getting over the sophomore slump

my favorite spot on my back porch in apex

the sophomore slump is a very real thing in the world of music.  many musicians with an amazing first album have gone on to release a subsequent album that is no where near the level of greatness of the first.  i think this mostly comes from the fact that you have almost your entire life to devote to gathering material and ideas for that first album, and the second only a year, if even that, to come up with new material that doesn't sound too similar to your first album, but doesn't abandon the fan base that you have gathered from the first. it's a hard thing to recover from a terrible second album, but some still manage to rise out of the ashes of a sophomore slump and go on to greatness.

i got the same feeling when trying to decide what to write for my second blog.  i felt like i had more time to prepare, craft my thoughts, and finally release all of those ideas that i had pent up inside of me.

well the thing about writing a blog is, you can't just have one post.  simply introducing myself and never to be heard from again would not make me a true blogger, just a quitter.  so i decided to just go ahead and get it out in the open how i felt about still being in the early stages of blogging...it's very intimidating to write to an unknown audience.  you're never quite sure who will or won't read it, so i guess the best thing would be just write what i know, what i love, and those who decide to read will get a very accurate picture of me as a person.


so last time around, i let y'all know, fairly enthusiastically, that i love music

i decided to share some of my favorite videos of bands and artists that i listen to from youtube and maybe, just maybe, i will introduce you to something you've never heard of before but wish you had.

one of my favorite songwriters is brooke fraser of hillsong.  she's written such awesome songs as lead me to the cross, i will exalt you, and does amazing non-worship songwriting as well with her solo career (see above)

future of forestry is another band i've always loved...but with the release of their travel EPs, and getting to see them craft the songs from those three CDs in a live setting...you realize how amazing they are as musicians and they are now one of my favorite bands.  The song above is done with 3 people...yet it sounds like they have an army of people.

this is phil wickham...he has more passion for his music than anyone i have ever listened to...enough said...moving on...

oh...and this is phil's brother...evan...how freakin' talented is this family?!

phoenix...i saw them at koka booth amphitheater last year...it was the best concert i have ever been to. amazing musicians that make music that makes me happy

killing two birds with one stone on this one: kina grannis is one of the coolest chicks ever on youtube...she does amazing covers of different things on her channel.  in this video she is also doing a cover of one of my favorite songs from my favorite album from my favorite band currently.  bon iver (pronounced Bon EEE ver, not Bon EYE ver as i initially thought, thanks lacey for clarifying... pronunciation is not my strong suit)

mat kearney just came out with his third album, a great success after his sophomore slump, and i got to see him perform this song live in charlotte opening for owl city (yes i think owl city is freakin' awesome too).  he will be back in september in raleigh and i am totes going to that show, his new cd 'young love' is brilliant.

finally one of the most unique and interesting bands i have come across recently is 'the head and the heart'.  great instrumentation, great harmonies, complex song structure, and it all comes together to make something that sounds so unique and awesome.  they will be here as well in september, and i will be seeing them live.

until next time...i hope i have entertained you yet again.  if this is your first time here, welcome! you showed up late...so please take a seat in the back and try not to bother the people that got here before you! ;D