“My name is Blurryface, and I care what you think…”

Hello, dear readers!  I wrote up a lengthy and detailed review of the new Twenty One Pilots album “Blurryface” on Amazon.com, but wanted to share it here as well!  I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below, and if you think it is helpful, or informative, please head over to Amazon, and give me a “Yes” Helpful Comment vote there!  I’d appreciate it!  Enjoy my review, and I hope you do check out this album, and this artist, as I think they are something special, and would love for you to find a new artist to enjoy and support!  🙂

One of the bigger breakout sensations of the past few years from the indie band circuit, Twenty One Pilots (or TOP, as I will frequently refer to them from here on) are also an increasingly polarizing band, as a perusal of the early reviews for their second studio album Blurryface will verify. While their first studio album, Vessel, was hailed as a revolutionary breakout work by many, or at least a very strong opening salvo by an undeniably talented band, it seems there has begun to form a bit of a canyon of thought regarding this, their latest album. While some see Blurryface as a continuance of growth and maturity from Vessel, others see it as a step back, a disappointment compared to what they showed they were capable of in their previous albums (they have two very popular self-released albums that preceed Vessel: a self titled album, and the now unavailable Regional at Best.) So, where does the truth about Blurryface lie? Honestly, I think it’s a matter of subjectivity, and personal preference. As lead singer/songwriter/piano player/scaffolding climber Tyler Joseph sings on the track titled Message Man, “These lyrics aren’t for everyone, only few understand.” This “understanding” he speaks of isn’t an intellectual one, but rather something more innate and unexplainable. Either you listen to TOP’s music, and connect with it on a deeper level than just the sonic or lyrical quality, or don’t. That connection may not happen all at once, but give this dynamic duo from Ohio a little time, and you may just find their music burrowing itself into your inner psyche, and building itself a home!

As you may have guessed from my 5-Star rating, I definitely fall into the category of those deeply affected by the music of twenty one pilots (as it’s typically stylized by the band, and their ardent following, the “Skeleton Clique”), and also feel like Blurryface is another excellent addition into their already sizable discography! This wasn’t always the case, however, as I was one that they needed to grow on a bit before fully connecting to their unusual brand of off-kilter song structure and frenetic genre-hopping. Once the lyrical depth really hit me, which actually happened while listening to a song from their self-titled album titled “Addict With a Pen”, I fell hard and fast for TOP, and have been trying to “share the love” with as many family and friends as I can ever since! I always tell people to get them a little time, and more than one listen, as they are not like much of anything else out there on the radio waves today. But I do believe there are rewards to be reaped from their music, and not just getting to groove to some awesome beats, and catchy (if occasionally a bit cheesy) lyrics!

Blurryface has been getting slowly doled out for over two months now, with the first “Single” Fairly Local being released on St. Patty’s Day back in March. That was followed by Tear in My Heart, which just cracked the Top 10 on the latest edition of Mediabase’s official alternative airplay chart, as it continues to climb the charts. Stressed Out, Lane Boy, and Ride all were released in advance of the album, in three consecutive weeks leading up to today, the album’s official release date (though it actually ended up coming out yesterday.) Stressed Out, in particular, has seen a lot of success, and is currently still climbing the Billboard Hot 100! More on each of these Singles in the track by track to follow. Now that’s it’s completely released, and can be judged as a whole, how does it stack up? Whether you fall into the camp of this being a great album, or just an okay or good album, will probably hinge somewhat on how you feel about artists mixing it up, and deviating from their signature sound. For instance, Imagine Dragons created a similar rift of opinion with their release of Smoke + Mirrors earlier this year, which featured almost as many different kinds of songs as it had tracks, and most of them weren’t like what made them popular in their first studio album Night Visions. TOP’s second album follows that same pattern, and if you consider that deviation, or experimentation in different genres a “bad” thing, Blurryface will probably lose some stars in your book. I, however, love seeing an artist do this, assuming they can do it well, and I feel like both Imagine Dragons earlier this year, and now twenty one pilots, have done it quite well!

I’m going to do a brief track by track overview, so if you already feel your patience with this review wearing thin, just skip down to the final paragraph to get my final verdict on this album!

1. Heavydirtysoul – TOP is known for bringing it on their album opening tracks, and this one is certainly no exception! Right off the bat, you get some distorted sound effect, and then drummer Josh Dun lets loose on the drums, and Tyler Joseph starts rapping so fast you’ll have to use repeated listens to fully grasp every word of the electric flow he’s spitting. A driving piano punctuates the chorus of the song, as Joseph slows it down a touch, and asks “Can you save my heavy dirty soul, for me? I wasn’t crazy about this track upon first listen, but after many repeated listens, it has moved up my favor almost as fast as the beat moves the song along! Even a couple of lines that can at best be described as awkward, and honestly are a little cheesy, can’t stop this from being a fabulous opener to the album! (Rating: 8 out of 10)

2. Stressed Out – If any song on this album can be described as a “typical” twenty one pilots song, this would be it. Changing tempos, a strong beat, and lyrics that are very personal to the writer, yet can relate to anybody listening. It was an immediate hit on its release, and also features a companion music video that is easily one of the most enjoyable this reviewer has ever seen! Stressed Out talks about insecurities born out the stresses of adult life compared to the simplicity of childhood. The “character” of Blurryface is introduced in this song, and will make a few more appearances throughout the rest of the album, as he is what Joseph refers to (in various interviews discussing the album) as the personification of his insecurities, doubts, and fears. A great track in this writer’s opinion, and bonus points for being my three young kids’ favorite song! (10)

3. Ride – This track brings in a definite reggae vibe, and will certainly be many a listener’s summer jam this year, as this almost begs you to blast it in your car with the top or windows down! Joseph mixes in some thought provoking lyrics about pondering who you’d live for, die for, and if you could kill. Yeah, pretty heady stuff, especially for such a chill song musically, but typical twenty one pilots. Another fave of mine. (10)

4. Fairly Local – While this was the first track released from this album, it was not immensely popular, even among member of the “Clique.” It features a very dark and intense electronic soundscape, and is truly differenty from anything TOP has done before, and anything else they do on Blurryface. Still, it has some nice lyrics in contrasting verses where Joseph first sings about his insecurities, and then sings about defeating them. Blurryface (represented by a pitched down voice) makes another appearance here, immediately trying to suck the songwriter back into despair, but a triumphant finale of the chorus indicates that he was not successful. So overlooked at this point by many, I almost think it’s now underrated. (8)

5. Tear in My Heart – When TOP fans were online prior to this track’s release, speculating about what it would be about, some people specifically said that “They said they’d never do a love song”, so it can’t be that. Well… They were wrong! Frontman Joseph indeed became bit by the love bug at some point over the past few years, and got married earlier this year. That happened the weekend before this Single came out, along with a video, and it was readily apparent that twenty one pilots had officially created their first ever “love song”, though it has a definite TOP twist. The video actually depicts Joseph’s new wife Jenna beating the pulp out of him at one point, as the song posits that “sometimes you’ve gotta bleed to know, that you’re alive and have a soul.” Obviously, I don’t think they are condoning literal domestic violence here, but rather the ability that the loves of our lives have to cut through that armor we put around our heart, and make us a better person for it! My favorite song on the album, and bonus points for being the song that finally convinced my wife to like twenty one pilots! (10)

6. Lane Boy – If you’re into conspiracy theories, you’ll find it interesting that the record label for TOP, Fueled by Ramen, suddenly didn’t release a video for this song, or even acknowledge its existence on their promo page on the official website. This song deals with the record industry, and takes not so subtle digs at the way it’s run, and the expectations that get put on artists to put out certain types of “common” songs, which Joseph admits there are a couple of on this album. He sings “They say stay in your lane boy, lane boy, but we go where we want to.” And they certainly do on this song, starting with more of a reggae/jungle vibe, and finishing it with an almost two minute outro of EDM influenced electronics. It will certainly be a show stopper live, which is really where these guys are at their best, consistently topping people’s “best concert” lists. Not one of my favorites from the album, but still a very good track. (8)

7. The Judge – One of the things that TOP did that was very popular on Vessel, is having a couple of songs that featured the ukulele, and that is back here on Blurryface, first on this upbeat track. Joseph sings towards an unknown judge of some kind to set him free, though he doesn’t even seem to know if he’s surrendering or revelling, as he states at one point in the lyrics. The piano comes in strong again at the end of the track, which is the longest on the album. This will definitely be a popular sing-along at the concerts, as along with Tear in My Heart, it is one of the most upbeat songs here, at least musically. (10)

8. Doubt – The second half of the album is where things take a bit of a turn, though depending on your perspective, that will either be good or bad. For me, it was a mixture of both. Doubt comes along with a dark overtone, and has a very R&B style sound to it, that would fit in fine on my local Hip-Hop and R&B station. Lyrically, it is clear that the singer (Joseph, as always) is being honest about his doubt, regarding what almost has to be God, given the context of the song, while reaffirming his belief by virtue of that very doubt. This has the ability to be a divisive track, even amongst fans, because it is so different from anything else in the twenty one pilots’ cannon. Additionally, not everybody is a fan of R&B music, including this wrtiter. However, shockingly to me, I really like this song, and it all comes together to form a very enjoyable package, and one of my favorites from the album! (9)

9. Polarize – Here is another track that people are sharply divided on, with some really liking it, and many listing it as one of their least favorite from the album. I am firmly in that latter group of people, and interestingly enough, every other person I have listened to the album with feels the same way to. It’s not the lyrics, which are all about polarizing the good and bad in ourselves and becoming a better person to those we care about around us. But something is causing this song to live up to its name, and I have to lay the blame at the musical tenor, which is hard to really nail down, and never really grabs me as particularly interesting or appealing. Having said all this, I don’t dislike the track, I just don’t like it as much as the rest of the album, giving it its distinctively low rating. (6)

10. We Don’t Believe What’s On TV – The ukulele makes a comeback once again here, in an even more upbeat fashion in this unusal song that is very hard to peg. While there’s no doubt that for many fans, it’s a highlight, and one they’re looking forward to in concert, I’m not as high on it. It’s a solid track, no doubt, but it’s meaning is more ambiguous than normal (that’s saying something for a TOP song!), as some insist it’s a song about Tyler singing towards his band-mate and drummer Josh, while others, like myself, feel it makes more sense if it’s another “love song” to Jenna. Regardless, it’s a fun, ubeat, and rousing crowd-pleaser, even if it’s not one of my personal favorites. (7)

11. Message Man – I have a feeling this is going to be my “Migraine track” on Blurryface – a song that most of the TOP fans love, and list amongst their favorites, and I am only so-so about, and list it towards the bottom for that album. I like some of the lyrics, but not others, and some of the music is cool, but not all of it. It’s not a “bad” track, by definition, but it’s just nothing remarkable for me either. I’ve seen many fans of this track popping up already, so give it a spin, and see for yourself. I will say it has grown on me since my first few listens. (7)

12. Hometown – After what has been (for me) a string of solid but unspectacular tracks, things take a sharp turn, and my second favorite song on the album drops in! Hometown is another one of the divisive tracks on this album that some people love, but a lot of TOP fans list towards the bottom of their favorites, due to its radical departure from “typical” twenty one pilots sound. What we have here is a groovy, and alternative radio-ready song with a distinctive 80’s flair, that seems to take parts of U2, The Cure, and Depeche Mode, and mashes them all together with a tinge of the modern band M-83. Being a fan of all of those artists, I am naturally a big fan of this track, and while it does stray from the style TOP typically deal in, it works here, and I wouldn’t mind seeing another track or two like this in future albums – provided there aren’t many more than that. I think the fact that this track is so unique is part of what makes it a standout, similar to doubt. The lyrics are some of the more cryptic on the album, as the chorus sounds like a dig on the artists’ hometown of Columbus, but Josh has said in an interview is really more metaphorical. So, listen to it for yourself, and see if you can figure out the metaphor! (10)

13. Not Today – This is another peppy, upbeat track, in the vein of The Judge (minus ukulele), with bouncing piano and drums driving it along as Joseph sings about a subject he describes in the song as being “down”, thus making the music a contradiction. However, the song’s message still feel positive when it wraps up, though with claps, and a guest trumpeter sending the song to a rousing conclusion, it’d be hard to feel anything other than uplifted when it resolves. This should prove to be a popular track for listeners, both TOP fans, and newcomers, and while it doesn’t get my highest marks, it is still one of my favorites. and a solid second-tier song! (9)

14. Goner – Tyler Joseph has written a plethora of emotional songs over the years for twenty one pilots, and even refers to him and his fans the Skeleton Clique as “the few, the proud, and the emotional” on Fairly Local. But he ups the ante from all his previous emotional offerings here, creating a song that I get goosebumps not only listening to at its rousing conclusion, but also when I simply think about said conclusion! I won’t say much, since I don’t want to ruin it for you on your first listen, but it’ll get you somewhere. Like it or not, it’ll certainly prompt a reaction. Additionally, it is a very fitting conclusion to this amazing album, sending it off on the proper note of triumph, as Tyler Joseph stated in an interview. If you’ve heard the original Goner that Joseph performed on a video that came out a couple of years ago, you really don’t have any idea of what you’re in store for with this new. completed version! Not only is it much longer, the mini-accordion is gone, replaced by beautiful piano, which was what he originally composed the song on. But that finish… Woah! I challenge you to listen to it, and then let me know of a more powerful expression of raw emotion in a song. Definitely one of the album’s highlights, and fan favorite for years to come! (10)

So that’s my detailed review of Blurryface, by twenty one pilots! I hope it was of help to you (even if you skipped the track by track portion), and that it offers a solid basis for my belief that this is one of the best releases of the year so far, in a year that has been PACKED with excellent new albums by great artists! Is it a perfect album? No, and I’m not even sure that I’d say it actually tops its predecessor, which basically was perfect. But is it a great album, that offers a lot of varied music for a lot of people with varied musical tastes? Much like Smoke + Mirrors earlier this year, I definitely think it does that, and is a very worthy Sophomore Studio album for this up and coming band, that can only get better and bigger in the years ahead! So while it’s definitely a 5 star album in my book, I’ll give it a 9 out of 10 and a 1-10 rating scale, as it drags a little bit in my opinion towards the end, through tracks 9-11, and there is too much reliance on “yeahs” and “nos” throughout the album, which I think only “hit” about 50% of the time, and seem like needless filler the remainder of the time.

Bottom Line: Do yourself a favor, and check these guys out if you haven’t already! And give them at least a few listens, in the event that they don’t do it for you the first time around. I have a feeling their infectious tunes will start growing on you like algae on a sloth! Twenty One Pilots are definitely on an upward trajectory, and it’s certainly not too late to get on and go for an exciting ride with them!

A Critical Critique of Critics

Since I’m going to be writing a lot of music and movie reviews here on this blog, I wanted to make something clear right up front: I am NOT a critic!  It is no secret to anybody who’s talked to me about the subject of critics, that I am impassioned in my vitriol and disdain for those denizens of society who have chosen to make a career (or at least a hobby) out of tearing down the creations of people actually trying to do something meaningful with their lives.  Sharing one’s opinion on the arts – movies, music, TV shows, etc. – and reviewing its content for the sake of recommendation or dissuasion, is certainly useful, and potentially helpful, and something that I will be doing with this blog.  However, the pontificating and pretentious tone often taken by “professional” critics, most of whom haven’t successfully created something on the scale or quality (even if it’s low-quality) of what they are critiquing, reeks of arrogance, and borders on ignorance.

This post was initially going to be my very second here in DILinator’s Domain, but more important topics came first, and I didn’t want to come out guns blazing first thing.  I want to use this blog to build up the reader, not just tear down somebody else.  However, I wanted to be clear up front about my stance on reviewing material, vs. critiquing material.  I love movies, music, and some TV shows, but for me to judge the creative work of another individual – especially one who has taken their skill much further than I have – when all of those works I just mentioned are purely subjective in nature, is not my place.  Nor is it really the place of any of those people using a guise of “professionalism” to make a living at another individual’s expense.  This stance surely won’t make me popular with many of my fellow bloggers, and certainly not the critical establishment, but I’m as interested in their opinions of me, as I am of their opinions on anything else.  And make no mistake: no matter how well known or popular they are, a critic is simply stating an opinion, not a fact, when they review something subjective, and don’t let them try and convinze you otherwise.  If they really knew the craft they were writing about as well as they purport, they would be well-known for doing that professionally, not writing about others’ creations.

Now, don’t get me wrong:  When it comes to the arts, some things are certainly of a higher quality than other things.  For instance, Manos: Hands of Fate, a notoriously riffed-on by Mystery Science Theater 3000 piece of horrific filmmaking, is clearly not on the same level as The Shawshank Redemption (currently #1 on the IMDB Top 250.)  Still, as an amateur filmmaker myself, I would love to have even attained the level of accomplishment that that movie’s filmmaker has, where my creation is in the public consciousness, regardless of the fact it’s notorious for all the wrong reasons.  I’m not saying I WANT to make dreck, myself, but I respect the achievement that any movie that has been completed, and released to some level of pubic display has.  I also respect the fact that different people have different opinions, so while I may think the Transformers movies are nothing but overblown, mindless,  special effect spectacles, that doesn’t mean that people that like those films are dumb – just different than me.

So, as you proceed in reading through the various reviews I write here over time, just keep that in mind.  When I give a bad review to something you like (less likely, because I probably won’t waste much time writing about things I don’t like), I’m not saying you’re dumb, or that I must have a superior knowledge or taste in art.  Similarly, when I gush over something I love, that just doesn’t float your boat (more likely – though hopefully I can convince you to get that boat afloat!), please provide me the same respect, and don’t flood my comments with pontificating or insulting comments of your own.  Art is subjective by nature, and while I’d love to provide assistance in guiding you towards art that is, in my opinion, AWESOME, I recognize that we all have different tastes.

Thanks for taking the time to read, and if you like what you’re reading, please “follow” me by clicking the link above!  I look forward to bringing you helpful and informative posts, and following, and making comments is the best way for e to know I am being of use!  Take care, and God bless!

My “Worthless” Purpose

Are you searching for purpose?
Then write something, yeah it might be worthless
Then paint something then, it might be wordless
Pointless curses, nonsense verses
You’ll see purpose start to surface
No one else is dealing with your demons
Meaning maybe defeating them
Could be the beginning of your meaning, friend.

So goes a key part of one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite musical artists, “Kitchen Sink”, by “twenty one pilots” (video embedded down below).  In fact, this song, and this theme is cited by the band’s lead singer, and songwriter, Tyler Joseph, as being foundational for everything he does in making music.

As I’ve wrestled with writing another blog post over these past few weeks, one of the main problems I’ve had, was deciding on what exactly to write.  Initially, my second post was going to be a rant about critics in media, mostly film and music, as a precursor to writing a series of blog posts about some of my favorite artists.  I still plan on getting to those kind of posts, but since it was my son’s Birthday, another topic was more pressing at that time, and I have felt a pressing need to write something of more value and worth than a rant against a particular group of people. Truly, I even contemplated delving into some of those social issues and topics I said I wasn’t going to get into in my first post, because some of the things I’ve been seeing in society lately have been so egregiously disturbing, I can barely suppress my voice on the matter.

While grappling with those weighty matters, and trying to figure out what my purpose in writing this blog should even be (not to mention my larger purpose in life!), I was listening to aforementioned “Kitchen Sink”, and the lyrics I quoted above reached out and smacked me in the face.  THIS, was what I was going to write about!  Now, I’ve listened to them many times, and even knew they applied to me, as a person who struggles with feeling insignificant and meaningless in life.  But I don’t think it was ever so clear to me before, that this blog, or more specifically, my writing, is my venue in which to potentially discover my higher purpose.  I’ll never know, if I don’t try, and even if it’s just “worthless” ramblings about seemingly “meaningless” things, maybe that’s how I will actually find out just what God has for me in the future.

Now, let me take a quick detour here, to emphasize that I know my personal worth is actually found in God, first and foremost, and secondly, my family.  I’m not discounting that, or saying that if all I have is God, my family, and a few of you friends, I will have lived a meaningless life.  However, I have long felt a calling towards doing something more – something that will impact the world around me – but have struggled with actually getting out of my comfort zone, and pursuing that ambiguous “calling.”  That’s where this verse, and the inspiration that song provided comes in.

I have a confession to make…  I am a bit of a perfectionist.  I carry a 4-point GPA at my local Community College (although I haven’t attended a class in years) because to do anything less would be a complete, abysmal, and intolerable failure on my part.  I avoid doing things that I might not do well at, for that reason as well.  I subsequently do not stretch myself beyond that in which I know I’ll find success, limiting my potential.  Take even this hiatus from my blog…  I didn’t get much feedback on my first two posts, leading me to question whether it’s even worth doing, if nobody is reading it, or if nobody cares much about it.   I don’t want to simply do things well, or very good…  I want to do things GREAT!  (All caps great, even!)  If I can’t do them GREAT, I’d rather not do them at all…  That’s where I’m coming from in my life, just being honest with you here.

While I’m laying myself out for you, let me make another confession…  I struggle TREMENDOUSLY (yes, all caps again!) with criticism, and don’t want to do anything that people will criticize me over.  Given the fact that only perfection will do, and if somebody thinks something I do isn’t perfect, they must either be know-nothing jerks, or I really did come up short in my quest for perfection, which as I mentioned before, is intolerable.  So you see my conundrum here…

I realize that this obsession over perfection is a problem, and is holding me back, and my wife and others close to me who know about it have been telling me this for years.  But that four letter word beginning with “F” keeps holding me back…  FEAR.  My fear of failure has crippled a life that could have certainly been lived so much more productively than it has, and unless I can truly gain victory over it, will continue to be the anchor that keeps my dreams rooted to the bottom of the ocean.

This is where that epiphany while listening to “Kitchen Sink” the other day comes in, and has driven me to writing this post.  Tyler Joseph faced all the obstacles and uncertainties that any musical artist does when starting out, including having two-thirds of the original band leave after the first self-released CD.  But that didn’t stop him from pursuing his dream, nor did all the hard work getting those early gigs scheduled, or the inevitable criticism that came with making music that was very different, and hard for listeners to describe or categorize.  He found another band member, drummer Josh Dunn, creatively came up with ways to fill out the rest of the band’s sound, and “twenty one pilots” have gone on to become notorious in concert-going circles as the best band to experience live out there performing today!  That is not hyperbole either, as I have seen them twice now, and they are absolutely amazing (and for my local friends, coming to Meadowbrook Music Festival in Rochester Hills on September 19th too – hurry, it will sell out before long!)  Tyler just put all of his thoughts, feelings, emotions, and really, himself, into his songs: that was his way of defeating his inner demons (Tyler struggled with depression and suicidality growing up), and regardless of whether his band ever took off, he was bettering himself.  Well, look what’s happened along the way to that end…  They are one of the hottest up and coming bands making music today, and what’s even better, is that they’re making music with real meaning behind the lyrics, often buoyed by both members’ personal faith in Christ.  There is no doubt in my mind that this is not mere coincidence either.  When a believer uses the gifts God has given them for Him, and strives for the betterment of the world around them (the number of young people who credit “twenty one pilots” with saving them from committing suicide is staggering!), blessing is only part of the natural benefit.  Finding one’s purpose, and the satisfaction of knowing your life’s deeper meaning also comes with that.

I’m not saying I’ll ever touch as many lives as Tyler and Josh have, and maybe I’ll never be “famous” or popular.  But I do believe I am called to do more with my life than I am currently, and it’s time for me to actively start pursuing my “worthless” blog writing, maybe write a few “pointless” novels or screenplays, not to mention finishing my “nonsense” college education.  God knows, as does my family, that I have plenty of demons that need defeating, and maybe, just maybe, this can be the beginning of their ending.  Regardless of whether I truly do have a higher meaning in life, that alone will be a major victory, and will only help me to be a better person to those I love, and in turn, affect my world around me in a more positive way.

Going forward, I will try to be more regular with my blog posts, hopefully at least a couple a week.  They will vary from music-related, to movie-related, to who knows what else…  I can’t promise you that I may not be controversial at times, and I can’t guarantee that you won’t find my viewpoint worthless.  But I can guarantee you that I will no longer be letting my fear of you feeling either of those things get in the way of me searching for that purpose that has been eluding me while I played things safe!

For my fellow-believers, keep me in your prayers as I undertake this endeavor!  I have opened up a part of me to you, and I hope you can take what you’ve seen to the throne of God, and provide me that support, as I try to live for Him fully.  Again, I know He is my #1 bringer of meaning, and purpose, and my family is a close second.  But there is definitely more I have to offer to the rest of you, and I hope and pray I can finally fully realize that potential!

Thanks for reading, and I encourage you to check out the video of “Kitchen Sink” below, as well as the rest of their available music on Spotify!  (Unfortunately, “Kitchen Sink” is not there, because it’s from their now-unavailable second independent release, “Regional at Best”.)  Be sure to buy their music to support them if you like what you hear (“Kitchen Sink” IS a bonus track on the UK version of their first studio album, Vessel, and is available here at amazon.co.uk!), and they have a new album, “Blurryface” coming out May 19th in advance of their upcoming tour!  Take care, and God bless!

The Day My Life Changed…

We all have hallmarks in our lives; days, years, and time periods that define us, or refine exactly who we are, and what we are living for.  For me, the line dividing what came before, with all that comes after, occurred 11 years ago today.  That was the day I looked into the tiny eyes of a baby boy cradled in my arms, and recognized something very familiar looking back at me: myself, in miniature.  I still remember that moment as clearly as if it were yesterday, staring down at my newborn son Ian, and realizing that I was no longer the only part of me in the world.  I had spawned another living being, parts of me combined with parts of my beautiful wife Sarah, and I knew in that moment, nothing would ever be the same.  Nothing could be the same.  The world was altered that day, not just my world, but the world as a whole, just like it is every time another child is brought into the world through the miracle of birth.

Let me divert just a second from discussing my hallmark day, to ruminate on that thought for a moment…   When we as humans participate in this glorious act of procreation, we are actively changing the world in which we live, the community that we will exist in, and eventually, the entire sphere of influence in which our children will have impact.  In this workaday world we live in, it seems the pursuit of success, the almighty dollar, and a lasting legacy for ourselves is considered the pinnacle of human achievement.  Children seem to have been relegated to a sidebar in the story of life, an accoutrement to the fine attire that showcases a “successful” life.   The fact of the matter, however, is that when we die, our children, and the exponential impact they can have on the world, will live on.  Long past any academic achievements, pleasurable things we’ve done, amazing places we’ve been, and career accomplishments we achieve.  Now, I’m not saying there’s not value in all of those things, there certainly is.  I’m just saying that we as a culture have taken on a very myopic view of how to impact the world we live in, and the move away from an emphasis on children seems to be a byproduct of that shift.

But back to the topic at hand…  I was born 25 B.I. (Before Ian), and am now 11 A.I.  The life that I lived before that glorious day, March 25 2004, was never to be the same again, and while it certainly had its high points (such as June 9th, 2001, when I married the love of my life!), as well as its low points, I can say these past 11 years have been the best years of my life!  Ian has been followed by three other wonderful children, and they continue to bring me joy and delight day after day, month after month, and year after year.  Joys that simply can’t be matched by sporting events, roller coasters, beautiful vacations, or hanging out with friends: things I enjoyed the most prior to that day 11 years ago.  To see these four young pieces of me grow, and develop, and become more and more like the people they are going to be long term, is an experience unmatched by any other fleeting or terrestrial experience!

I have been blessed tremendously by God with the family He has given me, and as this special day rolls around, and I think about when I first held my first child in my arms, gazing into his precious little face, the marvel of what I’ve been a part of washes over me anew!  We’ll celebrate my son’s birthday today, which is exciting in and of itself.  But the significance of what transpired 11 years ago is not lost on me, and while it changed my life forever, it was a change I am most grateful for.  I can’t wait to see what the next 11 years hold, as my firstborn grows from the boy he is now, to the man he’s going to be, and likely brings his own little pieces of himself into the world!  I love you Ian, my firstborn!  Happy Birthday!  🙂

Welcome to my domain!

Hello, one and all!

Without waxing too verbose, I will attempt with my first blog post to explain why I’m here, and what I’m going to be doing with this blog.  Hopefully your interest will be sufficiently piqued, and I can provide you some enjoyable reading over the weeks, months, and possibly even, years ahead!  So, without further ado…

First off, thanks for reading this, because, frankly, without you the reader, this is little more than an inner monologue that has simply escaped from the prison of my mind to the page.  Honestly, I have never had a problem with inner monologuing, talking to myself, or other forms of self-conversant behavior.  Having said that, however, I would prefer it if I wasn’t simply doing that again here, and that maybe, possibly, some of these inner thoughts and feelings expressed externally can be of some benefit to somebody out there!

This being my first attempt at a Blog, it’ll be a work in progress, with formatting changes, and who knows what else sure to follow, as I get more comfortable with it.  It won’t be a daily blog, I can pretty much assure you of that!  However, I will try to stay regular with it, when I have the time, and something to say. Given that I ALWAYS have something to say, I guess it really boils down to the time factor, and how much of that I have free to write in this.  I have long been a writer, mostly of fiction, though I have not done much in that regard lately, and I really need to get back to doing that, as I aspire to be an author long-term.  Maybe this blog will be just the kickstart I need to get back into my other writing.  It certainly can’t hurt!  Obviously, once the ball gets rolling on that, I’ll be needing to split my time…  But for now, this is what I have cooking, and I’m going to try to stay consistent in posting, at least a couple of times a week!

So, what should you expect in this space in the future?  One of my greatest passions is music, so expect to hear a lot about that!  Artists I enjoy, music topics that catch my fancy, as well as rankings (because I LOVE to make rankings for everything!), and recommendations!  So, if you enjoy music, particularly learning about artists that aren’t in the mainstream for the most part, this could be a valuable blog in helping you discover some music that you will end up wondering how you ever lived without!  I am also a big movie lover, so expect some posts about movies, actors, and other Hollywood and film related things from time to time.  If there’s a book that catches my fancy, I’ll be sure to share that as well, though admittedly, I don’t get a lot of time to read anymore, unfortunately…  One thing that used to define me was sports, and my rabid intake and consumption of that.  However, I have recently taken an indefinite leave regarding ardent following of sports, and in fact, haven’t even been on a sports site in almost two months as of this writing.  I am sure I will return to it someday, but for now, I am enjoying having one less thing cluttering up my life, and all too often, altering my mood to one that is not promoting positivity.  Beyond those various pop culture items, I may throw a few blog posts in here and there about other issues or topics that are important to me, and may even talk about my family, and events that are happening in my life.

One thing you shouldn’t expect to see much of: politics.  I have some strong political views, but I am not interested in using this forum for discussing those.  There are a few social issues that I may, someday, feel compelled enough to post about, but that will certainly be an exception, not the rule.  I do have a strong faith in God, and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, however.  So if that bothers you, you may want to click that little “x” up there on your browser now, because I will not hesitate to speak of Spiritual things if I feel so inclined, and I am definitely coming from that persuasion.  This won’t be a religion blog, by any means, and I will mostly be talking about “secular” movies, and a wide variety of music, both “Christian”, and non specifically so.  But I wanted to be clear up front about where my Faith lies, and let you know it does permeate everything in my life, including now this blog.

A few important final notes, and then I will give this first post a rest for now.  I am always looking to focus on the positive in my life, and eliminate needless negativity.  As such, I will have a short hook for those who come on here, and spread negativity.  I am not interested in debating topics here with anybody, and while you certainly don’t have to agree with me on everything, this is MY domain, and not yours, and in the end I rule it, and will not hesitate to delete comments or people, which are not conducive to positivity, and the enrichment of this blog, and its readers.  If you’re looking for a place to debate, or trash somebody’s opinions, there are plenty of other blogs out there for that sort of thing.

I just wanted to send a public shout out to my wife, Sarah, who has tirelessly encouraged me to write this blog, even though I kept procrastinating, and putting it off.  Here it is honey, the love of my life, and like everything else I have that is good (other than my salvation) it wouldn’t be as rich without you!  🙂  Thank you for believing in my writing, and for pushing me to do something with it!

That’s all for now!  I will update my profile with information about me sometime soon, so those of you who don’t already know me, can get to know me a little better!  I do hope this is someplace that you will enjoy coming, and if you have any suggestions for topics, feel free to make them, and I’ll see what I can do!  Take care, everybody, and God bless!