BREAKING NEWS: Music Isn't For The Eyes

Hey everyone! I thought it is time for another opinion post although, this one is kind of true. Its becoming more and more evident these days that people are liking music just because the artist is attractive, according to the world's standard. That is having a pretty face, big butt and showing off your breasts, for females that is. For guys, you have to have a six pack, cute face, and nice hair. And of course you have to be willing to have sex before you're married. In some cases, even on the first date. That is a main reason why so many artists are famous anymore. If you look at a selfie on instagram from Sydney Sierota (from Echosmith) or Danielle Bradbery, for example, you will see disgusting comments. So bad that I don't want to mention them on here. Go ahead and look at the comments yourself if you please.

Sometimes I wonder if Echosmith, Danielle, or Meagan Trainor would be famous if they weren't attractive. The sad thing is that it is probably true. All the artists I just mentioned are talented but teenage guys can't see past their beauty. If they were unattractive, they wouldn't be successful. I have no doubt about it. We can only pray that this world sees past that someday again. When music was invented, most people would listen to the music just to have a good time. Few people, like me, actually go to concerts for the music and the experience. That's how it should be from here on out. I challenge you to listen to the actual music of an artist and not look at their face.

That's all I have to say.

Until Next Time,
Alex

Album Review: Between The Stars by Flyleaf

Its always hard when a band's singer singer leaves. Its even harder when a band like Flyleaf loses their singer. Over the first three albums with Lacey Sturm, the band defined their sound and she was becoming one of the most popular singers in hard rock. Sturm announced her departure from the band just before they released their third studio album, New Horizons, back in 2012. It was heartbreaking for every fan and we couldn't believe the news. After Sturm's departure, we learned that Kristen May would be the new vocalist for the band. Her, the fans, and the band all knew that Lacey's shoes would be big ones to fill. I will say, though, that May did a really good job on her first album with the band. I am excited to hear more from the band as they keep getting more and more popular.

The album starts out with the lead single "Set Me On Fire." May wrote the song after reading the book Divergent. Its a song about fitting in and falling in love and eventually everyone is gonna fit in. The second track starts out with a bass guitar, much like the first song on the album. "Magnetic" is about how we are basically a magnet with God. We are always gonna find Him somehow.

"Traitor" is the third track on the album. Satan is always in disguise and we never know where he is hiding. We will sometimes act like he is our friend but he always will betray us. The fourth song on the album features guest vocals by Bec Hollcraft, lead vocalist of the band Stars In Stereo. "Platonic" is about a couple who fights, but eventually breaks up although one of them is still in love.

When Kristen joined the band, she got a lot of death threats and hate mail. She has also mentioned this is really the first time that she experienced bullying and it hurt her. That is exactly what "Head Underwater" is about. "Sober Serenade" is about someone who has a really bad alcohol addiction. A friend is trying to help them but is getting sick of trying to help so she stops.

"Thread" was one of the songs I was looking most forward to hearing because they played it last year when I saw them. The studio version is one of my favorites on the album. We are always barely hanging by a thread and we need God to help us get through life. Satan will tear our parachute but God is there to catch us. If you are looking for a song that sounds like Lacey, "Marionette" is the one for you. Its another song that is talking about May's bullying.

Everyone sins and everyone lies. Sometimes it get so bad that we can't get out. We fall down a "Well of Lies" and we need God to come rescue us. He will come save us if we agree to trust Him. "City Kids" is probably by favorite on the album. It is about a couple who, years later, walk down the street where they fell in love. Much like the street and their houses, they too have changed and are no longer together.

"Blue Roses" is the eleventh track on the album. The song is about a girl who collects roses from every time that she has been hurt by a guy. Red is the color of pain, but the roses will turn blue eventually. "Home" is the closing track on the standard edition of the album. Everyone is hurt and think that they will amount to nothing. This song encourages those who feel like that.

This album is bittersweet and many of us wish Lacey was still in the band but we do not have to worry, as she has a solo album coming next year. May did a very good job filling Lacey's shoes, as hard as it is. This album is different from anything the band has ever done. We have to be appreciative that the four guys didn't just quit doing music. Although, I would have maybe suggested a name change for the band.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Purchase Links: Standard Edition: iTunes, Amazon MP3; Special Edition: iTunes, Amazon MP3

Top 3 Songs: "Home," "City Kids," "Thread"

For Fans Of: Tonight Alive, Icon For Hire, Hinder

Album Review: Edge of the Earth EP by Swicthfoot

In December 2013, worldly known Rock band Switchfoot released a documentary titled Fading West that documented their last 20 years as a band. It showed concert footage, surfing and interviews, as well as their process in writing songs for the album of the same name. The movie had 7 songs that were not included on the album. Fans were anxiously waiting for the songs to be released and after almost a year, all the unreleased songs are now available on all digital formats. The EP is a must-own for any long-time or new Switchfoot fan. Most of the songs once again don't sound like anything the band has done before, which is why the band has remained one of the world's biggest and most successful Rock bands for ten years since the release of multi-platinum single "Dare You To Move."

The EP starts off with the B-Side title track "Fading West" that was included if you pre-ordered Fading West from either Switchfoot's online store or Family Christian Stores. The song is basically about how they are on tour pretty much all Summer and they are ready to come home. It also describes their past twenty years as a band. Back when the band was first starting out, they were told by several record executives that they saw no talent. (I bet they felt stupid when Dare You To Move was released) That is what the song "Against The Voices" is about. They could have quit, but they didn't and now look at em.

Track number three was my favorite when I watched the movie. The song sounds similar to to the song "BA55" from the original album, with a mainly electronic beat with a bass guitar and not as many vocals. The song is about how sometimes being on tour can make you feel lonely, even when your with you're best friends. "What It Costs" is the first SF song in their 20 year history that we hear Tim Foreman, lead singer Jon's brother, do ALL the vocals on the song. In the movie, the song is playing while Jon gets a call from his wife that their daughter has to have surgery. At the time, he is in Australia. He, of course flies back. He mentions at times like this he mentions that he has faith or doubt and that both are options. Times like these make him question if touring is worth it.

Life goes fast the older you get. That is what "Slow Down My Heartbeat" is about. Everyday is a new day, but it also goes faster. He wants his heartbeat to be slowed down because life is going to fast. "Liberty" is probably the most worshipful Switchfoot song to date. I know I mentioned earlier that Jon questioned if God existed, but he is one of the most faithful men I have met. Everyone questions God in tragedy. God is our Liberty because we can talk to Him anytime and we can totally feel like we are not in the world with Him at times.

The EP ends with the title-track "Edge of the Earth," which is mainly a ukulele throughout the song until about three minutes into the song when all the instruments start playing. It is another song where Jon is talking to God and wants to meet Him at the edge of the earth.

The EP doesn't disappoint. Then again, Switchfoot never seems to disappoint. So many people have been waiting for this to be released and I'm glad they finally were. Once again, they are great songs to roll down the windows and blast at full volume or jam while at the beach. If you don't know the band yet, pick up the EP, you will get to know them well through it.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Purchase Links: iTunes, Amazon MP3

Top 2 Songs: "What It Costs," "Skin & Bones"

For Fans Of: Kings of Leon, NEEDTOBREATHE, Anberlin