My World, My Words

Friday, February 28, 2014

27 Albums That Shaped the First 27 Years of My Life, #15: We the Kings - We the Kings

#15: We the Kings – We the Kings
Release Date: October 2, 2007
When I first heard the album: November 2008

Why I loved it then: Since 2001, I’ve been drawn to pop punk music, but in October and November 2008, I began to look for new pop punk bands that I had yet to discover. Around this time, my gym decided to start playing “Check Yes Juliet”. The first time I heard it, I hated it. Then I heard it again, and it suddenly clicked. I decided to check out the rest of the album. It wasn’t anything groundbreaking, but it was the kind of music I found myself humming to all day. I actually made a video saying goodbye to my Richards kids with “Skyway Avenue” in the background. It was fun music for a fun time of my life.

Why I still love it now: This album distinctly defines a particular period of my life. It was the soundtrack to my life immediately following student teaching. In fact, after listening to this album, I bought a We the Kings band shirt. It was the first band shirt I ever owned. This album reminds me of a time and place that I spend a lot of time wishing to return to. I can’t listen to it without thinking of my Richards kids. “All Again for You” also served as the soundtrack for an entire "thing" (don't know what else to call it) with someone who was very important to my life at that time. When I listen to this album, I feel like I am swept back to November 2008, if only for a moment.

Lingering Lyric: “You were everything that's bad for me/ Make no apologies/ I'm crushed/ Black and blue/ But you know I'd do it all again for you”
Top Tracks: Skyway Avenue, Check Yes Juliet, All Again for You

Previous Entries
27. Avalon - In a Different Light
26. The Dangerous Summer - Golden Record
25. Just Surrender - If These Streets Could Talk
24. The Lumineers - The Lumineers
23. Relient K - Two Lefts Don't Make a Right... But Three Do
22. Better Luck Next Time - Third Time's a Charm
21. Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight
20. ZOEgirl - Life
19. My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the Black Parade
18. Anberlin - Blueprints for the Black Market
17. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
16. Rise Against - The Sufferer & the Witness

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

27 Albums That Shaped the First 27 Years of My Life, #16: Rise Against - The Sufferer & the Witness

#16: Rise Against – The Sufferer & the Witness
Release Date: July 4, 2006
When I first heard the album: January 2007, January 2008

Why I loved it then: With everything that I endured in 2005 and 2006, I was looking for something with a little bite. I found Rise Against and the post-hardcore genre as a result of my WWE fandom. And believe me, if you get close enough, Rise Against will bite your face off. They’ve never been afraid to tell you how they feel about things (especially politically), and Tim McIlrath sings with such emotion and fervor that you will feel like you’ve taken a beating after a while. Back then, though, I was drawn to the album because of the driving songs and relatable lyrics. I heard “Survive” and fell in love and have stayed in love ever since.

Why I still love it now: Rise Against has become one of my five favorite bands in the entire world. They are not and never have been afraid to tell it like it is. If you could define the notion of “never backing down” by a sound, it would be Rise Against. As you will see, this album is not my favorite of theirs, but it did bring Rise Against into my life, and for that, I will always love it.

Lingering Lyric: “How we survive is what makes us who we are”
Top Tracks: Prayer of the Refugee, Drones, The Good Left Undone, Survive

Previous Entries
27. Avalon - In a Different Light
26. The Dangerous Summer - Golden Record
25. Just Surrender - If These Streets Could Talk
24. The Lumineers - The Lumineers
23. Relient K - Two Lefts Don't Make a Right... But Three Do
22. Better Luck Next Time - Third Time's a Charm
21. Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight
20. ZOEgirl - Life
19. My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the Black Parade
18. Anberlin - Blueprints for the Black Market
17. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

Monday, February 24, 2014

27 Albums That Shaped the First 27 Years of My Life, #17: Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

#17: Bright Eyes – I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning
Release Date: January 25, 2005
When I first heard the album: Summer 2010

Why I loved it then: Some of the most meaningful albums are the ones that connect to whatever it is that you are going through at the time that you hear the album. This album is no exception. Prior to 2013, 2010 was the worst year of the decade for me and quite possibly the worst year of my life to that point. I refer to the summer of 2010 as my “Summer of Sorrow”. Pretty much everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Things with Jannelle went south for the first time. My friends weren’t around. My sister and cousin weren’t even around. Despite doing my best to get noticed by schools, I did not even get an interview for a teaching job. Pop punk just doesn’t have the same effect when you’re going through things like that. Enter Bright Eyes. This album immediately connected. Landlocked Blues encapsulated pretty much everything I was feeling at the time and my desire to escape my current situation. The rest of the album was pretty perfect as well. Mellow but well written indie folk, it was the perfect mood music for that summer.

Why I still love it now: If you were born between 1980 and 1992, this album is going to resonate with you. I was born in 1987, and this album really hits with me. On more than one occasion I have heard Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst referred to as the Bob Dylan of this generation. Honestly, I do not think that assertion is too far off base. Like Dylan, Oberst is a songwriting virtuoso with a distinctive voice and vacillating religious views. This might be Oberst’s defining moment as an artist. This album is so fabulously composed and performed that it is nearly impossible to listen to it without getting something out of it.

Lingering Lyric: “If you walk away, I'll walk away/ First tell me which road you will take/ I don't want to risk our paths crossing some day/ So you walk that way, I'll walk this way”
Top Tracks: At the Bottom of Everything, Old Song (for the New World Order), First Day of My Life, Landlocked Blues

Previous Entries
27. Avalon - In a Different Light
26. The Dangerous Summer - Golden Record
25. Just Surrender - If These Streets Could Talk
24. The Lumineers - The Lumineers
23. Relient K - Two Lefts Don't Make a Right... But Three Do
22. Better Luck Next Time - Third Time's a Charm
21. Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight
20. ZOEgirl - Life
19. My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the Black Parade
18. Anberlin - Blueprints for the Black Market

Friday, February 21, 2014

27 Albums That Shaped the First 27 Years of My Life, #18: Anberlin - Blueprints for the Black Market

#18: Anberlin – Blueprints for the Black Market
Release Date: May 6, 2003
When I first heard the album: June 2003

Why I loved it then: In summer 2003, my friend Aldo was hyping a band named Anberlin. He said they were not only the next big thing in Christian music, but that they could be a game-changer for the industry in general. I was not particularly impressed by his hyperbole and quickly dismissed it. I listened to the album while he was giving me a ride home from church, and I still wasn’t extremely impressed. Then a funny thing happened. Anberlin played at the same concert where I saw Relient K. Stephen Christian absolutely stole the show. He had such a stage presence and they put on such an amazing show that they made Relient K an afterthought. Considering Relient K was my FAVORITE BAND IN THE WORLD~! at the time, that was no small feat. I gave the album another listen and quickly fell in love, and Anberlin became one of my favorite bands.

Why I still love it now: Other than the fact that it reminds me of old friends and the greatest summer of my life, no debut album should sound this good. These guys were great from the start, and Anberlin’s energy is hard to match. Unlike many albums from 2003-2005, this album aged gracefully. In a time period where the Nickelbacks of the world (and their many copycat bands) made it by being generic, Anberlin was not afraid to stand out. This album was, is, and always will be a standout.

Lingering Lyric: “Boys speak in rhythm, and girls just lie”
Top Tracks: Readyfuels, Foreign Language, Glass to the Arson, Cadence

Previous Entries
27. Avalon - In a Different Light
26. The Dangerous Summer - Golden Record
25. Just Surrender - If These Streets Could Talk
24. The Lumineers - The Lumineers
23. Relient K - Two Lefts Don't Make a Right... But Three Do
22. Better Luck Next Time - Third Time's a Charm
21. Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight
20. ZOEgirl - Life
19. My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the Black Parade

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

27 Albums That Shaped the First 27 Years of My Life, #19: My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade

#19: My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade
Release Date: October 24, 2006
When I first heard the album: November 2006

Why I loved it then: We’re getting to the point in this countdown where I am (or was) in love with each of these albums, so it’s hard to rank them. But it must be done! Words cannot express how much I loved this album in 2006. I thought Gerard Way was pretty much the coolest guy ever. I wanted the band jacket he had in the “Welcome to the Black Parade” video, and I would rush home from college to catch the end of TRL to see the “Famous Last Words” video. I even considered bleaching my hair like he did during that time period. I love music that conveys emotion, and I love albums that tell a story. The Black Parade had both.

Why I still love it now: If Queen was in their prime in the mid 2000s, their album would probably sound a lot like this. It takes a concept, expands on it, and does it with such conviction and aplomb that it is nearly impossible not to be filled with awe and wonder while listening. I like the album’s first two singles (“Welcome to the Black Parade” and “Famous Last Words”) significantly more than the rest of the album, but that doesn’t make the rest of the album filler. Those two songs are just THAT good.

Lingering Lyric: “Do or die, you'll never make me/Because the world will never take my heart/Go and try, you'll never break me/We want it all, we wanna play this part”
Top Tracks: Welcome to the Black Parade, I Don’t Love You, Famous Last Words

Previous Entries
27. Avalon - In a Different Light
26. The Dangerous Summer - Golden Record
25. Just Surrender - If These Streets Could Talk
24. The Lumineers - The Lumineers
23. Relient K - Two Lefts Don't Make a Right... But Three Do
22. Better Luck Next Time - Third Time's a Charm
21. Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight
20. ZOEgirl - Life

Monday, February 17, 2014

27 Albums That Shaped the First 27 Years of My Life, #20: ZOEgirl - Life

#20: ZOEgirl – Life
Release Date: November 20, 2001
When I first heard the album: December 2001

Why I loved it then: Yes, this might be the most shocking inclusion to the list. A Christian girl band? Seriously, Jakob? Yeah, seriously. My musical tastes had not fully grown into what they eventually became, so I listened to a lot of random stuff during this period. Quite honestly, the positive message of this album helped me get through a very difficult freshman year of high school. I listened to this album every morning before school for two months, and it helped calm my spirit. For that time of my life, it was exactly what I needed, and I am not ashamed to admit it.

Why I still love it now: No, I do not listen to this album often (in fact, before I listened to it in its entirety for the purposes of this post, I had probably not listened to it in a number of years), but it brings me back to a different time and place, a much easier time and place. Full disclosure: I had THE biggest crush on Chrissy Conway (now Katina) when I was 14-15 and even dedicated an edition of Inside the Mind of Jakob Duehr to her. I actually went to a ZOEgirl show in 2002 and met the girls at an autograph signing in 2003. Don’t believe me? Here’s the proof.

Lingering Lyric: “Even if the stars fell like rain/Even if tomorrow never came/Even if the world I know should crumble/Nothing's gonna stand in my way”
Top Tracks: With All of My Heart, Even If, Waiting, Here and Now

Previous Entries
27. Avalon - In a Different Light
26. The Dangerous Summer - Golden Record
25. Just Surrender - If These Streets Could Talk
24. The Lumineers - The Lumineers
23. Relient K - Two Lefts Don't Make a Right... But Three Do
22. Better Luck Next Time - Third Time's a Charm
21. Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight

Friday, February 14, 2014

Living, Learning, and Loving

It is Valentine’s Day once again, and while I am single, I am not bitter. 2013 was not particularly great to me in the love department, but that’s alright. I actually learned a lot about love and myself in the past year. I am happy to share these lessons with you.

This is the first year in the last five years that I am not actively or passively pursuing a certain someone. Surprisingly, I am not upset about it. For the longest time, I racked my brain about her. I couldn’t understand for the life of me why we had so many near-misses only to wind up back at the start. I couldn’t figure out why she couldn’t just choose me. It really bothered me. But after having a dream about her, I finally got some clarity, and the past five years of my life began to make sense. I ultimately came to the realization that her choice was made long before we ever met, and there was nothing I could personally do to change it. It wasn’t easy, but I had to let that go.

Other than the specific lessons I learned about that past complicated relationship, I’ve learned a lot about relationships and love in general. First, there is not one foolproof method that is going to work with everyone. How I treated Jannelle isn’t how I should treat Shannon, and something that Jessica may have liked Stacie may have hated (using old interests’ names as hypotheticals here). You have to adjust to your partner or potential partner. And that’s not something that is typically going to happen right away. That takes time and a concerted effort. Sure, there are some people you are going to click with right away. But even in that case, things are not going to be perfect. You have to give as much (if not more) than you take.

Perhaps the most important lesson I have learned about love is one that I wish I would have learned 10-15 years ago. It’s as simple as three words: Ride it out. Full disclosure: I began talking to someone about four months ago. While things started off nearly as perfectly as possible, things got difficult. Distance among other factors makes the current situation far from ideal. There are times where she is more distant to me than I would like. This has happened to me many times in the past. I’ll admit it… when this happens, traditionally I chronically overcompensate. I push harder than I should because of this paralyzing fear of things slipping away. However, this overcompensation seldom works; if anything, it serves to drive a deeper wedge between her and me.

But part of living is learning, and part of growing up is growing wiser. I finally came to the realization: ride it out. Not every action requires my equal, opposite, and immediate reaction. Sometimes there are reasons for distance that have absolutely nothing to do with me. By pushing too hard, I do not fix the problem. Sometimes I am best served to wait and see. This, too, shall pass.

Finally, I’ve learned the importance of consistency. Whether things are going perfectly or not particularly great, don’t treat it any differently. Always give your significant other your best. It’s easy to change course when things aren’t going well. It’s also easy to just coast when things are firing on all cylinders. Whether you talked all day or she ignored your texts, if you normally end the day with a text that says “Like you lots” and a kissing Emoji, end the day with that no matter what. Your significant other deserves nothing less than your best at all times. Obviously, no one is perfect, but there is no substitute for your best effort.

So yes, I am spending another Valentine’s Day single, but that’s okay. It won’t be this way forever. With each passing day, I’m learning how to be a better man, and my future wife will be better for it.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

27 Albums That Shaped the First 27 Years of My Life, #21: Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight

#21: Linkin Park – Minutes to Midnight
Release Date: May 14, 2007
When I first heard the album: Summer 2007; January 2009

Why I loved it then: Another album that I “discovered” during January 2009, Minutes to Midnight was unlike anything I had listened to up to that point. Unlike many people my age, I did not fall in love with Linkin Park in the early 2000s. Our love came later. I appreciated that the album was unique and emotional. Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda feed off each other so well, and everyone who listens is better for it.

Why I still love it now: Linkin Park does not fall under the traditional genres of what I like, but this album still produces favorable feelings inside me. It reminds me of the greatest month of my life… of a time where I truly believed I was on top of the world. It was a time period spent with the people most important to me and a time that I would meet two people who would greatly impact my early adult years. I appreciate that listening to this album can transport me back to that place.

Lingering Lyric: “For what I’ve done/I start again/And whatever pain may come/Today this ends/I’m forgiving what I’ve done”
Top Tracks: Bleed It Out, Shadow of the Day, What I’ve Done, Hands Held High

Previous Entries
27. Avalon - In a Different Light
26. The Dangerous Summer - Golden Record
25. Just Surrender - If These Streets Could Talk
24. The Lumineers - The Lumineers
23. Relient K - Two Lefts Don't Make a Right... But Three Do
22. Better Luck Next Time - Third Time's a Charm

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

27 Albums That Shaped the First 27 Years of My Life, #22: Better Luck Next Time - Third Time's a Charm

#22: Better Luck Next Time – Third Time’s a Charm
Release Date: December 10, 2005
When I first heard the album: January 2009

Why I loved it then: The period immediately after I graduated college was integral in me coming into my own and becoming the man that you know and tolerate today. I was always a fan of the pop punk genre, but to that point I had never really branched out past the “big names” of the genre. So I went on the Wikipedia page for “List of Pop Punk bands” and made it my goal to download at least one song from each artist. I found a lot of gems that way. Better Luck Next Time was one of these gems. “Third Time’s a Charm” immediately appealed to me because it was so decidedly pop punk. With its catchy choruses, infectious energy, and brilliant incorporation of the keyboards, it has been a staple in my playlist ever since.

Why I still love it now: If there was a Holy Trinity of pop punk, most would agree that its three members would be Blink-182, Green Day, and New Found Glory. However, if someone were to ask me for the one band that is quintessentially pop punk, I would direct them to Better Luck Next Time. They are unwaveringly and unashamedly ambassadors of the genre, and though they don’t have the popularity that they deserve in the United States, they are every bit as good as the bands that they could be compared to. This album (perhaps more than its successors) fully captured the magic that is Better Luck Next Time.

Lingering Lyric: “We will make it through/We will make it right/And we will see through one more awkward night”
Top Tracks: Carry On, Tomorrow Maybe, Dear Paige

Previous Entries
27. Avalon - In a Different Light
26. The Dangerous Summer - Golden Record
25. Just Surrender - If These Streets Could Talk
24. The Lumineers - The Lumineers
23. Relient K - Two Lefts Don't Make a Right... But Three Do

Monday, February 10, 2014

27 Albums that Shaped the First 27 Years of My Life, #23: Relient K - Two Lefts Don't Make a Right... But Three Do

As I quickly approach my 27th birthday (an age, coincidentally, that many musicians met their own mortality), I have been thinking about the role that music has played in my life. I have not played an instrument for nearly sixteen years and have never been in a band, but I would still consider myself an audiophile. The 26000 songs on my hard drive would agree with me as well.

Because of all those things, I thought it would be as good a time as any to compile my list of the 27 albums that most shaped these first 27 years of my life. Starting Friday January 31, I will be posting one album from the list every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until we reach #1 just before my birthday.

Let me make one thing abundantly clear: I am not saying that these are the 27 greatest albums of all time. I am not so arrogant to believe that my personal opinion is the definitive voice on music. I like what I like. Hopefully you will be able to unearth some gems from my list. If not, that is alright. These songs and albums are important to me regardless of anyone’s opinions of them.

#23: Relient K – Two Lefts Don’t Make a Right… But Three Do
Release Date: March 11, 2003
When I first heard the album: Late 2003-2004

Why I loved it then: Oh, Relient K… how I loved you. Tongue-in-cheek pop punk with smart lyrics and religious undertones, they were pretty much everything my 16 year old self could ever want. “Two Lefts…” built on their previous album by mixing smart lyrics and pop culture references with masterful hooks. It was happy, goofy, and mostly carefree… the perfect album for a teenager.

Why I still love it now: This album reminds me of three things. First, tracks from the album were used in the highlight videos for IYCM Summer Camps in 2003 and 2004. I can’t tell you how much I loved those days. Second, it reminds me of an awesome concert experience at the Vic in Chicago seeing them with Anberlin and Don’t Look Down in October 2003. Third (and most importantly), it is a reminder of how good Relient K once was… and how good they could be again if they brought it back to basics.

Lingering Lyric: “I’m falling out of grace with the world/They say I’ve lost my Midas touch/What turned to gold now turned to rust”
Top Tracks: Chap Stick, Chapped Lips, and Things Like Chemistry, Falling Out, Forward Motion, Over Thinking

Previous Entries
27. Avalon - In a Different Light
26. The Dangerous Summer - Golden Record
25. Just Surrender - If These Streets Could Talk
24. The Lumineers - The Lumineers