Nitrous Gas by Frightened Rabbit

Today's track comes from a Scottish Indie Pop outfit by the name of Frightened Rabbit, This song is off their most recent album Pedestrian Verse, and is one of my absolute favorites.

 

Volume by Trevor Hall

This is Trevor Hall, one of my favorite musicians as of late. He is one of those musicians i wish everyone knew about because the world can only get better with this kind of music.

Elastic Heart by Sia, The Weeknd, Diplo from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Soundtrack

This hot track comes to you straight off the highly anticipated new Hunger Games: Catching Fire. If this song is any indication, the soundtrack to Catching Fire might be as good, if not better than, the movie itself.

*Update: You can listen to the entire Catching Fire soundtrack for free before the album is released, click here to listen.

Brokenness Aside by All Sons and Daughters

This track has been one of my favorites for about two weeks now. The melody is right in line with what I love, and the lyrics couldn't be more scriptural and descriptive of not only myself, but really humanity's struggle with Christ as a whole. This morning, I was inspired through this song to pray a prayer that I had never prayed before, which was "Jesus, in your grace, will you make my story of brokenness into a beautiful one?" There are two mistakes that Christians can make in regards to their brokenness. One is to completely disregard it, view it as 'no big deal' and stay unchanged in light of their relationship with Jesus, and the other is to focus too much on it and lose sight of the work of Christ in their lives. I wholeheartedly fall in the latter category. I can't tell you how many times I've caught myself poring over mistakes I made in relationships years ago, rethinking and regretting sins from the past that I know Christ has forgiven me for, and getting angry at myself for struggling in general. Through Godly relationships and great mentoring, I've learned to move into a healthy place in regards to my brokenness. I'm learning that we are all inwardly bent away from God and towards ourselves, and because of sin, we all struggle to mirror Christ like we were meant to. I'm learning that as Christians, we must have a healthy view of sin and ourselves, but our focus through it all must remain on Jesus and His lordship over all things, because truthfully, our perfectionist tendencies won't make me perfect like Christ, and neither will our blatant disregard of sin.

Real Good Hands by Gregory Porter

 Today's song draws inspiration from a recent article posted by Relevant Magazine titled 'What Men Want in a Godly Woman.' It is important to note that this article is part 2 of a series of which you can find the second article here. Working within the context of what the writer describes as a 'Godly man', i find her list pretty accurate. I would encourage you to read the whole series, but i think it can all be summed as "Christ is the source of all life, mirror Him daily." As I grow further in my walk with God, and away from the world's definition of spirituality, truth, and beauty, what I look for in women has changed. Now more than ever, I look for a woman who mirrors Christ to me with the best of her ability.
In the article, she writes "To real men, beauty and attraction are defined by so much more than physical appearance.. They are looking for a woman who resonates with the beauty of kindness, compassion, humor, strength, love, joy and gentleness." Do you guys notice anything here? The majority of that list are fruits of the spirit (not including humor, but lets be honest, God has THE BEST sense of humor and it only follows that his children should too). One of the things that i find incredibly beautiful is when i'm in church, the pastor's preaching, and I see a woman taking notes for (i presume) later study. Do you know how rare that is? When I see that, I'm truly amazed that in our generation, someone my age is sitting there with a pen and paper, writing down bible verses and quotes so they can study it later! its truly one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen and its much more attractive to me than any outfit she could ever wear because unlike clothes, habits like that speak to a woman's true character. This is something that is very specific to me, and i'm sure not all men look for it as a sign of a woman's worth, but it goes to show that as men mature in Christ, their definition of beauty switches from being dominated by the purely physical, to a bigger emphasis on a woman's character, and more specifically, a woman's character that mirrors Christ. This includes things like (as mentioned in the article) Realness, confidence, beauty, and passion, but also purity, faith, honesty, and vulnerability. Theoretically, these are great but we must also remember that we are deeply flawed and that no one mirrors Christ perfectly, but we must strive daily, and when a woman strives after God, a man who is also intent on pursuing God's heart will recognize the true beauty in her. Like my mentor once told me, "The greatest gift you could ever give your significant other is to love Christ, and love Him well."

Forgiving Myself by Amy Stroup and Trent Dabbs

 There seems to be a lot of talk going on about marriage these days and exactly what it means. As a single guy in my 20's, I can't even claim to fully understand the purpose and transforming process of marriage, but what I can do is read what others like myself who are currently married or have been married have to say about it. One of my favorite artists of all time, Scott Erickson, recently posted an article in commemoration of his 8 year marriage anniversary on some things he has learned about marriage, and while i would encourage you to read the whole thing, I'm going to post one of my favorite excerpts from the article below, Enjoy!

  "Here’s the truth about all our lives… we are going to fail. And not just fail in baking directions or getting the wrong lightbulbs. I’m talking about a deep deep failure. A deep failure of character. A deep failure of faith. A deep failure of being able to “make something of yourself”. And in those moments, we experience great fear… because the brokeness in us believes that we are only deserving of love if we are deserving of love. This is why vulnerability is scary… because we all believe that we won’t be loved when we are deeply seen for who we are. This is why most of us dismiss God or faith or anything like that. It’s not so much of the unbelievableness of it all, but the unbelievableness of a God that would love us as we are now. We aren’t interested in any spiritual pursuit because we don’t know how to be good enough for those beliefs. This also can happen in love between each other too… because I guarantee you that you will find out things about each other and yourself that you may not have enough love for. That’s the scariest thing about marriage… is that you really don’t have enough love on your own to make it happen. But here’s what happens. When you reach those places where you reach the end of yourself, but you hold onto the commitment you are making right now in front of all your friends and family to never leave…. to never leave… you’ll find there is more love and grace available to you. There is more love for you to give and receive. This is when you get to experience miracles because this is where the divine enters in and shows you the Love that you’ve always believed in but never have experienced. And that’s what we are all looking for… a place to fully belong. I’m not saying this is easy. I’m thankful to be on the receiving end of this. This hasn’t been my best year. I’ve been covered under a blanket of depression for a long time…. and i didn’t have it within me to pull up my bootstraps and be worthy of love. But my wife loved saw me where I was at… and she still loved me…. and being loved in your bottom moments is the way to rise again."

I Was a Fool by Tegan and Sara

Today's pick comes from canadian folk-rock duo Tegan and Sara. I Was A Fool is an upbeat, albeit somber take on the foolish things we do for love. Listen and enjoy!

P.s. I recently stumbled upon this article from a closet optimist like myself, read with wisdom as he's writing from a general standpoint, but i love his heart.

Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran

 There is a popular stereotype currently circulating the interwebs that red-headed people/Gingers are soul-less people who collect the souls of others and then proudly display them as freckles on various parts of their bodies (but usually the face).

They don't even trust themselves, apparently.

As imagined, the general red-headed community is pretty upset about this stereotype and have gone as far as creating an organization called NARPLE, the National Alliance of Redheaded People for Liberal Education, with a full fledged celebrity spokesman.

Hey girl, lets get along.

This, of course, is absolutely nothing compared to Ed Sheeran, who so artfully defies the 'red-heads are soulless' stereotype that it makes one wonder if it wasn't instigated by the same band of monkeys who were banging on a typewriter and eventually wrote all the works of Shakespeare.

But not  Twilight. That's not on us.

Ed Sheeran has become a symbol of defiance for the red-headed community, not unlike the middle finger was a symbol of defiance for french people or something, and whenever faced with that wretched stereotype, the educated ginger will simply bring up Ed Sheeran as a polite way of saying "Eff You"

He is cursing you out in so many ways right now.

Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran is by no means the epitome of his talent and musical artistry, but it is my favorite song on his debut album. He also does something on this song that i believe more artists should fully utilize, which is the art of the secret song. This track is 8+ minutes long for a reason. At the end of the song, Sheeran transitions us into a sort of melancholy hymn that reminds me very much of Christmas. It is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard and it artfully defeats any notions that people with red hair are lacking in soul.

This article brought to you by NARPLE
NARPLE, education for idiots who will believe anything.

Home by Gabrielle Aplin

 I have a friend who will be traveling to the tenderloin district in San Francisco soon. For those of you who have never heard of the tenderloin district, it is one of the most poverty-stricken areas in SF with prostitution and drugs running rampant in the area. My friend Andreza, who is incredibly passionate about bringing God's love to such areas that others choose to avoid, is going to be spending some time there this summer on a mission trip. As many of you may know, such trips can be quite expensive. This is where you my faithful readers come in. The majority of us will most likely not be spending our summer in  poverty stricken areas in hopes of seeing healing and transformation, let us now use our abundance to support individuals like Andreza who choose to bravely leave their comfort zone to do Christ's work. There are two ways you can give support.

1. By going to http://www.gofundme.com/2xfow8 and donating out of your abundance to her mission. You can choose to donate anonymously if wish.

Andreza

2. By praying. Seriously. Pray.

It is my hope that you who have chosen to read this, will do at least one if not both of the options above. This may seem like a small thing to some, but we know that God often uses seemingly small things to make big changes.

Victor's Crown By Darlene Zschech + (The Wam is Back!) Rolf Wam Fjell

I am very excited about Revealing Jesus, the new album by Darlene Zschech, being released soon. Not only because it will feature awesome songs like the one below, but also because the incredibly talented ROLF WAM FJELL (former drummer for Hillsong United and Hillsong Live) will be on drums!! As many of you know, I highly respect Rolf's playing style and he has served as an inspiration for many drummers just like myself. I hope you enjoy the song and the additional screenshots of Rolf below!



  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

 

Young Blood By Birdy

This is a poem that my younger sister had to write about herself for her freshman english class. I particularly enjoyed it and i think you all will too.
 P.s. The poem resounds greatly with the song playing in the background.



A poem 
By Grace Adedipe

I am a passionate, vulnerable, immigrant girl. 
I wonder why the world is the way it is, what happened? 
I hear our future calling, predestined, but waiting to be determined. 
I see bruises on the faces of the boys in this classroom who dare to laugh at my poem.
I want to be the change I want to see in the world.
I am a passionate, vulnerable, immigrant girl. 

I pretend not to feel the shame of my differences. 
I feel the weight of my father's gaze upon me, the apple of his eye. 
I touch the future as it looms ever closer, yet so far away. 
I worry about finding balance within myself. 
I cry for the farmer, never to know the fruits of his labor. 
I am a passionate, vulnerable, immigrant, girl. 

I understand that we all need community; good friends to rely on.
I say "seek wisdom and learn from others' mistakes." 
I dream of a tough, unified woman; a woman that finally belongs.
I try to find peace; with my father, my mother, with myself. 
I hope I will see you all again my dear friends, and we will look back and laugh, and laugh, and laugh. 
I am a passionate, vulnerable, immigrant girl.

So It Begins by S.O.

I've had my readers ask me why I don't have any rap songs on here and my answer is always the same, I stay away from most rap songs because its hard to find good quality (subjective i know) rap music that actually uplifts and tells the truth. The truth? but aren't there songs out there that chronicle the struggle of growing up in the hood, with no money, dad gone, and mother addicted to an uncontrolled substance? definitely there are, but when I listen to a music genre as message oriented as rap is, I look for 2 things; a sick beat, and a meaningful message that uplifts consciousness and promotes constructive thought. Those are much harder to find, and while i will listen to other kinds of rap music, those have consistently been my favorite. That brings us to this track by Christian Musician S.O. As I write this, I am filled with a certain sense of pride in my generation for choosing to invest time in amazing musicians such as Lecrae, Trip lee, and S.O. As many can tell, there has been a recent upward shift in the quality of music that Christian Rappers have been creating, We are no longer in the days when 'Christian Rap' is considered re-mixing 50 Cent's 'In Da Club' by throwing in a few Jesus lines, and reworking the chorus by replacing 'club' with 'church' and 'sex' with 'pray'. Now more than ever, Christian rappers are original, artistic, visionary, and can more than hold their own against their contemporary counterparts. This track by S.O. is exactly that; its beautiful, thoughtful, well written, and filled with truth. I've listened to this song more than 80 times (work cited: iTunes) and i honestly look forward to more music by individuals such as S.O. Listen, Enjoy, and let me know whar your favorite rap songs are in the comments below.



 P.S. I also love songs by Tupac, b.o.b, Drake, Kanye West, Jay-Z, etc.. but rap songs like the one above are by far my favorite.

From Me by Caroline Smith

I heard this song for the first time two days ago as i was getting late night Starbucks with my sister and a friend. It was so good that I had my younger sister stand in the middle of the Starbucks with my phone so she could SoundHound it. Its soft, mellow, and melodic. Its also a great soundtrack to my weekend as I witnessed my best friend from high school get married to the woman of his dreams.It was the perfect weekend, and it felt good to hang out with the crew. Below are some pictures from the wedding. Enjoy!

P.S. I caught the Garter! making the fifth one I've caught in the past few years :)

King and Lionheart by Of Monsters and Men

I can guarantee you that this will not be the last time you will see Of Monsters and Men on Heartstring and Melody. In a matter of hours, I have fallen in love with nearly every song they have ever released. This is partly due to the fact that they are from Iceland and the Icelandic culture produces some amazing musicians (think Bjork, and Sigur Ros) and their particular sound is incredible to me. A quick fact about the Icelandic culture; according to the OECD Better Life Index, "Icelanders are known for their deep sense of community: an OECD survey found that 98% believe they know someone they could rely on in a time of need, higher than in any other industrialized country. Similarly, only 6% reported "rarely" or "never" socializing with others. This high level of social cohesion is attributed to the small size and homogeneity of the population, as well as to a long history of harsh survival in an isolated environment, which reinforced the importance of unity and cooperation." hmm just let that sink in for a second. I believe that this deeply rooted sense of community adds an extra layer of beauty to their artistic expressions and this song and its following music video would be the epitome of all of that. King and Lionheart as a song by itself is incredible; the melody is clear and fulfilling, it's well written and produced, and the message of bravery in the face of fear is filled with depth (food for the soul), but when you throw in the music video.. WOW! The music video is an experience that points to that beauty found in a sense of community that I was talking about earlier. There is so much depth in the video that you might have to watch it twice to understand it. For example, What are those glowing animals? Are they actual creatures? A representation of the Human spirit? Why are those men chasing this family of two? Do the men represent the evil in our soul and the light animals the good? why is a machine (a man made entity) able to destroy the animal (which seems to be magical in nature)? Is that pointing to man's dominion over the natural world (whether for good or for evil)? SO. MUCH. DEPTH. Now some may be wondering, why ask all of those questions? whats the point? and to that I would say, all you have to do is simply look at your life. You will quickly realize that your life (and life in general), is much more than what meets the eye. Life is spirit and body. Soul and Mind. Life is all questions and very few answers. Some see that and choose to ignore it, but others, a very few individuals, choose not only to embrace that, but also to express that in art and in music. Of Monsters and Men is a collection of those individuals. Listen, Enjoy, and Share if you wish!
 
  P.S. here is a video of them performing the song live!

London and Soloman Vandy by James Newton Howard (Blood Diamond Soundtrack) (Bonus+ Music)

Why hello there! Where have you been Israel? you ask, well I've been preoccupied with work, life, girls, and all sorts of other nonsense. Its been a time of growth, change, and awkward conversations to say the least, and I am once again willing to lavish all my great stories upon you, my dear readers. This week is a double feature of sorts. If any of you have ever seen the movie Blood Diamond, then you know exactly where this is headed (or maybe you don't.. it depends.. did you attend college?). The movie is one of my favorite movies of all time (up there with Hotel Rwanda, Sin Nombre, and O Brother Where Art Thou?)and the story is one of redemption and survival among utmost chaos. So it should come as no surprise that the score for such a movie would be spectacular. As previously mentioned, I'm not crazy about listening to movie and video games scores like some of my friends (see: Simeon Snow), but there are some scores that stand out so well that you can't help but notice them outside of the schematic of the movie/scene itself. These two scores are exactly that. When you listen to London and Solomon Vandy by James Newton Howard, you quickly realize that on their own, these songs are magnificent; they make you feel as if you were a character in the movie. When I listen to Soloman Vandy, I feel like I AM Solomon as he carries Archer up the mountain to his death, i feel his pain as he watches Archer die, and I feel his joy as he witnesses his son's redemption from a life of murder and violence. People, that is what a good soundtrack does, and Mr. James Newton Howard has definitely outdone himself with this one. Listen, enjoy, and tell me what you think in comments below. P.s. Here are a few of my other favorite movie scores for you to enjoy! Let me know what some of your favorites are!  
Now We Are Free from Gladiator Healing Katniss from The Hunger Games Halo 4.. Nough said Hace Tuto Guagua from Argo