The Sand of the Sea

Finally, with new iMac and mic in hand I have recorded some new material. The link is on the sidebar to the right, see what you think. You know I'm always open to comments and constructive criticism. My guitar has never sounded better, and is apparently, according to guitarcenter.com, worth a lot more now. Anyone that plays, I highly recommend the new Elixir Phosphor Bronze strings. Yes, they're like $15 a pack, but so worth it. Trust me.

The name, The Sand of the Sea, comes from the Bible. It's in several different places, but I came across it while reading Job. Actually, all of the names (song, band, and album) are all from the Bible. Good place to get names. Thanks Dr. Hanna.

Expect more songs soon. Thanks for the support and prayer (still looking for a new job).

Peace,
z.james

And Fall Arrives...

Nearing the end of September, I'd realized that I hadn't posted on this page in a looong time. So here is a new post and some things that are filling my plate at this time.

Unfortunately, I am still working at Ikea, and still looking for a new full-time job ANYWHERE else (okay, not anywhere, but almost). Also, Kate and I are having a bit of a rough patch with our futures and how they will coincide over the next few months. No, I haven't officially asked her. And no date or anything yet, but we'll keep you posted.

Also, things that bring me joy on this rainy day: Kate's smile; the new MewithoutYou album came out on Tuesday and I will be going to BestBuy shortly to pick that up; the beginnings of a band with Luke and hopefully Jason (if you read this and know nothing about it call me when you get a chance); and the fact that God is in control despite my lack of enthusiasm for my employment situation.

And, just to let those of you who are interested know, I'm currently reading: Don DeLillo's Underworld and finishing up Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses. One's the book I read at work on my breaks, and one is my at-home reading. Stay in touch those of you from the many places that I may know you from.

Peace that Passes All Understanding,
z.james

Oh Man

To keep it short:

1. I'm struggling to keep up with Violare Aeternitas' reading schedule, proving I am, indeed, the slowest, English Degree carrying reader on the planet.

2. Ikea is driving me nuts. Working 40 hours a week pays the bills, but it's starting to turn my stomach and my mental capacity upside down.

3. I'm supposed to be going to Cuba with my youth group, but if the Dept. of the Treasury doesn't renew our license there won't be a trip this summer. Keep that in your prayers.

later.

Re-Visiting the Brandtson of Yesteryear

Since the last post was about new Brandtson, this post is about old Brandtson. I've been looking around on the net and found some great video of the guys, the first is their video for "Mexico" from their 2004 release, Send Us A Signal.



The next video is from Cornerstone 2004, a show at which I was present and was standing up and to the right of the guy that filmed this. The two songs represented here are "Who Are You Now" and "Throwing Rocks Tonight," both also off of Send Us A Signal. And, yes, Matt is wearing an orange Tiger Cubs t-shirt.



Anyhow, how fun it is to reminisce, no? Note: you may need to install the "Shockwave" plugin to view this if you're using Firefox (or some other browser that doesn't know what to do with the videos.

Brandtson-Nobody Dances Anymore-For a Reason

So I've been a loyal brandtson fan since the late '90s and absolutely love anything they record. I'm trying to tell myself that as I listen to their new disc: Hello, Control. Brandtson's full length LPs are usually always a step in a new direction, but this...well...where do I start?

This album is chock-full of dance beats and computer synth stuff-probably mostly due to the new bass player, Adam Boose-which is different to say the least. The guitars take a back seat on this album, and the all of the drum beats sound fairly similar. Luckily we still have the continually amazing harmonies of Myk and Jared, but in a different vein this time. Some of the melodies are so catchy you find yourself humming them in shower and then as soon as you get out of the car to buy more coffee at Wal Mart (trust me, I know, it happened about an hour ago).

I've been reading other reviews on the internet and most everyone agrees--except for the "Editorial" reviews who all say this is "Brandtson's strongest album to date." I'm not quite sure that it's a dud, but it's not their strongest album to date (ever heard of a little thing called "Fallen Star Collection"?). For now I'm content to try to let it grow on me. The songs that I find myself enjoying so far are "Earthquakes and Sharks" and "Parallels," but some of them I had to skip over after hearing them two times already, alas we'll see how it goes. If anyone else has heard the album please make your thoughts known.

To end on a hopeful note, chances are that their next album will sound completely different anyway--that's what they do--and they're good at it. Also, the pic at the top is one that I took at Cornerstone a couple years ago, and it's only fuzzy because I used the crappy scanner in the library, my apologies. Anyhow, they always put on a good show there. Later.

Faith and Writing

This past weekend was amazing. I attended the Faith and Writing Conference at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI; it was everything that I expected and more. There were very popular writers there to speak about somethings they've written (Donald Miller, Salman Rushdie) and others (Professors, amateurs, and students) just to discuss the tension between being a Christian and a writer and trying to get published. The main thing I learned:


Write from your heart.


After that it doesn't much matter what you right about, because someone, somewhere will feel or think the same way and there will be a connection made. Obviously, we want to write without being didactic or pushy; rather, let's try to write about real life, experience, which may be a little fantastical at times, but for the most part trying to change the religion of the entire nation or world in one fell swoop isn't going to work. I've been brewing on a lot of things and have to see where all this stuff fits in with my writing.

Other notes on the trip, I found that I can be the most annoying Pittsburgher (pronounced Piksburgher) in the gym and yins guys will just shake yer heads. Choice phrases like: We're goin' dahntahn to see the Stillers and eat a Permanni sandich, and later we'll wursh it all dahn with an Iern (Iron) City, n'at. I only wish that my friend Topher were there to share in the massacre of aural enjoyment.

Also, I hate driving west. Flat and straight. Absolute tedium at its worst. I only wish the other people in the van would have let me read while driving, I would have gotten so much more work done. Lastly, I'm thankful for sharing that trip with everyone that went, some friends that I've had, and others that I can now call friends. It was a great time, thanks.

Television

Is not just a Sunny Day Real Estate song, but it's something I probably watch too much; however, there is nothing that will ever keep me from watching LOST, which is, by far, the best show on television at and I love every moment of it. I have Season 1 on DVD and my mother and I watch them obsessively.

I don't get worked up over many things on t.v., but LOST is definitely something that I don't want to miss, and if I do, it's being taped in at least two discrete locations so I will see it, and if anyone tries to tell me what happens or talks to me about the episode that I missed, they will be swallowing some of their teeth.

OK, 'nough said about a great show. I love it.

My Impending Doom

And by doom I mean graduation. Believe you me, I can't wait to graduate, but there's also that feeling of leaving the familiar behind and being forced to venture into the unknown. I know God has a calling for me, I just don't feel that I have any clue what it is.

Honestly, I'm going to have a Bacheglor's degree in Literature, not much direction there, unless you've had you heart set on teaching tenth graders the finer points of MacBeth, which I don't. So my heart and mind go out to God at this moment as I cough 5 bucks to go to the WestPACS job fair next Thursday. Pray for me.

z.james