Lights and Sounds

Hey everyone,

Well I recently purchased the new album by Yellowcard, Lights and Sounds. So I decied to write a blog about the album and how I feel about it.

First off, how does Lights and Sounds compare to Yellowcard's last release, Ocean Avenue? From a musical standpoint, the album is slower in nature. The songs aren't nearly as driving or as "punk." The things that origianlly attracted me to Ocean Ave. are all but missing from L&S. The album is not that catchy, it doesn't have that really different sound that Yellowcard had with Ocean Ave. While the songs are slower in general, there are still a few songs that tear it up. The title track, for instance, really grabs listeners with catchy beats and clever lyrics. Unfortunately, this album won't bring in new listeners as readily. Ocean Ave. was filled with songs that are great and grab you. L&S is a solid album musically, but much slower and more depressed in general.

Perfect segeway into an evaluation of the lyrical content. While Yellowcard has managed to stay above their peers by not putting profane lyrics in their music, just like everyone else, they have managed to maintain the status quo by writing a myriad of depressing songs that won't fill you up, but will let you down. One thing that I really liked about Ocean Ave. is its consistently positive vibe that it put out. No such luck with L&S. One depressing song after another. In fact the message of one song is, "Grey skies clouding up the things we used to see with wide eyes. Maybe everything was meant to be this way. Will it ever change, but are we stuck here on our own? It's all gone grey, It's all gone grey..." (Grey). Then they have their token, "anti-war" "anti-Bush" song sporting lyrics like, "...And then your heroes say, that miles away, "We lost another one that we sent with a gun." They're gonna miss him he was two weeks from twenty and there's still no shame, From the man to blame..." (Two Weeks From Twenty). This song clearly demonstrates Yellowcard's position that Bush is to blame for the death of "young people with bright futures" and then incinuates that we are to blame because we elected Bush.

On the flip side, the album is actually pretty good overall. It fun to listen to, you just can't listen to it over and over. Plus it has an awesome song called "How I Go" on it. This song is basically about family and how legacies are passed on. The thing that caught my ear was the verbage stolen right from Tim Burton's film Big Fish. It actually uses the stories that the father tells as examples. Here's the final verse of the song, "Son I am not everything you thought that I would be, But every story I have told is part of me, Son I leave you now but you have so much more to do, And every story I have told is part of you." I love that song.


All in all, the album was disapointing. Those Yellowcard fans looking for another Ocean Ave. are going to be in for a major let down, but the album stands well on itself. I wouldn't anticipate a ton of new listeners for Yellowcard because of L&S, but it holds its own. Definetly not a sophmore slump.

What is Friendship?

I've been having some really great conversations with friends recently about what friendship is. Its been brought on by people asking the questions, "what does a good friend look like?" or "am I a good friend?" I was recently talking to someone I deeply respect about this issue and he said this, "When I find someone who wants to be devoted to me and is concerned with how I am and how they can be my friend, I spend time with that person." Put simply, a friend is someone who is devoted to you and you are to them. A friend is "an ever present help in trouble." All those hoky phrases that you've heard over the years about friendship, are true. "A friend in need is a friend indeed," this is co true. THe people that some running to your side when you need them are your true friends. The person who is genuinely interested in your well-being is a friend. A friend is not someone you live with, a friend is not someone in your disciplship group, a friend is not someone who you watch movies with or play Halo with. A friend is someone who loves you and is generally caring for you.

Well, if friends aren't people that you merely interact with, what are those people. I divide people into four different categories.

1 - Best Friends - this is the category that is reserved for the best of friends. These are the people that you will have life long relationships with. These are the people you would ask to stand for you at your wedding. These are the people who are there when you need them. These are the people that you stand in the parking lot with talking until all hours of the morning, long after Starbucks has closed. These are the people that you enjoy spending time with most. You make time for these people. When you get a call from one of them, your heart is instantly warmed at the chance to be around them. These are the people you would take a bullet for. You can really only have 3 or 4 of these people in your life. IMO

2 - Friends - this category belong to those people that you have good relationships with. People that you feel comfortable around and spend time with, but you don't share your deepest longings with them. You have great convos and can really be encouraged by them (and vice versa), but they aren't really, deeply, close to you. Friends are a necessary part of life, but not as much as best friends.

3 - Buddies - these are your "utility belt" people. When you need someone to hang with, because everyone else is busy, or you need another person to play Halo with, these are your people. These may be people you know well, they may be in your small groups or at your work place, but they hold no real "value" to you. They are just fun to be around.

4 - Acquaintences - this is the final category of people. They happen to be lowest on the totem pole of importance to you. These are your friend's brothers and sisters, or the guy your friend knows. These are those people that hang out with your people. You know them, and maybe even have an exclusive conversation with them once and a while, but you don't really care about them. You might have their phone number, but you're not likely to call them.


So that's how I divide the populace into groups so that I can manage my emotional energy. I am very devoted to my best friends, mostly devoted to my friends, somewhat devoted to my buddies, and hardly devoted to my aquaintances.

One thing that I have learned in my 23 years of life is that, to have a friend, you have to be a friend. People aren't going to invest in your life if they only see you as an aquaintence. In order to have someone as your friend, you have to so them you care by investing in their life. Some people will never be your friend, no matter how much you invest in them. You will never be some peoples friend, no matter how much they invest in your life. Friendship is a give and take thing, mostly more give than take, and rarely more taking than giving, but it take two to tango.

And most of all, Jesus Christ gives us the ultimate example of friendship. John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. This chould be our model when we interact with friends. We should say, "I am willing to give everything I have for your well being."

Ahh the joys of having a real job...

Well...today I sat in traffic for 40 minutes, and was late to work. But it was ok because everyone else thought we started at 9...except me and my boss so...major points for me.

The other joy of having a real job is training for one. These few days have been rough...but I'm getting through it. Looking forward to actually working here at Monster and selling some shtuff. Makin' some moola...ya know. ANywho, I'll be in Boston for the rest of this week, back early Saturday afternoon. So peace out all.

The power of Google...

I found this....thought it was histerical.

http://www.storysprawl.com/orphanage/books/detective/1.html

Bloggin' in '06

Hey there all!!!

I'm back from HI, which was great, and I've started my new job at Monster. Oh Yeah, a real job. Finally. I am actually writing this blog from my desk at the Tempe office of Monster. Yeah, I have my own desk, with my own whiteboard, and computer, and file holder thingy. Yeah, its cool.

So far so good on the new year. I don't believe in resolutions so I don't make any, but my life all in all is changing, so I'm changing as a person.

Check back soon for more updates.

Blogging from Hawaii!!!

Aloha, all you folks out there in internet land. I am in Hawaii, more specifically on the island of Kauai.

I just thought I would let know you, that I'm still alive and kicking. Having a great time here, but also looking forward to getting back. I start my new job at Monster.com next monday, which is cool, but scary at the same time. I'll be making more money and stuff, but Its a real job. Ya know.

Anywhos...Happy New Year to everyone and I will see ya when I get back. My phone works fine here to feel free to give me a ring if you so desire.


TTFN