the two versions.
The opening reminds me of "Prime Time of Your Life" with the textured synth rhythms. A little bit of Moby-inflected tonal pieces, some Savage Garden echoing keyboard notes. Interesting sense of introspection to it, as I listen a second time, which is ironic for an "electronic/modern" song, right? Reminds me of some of Collective Soul's later albums, song on Blender album "Over Tokyo", also Blur's "Out of Time".
The ironic introspection gets into this fascinating aspect of modern culture as being self-aware in their modernity...consciously playing with the elements of distraction, vacuity. I think of Daft Punk and Beck as two examples, but there are many. I read a definition of, I think it was "post-modern Art" as "anything that is aware of itself as art." Fascinating stuff.
I am with you on the lame remix trend, but yes, this seems fresh.
/end epic comment!
[Have you checked out Firefox 2.0? It has inline spellcheck which is really nice for typping blog posts ;]
I love this blog, and it feels a little more like you than your last one did, and hopefully you'll post more often.
...a purposeful, meaningful life that transcends survival and is not rooted in Consumerism.
Funnily enough, you keep me from this, more than anyone. I think being "poor" as a child, or even being in ywam made me treasure being able to buy something pretty, just because I like it, or go out for dinner. As a child I used to struggle with where my parents were at financially, and that was always the indicator that we we going to be okay, if they took us out for dinner. Now I'm an adult, and rooted enough in what I believe that I know that money doesn't make one "okay"... and yet when I find myself panicked about finances, I want to be taken out for dinner. Thanks for not always indulging me.
Funny story. When I was in Japan, on my first real trip away from home I would buy a cool pen when I was sad, or scared, or lonely. When I left I had well over 20. And some cool stationary, and of course, a few journals.