Musical Monday: Beautiful Things

My wife has already posted about Gungor so I may not be the first person to tell you about them, but I have to do my civic duty to let everyone know about this amazing band. Gungor, formally known as The Michael Gungor Band, is from Denver, CO and have released a few EPs under the new band name and one major album, Beautiful Things. I had never heard of Gungor until Heather and I were invited to a benefit concert by our close friends, Jordan and Amanda Green who was going to Kenya, Africa on a missions trip. The concert consisted on a few local bands from around the Laurens, SC area and the final act was one of the guys who was headed to Africa. He closed with an amazing song that we both thought was an original song, but later found out it wasn’t. We looked up the song and found a couple of versions, an acoustical version and the original album version.

I love the album version, but the acoustic version is so simple yet so inspiring. I have probably listened to this song and album 100 times since finding them. (Thank you Spotify!) Head over to New Release Tuesday for a little more story behind the song and Worship Together if you want to learn how to play it on guitar.

Sit back, relax and give this suburb worship song about God taking the tragedies in the world and turning them into beautiful things.

Musical Monday - 4/18/11

Whoa!?!?  It's been a while since our last musical monday, but it's here again.  I'm not going to make any promises on having a new musical monday for the next year or something else outlandish that I can't keep because that's just not cool of me to let you down.  So from now on, I'm just going to post a musical monday whenever I can.

Now on to the music.  I've posted this band before, but they just came out with a new album and it freakin' rocks!  Emery is one of my favorite bands and since they are from Rock Hill, SC it makes them even better because they are local.  As you may or may not know I love the last song of a band's album.  I really feel like that's where they can really express themselves as a band and not try to make the song a "radio hit".  Of course some last songs are just horrible, but most of the time it's a great song to jam to.  And Emery comes through with a great one on their latest effort, 'We Do What We Want'.  Emery is a post-hardcore, screamo (not crazy screamo), rock band and they can definitely rock the house but I love 'Fix Me'.  It's a low key acoustical song that speaks volumes.  Give it a listen and let me know what you think!

Emery - Fix Me

Musical Monday - 1/10/11

So it's been pretty long since I've posted any 'musical monday's' and to tell you the truth, I've missed it.  I'm not going to sit here and tell you that I'll never miss any monday's in 2011 (especially since I've already missed one), but I do want to tell you that I will never stop doing musical monday's.  They have been my little retreat from the normal music world and I want you to take the trip with me whenever you want.

Anyway, on to the music...

Today's selection comes from a band that I've heard a lot from, but never really knew they were the band that I had been listening to.  I've been listening a whole lot to the Deas Vail channel on Pandora and this band has been popping up on that channel constantly.  They are Abandon and they sound very similar to the secular band 'The Killers', who I love to jam to often, but now that I've realized there is a "Christian" alternative to 'The Killers' I will be adding them into my usual mix of tunes. By the way...there's nothing wrong with listening to secular music as long as you don't let it be your only source of music.  I believe there is much to learn from Christian and non-Christian bands, just filter what you hear very carefully.

This song is definitely not the typical Abandon tune.  Like I said they sound very much like The Killers and when you listen to this song...it doesn't sound anything like The Killers.  There's a reason for that...I love listening to an entire album.  Especially the last song on the cd.  I find that the last song on a cd is where a band really expresses themselves as a group.  They aren't trying to make it a "radio-friendly" song that everyone will love.  They are just writing it for themselves.  And that's what 'Hero' is for Abandon.  The last song on their cd.  And I can't get enough of it.  So simple yet it has such a powerful message behind it.

Enjoy!  And pay close attention to the lyrics of the chorus (they are so powerful):

There He goes - a hero. A savior to the world.

Here He stands with scars in His hands.

With love He gave His life so we could be free.

The Savior of the world.

Musical Monday - 11/15/10

Man this month has been super busy!  I haven't really had time to think about musical mondays.  It's actually made me a little sad to not write up a little something every Monday.  Today should change that though.


I keep tell you that Pandora is amazing, and it never ceases to amaze me.  One of my favorite channels that I have is the 'Deas Vail' channel.  They are probably one of my favorite bands right now and almost every song that is played on that channel is sonic gold.  I've heard a few songs by One Republic, but I hadn't heard today's song until last night while watching CSI: Miami.  All of One Republic's songs are melodic and truly catchy.  You know what type of catchy I'm talking about...the kind that just gets your head bouncing and your foot tapping.


Please enjoy 'Secrets' by One Republic.

Musical Monday - 10/25/10

Great lyrics.  Great guitar licks.  Great song.  Please listen and enjoy your Monday.  God bless!

Musical Monday - 10/11/10

One of my recent favorite movies has one of the best soundtracks I've heard in a while.  '(500) Days of Summer' is a great "love" story.  You have to watch it if you haven't yet.  Pay attention to the music in it...then tell me you don't love the soundtrack.  I dare you! :)  For today's selection I'm picking the song from the soundtrack that I feel defines the feel of the movie the most.  Not the video, but the song.  Every time I listen to this song I feel like I'm in the movie right at that moment.  Please enjoy, 'Us' by Regina Spektor.

Musical Monday - 9/27/10

A great time for me to reflect and think is when I'm washing dishes and I love to put on some tunes to help me focus on the task at hand. Last night I turned on Pandora and Heather had added a station on my phone that I had forgotten about till it started playing. JJ Heller has such a smooth voice. Every song I've heard from her is so easy on the ears. So today I thought I would share one that really caught my ear and I basically stopped washing the dishes and just listened. The version below is a live recording so there is a little less going on in the song which I think makes the song even better because you don't have as many distractions so you can really listen to the lyrics. I encourage you to stop and listen for a few minutes. Have a great Monday!

Musical Monday - 9/20/10

Have you ever heard a song and everything about it seems to work? The lyrics, the way the singer sings those lyrics, the guitar parts, the drums, the message behind the song, everything... That's what 'Your Love Never Fails' is for me. I'm a super huge fan of Jesus Culture. I love both Chris Quilala's and Kim Walker-Smith's voices. But they're only a part of what makes Jesus Culture so powerful.

The chorus just blows me away every time I sing it. No truer words could be said.

You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There may be pain in the night
But joy comes with the morning

When the oceans rage
I don't have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
And Your love never fails

I found these scriptures when I was looking up the lyrics and these are what the song is referencing:

1 Corinthians 13:8
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Enjoy and I pray that you have a most wonderful Monday!

Musical Monday - 9/13/10

I thought I had this week's selection picked out last week, but last night I heard a great 80s song while Heather and I were on a little date. You can't deny that A-ha's video for 'Take On Me' was ahead of it's time. I mean come on...it was 1985 and they integrated hand drawn cartoons with live action...into a music video! There probably were other's who did the same, but I love it when they shoot into their falsetto. Enjoy this lovely classic 80s tune. It's so absurdly catchy that I'll bet you won't get past the intro before your foot starts to tap.

Musical Monday - 8/30/10

If you knew me 5-10 years ago then you would know how my taste in music has changed. I haven't done a complete 180, but I've definitely mellowed out a ton. I used to be all about metal and hard rock. Now I'm more into alt-rock and indie rock. Definitely more calming, mellow tunes now a days. Does that mean I'm getting old?!?! I don't think so...well...Heather would say I am. :) Anyway, I'm definitely digging a few bands now that I wouldn't have even listened to one of their songs back in the day. Fair, Deas Vail, Death Cab For Cutie, Mae, Rogue Wave...just to name a few.

So today I wanted to introduce you to another band that I've been jamming to, Future of Forestry. They've been around since 2000, but they didn't change their name till 2006. They are a Christian alt-rock band from So Cal and they are crazy talented. The guitar playing on all of their songs is outstanding and super catchy. Every time I hear 'Speak To Me Gently' I close my eyes and my head starts to bob uncontrollably.

Try this...it'll only take 4 minutes and 10 seconds. Start the song, sit back, don't multi-task, just sit there and listen. Enjoy!

Musical Monday - 8/23/10

Again, I have to praise Pandora Radio. It's probably one of the greatest innovations in musical technology since the electric guitar. It's so simple too. You type in a band or song you like and it finds other bands and songs that are similar. So great!

Safetysuit is a alt-rock band from Tulsa, OK that I found while listening to my Deas Vail channel. They have a great sound and 'Apology' has a simple, yet catchy groove. Sit back and enjoy!

Musical Monday - 8/16/10

I'm back!

I can't really say that I'm completely here though...I do believe I left my heart on the mountain top of Grano de Oro. So today's selection is for everyone that went to Costa Rica this year and for everyone we met and saw while we were down there.

Don't Stop Believing! Classic.

Musical Monday - 8/2/10

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole...

Try and say that 5 times fast. Sometimes I can't even say it once, let only 5 times. I can't get enough of this song. It's such a happy and enjoyable song. It makes me smile every time I hear it.

Israel can play a mean uke, can't he? I would love to learn how to play a ukulele. If I do get to learn how to play it, this would be one of the first songs I learned.

And since we are in Costa Rica and the official language is Spanish, I thought everyone would enjoy reading the lyrics of this awesome song.

RIP Israel! You are missed, but you will live on through your music.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Musical Monday - 7/26/10

I love Pandora Radio. It's such a great way to find new bands that sound similar to bands you already know and love. I've been infatuated with two bands lately, Fair and Deas Vail. Both bands have a more mellow, indie rock sound compared to other bands that I listen to so I'm definitely on a new musical genre kick. Anyway, I was listen to my Deas Vail station on Pandora and a song came up that I loved and wanted to hear it again right then, but all I could do was write it down and find it later. So I found it and I want to share it with all of you.

The band: The Afters.

The song: All That I Am

Listen, read the lyrics, enjoy!

Musical Monday - 7/19/10

Wow...it's been a while. I'm not really sure why I took a break from Musical Mondays. I think it started with having to take a furlough the first week of July. That really threw me off for a while, but now I'm back and ready for lots of great tunes.

Today's selection comes from Leeland. 'Wake Up' is a song that will get you pumped and make you want to serve the Lord in anyway possible. It's a fairly simple song, but the message that you get from the lyrics far out weighs the simplicity of the music.

Enjoy!

Musical Monday - 6/28/10

Nothing really more can be said about 80s music besides 'really?'...I just love watching music videos from the 80s, they are absolutely amazing and entertaining. So for our last installment from 1983 is an awesome video and song from Men at Work, 'Land Down Under'. You gotta love the classic VW van in the beginning and the amazing flute playing. But my favorite part is around the 1:40 mark...what's with the fake digging, juggling, and crazy dancing?!?

Please enjoy and have a great Monday!

Musical Monday - 6/21/10

Sleeveless British flag shirt...

80s high flying split...

Snazzy mullets...

Can it be? Oh yes, it's Def Leppard! Enjoy.

Musical Monday - 6/14/10

Today's selection comes from an awesome band....The Police. You can't beat Sting singing 'Every Breath You Take Take'. This is definitely not the P. Diddy or Puff Daddy song about Biggie Smalls...a good song in it's own right, but no. The beat of this song is so infectious and learning to play the guitar part a few years back was ridiculous! I hope this song puts a little smile on your face this grand Monday morning!

Musical Monday - 6/7/10

You just can't go wrong with Pat Benatar. Classic! Enjoy.

Musical Tuesday - 6/1/10

It's June...JUNE!?! Already? Man I'm getting old. If you didn't know, my birthday day in June 13 and I will be the ripe old age of 27. I'll officially be in my late 20s. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but I have 13 days to come to grips.

So, during the month of June we will be on another musical journey through time and space...well, maybe just time. I've picked out some tunes from the year I was born, 1983. I hope you stick around this month and check out some epic early 80s music.

Today's selection comes to us from across the pond. Dexys Midnight Runners...who came up with that catchy name? 'Come on Eileen' is a classic 80s tune with like 8 tempo changes and some awesome falsetto singing....at least is sounds like they straining to hit some notes. You can't think of this song and not laugh because of the video they made, I mean come on guys...overalls? Really!?!

Enjoy this wonderful 1983 classic.