Music News and Discussions archive at Jill’s Life Updates and Random Thoughts

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Aug

music by letters.

By Jill 3 Comments

Categories: Random Facts and Music News and Discussions

Sometimes (and by sometimes I mean at least 3 times a day) I think this thought: “If for the rest of my life I could only listen to the artists whose names started with one letter (ie. all the bands/artists whose names start with a “C”), which letter would I choose?” Tonight I was exceptionally bored, so I thought I’d figure it out once and for all.

There was a tie. Between M and S. “M” included 233 songs from the following artists:

-Madonna (really, can’t live without that)
-Mae
-Magical Truplet (woo!)
-Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s
-Mat Kearney
-Matt Wertz
-Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes
-MC Solaar
-Meese
-Merced
-Minus the Bear
-Mozart
-Muse
-Mute Math
-My Holy Ghost
-The Myriad

Not too shabby. But S was awesome, too. “S” included 367 songs from the following artists (with some of the more embarrassing ones removed):

-Satie
-The Series
-Shane & Shane
-Sherwood
-Sleeping At Last
-Sleeptalker
-Sonicflood
-Spoon
-Starflyer 59
-Steve Biegner
-Story Side B
-Strauss
-Sufjan Stevens
-Switchfoot

Now that I think about it, I guess “S” would win, because it includes Sufjan. Man, I love him. I should probably marry him.

Anyways, the runners-up in the music-letter contest were “D”, which includes artists such as Dabney Morris, Darkroom, Dear Future, Deas Vail and Derek Webb, and “L”, which includes Lorien, Lost Ocean, AND Lovedrug.

Now you know that (a) I have no life and (b) I have no life.

If you are also bored and have no life, feel free to tell me which letter you would choose. Then we can be music geeks together. Or, ya know, I can just be one by myself… either way…

muchas gracias (because that’s the only thing I know how to say in Spanish),
Jill

Jul

jealous kind.

By Jill 0 Comments

Categories: Music News and Discussions

Jealous Kind [4:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

This is the finale of the “Lyrics That Define My Life At This Particular Moment In Time” series.

Sometimes when I don’t listen to them for awhile, I forget how much I like Jars of Clay. It was tough to choose just one of their songs for this, because all of their lyrics are so honest and relevant, but I chose this one, because it is one of the most beautiful and honest and hopeful songs that I’ve ever heard.

I built another temple to a stranger
I gave away my heart to the rushing wind
I set my course to run right into danger
Sought the company of fools instead of friends

You know I’ve been unfaithful
With lovers in lines
While you’re turning over tables
With the rage of a jealous kind
I chose the gallows to the aisle
Thought that love would never find
But hanging ropes will never keep you
And your love of a jealous kind

Tryin’ to jump away from rock that keeps on spreading
For solace in the shift of the sinking sand
I’d rather feel the pain all too familiar
Than be broken by a lover I don’t understand
‘Cause I don’t understand

One hundred other lovers, more, one hundred other altars
If I should slow my pace and finally subject me to grace
And love that shames the wise, betrays the heart’s deceit and lies
And breaks the back of foolish pride

You know I’ve been unfaithful
With lovers in lines
While you’re turning over tables
With the rage of a jealous kind
I chose the gallows to the aisle
Thought that love would never find
Hanging ropes will never keep you
And your love of a jealous kind.

-Lyrics by Jars of Clay. Listen to the song here.

Jul

empty words.

By Jill 0 Comments

Categories: Music News and Discussions

Empty Words [4:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

“Lyrics That Define My Life At This Particular Moment In Time”, Part 5.

There’s this little thing called humility that I don’t have. And I want it.

I want to see
I want to feel
I want to love
With no conditions

I’m gonna lie
I’m gonna steal
I’m gonna hear
But never listen

Oh, all that I need is something of worth
It could be what you are
And feel these empty words…

I want to learn
Teach me to know
Teach discontent
And teach me submission

But I’m gonna smile
Oh, I am a fake
All for the sake
Of my reputation

All that I need is something of worth
It could be what you are
And feel these empty words
Feel these empty words…

Take all my pride from me.

And feel these empty words…

-Lyrics by Lorien. Listen to the song here.

Jul

afraid.

By Jill 0 Comments

Categories: Music News and Discussions

Darkroom - Afraid [5:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Part 4. If you don’t know what’s going on, go read previous blogs.

This song is perfect. Except for the schoolboy part. Cause, you know, I’m not a boy. Nor do I go to school. But aside from that, perfect.

This time of year, I step back
From my whimsical orientation I have cast
Seasons have passed, they’ve come and gone
Along with my youth and aren’t coming back

This point of view, it’s not fact
It’s all my fallen humanity and my schoolboy fantasies
Oh to be true and give up this act
Would be freedom to live at last

And it’s all I can do to keep my breath
From slowly departing away
The winds are strong now
They keep blowing at my ever so fragile heart
But you are here to stay
And I am here to say I’m afraid.

-Lyrics by Darkroom. Listen to the song here.

Jul

two decades.

By Jill 0 Comments

Categories: Music News and Discussions

Two Decades [5:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

“Lyrics That Define My Life At This Particular Moment In Time”, Part 3.

So it’s rare that I find a song that says exactly what I’m thinking. Very rare. And then along comes isHesafe, and about 96.84% of their songs say exactly what I want to say. Especially this one:

Two decades later
Twenty times failure
Here I am
To make myself greater than I’ve been

Now is a good time
Now is a good time
Now is a good time
To begin

So much to change
Make me new
So much to change
Lord, make your promises true in me
So much to change
Make me new

Two decades later
The hands of the savior
Are scarred by the nails where
They should be in mine

Forgetting his grace is
Forgetting his grace is
Forgetting his grace is
Not affected by time

There’s so much to change
There’s so much…

-Lyrics by isHesafe. Stream the song here.

Jun

a place by the ocean.

By Jill 0 Comments

Categories: Music News and Discussions

This is Part 2 of __ (I haven’t decided how many yet) in the “Lyrics That Define My Life At This Particular Moment In Time” series. A lovely song, complete with an exorbitantly long introduction by me.

I’m going to Nashville next week, first for “orientation” and then to look at apartments. This should be an exciting time in life, but I really don’t want to go. I’m afraid. I’m afraid that it won’t work out in the end. I’m afraid of taking out loans and being in debt. I’m afraid that I won’t fit in (I never do). I’m afraid of being disappointed and of being a disappointment. More than anything, I’m afraid of all the responsibility that comes with this situation, if it ends up working out. So why this song? When Koji played this song live for us, he said that it’s about growing up. Yes, it’s a song about growing up, and how I want to run away from it…

I want to find a place down by the ocean.
I want to buy a boat to sail away in.
But I won’t leave for good.
Don’t you worry, no no.
After all, it was you who said it’s no good to run from your problems.

And let me tell you something.
The weight of this world is often
Too much for anyone to bear,
At least not alone.

And I’m not a drinking man;
I’ve got to get away somehow.
But that’s not to say that I will not be there when you call.

And tell dad I’m sorry,
I couldn’t fight his war.
But that’s not to say I won’t be there.
And I’ve got my reasons,
Some things that I believe in.
But that’s not to say I won’t be there, I won’t be there.

And I’ve got this place down by the ocean.
And I’ve got this boat to sail away in.
You can come visit me sometime.
We can spend the day seaside.
And I’ve got this boat…

-Lyrics by Koji. Listen to or download the song (free!) here.

I want to find a boat to sail away in.

Jun

golden.

By Jill 0 Comments

Categories: Music News and Discussions

Switchfoot - Golden [3:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Edit: I am officially starting a blog series entitled “Lyrics That Define My Life At This Particular Moment In Time”. This is Part 1.

I’m really not a Switchfoot addict, but this song is special:

She’s alone tonight with a bitter cup and
She’s undone tonight, she’s all used up
She’s been staring down the demons
Who’ve been screaming she’s just another so and so,
Another so and so.

You are golden, you are golden child
You are golden, don’t let go, don’t let go tonight.

There’s a fear that burns like trash inside
And your shame the curse that burns your eyes.
You’ve been hiding in the bedroom
Hoping this isn’t how the story has to go.
It’s not the way it goes, it’s your book now.

(This world is a dead man down
Every breath is a fading crown away like some debilitated king
The earth spins and the moon goes round
The green comes from the frozen ground
And everything will be made new again like freedom in spring.)

-Lyrics by Switchfoot. Stream the song here.

May

famous.

By Jill 3 Comments

Categories: Music News and Discussions

I now officially write for switchFeed (aka the official blog of Switchfoot). Check it out.

And you thought I wasn’t famous. ha.

xoxoxo,
Jill

ps - Yes, the MOTW is slightly illegal. And no, I don’t feel guilty about doing it.

Apr

Awakening

By Jill 0 Comments

Categories: Videos and Music News and Discussions

Switchfoot recently released a new video for their new single, “Awakening”. I had mixed feelings about it at first, but once I watched it a few more times, I grew to like it quite a lot. It’s not particularly deep (like the song is) or meaningful. But it’s funny. Which makes it fun to watch. If you’re curious to hear what the guys from the band think of the song, you can find out here. What’s that you say? You want to watch it? Oh, ok, here you go:

[If the embedded video doesn’t show up in your browser (it doesn’t in mine either, don’t feel bad), then just click the link below to see it on YouTube.]

“Awakening” Video on YouTube

Hope you enjoy it, friends! I’ll be back on Monday or Tuesday with a rather important blog. Stay tuned…

Apr

Lists of Music…

By Jill 2 Comments

Categories: Random Facts and Music News and Discussions

I just spent a solid 8 hours backing up my iTunes library onto CDs/organizing my CD collection. It was a monumental task. But totally worth it. I now have a rather lengthy list of all the music I own, and my CDs are in neat piles instead of being strewn across various desks. Here are a few things I learned while sifting through my volumes of music:

I have way too much music. More than I could ever even listen to. In fact, at this moment, there are 605 unplayed songs in my iTunes library. Granted, I listened to some of them in CD form before I ever had an iPod, but there are still quite a lot that have never been played. It’s a bit sad, really, because I’m sure most of it is really good…
I have so much good music, much of which I haven’t listened to in a long time. This was a good exercise for me, because it reminded me of a lot of artists who I haven’t heard in a long time and who I really enjoy.
I have an affinity for physical copies of CDs. For a long time, I downloaded music from iTunes or various other online music distributors, but lately I’ve really come to enjoy having a copy of an actual CD. I don’t know why, because I don’t actually use the CD, except to rip it into iTunes, but I guess I like to have the artwork and the lyric book and everything. It just kind of completes the musical experience for me. So from now on, I will be purchasing physical copies of CDs when at all possible.

There are some CDs that I own that I was rather amused by, so I’ll share with you (the lists include artists and the number of their CDs that I own):

CDs left over from Junior High (Disclaimer: none of these are in my iTunes library.):

Backstreet Boys (3)
Britney Spears (2)
Christina Aguilera (1)
Destiny’s Child (2)
NSync (1, although there used to be more)
Pink (1)

CDs left over from my “cheesy Christian music” days (Note: Most of these are in my iTunes library, and I still listen to some of them occasionally… hypocrisy much?) (Note #2: This is not an exhaustive list. I own a lot of cheesy Christian music.):

WOW Worship (4)
Casting Crowns (2)
Chris Tomlin (1)
Delirious? (3)
Jars of Clay (7 - I guess it’s debatable whether JoC is really “cheesy” music or not… their newer stuff is certainly getting there)
Point of Grace (2)
Shane & Shane (2)
etc etc…

mmm, delicious stuff. But really, I do have a ton of good music. Since you were wondering, here are the artists who have songs in my Top 50 Most Played (and the number of songs they have on that list). And just because an artist isn’t on this list doesn’t mean I don’t love them. It just means that there are only so many songs that fit on the list…:

Lorien (6 - that’s all the songs from their EP, and they are #1-#6 on the Most Played list… I guess I have a slight Lorien addiction)
isHesafe (10 - again, all the songs from their album. I also have an isHesafe addiction.)
Relient K (9)
Farewell Flight (6 - all the songs from their Lost at Sea EP)
Jonezetta (5)
Mae (3)
Switchfoot (4)
Edison Glass (3)
Meese (1)
Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes (1)
Jars of Clay (2)

I hope you like lists as much as I do, or else this post probably wasn’t very exciting for you. I am off to do… something. I haven’t really decided what, yet. Oooh, and I got some exciting news today that I’ll be revealing in the next couple weeks. ahaha, I love keeping secrets.

Have a good day, friends. Feel free to let me know what your favorite/most played/most embarassing music is, because I’m the kind of person who finds such things interesting. bye for now…

Fondest regards,
Jill