updates & such.

Listening to: Becoming the Archetype- How Great Thou Art The latest BTA record is seriously awesome. It is essentially worship death metal. I would love to see BTA do a whole project of Puritan hymns death metal style. It would easily be the best “Worship Project” by a non-worship band ever. Forever and ever. Amen

 

So I guess it is time for some updates on life with the Salos. We now live in Dundas, Ontario. This is where Rachel is from. It is a gorgeous town near Hamilton. It is located in a valley and surrounded by conservation area. Tons of greenery, tons of trails, and even waterfalls are within a fifteen minute walk from my front door. One of the most beautiful towns I’ve ever been to. The first time I visited I told Rach that I wanted to live here, and now we do!

I did not get the OIP position. This is frustrating and also sad, but it leaves me in a position where I am required to trust God for provision. I am quite frustrated with my university degree that has given me a lot of head knowledge but no directly applicable job skills, leaving me essentially unemployable. I am considering college, or making ads for  tutoring and pasting them all over town. I am currently a baker at Tim Horton’s, and it gives us the cash we need at the moment but I do want a better job someday!

 

At the end of April I went to the Gospel Coalition Conference with Jer, Todd, Ben Inglis, and Alex Kloosterman. It was a great experience. I have never sat under such phenomenal preaching before. I also met Mark Driscoll. From what I remember I said “hi” before peeing my pants and waking up six hours later in a strange padded room. (Some parts of this story may be fictional in nature).

I have been reading like a fiend lately and it is awesome. I have also been twittering up a storm all you micro-blog heads! Books are great, especially the Bible and books written to edify us and make us holy. Got lots of books at the GCA (including free ones, like an ESV study bible…. oh yeah!) And also bought some. More reading than time allows!

Still searching for a great church. Keyword great. Rach and I will not compromise. We will find the best church in the Hamilton area and it will be our family. Fo Sho!

There is more I would like to say but time grows late and I must go to bed soon, for work. I will continue the update later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

top 10 of ’08

Here is my top 10 favourite records released in 2008. To be honest, I only bought about 15 records released this year, and a whole lot of older records. That being said, I believe that this is a good list, and that the reason these 10 made the list is that I actually believe they are good enough to buy. This list is in alphabetical order and the numbers are for organizational purposes, not ranking.

1. Becoming the Archetype- “Dichotomy”

Epic Progressive Death Metal. Great music, solos, vocals and production. Easily this band’s best record, they have finally learned to write catchy songs and not just riffs.

2. Brave Saint Saturn- “Anti-Meridian”

The highly anticipated third part to the Saturn Five Trilogy lives up to expectations, blowing the previous BS2 records out of the water, and also showing improvement over Five Iron Frenzy’s heyday. Great hooks, melodies and excellent lyrics make this electro-pop disc a winner.

3. Child Bite- “Fantastic Gusts of Blood”

Experimental post punk based on Greek mythology. Excellent vocals reminiscent of Pere Ubu, and spastic music that is as strange as it is catchy. Also check out their remix EP “Exquisite Luxury” also released this year.

4. Jon Foreman- “Fall / Winter / Spring / Summer”

Jon Foreman’s four EPs based on the seasons take him out of Switchfoot’s hard rock territory and place him into the realm of acoustic folk and pop. Excellent lyrics and great music that truly wouldn’t fit into the realm of his full time band. It doesn’t matter that the four seasons concept doesn’t play out in the songs, they are great slices of pop regardless.

5. Joy Electric- “My Grandfather, The Cubist”

This one is certainly a grower, not jumping out at me as quickly as Ronnie’s other records. That being said the minimalism of the music and vocals truly draws me in on repeated listens. One of JE’s best, and after 23 releases that is saying a lot!

6. Mars ILL- “Black Listed Sessions”

Not one, but two complete revisions of the classic “Blue Collar Sessions” EP. Dust consistently improves the beats, and guest producer Beat Rabbi does great on his two tracks as well. Manchild’s unchanged vocals are as convicting as ever. If Dust continues to write beats this good I don’t care if he does every Mars ILL song seventeen times, I’ll still want it. This two-disc set is a limited  edition of 250 with excellent art, so pick it up while you still have the chance.

7. Norma Jean- “The Anti Mother”

Cory Brandon is not Emo. His vocals however, are blisteringly visceral and full of emotion. This album candidly discusses Brandon’s divorce, and his pain is palpable and convicting. Easily the best post-Scogin Norma Jean record.

8. Trenches- “The Tide Will Swallow Us Whole”

This sounds nothing like Haste the Day. If you get it just because of Jimmy Ryan’s presence behind the mic you may be disappointed. This is super sludgy metal, often mid-paced and epic. Comparisons to early Warlord are not without reason. In a word it is great.

9. Thrice- “The Alchemy Index Vols. 3 & 4: Air & Earth”

The most experimental music from Thrice yet. The air disc is light and airy, and the Earth disc is acoustic folk country. It takes some getting used to but it is excellent. Dustin Kensrue’s gorgeous voice and spiritually convicting lyrics shine in any musical setting.

10. Underoath- “Lost in the Sound of Separation”

The most organic sounding Underoath record, void of the vocal layering of past records, this sounds raw and live. The band has now perfected the dichotomy between pummeling metal and catchy hooks.

Honorable Mentions:

Fleet Foxes- S/T, Brendan Canning- Something For All of Us…, Deliverance reissues on Retroactive

Ye Olde Annual Christmas Loot List

Here is my Christmas loot list:

Books:

1. The Clash by The Clash
2. The Pitchfork 500 by The Pitchfork Media Staff
3. Akira volume 2 by Katsuhiro Otomo

 

CDs:

1. Becoming the Archetype- “Dichotomy”
2. Brendan Canning- “Something for All of Us…”
3. Jon Foreman- “Fall & Winter”
4. Fleet Foxes- S/T
5. Mars ILL- “ProPain”
6. Jason Mraz- “We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.”
7. Rancid- “…And Out Come the Wolves”
8. Spock’s Beard- “Snow”
9. Sunny Day Real Estate- “The Rising Tide”
10. Switchfoot- “Oh! Gravity.”

 

Also new Ecco shoes and purple chips…

Awesome stuff, thanks everyone!

Become the Archetype

Holy freaking crap the new Becoming the Archetype album is phenomenal!!!!11!!1!!11!!

(that is all).