[This is Music] Song of the day: Haven (Conveyer)

I've basically been in love with Conveyer's music ever since I first listened to "Worn Out," but that's not exactly the reason why I chose Conveyer's new single "Haven" to be my Song of the Day. I met Conveyer's current vocalist, Danny, at a coffee shop in Wisconsin back in 2012 when he was with All Became New. Hearing his story of faith encouraged me to press on toward the goal of the gospel, and though I did fall out along the way, "Slumlord's Prayer" (by All Became New) was something that I held onto for encouragement. The line, "No longer sleeping with doors painted red, we laugh in the face of death as we pass over it," became incredibly real to me, like a beacon of light that found me no matter how deep I sank. In 2014, I met Danny again, this time with Conveyer, and we shared stories of faith and doubt and learning and growing and understanding this thing called "grace". Once again, I was encourage to press on and fight the good fight of faith. It was one of those conversations that left me convinced it was orchestrated by God.

When I heard Haven, I could feel the lyrics deep in my soul; even on a day when I was very depressed and feeling emotionally and physically numb, there was something powerful in the song that seemed to wake me up. It is extremely rare for music to have that effect on me anymore, but I think there was something about knowing it was Danny singing those words that brought my mind back to our conversations in 2012 and 2014, reminding me that it's okay to have doubts and struggles, but that I shouldn't doubt God's power to change lives (even my own). I'm still called to press on toward the goal of the gospel, no matter how many times I have to keep getting back up.

Thanks Danny.



Lyrics:

This is my aberration from the world I've come to know
Opposed to all that hinders the freedom of my soul
Faithless in a future disregarding my conviction
Remove me from the mindset of man

I hope I'm not just counting down the days
Until I relapse and forget to relate
There's got to be more than what we're all conditioned to expect
From this self-centered world of hate and regret, pain and neglect
I'm trying my best

I've had a change of heart
You have captivated this man
I will sing praises to show them
A chorus carried up on high

Ignoring importance, ignoring the critical
Existential urgency
Ignoring our purpose, ignoring the vital
Bled dry by apathy
Avoiding moral imperative

Dead without life, an end with no means
A population of selfish men who have no one to blame but themselves
The world is plain and simple; depravity of the heart
Living in a constant spiral of moral disregard
You will be my Haven for the rest of my days
Refine me from my self-centered ways

[This is Music] SOTD: Dissimulation

The piece I've chosen to be my song of the day is "The Awakening (Dissimulation)" by Hope for the Dying, the title track from their (fantastically well done) album, "Dissimulation." The reason I chose it is because the lyrics really encouraged me today: that I have been offered a new beginning, to die to sin and live a new life in Christ. That grace, that new beginning, is something that I hope I never take for granted. Even if you're not into metal, the message of these lyrics is profound. I hope you can be as encouraged by this as I was.

Lyrics:

How could this be
That out of the darkness
A light has been cast upon me?
And what would I do
If my own irreverence
Forever kept me from the truth?
I've watched the aging face
In the reflection stare at me;
Watching hour by hour
He affords no sympathy.
I've tried to dim the lights
To avoid accusing stares
But He always find my eyes
and reminds me who I am.
I've felt the hand of mercy
Reaching down for me
To pull me from the trenches
To calm the stormy seas
To wash me in the waters
To cleanse me in the blood
To start my new beginning
And vanquish what I was

[This is Music] Song of the Day: Messy Masterpiece

There are a few reasons why I chose this to be my song of the day, but right now I need its encouragement to remind me that despite how messed up I am, I'm still loved immeasurably by the God of the universe. Even aside from anxiety and depression, it's so easy to get down on myself for the mistakes I make on a daily basis: the things I think that shouldn't really be passing through my mind, the way I look at people, the things I sometimes mutter under my breath in frustration, or even the attitudes I hold toward certain things. Yet, "As you look upon your messy masterpiece, my heart beats one step ahead of my feet."

Hopefully you can be as encouraged by this as I am.

Lyrics:

Son, you are my song, let's hear something beautiful.
As you look upon your messy masterpiece, my heart beats one step ahead of my feet.
"No guilt in life, no fear in death; from life's first cry to final breath;
No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from my Father's hand."

Love of the Father is the only hope for a wayward son.
Blood and water paved the painful road home, done.
Grace and mercy come with every single morning dawn.
This heavenly heartbeat's the only reason I can carry on.

Kid, see yourself through your Father's eyes;
It's not the same shade as the world cries.

I confess, I don't know much about love;
Where it's from is just so high above.
But until my time arrives, love is the reason I'm alive.
Son, you are my song, let's hear something beautiful.
As you look upon your messy masterpiece, my heart beats one step ahead of my feet.

[This is Music] Album of the Day: Being as an Ocean

I used to do these "song of the day" posts, now I think I'll add to it with some "Album of the Day" posts. Of course, you probably shouldn't bank on these happening every single day.

Anyway, today's album is Being as an Ocean's self-titled record. My reason why? Honest guys talking honestly about struggles with faith, and it's freaking awesome to listen to. Enjoy.

[This is Music] Why Is This So Good?

Seriously, why in the world is this song so addicting? Ugh.

Anyway... I'm not normally a fan of Imagine Dragons (can we all admit that Radioactive sucked?), but this one has a certain tension and build to it that is quite emotive. Granted, it's from Transformers, but tonight I was on Chatroulette and a guy from Germany was listening to it. I heard in the background and asked, "That song sound epic, what is it?" He then sent me a link to this. I think we can all admit that this song is awesome.

[This is Music] I Can't Sleep

So, this could go without saying, but I have a hard time sleeping. A lot. And, well, to be frank, I kinda don't mind so much. But, here's a song that I've been listening to lately that kinda relays how I feel.

Props to K for inadvertently introducing me to this song by leaving a mix CD in my car.

[This is Music] Something Different

Thought I'd listen to something a little different tonight. Suddenly, loneliness and isolation has never had a more beautiful soundtrack.

[This is Music] Keep The Party Alive

One band I've liked since 2008 (though I was too "hardcore" back then to ever admit it) is Family Force 5. Their song "Keep The Party Alive" has long been one of my favorites, and since I'm listening to it right now, I'd like to share it with you.

[This is Music] That (Smokey) Taboo

I've been hanging out with this girl lately who has absolutely fantastic taste in music. She has a habit of making mix CDs and playing them in people's cars. A month ago she left a CD in my car that I didn't even bother to take out of the player because the songs were just that good. Saturday night she left another one in my car (bad for her, good for me, great for you) and I decided to look up one of the songs that was on it. Fortunately, I actually found it on YouTube.

Here it is. Enjoy.

[This is Music] What I'm Listening To Tonight

So I have a story behind this one.

Back in 2010 I was at Lifest, a 5-day music fest with 6 stages. The smallest stage was in a barn, and it was called "The Pit". It was where smaller, lesser-known bands played. More underground bands would actually walk the grounds handing out promotional flyers for their time slot to every person they encountered. If I recall correctly, someone approached me and said, "Hey, come see Ilia at The Pit tomorrow!" Well, I had no idea who they were so I dismissed it. But then I went to The Pit anyway to see another band. It may have been Mychildren Mybride, but I don't entirely recall.

Anyway, I ended up getting there at the wrong time and Ilia played before the band I was there to see. So, I listened. If I remember correctly, they were an all-female band at the time, and then I was surprised, because they were good. Not bashing all-female bands, but I don't generally see many, and if I do, it's not usually something that catches my full and undivided attention. But this group was an exception.

Fast-forward a couple years, and Ilia goes on a hiatus because of personal problems between the singer and someone else. A rocky road full of changes later, and Ilia's back touring with their original drummer and a new singer.

And their new music sounds RAD.

They came to my school and played a show last week, and I was SHOCKED. Their return sounds even better than their original stuff! So of course I bought some merch and asked if I could promote their new music on my YouTube channel. If I can see them again, I definitely will.

[This is Music] What I'm Listening to Today

Still on this Mixhoud kick. He's got a knack for putting together compilations that are easy to listen to. Today I'm listening to #8. 

[This is Music] What I'm Listening To Tonight

Mixhound has got some pretty sweet hour-long chillstep compilations that are GREAT for study sessions. Here's the one I'm listening to right now.

[This is Music] Oh, 2-D

I have a confession to make: I really like the Gorillaz.

I first started liking them around 2005 or so, and stopped liking them for years... But now, I'm starting to like them again. There's something enjoyably refreshing about breaking away from the boring monotony of bands within genres starting to sound the same (i.e. metalcore bands all sound the same, hardcore bands all sound the same, rock bands are sounding the same, melodic hardcore bands are sounding the same) and going off to something entirely different. It's like bursting forth from a stinky dorm bathroom into the cool, crisp air of a fall morning.

But it's not just the instrumentation that is enjoyably refreshing (and refreshingly enjoyable), but also the lyrical content and structuring. The simple poetic statements are enjoyable ("Up on melancholy hill there's a plastic tree. Are you here with me?" "Stereo I want it on. It's taken me far too long. Don't think I'm not all in this world.") But I also enjoy the vocals themselves: no, I'm not talking about the fact that he's singing and not screaming. I'm talking about the mellowness and the lack of crisp dictation: it blends better with the music and allows the instrumentation to set the personality of the song and and not so much the lyrics themselves.

Plus, these three songs are just super chill to listen to. Can you guess which one is my favorite?






Obviously, I love music and am mildly eclectic in my taste, but I'll always have my favorites. Sometimes, it just takes a break away from the monotony of what I've come to call "normal" to see that there's more colors than grey.