Cool Covers

I don't think it is a surprise to anyone that I love music and have probably way too much music to my name.

Lately, I've been listening to White Heart's 1986 release, "Don't Wait for the Movie" when I noticed what a great cover this album had. {I understand album is an archaic term and my kids, if they read this, are wondering what I'm talking about; album is the same as CD cover.) Here is a sample of a few covers I have always admired.



Here is another White Heart, "Vital Signs." Sure, they put themselves on the cover, but at least its clever and they still tied the title into the shot.



Petra generally had great album covers. My favorites are here: "Never Say Die" and "More Power to Ya."



Isn't this better than just some cool shot of the band.



Steve Taylor did some nice covers and these are two I like. "I Want to Be a Clone" and "Meltdown."



The Meltdown cover is obviously very simple and yet I'm drawn to the colors.



Michael Roe and the 77s are showcased below. 77s are one of my favorite bands, though I tend to primarily like their 1st 3 albums.

That said, Here is "Drowning with Land in Sight"



The highly controversial (at the time) "Pray Naked." Interesting choice on the naked representatives for the cover shot.



And "Sticks and Stones" although the album title and the cover have nothing to do with one another.



Prodigal had some good covers in their short 3 album history. Here is Self-titled, Electric Eye, and Just Like Real Life.





I wish this would have been the whole album cover rather than just an inset picture.



Of course, there are times when a cover is good simply because that particular album is just great music.



Chris Tomlin, "Arriving." Again, simple tie-in to the project title.



Caedmon's Call, "Back Home."



Skillet, "Comatose." By the way, if you don't have this CD, run, don't walk to get it.



Here is probably my favorite cover so far. Thousand Foot Krutch, "Phenomenom."



Well, I'll have to revisit this at another time. As a plethora of covers have been left out. Where is a nice pic of Sweet Comfort Band's "Cutting Edge?"

Also, if anyone is confused on WHAT I THINK A BAD COVER is. Here is a prime example.



Actually, bad is too kind of a word to describe this cover.

Forgive Me

Riding to work this morning (That's right I am momentarily back on the bike making the 10 mile trek to work each day--it's harder than it sounds) I listened to a tune from the CD I happened to write an earlier blog entry. The song is "Forgive Me" and it just hit a nerve this morning.

I've been really making an attempt to be more regular with my time with God over the last month and yet this last week out of fatigue and other busyness God has been placed on the backburner or at least my time with Him. Stinks. I really have missed the our time together. Although, I've tried to continue to pray consistently.

Let me first give credit where credit is do:

Words and music by Manwell Reyes, Pablo Villatoro, Blanca Reyes, Andy Anderson, Sky Michaels
© 2006 Dayspring Music, LLC (BMI) / Voive Music Publishing/ Justin Boller Publishing Designee (ASCAP)

Father, I’m going through some heavy things
It seems like this world ain’t getting any better
The more we try to get closer to You
The farther we run from Your throne

I’ve spent so many nights wonderin’ when will it end
When will the day come when happiness begins
I’m running the race but it seems too hard to win
I’m sick of mourning my stomach is throwing up in the morning

I’m calling for help and watching it melt away
My heart’s been put on display and put away
In many ways, many times I told myself it was ok
And anger was the price that was paid
While these faded dreams just screamed to bring them home

The burden was too heavy I kept running from the throne
I can’t take it any longer
I can taste my spirit hunger
God please help me get home

Chorus:
Lord though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I’m not scared cause You’re holding my breath
I only fear that I don’t have enough time left
To tell the world that there’s no time left, Lord please

I’ve come to terms that I’m burning both sides of the rope
And I’m hoping that self-control would kick in before I’m choking off
The sin that be destroying every fiber I got
I need the Lord in every way I’ll never make it I’m not
Going back to the way I was before Christ in my life
I couldn’t do it I would lose it there’s no point to the fight
And I’m writing this song, for the people who don’t belong
I pray away the pain you feel from all the things that went wrong
Inside a life that’s filled with anger and disappointment
Cause daddy treated you weaker than all of the other kids
It’s annoying and I feel for all of you who wanna give up
You feel stuck I feel the same way Lord help us stay up
You couldn’t pay me to abandon the idea of true hope
That I could make it through this life into a place where there’s no crying
I’m dying to find You with open arms when I go
Knowing You love me and You waiting to give rest to my soul

Lord I don't know what I'm struggling for
There’s go to be more
Than this life I know
But still I’m here fighting to never give up
I find strength in Your love
And You will see me through

I need to simply continue to be reminded there is comfort and peace in Him. In the midst of all struggles, He is there and has been there for me.

A Beautiful Thing

In 1987, I heard Russ Taff interviewed and he made the statement,

"Music has a way of speaking to us like nothing else."

I definitely agree, and my wife and family know I agree by the amount of music that I continue to purchase (though it has declined a little post-kids).

Formerly, I bought music based on whatever was being released in that particular genre. Now, there usually has to be at least 1 or 2 good songs I've heard that I want to keep hearing over and over. And fortunately, music buying has changed over the years. When I was a kid, buying 45s of your favorite songs for a buck was the norm. With the rise of cassette tapes and then the glamor of CD's, buying a single became more costly. Nowadays, I can once again get my favorite song for $0.99 (Itunes, etc.) and then see if I want to plop down additional monies for the whole album (I still call it an album even though its nowhere near being an LP album).

One of the better new releases is the 1st offering from Group 1 Crew. I really enjoyed the first single that came out last winter, "Everybody's Gotta Song to Sing." It's Hip Hop/Rap. I'm usually more of a pop/rock guy with an occasional harder rock beat (no raspy incoherent screaming though). This is fun and lively music. And I thought it deserved a comment as it is one of the few albums both the wife and I have enjoyed (she's had it on autorepeat the past month or so).

Lyrically, its very simple: Love one another, sing a new song, clap and dance around in a circle before the Lord. Its quite infectious and the lyrics fit with the beat nicely. (I mean what would you expect? John Piper lyrics.) Rating each song from 1 to 5 stars, I came up with 3 Five-star, 4 Four-star, 5 Three-star, and 1 Two-Star. Though I can't imagine a second album being better than this, I'd be content if this was their only release.

Besides "Everybody," the other notables are "Forgive Me" and the current single, "Love is a Beautiful Thing" (see the video). And at $7.98 on Amazon.com, that's less than $1 per song (which is closer to buying a LP in the 70s with a price of $6.99). So much for inflation.

Word.