Kingdom Days in an Evil Age

Let me just start this one by saying, I LOVE SLEEPING GIANT. I usually have a pretty hard time telling people who my favorite band is and I find myself grasping for all kinds of secondhand guesses, but I can honestly say now that Sleeping Giant for sure is. They're simply just overall wonderful and their latest album, Kingdom Days in an Evil Age, has literally changed my life.

I could spend some time talking about the music in general if I wanted to, but honestly, the actual music is one of the last reasons I love this band and album. However, I will mention that I thoroughly enjoy their simplicity as it sets them apart in a sea of show-offy hardcore. So, because of this, there really is not much to talk about in regards to that at all anyways!
No, my appreciation for Sleeping Giant comes from one, their lyrics and two, their honest love for the LORD and His body and the way they live their lives.
Lyrics...where do I begin? Ever since I was introduced to them (small show at the Gear, woot!), I've always been drawn to them by their lyrics. They are absolutely drenched in the Holy Spirit. Every word I hear Tommy yell, sing, or scream always, and I mean always, is absolutely full of truth--solid, biblical truth. On this latest album, the focus is on the authority God has given us, His children, here on earth through any and everything. It completely wrecked how I thought about myself in relation to Him and now I am so much more inclined to immeditely pray for healing or honestly anything. This album was given to me (thank you Jon Pirtle!) during a time when I really, really needed to hear it and helped me get through a very rough time in my Walk and kept me going. "Tithemi" will forever remind me that nothing can separate us from God and that everything will eventually bow, if not now. "All fear, all pain, all hurt, all grief, all lies must bow to Jesus' name. All kings, all thrones, everything that breathes life must bow to Jesus' name." I spent my whole summer hooked to every single song and worshiped around my room many a time, and still do. I listen to it when I need a boost, reminded of who I am, or just want to get with God--hello 2 hour trips home from college. I could try to pinpoint everything good about this album, but honestly, taken face value, it speaks completely for itself. I can't express to you how much this album means to me (not more than God, I assure you!) and I am entirely grateful that the LORD inspired the boys of Sleeping Giant to put it out. Kingdom Days will forever be one of my favorite albums of all time because the truth of God never, ever gets old.

The Alchemy Index: Vol. 2: Water

I just got back from New York this weekend (and meeting Alan Rickman & Jerry O'Connell!) and my thoughts were that I was going to blog about what I listened to mostly on the plane rides. Before that, I had planned on talking about this Thrice album and now I'm going to stick with it. I realized that the crazy hustle and bustle of New York perfectly offsets this album and sets me up well.

I'm not particularly fond of crowded places and large groups. I don't like tons of noise (forget shows here...) and I'm afraid that when I'm in big crowds I'll fall into that thought process of "I feel alone in a crowded place." I'm a pretty simple kid with pretty basic interests and I love intimate, casual settings, which is why I love The Alchemy Index: Vol. 2: Water by Thrice. It has the most unique quality and ability to take me away while holding my hand tightly. I don't feel like I'm going into dangerous waters and yet at the same time, I experience something new with this album. It has that familiarity to it that sweeps me away into somehwat unfamiliar territory that quickly becomes familiar, much like my Daddy!
I honestly don't have too terribly much to say about this album other than it's one of my absolute favorites. It has all those qualities of great music and always gets me thinking about my Walk with God. "Open Water" has beautiful lyrics all the way through, but my favorites are: "The open water is my only fear, but I'll sail as long as I still have breath in me...I'm starting to believe the ocean's much like you 'cause it gives and takes away." And then there's the beauty of "Night Diving," which is just beautiful in and of itself and wonderful to worship to. From beginning to end, Thrice manages to capture me, take me out to sea (perfectly I might add), let me journey, and get me back home safely. It's because this album is so intimate and light, yet heavy in material that I appreciate it so much. And now for future trips to New York or any other place that doesn't naturally offer up intimacy, I'll know what album to spin to get me to that place.
P.S. I also highly recommend listening to the counterpart volume to this Index: Vol. 1: Fire, in conjunction with Water, and also the other volumes. I haven't listened to all of them all the way through, only heard bits and pieces, but I mean it's Thrice. Of course they'll be good. :)