Green River Ordinance

♪♪I just wanna be the hand you hold when you're cryin' 

I just wanna be the voice that tells you it'll be alright and 

When your world is coming down 

And when your hope's no where to be found 

Well, I'll be here, well, I'll be here, well, I'll be here for you  ♪♪
- Green River Ordinance, "Out of My Hands"

We've all seen some really awesome lyrics someone quoted on Facebook or Twitter and thought to ourselves, "Gotta know who sings/wrote that!" That's how I was first introduced to the sounds of Green River Ordinance and I've been "in love" ever since.  GRO is a rock/pop band from the Fort Worth area with songs like Come On, Sleep It Off, and On Your Own, that you can't help but sing along with.

{Confession: I always try to figure out some type of harmonization to go along with a song.  GRO's songs are awesome to do that with. I also serenade people riding in the car with me. That's for another blog entry.}

They also have what I call "love ballads" that I can't get enough of: Inward Tide, Undertow, Uncertainly Certain, Whisper In Your Ear, Everything You Are, Dancing Shoes...I could keep going.  They are a talented group of guys all around revealed even more so in their covers of classic songs like Tom Petty's American Girl or Fleetwood Mac's Go Your Own Way all nicely compiled in an album titled Songs We Like From Before We Were Born. I think their cover of Justin Beiber's Baby is especially impressive...just saying.

{Where did they get Green River Ordinance from? Wikipedia to the rescue: click here.}

GRO released their latest album, Under Fire, a year ago this month.  I downloaded the album almost immediately and I can say it is the same caliber as their music I initially fell in love with.  I will leave you with one of my favorites from that album...enjoy!

Calli

Listening to
Under Fire
by Green River Ordinance

Young Oceans {Advent}

When I was getting ready for my recent trip to Serbia, I was perusing the awesome free {and completely legal} music site, Noisetrade.com, looking for some new tunes. I downloaded an album from a band I had never heard of but the album title, "Advent," was very intriguing.  The band, Young Oceans, is a "worship project" that came from the Trinity Grace Church community in New York City.  Their hymn-like songs are very beautiful with a sound I would compare to that of Future of Forestry.  {Thinking both bands should hook up for a tour?  Just a thought...}  The lyrics are thought-provoking and inspire you to take a look inside yourself.

To be honest, I do not know much about advent but I understand that the idea behind it is to prepare yourself in order to celebrate the birth of our Savior.  Christmas had already passed at that time; however, I was heading to a place that celebrates Christmas on January 7 so, I had an added opportunity to prepare for the celebration.

Each trip I've taken to Serbia has been unique and life-changing...causing me to reexamine myself and alter the way I see a lot of things.  What God showed me this last trip can be summed up in one of the songs from Young Oceans'  Advent: "My All In Thee."

The plea used consistently throughout the song is "let me find my all in thee."  Essentially, it says though "I am blind...weak..." I want my identity and everything I desire to be found in You.  This song has become the cry of my heart during this time in my life that has been six years in the making.  How the Lord can be so patient, I have no idea.  He has shown himself faithful to me in ways I do not deserve.

Take a listen to "My All In Thee" below or visit their website to hear songs from each of their recordings.  This album a great supplemental resource for preparing your heart...no matter what the occasion or circumstance.  

Calli

Listening to
Advent
by Young Oceans

Penny and Sparrow {Tenboom}

Hey ya'll - Sorry for no post last week...I was kind of in a different time zone halfway around the world having an AMAZING time!  I'm currently experiencing jet lag so I'll try to post very soon an overview of my return trip to Serbia.  Until then, feel free to check out the post from my first trip.

I posted two months ago about this band from Austin I just couldn't get enough of and a song {Heroes and Monsters} off their upcoming album that I absolutely loved.  Well, good news!  Penny and Sparrow's new album, Tenboom, came out on Tuesday! Hooray! Take a listen here or go straight to iTunes and download it now.  You will not be disappointed!

Once I get some sleep and my body figures out which time zone it's in, I'll post more about what songs on their new album are my favorite.  Until, enjoy the beautiful and mesmerizing sounds of Penny and Sparrow.

Calli

Listening to

Tenboom

by Penny and Sparrow

Here comes {the BOOM circuits}

Haters gonna hate but you gotta stay with me through this one.  I want you to read on but for some of you, you're going to have to stick out this next sentence like you're ripping a bandaid off, k?

The soundtracks have made the whole Twilight phenomenon worth it.

Ok, there I said it - but STAY WITH ME!  As a die hard music fan, the soundtracks have been like getting a mixtape from that friend that seems to have the best taste in music and always has the best music playing in their car at all times.  Listening to each soundtrack for the first time was like Christmas morning when it's snowing outside and you get everything you asked for that year...A little over dramatic, but you get the picture.  I have discovered a lot of amazing artists because of these soundtracks so, therefore, I am grateful.

This last soundtrack was equally impressive as the last four, if not better.  When I get a new album, I like to listen to the whole thing continuously in order at least twice if not more.  {Mini soap box moment//Artists and producers take great pangs to put the songs on their album in an order that they believe will be the most beneficial to their listener.  I would even go so far to say they've lost sleep over it.  I know I would.//end of mini soap box moment.}  One song on the Breaking Dawn Part II soundtrack really stuck out to me and I instantly fell in love with it:  "Everything and Nothing" by The Boom Circuits.

The lyrics speak of a relationship with a girl that is now gone and the writer is being haunted by the memories he has with her {why does this girl live in my dreams}.  The song as a whole is both stimulating yet heavy with longing. A conflicting desire to have what was but be rid of it at the same time {I can't have her, save me from her} is a continual theme throughout.  Talk about pulling on your heart strings.

So, of course, I had to check out the rest of The Boom Circuits music and I can report I wasn't disappointed. For sure.  I've described their sound as a little like Band of Horses but more "pop-infused."  If you're a fan of The Postal Service and Death Cab For Cutie sound/the lead singer's voice, then you'll like this band.  For sure.  Fo'shiz. Yeah.

Check out the song below {video using official NASA footage for any Howard Wolowitz's out there, hehe} or they've got a few posted on their Spacebook, errr, I mean, Facebook page.

Calli

P.S. Anyone catch the P.O.D. reference in the title {who are apparently still touring}?
P.S.S. Yes, I have read all of the Twilight books...and seen all of the movies.

Listening to
Time and Space EP
by The Boom Circuits

Woo-Hoo College + {Bootstraps}

I love my friends.  Friends from my college years hold an extra special place in my heart.  We had some good, bad, and ugly times but we also had some pretty amazing ones too.  {Most of us} have  graduated, gotten married, had babies, moved to a different state or country, decided to go back for more torture, er I mean, schooling to get a Master's Degree or even a Ph. D. {smarty pants}.  So, when I get to see some of those friends, especially a lot of them in one setting, I get really giddy and nostalgic.  This past weekend, I went to one of my college friend's stateside wedding reception and got to see quite a few people I haven't seen since graduation.  Talk about good medicine for the heart.  Love you guys, so glad I got to see each one of you!

The band I'm posting about today was actually recommended by one of my good college friends/old roommate/birthday buddy, Stephanie.  She ran off to a different state after college that has beautiful snow-capped mountains and breathtaking, picturesque landscape in pursuit of a Master's degree.  Stephanie has such an eye for detail and so much creativity and talent that I know she'll do amazing at whatever she does in life.

The past year with the incorporation of Spotify into my music-listening life, Steph and I have periodically sent each other suggestions we thought the other one would like.  Steph really hit one out of the park when she suggested I listen to Bootstraps.  The lead singer's voice has a Ray LaMontagne sound that's easy on the ears.  The overall sound of their self-titled debut album has a very nostalgic feel that's perfect for anything from a lazy afternoon to chill music playing in the background for a gathering with friends, college friends at that.  The lyrics in each song reinforce the sentimentality like the Fortyfive {see video below} and in my favorite song on the album, Sleeping Giant:

i don’t wanna fight it and left our love a sleeping giant...
some old girl weighs on ya mind heavy as the web of lies,
that some old kid has always told left ages since we spoke,
like boney branches overgrown hack out the limbs,
with roots below but you and i undivided
don’t leave ya love, a sleeping giant 

So, indulge yourself in the nostalgic sounds of Bootstraps during this holiday season filled with family and friends.  Hugs some necks and allow yourself to relive a few of those good times with the people you hold most dear.

Calli

Listening to
Bootstraps
by Bootstraps