13 Best Cd's of 2008

13. Anberlin--New Surrender
12. Various Artists--Juno Soundtrack
11. Children 18:3--Children 18:3
10. Family Force 5--Dance or Die
9. Capital Lights--This is an Outrage
8. The Briggs--Come all You Madmen
7. This Beautiful Republic--Perceptions
6. Jack's Mannequin--The Glass Passenger
5. Search The City--A Fire so Big the Heavens Can See It
4. Sum 41--Underclass Hero
3. Flogging Molly--Float
2. Weezer--The Red Album
1. E for Explosion--Reinventing the Heartbeat

13 Best Rock-n-Roll Band Names

I really like music. There are a million bands out there and I think it's interesting to see how bands come up with their names. Some bands have boring names, like Dave Matthews Band (they're a great band, just a boring name). But others have super creative names, and here is my list of the Top 13.

13. Mark Needs a Chick. This was a punk band out of Dallas. I think the whole idea was to get this Mark guy a girl friend. They were Christians, and actually had a pretty cool sound. But you'd be super lucky to find any music from these guys anymore. They were around about 10 years ago.

12. Stunt Monkey. This is a punk band out of San Jose. Really, I like this name because it has "monkey" in it. They are a good band and have some great songs on their album. (The Arctic Monkeys could go here as well).

11. The Ataris. This name goes great with this band. They sing a lot about nostalgia things from when they were kids, from hooking up at the skating rink to watching Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. So naming themselves after an 80's gaming system goes along with these guys perfectly.

10. ...and they will know us by the trail of dead. I think this is a creative name, because usually you only have 2 or 3 words in a band's name, and this one has 1o. I'm not sure how they came up with it, but I think it's cool.

9. Big Head Todd. Every time I hear this band's name I get a little chuckle. I imagine a guy with an inflated head walking around saying, "Hi, I'm Todd." Todd's a funny name.

8. Weezer. Great name for a great band. These guys are the epitome of nerd rock. Rivers is the biggest nerd in rock-n-roll which makes him one of the coolest guys at the same time.

7. Me First and the Gimmie Gimmes. This is a band that only plays cover songs. All of the members are in other bands and this is their side project. I just think the name is awesome.

6. G Love and the Special Sauce. Doesn't just the name of this band make you want to go and download their album. These guys are a lot of fun, and they have a super fun name.

5. Big D and The Kids Table. Again, they just have a fun name. They have so much fun on stage too. It fits them.

4. Rage Against the Machine. Good name and it fits the band. These guys were always mad about something and tried to make music that helped make change. I didn't agree with them much of the time, but they did have a great band name. If these guys were called Bologna, I don't think anybody would have given them a chance.

3. Hoobastank. I think this is a fun word to say. They're never going to be taken as seriously as bands like U2 or even Green Day because of they're name, but still they chose a super-creative name that kinda actually fits them.

2. Scary Kids Scaring Kids. Another fun name. They're music is pretty similar to most other screamo bands out there, but their name is so great that they're doing pretty good. It makes you want to listen to them.

1. Sloppy Meateaters. This is a very forgettable band with an unforgettable name. I bought their cd just because I liked the name so much. I think this is the most creative name and that's why they get number 1.


Honorable Mentions: Guns-n-Roses, Five Iron Frenzy, Fourth Grade Nothing, Ghoti Hook, Save Ferris, Mad Caddies, Streetlight Manifesto, Nada Surf
I would like to hear from you guys who you think should be on this list. I know some of these bands are local bands many of you haven't heard of, so you can use local bands if you want.

Itunes Quiz

Go to the music player of your choice and put it on shuffle. Say the following questions aloud and press play. Use the song titles as your answers.



iTunes, how does the world see me?
Song: Dumb Reminders: No Use For a Name
Comments: That makes sense.

iTunes, will I have a happy life?
Song: If I Could Just sit With You: Mercy Me
Comments: Alright, pull up a chair

iTunes, what do my friends really think of me?
Song: Me and You Vs. Them: The Movielife
Comments: I'll take you all on

iTunes, do people secretly lust after me?
Song: We Need Jesus: Jeffrey Dean
Comments: That's what I thought

iTunes, how can I make myself happy?
Song: Big City: Operation Ivy
Comments: Which one?

iTunes, what should I do with my life?
Song: Insomniatic Sleep: Finch
Comments: I need to become an oxymoron (I got the moron part down at least)

iTunes, why should life be full of so much pain?
Song: How Can You Ever Face Me?: The Movielife
Comments: I have hope in Jesus

iTunes, how can I maximize pleasure during this life?
Song: Take Me: Only Crime
Comments: To California

iTunes, will I ever have children?
Song: From Here to LA: The Early November
Comments: Oh Dear!

iTunes, will I die happy?
Song: Saturn: Skillet
Comments: I'm going to take that as a maybe

iTunes, what is some good advice for me?
Song: 3rd Man In: Dropkick Murphys
Comments: Never be the first one to do anything?

iTunes, what is happiness?
Song: O Girlfriend: Weezer
Comments: Suzy does make me pretty happy

iTunes, what is my favorite farm animal?
Song: Hypocrite: World Wide Message Tribe
Comments: yep

iTunes, how will I be remembered?
Song: Everyday: Sky Harbor
Comments: Legends never die! So I gotta do something legendary.

Everyday Sunday - Wake Up! Wake Up!

Neon Horse-Cuckoo

This is a pretty new band that was suggested to me by Jeff Roussin. Neon Horse is on Tooth and Nail and is one of the coolest bands that I've heard in a while. The video is so weird. I love it. It reminds me of the new wave videos of the 80's.

13 Albums That Changed My Life

These really didn't change my life, but they're great albums that have had a big influence on me.

1. Emotion is Dead-The Juliana Theory

2. Life in General--MxPx

3. Blue Sky and Broken Hearts, Next 12 Exits--The Ataris (This is by far the best album if you have ever been dumped or are going through some kind of heartbreak because of a girl. Believe me, I know.)

4. Sleepwalker--Jamison Parker

5. Swiss Army Romance--Dashboard Confessional

6. Your Favorite Weapon--Brand New

7. Core--Stone Temple Pilots

8. Nevermind--Nirvana

9. The Color and The Shape--Foo Fighters (February's Gone is one of the best songs that you've never heard)

10. Hopeless Romantic--Bouncing Souls

11. Thriller--Michael Jackson (Sure, I was 6, but I loved it when I was a kid, especially the laugh at the end of Thriller. Plus, he was still cool back then)

12. Liscense to Ill--Beastie Booys

13. Drunken Lullabies--Flogging Molly

Eleventyseven-Love in Your Arms

I saw this video by Eleventyseven this morning and thought it was hilarious. I couldn't put it up on this blog because it is copyrighted. So here's the link. Another cool thing is that Flatffot 56 are the hoodlums in it. This reminds me of some old 80's videos. Check it out and let me know what you think.

The Turning

Last night we had The Turning come in and do a concert for us. They are going to be our worship band for Beach Blast, so we were super excited that they could come out and do a show for us and let the kids get to know them a little bit. Their cd is called "Learning to Lose."

I bought it on I-Tunes last week, and it's very good. It's a lot mellower than most things I listen to, but they are great musicians and great songwriters. (By the way, cd's are always cheaper on I-Tunes than stores like Best Buy or Walmart and definitely cheaper than Family Christian)

I was a lot more interested in listening to their worship, since that is what they will be doing for us at Beach Blast. They were great. I think that was their real talent. They were able to do some songs that the kids knew, but they did it in a way that was different. I really loved their worship leading. The guys were great guys too. I spent some time with them during the afternoon, and I think they'll be great hanging out with the kids and getting to know them this summer.

Speaking of Beach Blast, we have several ways that kids can raise money and do some fund-raising. Just let us know if you need help with it.

Family Force 5

Last night we took a bunch of kids to go see Family Force 5. These guys are such a good live band. They have so much energy and are able to get the whole crowd excited. During their set, the kids jumped the entire time. The only bad part was that they didn't allow moshing. But, even with that, the kids had a great time. Falling Up was another band who played. They were good. A lot of our kids really liked them. I thought they were kinda boring. Spoken was the second band to play. I've been listening to these guys for about 10 years. The first time I saw them was in a friends living room. The opening band was This Beautiful Republic. I heard of these guys a year ago and liked them, and after seeing them last night, I think they're great. Overall, the bands were all great and everybody had a lot of fun...but it would have been funner with moshing.

Flatfoot 56

I just love this band. I think they are the best Christian band to come out in a long time. I also got to meet them last October and they are some of the nicest guys too (and tallest).