What has happened to the country of Haiti is truly tragic. Sadly, though I have to admit that I have practically ignored what has happened. If you’re anything like me, if there is a problem that you can’t fix, you like to pretend like it doesn’t exist. Well I have been reminded lately of how big of a difference our generosity can make in times like this. Even though I can’t be there in Haiti to help out, that doesn’t mean that I can’t have an impact on their world.
So today I want to shine a light on an organization that has chosen not to ignore Haiti. Instead of just sitting at home and writing a check, the people at Paste Magazine are using the influence that God has granted them and have started a campaign to raise funds for the relief effort that is taking place in Haiti right now. They have asked artists from across the globe to donate songs that they would give away to those who donated to the relief fund. Right now there are over 200 artists that have contributed mp3′s for this cause, with a good portion of them offering exclusive unreleased songs.
Part of me feels a little sleezy trying to entice you into giving by telling you about all of the great music you can get if you do. But then again, if writing this post means that more money will be given, and more lives will be positively affected, then that is all that matters. I hope that those of you who are reading this recognize the great opportunity to “love your neighbor” through financial gifts and are doing so regularly. But that is another matter. For right now I have some great tunes to tell you about.
Paste has managed to get an excellent and very eclectic group of artists to participate. Of Montreal, Bruce Cockburn, Switchfoot, State Radio, Deer Tick, Andrew Bird, The Decemberists, Duncan Sheik, Ludacris and literally hundreds more have given songs to help the people of Haiti. And these aren’t just cheap b-side tracks that would’ve remained unheard. There are some real gems to be found in this musical smorgasbord. So head on over to SongsforHaiti.org and make a difference while you download music today.
This song sounds like a case of “I thought maybe we were more than just friends” if I ever heard one. Classic overstepping of boundaries, and now the singer just doesn’t know how to classify things with this person, but he is adamant in that he does not want it to be called love. I love how the sound of Fiction Family is so far gone from both Switchfoot and Nickel Creek, as well as even the solo works of Jon Foreman.
When Saturday approaches and the clock won’t fly by, these songs should keep you occupied for a good, ten minutes. May I recommend burning old depressing pictures, and snapping old mix cd’s in half. If it doesn’t make the emotional pain go away, at least you have something physical to show for you frustrations.
But as for me, I’ll be enjoying Valentine’s Day with my girlfriend.
anyways…
I hope you ears don’t get their feelings hurt, and spend the rest of the valentines dance crying in a corner where nobody can see you, except for the 7th grade history teacher who awkwardly approaches you to calm you down and help, but instead calls attention to your sad pathetic self.
I absolutely love this guy. I think that he is one of the greatest songwriters of our time. And he is doing it at such a record pace. He has had at least, one full-length release a year since 2000. And there isn’t a one that I don’t like. And that includes my first listen of Cardinology. If you were a fan of Easy Tiger I think that you will find this one easy to enjoy. But don’t take that to mean that this one is “a lot of the same.” It’s a solid album from an artist who continues to mature and surround himself with great musicians as the years go by.
Our good buddy Jon Foreman, frontman of the Christian rock outfit Switchfoot, has been a busy guy the past several years. Switchfoot released two albums back to back, Nothing Is Sound in ’05 and Oh! Gravity in ’06, both of which I was greatly disappointed in. Then as Jon Foreman he released four seasonal EPs in ’07 and ’08- Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. And then tomorrow he gives us a sort of best of collection taken from those EPs. And in case you never listened to them and since we regrettably have not mentioned them on here, they are fantastic. His writing is back up to par, comparable to some of the writing he did with Legend of Chin or Learning to Breathe, both of which are must haves for any one who has ever even thought about liking Switchfoot.
Film
Quantum of Solace
Since there wasn’t much worth talking about with movie releases this week I thought I would take an early start at getting you excited about the new Bond movie. Quantum of Solace is coming out this weekend in the UK and then in two weeks here in the U.S. I was a huge fan of Casino Royale, I think that the series definitely is on an upswing. Let’s see if they can pull it off again. This preview definitely makes me believe they will.
What has happened to the country of Haiti is truly tragic. Sadly, though I have to admit that I have practically ignored what has happened. If you’re anything like me, if there is a problem that you can’t fix, you like to pretend like it doesn’t exist. Well I have been reminded lately of how big of a difference our generosity can make in times like this. Even though I can’t be there in Haiti to help out, that doesn’t mean that I can’t have an impact on their world.
