Day 21-36: Officially a Slacker...But the Music Goes On!

Yeah, so, like I said in my last post, I officially suck.  If I was out to build in some discipline with my writing by keeping this blog up to date day by day, well, you get the picture. 

Pretty sad when the title of a post contains about two weeks worth of days, right?

Anyway, today's not gonna be stellar but I feel obligated to share that the challenge does continue and, while my writing has not quite made it here, I have been listening and making some headway. 

So without further ado, here're the holiday albums I've rocked in the interim:

Hillsong - Celebrating Christmas

Bebo Norman - Christmas From the Realms of Glory

Over the Rhine - Snow Angels (Great record!)

Shane & Shane - Glory in the Highest (Fun but not a must have unfortunately...)

Neil Diamond - The Christmas Album (Hey, it's Neil!  Can you go wrong?)

Various Artists - Happy Christmas Vol. 2 (Nice change up from the usual Christmas flow...)

Various Artists - Sounds of the Season: R&B Collection

Various Artists - Christmas Time's A-Comin' (Gotta tap into that bluegrass vein...)

Various Artists - Mary Did You Know?

Leann Rimes - What A Wonderful World (Not as great as you'd anticipate...)

Sonos - December Songs

EmmyLou Harris - Light of the World (Pretty great!)

Natalie Grant - Believe (Great, upbeat and powerful vocals!)

Jimi Hendrix - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

David Phelps - One Wintry Night (Not as strong as his others but still great...)

Michael Buble - Christmas (One of 2011's best Christmas records thus far...)

Etta James - 12 Songs of Christmas

The Isaacs - Christmas Spirit (Such a talented family...)

MercyMe - The Christmas Sessions (Still one of my more recent favorites...)

Beach Boys - Beach Boys Christmas (Can you go wrong with the Beach Boys?)

B.B. King - The Christmas Collection

Mark Lowry - Mary Did You Know

Selah - Rose of Bethlehem (Awesome, worshipful experience...)

Various Artists - Jesus, The Best Gift of All

James Brown - The Christmas Collection

Wynonna - A Classic Christmas

Okay, it's late and I'm tired and I just don't have the energy to keep linking.  I'll be back to it tomorrow.

I hope...:)

Days 13-20: Still Listening but Wrestling with Discipline...and more

So I apparently lack writing discipline.  Big time.

What began as an earnest, if goofy, mission to discipline myself to write each and every day has, at least at the outset, fallen on it's royal behind.

And my excuse? There really isn't one.

Sure, there've been a few difficult days, a few days where I've been gone from early in the morning till late in the evening.  Yes, I am a husband and a father (and anyone who's worn those hats truly gets what's being said there.) And yes, I have worked on some other writing elements, churning out some work for some of my other outlets. 

But in the meantime?  Well, I've been slacking.  But, I have been listening.

So, in short, here are the albums I've rocked over the past week:

Frank Sinatra - Christmas Through the Years (Gotta be honest; this one is a bit of a disappointment.  The Chairman is a legend but he doesn't quite shine on this one...)

Newsboys - Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday (Again, another disappointment; fun enough but, from an artistic standpoint, this one just feels phoned in...)

Various Artists - O Come All Ye Faithful (Not bad but there are definitely better compilations to be had)

Yule Logs - The Yule Logs (Absolutely fun, fun, fun album by guys who clearly dig Christmas...with jams like "Christmastime is Here (Again)" and "Christmas is Lonely (When You're a Jew)", what's not to love?)

VeggieTales - The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree (Can you tell I had help picking out what I was listening to?)

David Phelps - Joy, Joy (Not for everyone but for those with an ear for something more classical or sophisticated, Phelps is as good as it gets...Great voice, good arrangements, and the holidays are on!)

Diana Ross & The Supremes - Merry Christmas (Fun, classic, legit.)

Andrea Bocelli - My Christmas (Pretty much what you'd expect...)

Amy Grant - The Christmas Collection (Great collection of warm and heartfelt Christmas songs crafted over the years...Plus, you've gotta love the addition of "I Need a Silent Night"; a track parents can connect with.)

Celine Dion - These Are Special Times (Over the top, dramatic, and perfect for the holidays)

Various Artists - Christmas on the Border (One of those el-cheapo compilations that actually works with featured studio musicans, artists...)

So, like I said, I might've slacked on the documenting but I haven't dropped the ball on the listening.  Granted, I'm gonna need to step it up a bit but I think I'm on a good pace.

Stay tuned...I'm getting back on track...

Days 10, 11, & 12: Sting Disappoints, Paisley Smiles, and Hickory Farm Cravings

So, once again, I've dropped the ball.  It was a tough weekend, for whatever reason, and I just couldn't get myself to write.  I can't blame the fact that I didn't have time nor can I cite some other profound reason; I think I was just lazy.  So, clearly, the discipline that I'm longing for still has a way to go.

That said, I did listen to some Christmas music.  Saturday was a two-album day, with Sting carrying the brunt of the weight that day.  Sting's If On A Winter's Night... is not a traditional Christmas album by any means, combining a unique combination of carols, lullabies, and more.  The result is something that's interesting, and certainly worth a listen, but that fails if you're getting jacked for the holidays.  It's the sort of music that might go along with some wintry, snow-filled meditation but, if you're looking for warmth and nostalgia, look elsewhere. 

The ship was righted with my next weekend listen, that the various collection, A Very Special Christmas.  Granted, it has some very dated tracks alongside some favorites but, to me, it just speaks a lot more of Christmas.  We're talking U2's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," Run DMC's "Christmas in Hollis," and, even though it's at track that drives me crazy, the Eurythmics' "Winter Wonderland."  Much more Christmas...

Sunday was slim pickings, with only one album on the slate and it was Brad Paisley's Christmas.  Paisley is one of those guys that I just love, with such a chill, down home sense of humor and who's wicked talented.  That's no less evident on this holiday album, with great rendtions of classics, plenty of smiles, and even a song Paisley wrote as a thirteen year old that makes all of this seem like drivel.  Which I guess it is.  Either way, great album.

Monday (aka today) was a two album affair.  Another various record Holiday Sounds of the Season 2002 led off, with a nice jazzy appeal that set the day up just right.  The afternoon found the indie-flavored sounds of Rosie Thomas' A Very Rosie Christmas closing the day out.  There's a playful notion to Thomas' album that I really appreciate and it was a nice way to bring the work day to a close.

They were a few interesting days.  I became an uncle once again as my sister-in-law gave birth to a beautiful bouncing baby boy.  I attended my first ever roller derby prom.  And my Christmas experiment continues to raise eyebrows.  And, frankly, I'm starting to develop some cravings.  For Hickory Farms summer sausage.  Which, as I shared with a friend of mine, is ironically named.  I mean, it's summer sausage but it's biggest time of year is winter.

Weird.

Day Nine: A Day of Christmas Conviction

It's funny because, sure, even though a good part of the canon of Christmas songs are faith-based ones like "O Holy Night," "Silent Night," and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" (lots of nights in there too), you never quite think about them as songs of conviction.  Yeah, they're pretty and many may even leave you with some hair raising goosebumps if performed right (for such an example, head here, just wait for the song and you'll see) or certainly some warm smiles and nostalgic feelings.  But conviction, not usually.

Yet, when I popped in Superstar Christmas, that's exactly what greeted me once again this year.  The album is a collection of various artists, showcasing everyone from Mariah and Cyndi Lauper to Pavarotti and Barbara Steisand and has been one of my favorites of the years.  I picked it today because, after listening to full albums by one artist at a time, I was in need of some diversity.

But, alas, the conviction.  The first bit of that came with the very first track, John Lennon and Yoko Ono's legendary "Happy Xmas (War is Over)."  That song has haunted me for the past several years and, in my here and there blogging days, I've blogged about it before.  There's something haunting and terribly challenging about the line, "So this is Christmas/And what have you done? Another year's over/A new one's just begun." 

That's a powerful point of assessment in what is otherwise a happy and joyous song.  That challenge resonates within me, "What have I done?", and I frankly wrestle with the answer.  What have I done this year?  Certainly, I've grown in some areas, accomplished some things (being a part of Third Option Men and having some great friendships there has helped), and have learned a lot.  But, if I'm honest with myself, there are a lot of things that have gone undone as well.  There are things that have been thought about but shelved, points of laziness given into, and sins allowed to fester.  It's a strangely powerful question and is one I think I'll continue to wrestle with.

But the album's convicting presence doesn't end there.  Because, just a bit further down the tracklist, we run into country star Collin Raye's "What If Jesus Comes Back Like That?"  It's a song that I've heard tons of times and have stuck on mix discs for friends around the holidays but, on this day, the lyric really hit home.  Raye sings:

"What if Jesus comes back like that
On an old freight train in a hobo hat
Will we let him in or turn our back
What if Jesus comes back like that
Oh what if Jesus comes back like that"

He develops the imagery further:

"What if Jesus comes back like that

Two months early and hooked on crack
Will we let him in or turn our back
What if Jesus comes back like that
Oh what if Jesus comes back like that"

Eventually, he concludes:

"What if Jesus comes back like that

Where will he find out hearts are at
Will he let us in or turn his back
What if Jesus comes back like that
Will he cry when he sees where our hearts are at
Will he let us in or turn his back
What if Jesus comes back like that"

These are questions that haunt me because, ultimately, I believe that God, in some ways, has come back like that.  Jesus said that as we do unto the least of these, we have done unto Him.  As we drive down the street and look into the eyes of the homeless man, we see Jesus.  When we engage the sickly child, we see Jesus.  Likewise, as we engage our next door neighbor, our local shop clerk, and our spouse, we look into the eyes of Jesus.

The question for us is, what do we do?  How do we act? 

How do I act?

Day Eight: Merry Melodies with McRoberts, Isaak, Kensrue, and Groban

I realized last night as I was posting my Christmas experiences of the day that, for whatever reason, my experiment thus far had been rather estrogen-heavy.  I'd listened to Jewel, Mariah, and more but, for whatever reason, the fellas hadn't really been represented. 

So today I grabbed a handfull of records geared toward righting the balance.

The day kicked off with Chris Isaak's simply titled, Christmas.  It's easily one of my most favorite albums in the collection and one more listen only solidified it's status that much more.  Isaak, in his signature style, captures a sound from long ago but manages to deliver it in a way that transcends generations, appealing to early rock n' roll as well as something more contemporary.  Smooth vocals, killer musicians, and a great sense of humor lend themselves to a simply great listen.

It was a great album to lead through a day of work-filled business.  We taught, we assisted, we ran here and there.  But, I've gotta tell you, through it all, this little bit of Christmas cheer I'm kickstarting my days with is giving me a little bit of extra juice.  Kind of a nifty realization throughout.

When "second work" rolled around I had to intersperse Christmas among some more current albums as my review schedule is fairly littered with work right now.  But the experiment must go on so I sallied forth with Dustin Kensrue and This Good Night Is Still Everywhere. The Thrice frontman does a fine job working solo, showcasing something of a moody take on old and new songs alike and offers a nice, indie flavored record that plays well out of season as well as in.

Next up was my buddy Justin McRoberts Christmas EP, another recording that is definitely on the top tier of my collection.  McRoberts delivers no-frills acoutic Christmas with a heartfelt poignance that hammers home the power of Christmas with earnest honesty.  It's a set of songs that deserves a careful listen and that's not something I was able to afford it this evening.  I'm thinking this one will get a repeat listen this year.

In honor of his guest spot on The Office tonight as Andy Bernard's brother, I had to grab Josh Groban's Noel.  As you'd expect, Groban's record is flawless, orchestrated to the max, and arranged masterfully by David Foster.  Groban is spot on throughout, sharing some nice duets, and, for whatever reason, really sets the tone for fireside chats and who knows, maybe a bit more?

Thus far, I'm still wrestling with why I'm doing this.  I'm pretty much deferring to the idea that it's building in me a sense of discipline for writing which, thus far, it has as I've been pretty consistent and have seen it influence my other work which has flowed a little more freely.  It's also helped me to work toward multi-tasking my writing as well.  All in all, I guess that can't be a bad thing, right?

But should I be concerned that I'm starting to mentally put together a Christmas list for me and the family?  Too soon?  Or can we ever start too soon? 

Day Seven: Unbelieving Looks and Mariah Carey...

So today marks the first day that I really got some unbelieving looks regarding this rather foolish holiday listening journey I'm on.  The disbelief came with some friends at work as we worked with our clients in the computer lab.

"Did you always have a blog?" JD asked.

"You have a blog?" Ricardo shared.

"Yeah, man," JD replied. "Haven't you seen it?  He's been posting all this Christmas stuff up?"

"Christmas?  In October?"

So I had to explain.  And I've got to admit, the more I explain it, the less it makes sense to even me, save fot the fact of wanting to simply use something you have, vis a vis the Christmas music.  But, through it, as I shared with them, I'm hoping to maybe see some things in myself, see if by Thanksgiving I'm ready to skeet shoot the next CD with "Jingle Bells" on it, and so forth.

But, of course, I still got the shaking heads and the curious looks.  (They're good guys though, even if they're not down with Frosty and the boys...)

It was a light Christmas music day for me though.  I unfortunately only had the chance to really rock out one album due to some other pending reviews I needed to write which, of course, requires my listening to those albums as well.

But I did choose today's album very intentionally.  Today's selection was Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas and it was picked with severe intentionality.  So why so intentional?

I listened now so I wouldn't hate it later.

Let me clarify.  Mariah's record is fine and boasts some solid songs and, of course, her soaring vocals and runs.  It's produced to the nine's and is really a great Christmas album.  But here we encounter one of the greatest issues of the holiday music genre/industry/whatever you want to call it.

That problem?  The hit song.

Every year there seems to be that one song that catches fire and just lurches through the airwaves, seeming to be in rotation every other song.  At first, that's kind of fun.  It's a great song and you're loving it.  But three weeks later and you cringe with the first three notes.  It's a fine line.

And with Christmas songs, this is perhaps that much more evident.  I mean, it's a limited period of time these songs get played, right?  And, with the nostalgia factor, shifting tastes, and the mindset of radio programmers apparently everywhere, you end up with much of the same for the holiday season.

And for the past several years, that song has been "All I Want for Christmas (Is You)" by none other than Mariah Carey.

To be fair, it's a fine song and, heard a few times here and there, is great.  But over and over and over and over and...well, you get the picture.  Enough is enough.  But one time today was okay.  I'm just hoping that programmers can latch onto something new this year. 

Although, I wouldn't argue if Mariah would send the royalty money for one season's worth of plays on that song; I'm pretty sure it would put my kids through college!

Day Six: Smooth Sailing with Martina McBride and Dave Barnes

One thing I can definitely say that I've learned today is that music, and even holiday tunes, is greatly affected by a sense of context.

Let me explain.

Today began with a bit of a jumble, unsure if my wife, who'd stayed home the previous day sick from work, was going to be up and at 'em this morning.  Therefore, I was rushing around a little bit more than usual, gathering the kids' things together, making lunches, and trying to take care of some of my own business in the meantime.  Thankfully, my wife was feeling better (although, as we speak, she's sitting on the couch sniffling and breathing more through her mouth than nose) but by the time that knowledge was secured, the damage was done.  The day was begun in middle American chaos.

So, without breakfast in my belly, I hurriedly grabbed a random handful of Christmas records on the way out the door, hoping for the best.

As fate would have it, God was on my side.

Here's where context comes into play.  If I had grabbed something wicked engaged, overwrought, and super-upbeat, I might have not made it.  However, the first album to hit the CD player was none other than Martina McBride's White Christmas. For those who haven't heard the album, it's a very sophisticated, very smooth record.  McBride's powerful vocals weave themselves in and out nicely with the orchestration, keeping things on an even keel throughout.  And with the morning I had, that's just what I needed, smooth and even.

The beauty was that it helped smooth out my nerves as well, preparing me for the day that was to come.  Which, of course, was befitting it's full moon notoriety as we ran to and fro like the proverbial chicken with it's head cut off.

So you can appreciate, if even for a bit, as my second album of the day, in between jobs, was Dave Barnes' Very Merry Christmas. While not an album that took my breath away when it released last year, today it fit the bill, with Barnes' cool, romantic holiday tunes soothing the weary soul, making me long for that cold snowy night (something I've frankly never known as a Florida native) "trapped" with my special girl.  Again, it fit that smooth bill just fine.

Barnes' carried me through Work #2 and onto my small group night, which was great.  And, again, context being taken into consideration, after our warm and engaging conversation, I finished the night off with Sugarland and their Gold and Green. Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush's vocals ooze warmth, home, and the full-on holiday spirit and capture the sense of family, and yes, fun, with the best of them.  A great finish to a roller coaster of a day.