Singers with Amazing Voices

As you've probably noticed from reading my blog, I really like listening to music. The other day, I was thinking and I was trying to figure out who my favorite vocalists are, and so I compiled a list. Not all of them are sing lead, but all of them have amazing voices, and their music is really worth checking out!

(On an extremely coincidental note, I'm watching The Five on TV and they're doing a segment on their favorite singers. Weird, right?)

Jen Ledger
Band(s): Skillet
Notable Songs: "Salvation," "Fire and Fury," "Hero," and "Yours to Hold [Live]"
While Jen isn't the lead vocalist for Skillet (John Cooper is), she has contributed her beautiful voice to many Skillet's songs. She normally plays the drums, but since she joined the band in 2008, she has sung on more than ten different songs. She is an incredible drummer as well, which is especially noticeable at Skillet's live shows.
She's also British. 

 


Stephen Christian
Band(s): Anberlin, Anchor & Braille
Notable Songs: "Alexithymia," "Self-Starter," "City Electric," and "Readyfuels"
Stephen has been the lead vocalist for Anberlin since it was founded in 2002, and for his acoustic side project Anchor & Braille since 2004. He has an incredible and elegant voice, and it's just really... mesmerizing. He's also written a book, The Orphaned Anything's, and started a non-profit
organization, Faceless International.

Valentine's Day Songs for the Single and the Not-Single

(Okay, I didn't know what I was supposed to say there. Honestly, "Not-Single" was the best I could think of)

Ladies and gentleman, it is that time of year again! The time when flower and chocolate sales go up really high, when everything thing turns pink, and when you can't turn around without seeing something heart-shaped. Yes, I'm talking about Valentine's Day, a holiday with the sole purose of celebrating love.

Alright, full disclosure - I've never really cared for Valentine's Day. And before you write me off as a bitter teenage girl, let me explain. Usually, I just kinda saw it as an excuse to get free candy from V-Day card exchanges with my friends (of course, most of it was just bland lollipops and Fun Dip). I'm kind of too old for that now though, so this lovely holiday (pun not intended) has become pretty useless to me.

Also, I can't stand people who write stuff like "Happy Singles Day. #foreveralone"

Anyways, the point of this post was not to talk about Valentine's Day and what I think about it. The point is, I've compiled a list of songs for you to listen to this Valentine's Day, whether you're single, married, in a relationship, whatever. I'm compiled this list from my own resources (like the CD rack next to my computer).

And, as a fair warning, there are duplicate artists (for example, Flyleaf shows up once on both lists).

Click the jump to see the list!

My Ten Favorite Albums of 2013

I'll get to the point. This is a list of my ten favorite albums I listened to during 2013. Please note that this list isn't exclusive to CDs that were released during 2013. It does include a lot of new music, but there are some albums from a few years back. So... enjoy!


#10 - Dear Diary by FM Static
Notable songs - "Boy Moves Into a New Town With an Optimistic Outlook," "Man Whatcha Doin?" and "Take Me as I Am"
I've talked about Dear Diary on this blog before, but if you're not familliar with it, it is a concept album about a boy who moves to a new town and recounts the events in his diary. It's a very interesting story, and I really encourage you to give it a listen! Even better, buy the CD and read the story that some with!

#9 - The Chase by Manafest
Notable songs - "Avalanche," "Every Time You Run," and "I'm Better 'Cause of You."
I just recently started listening to Manafest, probably in the last year or so. His style is sort of a rap/hip-hop/rock kind of thing. It took a while for me to get used to, but one of my favorite musicians, Trevor McNevan, has collaborated with Manafest on many of his songs, so that got me hooked. The Chase is probably the most rock-sounding album, and I really enjoy it, so check it out!

#8 - Release The Panic by RED
Notable songs - "Release the Panic," "Hold Me Now," "Glass House."
Release The Panic was just released this year, and my brother gave it to me for my birthday. I have the special edition, which includes some remixes and other bonus songs. I really like the theme of this CD, with all the sci-fi-ness. The album art is great, by the way, and the music videos are awesome!

Uprise Festival 2013

Hello everyone! I'm soooooo sorry I missed posting last Friday! Things got really busy. I had school to do, and then as soon as I was done I had to pack up and leave for Shippensburg for Uprise Festival 2013. It was worth it though - I had a blast! So I have some pictures here, and maybe links to

The main stage.

videos if I can find any.

For those of you who don't know, Uprise Fest is a Christian music concert that takes place at the Shippensburg Fairgrounds every year. It starts on a Friday night and then goes all day Saturday, so it's kind of a condensed Creation Festival. I went last year to see Disciple and Thousand Foot Krutch, and it was great. This year was even better. Altogether it was me, my dad, and my friends: Aaron, Steven, Steph, Brittany, Jordan, Patrick, and Jessica (not the same Jessica as last year though). Click the jump to read more, see pictures, and maybe some videos if you're lucky!

Things Change. Get Used to it.

This might make some people mad at me.
Not that it really matters, because no one really reads this, haha, but still. Anyway, this blog will probably focus on music and other nonsense surrounding it. For starters - GUYS. Rise comes out in FOUR DAYS. Listen to the singles:

Sick of It
American Noise
Rise
Not Gonna Die

...Anyway.

The real reason I decided to blog is this: People complaining about the ways bands sound. I was listening to one of the new Skillet songs for like the hundredth time, so I flipped through some comments on YouTube. People say things like, "I miss the way they used to sound..." or "This is so different from the way they used to be..." And I think, "No DUH." Of course a band is going to sound different album to album. I mean, what do you expect? They get new members, listen to new music, get influenced by different things. Case in point - listen to the following Skillet songs in order. It's the first track off of their last four albums.

Alien Youth (Alien Youth)
Forsaken (Collide)
Rebirthing (Comatose)
Hero (Awake)

To those of you who actually listened to those songs, give yourself a pat on the back. Anyway, do you see my point? The band's sound changed through time. It's perfectly normal for that to happen. There's no use in complaining and saying, "I wish they stayed the same" or "What happened to the old [band]?"

Click to make it bigger!

And yes, I do understand that even if a band stayed the same way, people would still complain. I saw
this graphic (see right) once on Anberlin's Instagram page. Seems about right to me. No matter what you do, people are gonna criticize. Still, I think some fans need to realize that bands will change. That's just the way it goes - nothing can stay the same forever.

Which leads me to my next topic.
Click the jump!

Sorry it's Been a While

I've been busy with... stuff. Like school, my birthday, solving the world's problem, and other nonsense. So, what do I have to say? Well, I've decided on a summer writing project, I saw a play, and there are some singles out for Rise. I'll start with the play.

(L to R) Hillary, Stargirl, and Leo.

I recently went on a school field trip to see a play adaptation of Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. If you've never read the book (you totally should though), I'll try not to give anything away. Anyway, the play stayed pretty close to the plot of the book (unlike a certain movie adaptation of a certain book that I won't mention aloud), and I really enjoyed watching it. The Stargirl is a great book that I think anyone would enjoy.

(L to R) Leo and Kevin from Stargirl

writer also left the ending alone, which I was grateful for. I'm afraid to say anything else, but I will say that

The photos of the Stargirl play are from The People's Light and Theatre website.

And now... Oh, right, my project. Click the jump for more!

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Blogging Because I Feel Like I Should

First of all, Happy Easter!
Okay, now that that's out of the way, I just felt like blogging because there's a lot of stuff I want to talk about, and just one of those things isn't enough for a whole post to itself. I'll probably jump from one thing to another without much explanation, so hopefully I won't lose you. I've got some stuff about Rise, Kristen May, and some other stuff that I'll think of as I write. So here goes nothing...

Album art for Rise.

If you read my last post, you heard me fangirl about Skillet's new album, Rise. If you missed that, here's what it said: Rise is Skillet's first concept album, it's being released June 25, and the first single from it, "Sick of It" is being released on iTunes April 9. If you want to know anything else, go read my post. :P Anyways, I have more news for you! The album art for Rise showed up on Facebook and Instagram recently! So there it is, on the right. I think it's pretty cool, and for some reason, I think of the album art for Comatose when I look at it. Does anyone else?
On the subject of Rise, Skillet also posted another teaser for "Sick of It," and personally, I think this one sounds better than the previous teaser. I can't wait to hear the whole thing on the ninth!
Oh, just thought of something else! So, click the jump to read about the new Percy Jackson movie and Kristen May singing "So I Thought."

Rise

Well, my Spring Break just got a lot better! Today on Facebook, Skillet posted the release date for their new album Rise, June 25! I don't think I can wait that long though...
Along with the release date, Skillet also added some other information on their website's blog. According to the post, the first single from Rise, "Sick Of It" will be released on iTunes April 9. Also, if you're one of those cool people who has Instagram, you can post a photo of what you're sick of and it might be in the lyric video for "Sick Of It." Cool, huh?
The other thing I found really awesome was that apparently, Rise is going to be a concept album. Now I don't know about you, but I have a small obsession with concept albums. Pretty much ever since I bought FM Static's Dear Diary, I've thought they were cool. Hey, a story told through a bunch of songs? I'm in. But yeah, I'm really excited to hear Skillet's first concept album.
So that's about all I have to say right now. I'll keep you posted if I find out anything else!

It's June, and I'm still talking about Winter Jam

It's true! Haha, well, Skillet posted on their Facebook page an announcement about a Vlog (help me here: is that short for Video Log?) for Winter Jam, and I thought I shold post it since, well, y'know, WINTER JAM IS AWESOME! Anyways, here's an official Winter Jam-sponsored Skillet vid.

Source: Skillet's Facebook Page

New Skillet Podcast!

Yay! Skillet FINALLY posted their Winter Jam podcast!! You HAVE to check it out, RIGHT NOW! DO IT!

Winter Jam 2012 Skillet Podcast

Haha my favorite part is the Kari Jobe and Korey Cooper swap (personally though, Kari reminded me A LOT of Lacey Sturm from Flyleaf). Anyway, this is the best fifteen minutes of Skillet podcast you may EVER see.

On a side note, I got my TFK and Disciple stuff in the mail today. Doubley happy!

Winter Jam 2012!!!

WHOO!!! I WENT TO WINTER JAM LAST NIGHT!!! IT WAS AWESOME!!!!
Okay, random yelling is over. As I said, I went to Winter Jam last night! $10 for 10 bands. AND ONE OF THEM WAS SKILLET!!! I went with my mom, my dad, my brother Paul, my BFF Libby, and her brother (who is also my friend) Zach. It was TOTALLY worth standing in the rain for an hour. They bands there were: Group 1 Crew, Building 429, Newsong, Kari Jobe, Peter Furler, Sanctus Real, and Skillet. And, to be completely honest, I hardly knew any of those songs they played. There were a few Newsboys songs that Peter Furler played, one or two Sanctus Real songs I knew, but nothing I was completely familiar with. And then the last, but DEFINITELY not least, Skillet!
Click the jump to read about it!

Hmm..no idea whats up...

Well...It's like 10:00 at night (see timestamp) and I can't sleep. Fail. Anyway, I thought I would blog, cuz I haven't done it in like 7 years. I'm exagerating, silly!!! There's a few things I should mention first:
-Listening to best Skillet album ever (Alien Youth) while blogging. Just a heads-up.
-Went to DP with my buddies Libby and Zach. Stayed in the sun all day. So I'm a bit crazy (loopy?) (still?). Oh well. Good time to blog. I can never sleep anyway.

Moving right along, I had a lot of fun at DP with my friends. We went to the waterpark first, then we went back to our car for lunch. After that we went and rode all the rollercoasters (although I think I might've had the most fun on Hang Time). Had so much fun with you guys! :)

I'm a beep, I'm a vapor; and I'm about to evaporate -Vapor, Skillet

Well, speaking of Skillet, did you know that Ben Kasica left?? Well here's some news for you: he did. Kinda sad, but we'll have to see what the new guitarist sounds like. I forget his name. Oh well. Here's another little fun fact: John Cooper (lead singer) is the only member of the bamd who was there when the band was first formed.

You're the hope of all the Earth; You are my hope, You are my stregnth; You're everything, everything I need. You Are My Hope, Skillet

By that way, while I'm thinking of it, you should listen to that song. It's really nice. Well, I'm getting tiered now, so I'm gonna sleep. Nite.

Randome Thoughts

This happens at 9:50pm when you're listen to old Skillet songs (Earth Invasion, in case you were wondering).

You know how some people call their ipod touches their
"touch"? This is yet another demented conversation I've had
In my head:
Person 1: Hey,wannna play take turns playing Angry Birds?
Person 2: I can't. I lost my touch.
P1: YOU LOST YOUR SENSE OF TOUCH!?!?
P2: No, I mean my iPod.
P1: oh.

Did I tell you all about that Zelda movie trailer IGN made? If I didn't, IGN posted a trailer on April 1st 2008 as an April fools joke- I linked my post about it HERE (second paragraph down). I just thought that out of all the people who saw it, at least one had to be a pro director. Why hasn't this been a real movie yet? They make Resident Evil movies and Prince of Persia movies, why can't Zelda be a movie? CURSE YOU HOLLYWOOD!!!!!!

On an unrelated note, there was a fire truck siren that I heard on the street outside my neighborhood. I realized that I have had 4 different kinds of...er...somthing in my neighborhood:
Swat team (long story)
Cops (for people speeding and stuff-and somthing else, but thats another story. They were also with the swat team.)
Ambulance (I can't remember why, but I saw it)
Fire Trucks (they bring Santa through the neghborhood around Christmastime)