Early Post...

Okay...So you know how yesterday I told you I wasn't feeling well. Well...I didn't think it could happen, but I'm even worse today, most likely leaving work for the day.

That said, I thought I would post early, while I'm here, so that you have something to nibble on today.

Yesterday, I gave my initial thoughts on Me In Motion - "Losers". Well...I received an email after that short little blurb, from Dustin Burnett. He said he worked with Me In Motion on their song "Losers", and that he currently is working with a Portland, Maine group, The Wrecking. I've actually heard of them, but unfortunately...I haven't been able to place when and where. Sorry guys.

Anyway...Dustin suggested I take a listen through their latest EP, "Sound of the Resistance". So without further ado...Here are my initial thoughts on "Sound of the Resistance".

The Wrecking - "Sound of the Resistance"

Initial thoughts: Solid song. The chorus is really good, it's strong and singable, which is always fun. The lyrics are very clever and descriptive.

Now...A little background on how my mind works. When I hear a song...any song...my brain develops a Music Video for it, as long as I haven't seen the official Music Video for that song.

With that in mind, here's the funniest part of listening to this song? I listened to it in the player on The Wrecking's MySpace page. During my initial listen, my brain developed a Music Video for this song. Here's a short description of that video: I pictured a world in disarray with a growing resistance group going against some anonymous force.

Well you know what...I wasn't that far off. Here's the official Music Video that I later found on their MySpace page, after my Initial Thoughts.

The only other thing my brain added to my music video was that the band was leading the resistance, and had rocket launchers that shot love towards that anonymous force. Can't have everything right? :)

Anyway...Good song. I look forward to spending more time with it. Who knows...I could grace the Total Axxess part of JQ99.

Thanks Dustin for your song suggest. If you have a song suggestion for me...Shoot me an email!

~j
themusictest@gmail.com

Wednesday Madness!

Guess what?

Yeah...I didn't post yesterday. Why you ask? Because I wasn't feel good at ALL! Not even a little bit. Today, I'm feeling better with the exception of a stuffy ear. Makes listening to music a little hard today.

Moving on...Let's talk Music Shall we?

Here are the New Releases this week, that hit stores yesterday. Wait...What's that? Nothing? Oh...well then in that case...uh, let's talk about what some artists are talking about today:

Todd Agnew said, "Does anyone else ever get that old movie theater concession song, "Let's all go to the lobby", stuck in their head?"

My response is, "I didn't...but now I do! Thanks! :)"

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Matt from Superchic[k] said, "Any Superchick songs you want us to remix? Let me know we'll get it on the record."

My response is, "Umm...tough one...I'd have to say 'Pure'."

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David Crowder Band said, "Hulu is a lifesaver on tour."

My response is, "I've never been on tour...But it is a lifesaver when I miss the Office on Thursday nights!"

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Kirk Franklin said, "The most tweeted cereal: FROSTED FLAKES! May the Lord continue 2 bless your spoons & may your bowls overflow with goodness & berries. Bye!"

My response is, "Thanks for the tip Kirk! I'm not a Frosted Flakes fan, but I can appreciate that they are a part of a balance breakfast!"

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Oh yeah...So last week, I told you how Penny Brown from Centricity had contacted "The Music Test" to share some music with me. I never came back to tell you about any of it, so...Here are some thoughts about one of the songs she shared with me!

Me In Motion - "Losers"

Love it right of the bat. Within the first few seconds of the song I could tell I was going to like it. Great sound. Great concept of a song. Losers...ha...I was one in High School, or at least I could identify with their description of one.

In any case, it's a great song, and here's the exciting part. They're touring with the Newsboys, whom by the way are stopping at Sunshine Community Church on November 14th. I'd check out the concert if I were you!

Oh...And you can listen through "Losers" on their MySpace page. FYI.

I'm out...Have a great day!

~j
themusictest@gmail.com

Sanctus Real: Forgiven

Okay...So you ever have a song that seems to just come up, smack you upside the head with conviction and pats your back with love all at the same time.

For the last two days, it's been Sanctus Real - "Forgiven". My ears aren't the greatest at picking up words, I usually need to read liner notes or look up the lyrics. The song really amplified within me after I read the lyrics for this song.

I couldn't NOT share them with you. Here they are:

Forgiven
by Sanctus Real

Well, the past is playing with my head
And failure knocks me down again
I'm reminded of the wrong
That I have said and done
And that devil just won’t let me forget

In this life
I know what I’ve been
But here in Your arms
I know what I am

I’m forgiven
I’m forgiven
I don’t have to carry
The weight of who I’ve been
’Cause I’m forgiven

My mistakes are running through my mind
And I relive my days
In the middle of the night
And I struggle with my pain
Wrestle with my pride
Sometimes I feel alone and I cry

In this life
I know what I’ve been
But here in Your arms
I know what I am

I’m forgiven
I’m forgiven
I don’t have to carry
The weight of who I’ve been
’Cause I’m forgiven

When I don’t fit in
And I don’t feel like
I belong anywhere
When I don’t measure up to much in this life
Oh, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ

'Cause I’m forgiven
I’m forgiven
I don’t have to carry
The weight of who I’ve been
’Cause I’m forgiven

Oh...and here's a YouTube video with the song...Listen along!


~j
themusictest@gmail.com

Quick post...

Hey all you Music Testers!

Yep...That's what I call anyone who visits this lovely community I'm trying to build.

Hey...Really quick, while you get set for your day. I just activated a contest on JQ Family Rewards. (If you aren't familiar with what JQ Family Rewards is...Head HERE)

This contest is pretty easy...Kutless has a new album set to release on October 20th at your favorite music retailer. To celebrate and have a little fun, they'd like to give away a copy of the upcoming album, "It Is Well", as well as a brand new Espresso Maker! (See below)

To enter all you hav...huh...what's that? You'd like to know how Kutless and an Espresso Maker go together? Well it's simple, you see...the guys of Kutless are from good ole' Portland, Oregon and love their coffee, so they'd like to share some of their coffee love.

Interested now? Okay...Since the new album, "It Is Well" is a worship album, all we'd/they'd like to know is, "What does worship mean to you?". Just answer this question in the survey on JQ Family Rewards, and you'll be in the running!

HERE'S A DIRECT LINK TO THAT SURVEY!

I'll try and make another post soon...Just figured, I would give you time to stew on what Worship means to you. Good luck!

~j
themusictest@gmail.com

More music...Go figure!

Eh...so...with the whole NASA crashing a piece of space equipment into the moon wasn't that exciting. Which stinks...because then I could have said that I had a really good time watching the NASA channel. Ah well.

Consider that your "Headline Maker" story for the day today, since there wasn't a whole lot of other things going on this week. Or at least, things that I had time to dig up. FYI...A cold will rock your world the wrong direction.

Okay...Now...Music!

I had an exciting thing happen yesterday. (Thursday) Penny Brown from Centricity, a Christian Music Label, contacted me from this very blog that you're reading! What's exciting about that? Well...because it means that there are people actually viewing everything I'm spewing. (I should coin that phrase...although the mental picture isn't pretty).

Anyway...Let's just say that after a little email dialogue, Penny hooked this aspiring Music Director up! She scored me copies of Jason Gray's - "Everything Sad is Coming Untrue" and Matt Papa's - "My Kingdom Come" CD's, plus the first single from Me In Motion's upcoming release, "Losers".

Now...you might be reading and say...Dude, Jeremy, Blog Guy...How does this benefit me? Well...Here's what I'll do for you. I'll be listening to all of that music and giving some feedback so that you'll know if it's a purchase for you...or not.

Also...Just so you don't feel too left out, in regards to free music...Here's some for you!

Matt Papa & Jason Gray Downloads HERE
(Click the little down arrow in the audio player in the bottom right of the page.)

Downhere Christmas Download HERE

Enjoy and don't say I've never given anything to you! :) Just kiddin'! Have a great weekend!

~j
themusictest@gmail.com

No test...So here's what I'm listening to...

I didn't put together a Music Test within the last week, so today, I'm going to talk about the songs I'm listening to, and I wrap today up with a fun contest announcement!

First...Here's what I'm listening to:

(Screenshot from my iTunes. Click to enlarge.)

What's that? Can't quite see it? Well here, let me break it down and explain some of that stuff.

First...Here's the list in order of my personal preference:

1. Kutless - "What Faith Can Do" (85% - 15)
2. Phil Stacey - "You're Not Shaken" (75% - 14)
   
3. Chasen - "On and On" (75% - 15)
   
4. Switchfoot - "Mess of Me" (70% - 6)
   
5. VOTA - "Honestly" (70% - 17)
   
6. Remedy Drive - "Heartbeat" (70% - 12)
   
7. Building 429 - "Overcome"(60% - 14)
8. Robbie Seay Band - "Miracle" (55% - 11)
   
9. Mikeschair - "Let the Waters Rise" (55% - 11)
   

First off...The order is based on their percent, and the percent is based on after several listens, the chance I believe that song has of making its way to the Total Axxess part of JQ99's day.

Second...The number to the right of the percent...That's the play count. That's how many times I've listened through the song all the way through. iTunes doesn't count listening to a song halfway through as a play count.

Anyway...So that's the data I have to work with currently. No changes coming this week though, I'd like to let the songs currently in rotation soak a little.

Alright...Now...Time for a fun contest announcement. This is insider info, since it hasn't quite been released to anyone out side of the staff here at the station but...

Kutless has a new worship album releasing on October 20th. It's called, "It Is Well". My current #1 song that I've been listening to is from that album. Anyway...as they gear up for the release they would like to have some fun with our listeners!

Here's the idea. It may be tweaked, so keep that in mind. They would like to give away some copies of the new release with a grand prize of an Espresso Maker. If you didn't already know...Kutless if from Portland, and they love their coffee, so they thought that they'd share a little coffee love with a grand prize winner!

The contest will go down like this...Listeners...you...will be requested to simply write and submit what "Worship" means to you. We'll read over all the submissions and pull some winners. Pretty easy huh?

Anyway...Stay tuned for more details about that in the coming week or so!

That's all for today!

~j
themusictest@gmail.com

Whoa...

Okay...So apparently, I've started a bad habit of not posting something every day, and I was doing so well with it. Ah well...Here we are...Tuesday. Let's play a little catch up!

First...Since it is Tuesday...That means NEW RELEASES! Here's what you can expect in stores today:

• WOW Hits 2010 CD/DVD
• Relient K - "Forget and Not Slow Down"
• Todd Agnew - "Need"
• Fee - "Hope Rising"
• Chris Tomlin - "Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship"
• Big Daddy Weave - "How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas"

There you go...Whether you just need some new music or Christmas music, today's New Releases will deliver!

Moving on...

Since posting on Friday, I've pick up a nice case of a soar throat. It's no fun, and I wish those that shared it with me would have kept it to themselves, but alas...Here I am.

However...my tiny soar throat is minuscule compare to what Brian Littrell was just diagnosed with. The Backstreet Boy/Christian solo artist was just diagnosed with Swine Flu (H1N1 for those of us who like to be technical).

Anyway...Looks like the "Boys" were forced to cancel their New York City Promotional tour. Good new though? The rest of them aren't showing any signs. Sorry Brian...That's no fun, we pray you have a speedy recovery. Here's a link to more on that story.

What else has happened in the last couple of days...Oh...here's something nice and lighthearted!

Not sure if you've ever run across these before, but MercyMe does these things called, "Cover Tune Grab Bag".

Basically...Acoustically, they cover a song, NOT necessarily a Christian song. Well...their latest one is from the Disney Movie "Jungle Book"..."Wanna Be Like You", oh and they're performing in in DisneyWorld!



One more thing before I close for today. Come on...had to make up for NOT posting yesterday. Here's a short Q&A with VOTA. (Formerly Casting Pearls)

"What up?!? What's the latest in VOTA World"

Hey ya'll, we just go back from Hawaii and we're now in Texas prepping for the BarlowGirl/Superchick Fall Tour so I thought I would throw a "ya'll" for good measure. It's been good to get to know everyone on the tour and we are all stoked to get this thing underway. We'd love to see you at a show!

So I went running with Code (new guitar player) last night and was completely humbled by my inability to keep up with a marathon runner. Holy smokes! I felt old and fat. Time to hit P90-X a bit more and get frisky on the treadmill this fall. I may even have to cut back on the cereal intake as well (which is no small feat). Be sure to ask me about getting in shape - I need some good acocuntability!

Peace and Love and look for "Honestly" on the airwaves after October 9th!

-Chase (VOTA)

~j
themusictest@gmail.com

Oops and Headline Makers

Oops...So yeah...Yesterday I got a little busy with things 'round here and didn't realize I hadn't posted until I had gotten home. By then...I was so wiped, I just couldn't get you something yesterday. But...

That's okay...You get something today! Here's what's making headlines this week!

New Releases (Tuesday, October 6th)

• WOW Hits 2010 CD/DVD
• Relient K - "Forget and Not Slow Down"
• Todd Agnew - "Need"
• Fee - "Hope Rising"

And since we're now less than 3 months away from Christmas...

• Chris Tomlin - "Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship"
• Downhere - "How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas"

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Top 5 Selling Albums (as of Sept. 27th)

1. David Crowder* Band - "Church Music"
2. Skillet - "Awake"
3. Hawk Nelson - "Live Life Loud"
4. Pillar - "Confessions"
5. Thousand Foot Krutch - "Welcome to the Masquerade"

"Church Music" sold 35,000 copies its first week to soar to #11 on the Billboard Top 200! It also held #1 on the iTunes Christian & Gospel Album Charts and #3 on the overall iTunes Album Chart. Nice job guys!

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Family Force 5 in West Michigan

Family Force 5 has chosen West Michigan to be the starting point for their upcoming Christmas Tour. Their tour, featuring their new Christmas CD, kicks off at Resurrection Life Church in Wyoming on Saturday, November 28th. The "Family Force 5 Christmas Pageant" will highlight their new holiday CD.

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~j
themusictest@gmail.com