Playlist
Eowyn - Unfinished Memories
Altar Boys - You Found Me
Danny Cox - Drink in the Rain
Kelly Mack - The Only One
Pulling Thorns - Lazarus

Eowyn in Concert
Eowyn will playing a concert near by in Murrysville Pa, next week on the 30th of July. Just a couple of days after the Police Concert. I am really looking forward to both of these Concerts and you can expect to hear about them. Just so you know, Mike is planning on returning to help me review the Eowyn Concert for Episode 27.

Upcoming News
Just wanted to let all of you know what you can expect to see in the upcoming weeks here as jtindie.com - I am working on several CD reviews and have begun an e-mail interview with Eowyn that I am very excited about. You can be assured that like the Amy Courts interview the one with Eowyn will get dropped into the feed when it is completed as well as showing up on the site.

I am also working on an article / Interview about just what is Christian Music. With everything else that is going on I am unsure about when this will be finished. What I really need is a staff of writers, but I would be happy with whatever contributions people are willing to make.

Contact Information
You can leave me feedback in several forms, technically you could try homing pigeons or trained weasels but I think you will find these options much more to your liking. You can leave me comments here on the page (I love getting comments) or you can Email me at jtindiepodcast at gmail dot com, or finally and perhaps the most exciting you can leave me voice-mail feedback at 206-338-5706

Legal Notices
First off I want to thank all the bands for allowing me to play their music, I would also like to thank Ioda Promonet, Podsafe Music Network, and Magnatune For Providing. Intro was Provided by the Band Mandrake Root and you can find them on Magnatune, Outro music was provided by the band Falling You and you can find them on Magnatune. Jt’s Indie Christian Music Podcast is part of the Farpoint Media Family and is Released under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial, No Derivs 2.5 License 2008.

Be sure to leave me a voice mail telling me what you think 206-338-5706 or you can email me at jtindiepodcast@gmail.com

Playlist
Bringing down Broadway - Killing Compassion
Shallow thoughts - Nom Nom Nom
Saint - Starpilot

Contact Information
You can leave me feedback in several forms, technically you could try homing pigeons or trained weasels but I think you will find these options much more to your liking. You can leave me comments here on the page (I love getting comments) or you can Email me at jtindiepodcast at gmail dot com, or finally and perhaps the most exciting you can leave me voice-mail feedback at 206-338-5706

Legal Notices
First off I want to thank all the bands for allowing me to play their music, I would also like to thank Ioda Promonet, Podsafe Music Network, and Magnatune For Providing. Intro was Provided by the Band Mandrake Root and you can find them on Magnatune, Outro music was provided by the band Falling You and you can find them on Magnatune. Jt’s Indie Christian Music Podcast is part of the Farpoint Media Family and is Released under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial, No Derivs 2.5 License 2008.

Playlist
Stereo Jesus - Rock and Roll
Reaching for Mercy - Raining
Amy Courts - Drowning
Damascus Dawn - It’s So Quiet Here
Mariah Secrest - Green Light

Contact Information
You can leave me feedback in several forms, technically you could try homing pigeons or trained weasels but I think you will find these options much more to your liking. You can leave me comments here on the page (I love getting comments) or you can Email me at jtindiepodcast at gmail dot com, or finally and perhaps the most exciting you can leave me voice-mail feedback at 206-338-5706

Legal Notices
First off I want to thank all the bands for allowing me to play their music, I would also like to thank Ioda Promonet, Podsafe Music Network, and Magnatune For Providing. Intro was Provided by the Band Mandrake Root and you can find them on Magnatune, Outro music was provided by the band Falling You and you can find them on Magnatune. Jt’s Indie Christian Music Podcast is part of the Farpoint Media Family and is Released under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial, No Derivs 2.5 License 2008.

When I first came across Amy Courts on Disc Revolt and I was immediately struck by her voice. Behind the angelic voice I found a performer whose lyrics were both spiritual and intelligent (unfortunately a combination that has become rare these days). Well after a bit of back and forth I was able to play some of her music on the podcast. I was then surprised by a little gift in the mail, it seemed that santa came early and I must of been a good boy cause there in my stocking was a pre-release of “These Cold and Rusted Lungs”. A Cd I was happy to review on the site, and the hits just keep on coming. I have been given the chance to sit down (virtually) with Amy and Interview her via Email. I get the chance to talk to her about her music, influences, ministries and more. So please, join us in Jt’s Coffee shop as we talk about this and that as we find out more about the artist Amy Courts and her New CD “These Cold and Rusted Lungs”.

Read the Interview after the Jump.

JT - Who are some of your musical influences?
AC - My biggest influences, early on, were Jennifer Knapp and Sixpence None the Richer. Lyrically and melodically, there was so much richness and depth that I’d never heard in Christian music before. Both were willing to broach topics most in the industry veered away from, so it was encouraging and hopeful, for me as a teenager with angst oozing from my skin, to finally hear songs about real things like pain and hurt and doubts. Since then, I’ve become quite influenced by Patty Griffin’s raw vocal prowess, and have come to love any- and everything by Derek Webb. He’s another who is, in my mind, a bit of a revolutionary. How he writes (musically), and what he’s willing to write about so often flies in the face of the typical contemporary Christian fare. He talks about the Christian’s role in social justice, not just politics. He talks about peace in wartime. He stirs the pot without attacking. It’s inspiring.

JT - Can you tell me a little about your musical upbringing?
AC - I’m the youngest of four girls who were born singing. Seriously, I think I must have been one of those babies who didn’t kick in the womb, but sang. Who knows? But I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. As a young girl and teenager, my family did the traveling family singer group thing. It was cool for a while, but once I got to high school I was pretty sick of being either “a Courts daughter who sings!” or Melani, Michelle, or Charis’s little sister. So I quit singing in choirs and at church and joined marching band. Once I got to college and finally experienced life in a place where no one knew “the Courts girls” or could compare me to my sisters, I started singing again and learning to play guitar. Then one day a friend of mine wrote a song and I decided I wanted to write songs. So I did.

JT - Your newest CD, “These Cold and rusted Lungs” is really great, can you tell me about the inspiration behind it?
AC - Thank you! It’s so encouraging to hear positive comments, because this record is very much a collection of my life’s snap-shots. It’s not often, as a writer, that songs just fall out in a 20-minute period of time, when you sit with your guitar or at the piano, and the entire song, lyrics and music, just comes to you. Usually, it takes a month or two to flesh out a song to a point where you’re ready to perform it. When it happens, what’s captured is always raw and organic, authentic as can be. And most of these songs were just that: moments that seemed to fall into song without my poking or prodding. They are expressions of me at my weakest or most hopeful, hurting or worried or simply wondering out loud. I consider myself lucky to have an album chock full of those vulnerable, unadulterated, unaffected moments.

JT - Do you consider what you are doing to be your ministry? What kinds of other things are you currently involved in?
AC - I always chuckle when I hear bands answer questions like this with, “We’re not a Christian band – we’re a band made up of guys who happen to be Christians.” It seems backward to me. As a Christ-follower, created by God and in His image, my identity is wrapped up in Christ. So really, I’m a Christian who happens to be an artist…and a wife, and a step-mother, and a friend. Everything I say, do, write, and sing flows from that central identifying mark. So while I don’t want to be glued to the Christian music market and would certainly love to find a home in the mainstream world as well, I can’t undermine the ministry of it. As a child of God and follower of the Gospel, everything I say in my songs – whether they’re about God or relationships or work or whatever – comes from a place where the Holy Spirit lives and breathes. In that sense, everything I do is bound to minister to someone. But I also know that, as a Christian, if I’m not loving others through active service, then I’m not living the Greatest Commandment. And as an artist, it’s not enough to sing about life and hopefully give listeners something real and honest to relate to. If I’m not encouraging them to give themselves to their own communities and to service around the globe, then my voice is wasted on vanity. That’s why I partnered with Mocha Club, an African Aid organization that, with just $7 per month – the cost of two mochas – is able to provide seven Africans with clean water for an entire year, or give 16 Ugandan children living with Malaria life-saving medication. Here at home in Nashville, I’m also involved with the Sudanese Center for Refugees and volunteer with a number of organizations that help the less fortunate or struggling in our communities. It’s not so much a matter of finding or defining my ministry through music, but seeking ways in the every day to serve my neighbors and love my enemies. Eventually, I’ll have to retire from my life as a professional musician. But I won’t – and can’t – retire from my Christianity or from the responsibility to love and serve my neighbors.

JT - From looking at your Myspace page I see that you have a pretty busy touring schedule. What do you find the hardest thing about touring? Likewise what is it that you like the best about touring?
AC - Aside from the obvious downside of being away from home and my husband for long periods of time, and the time it takes to simply book shows, the hardest part about touring is the work it takes to stay healthy. I don’t think I realized until after my first tour just how difficult it is, physically, to spend hours on end - sometimes entire days - cooped up in a car, or how hard it is to sleep in a different room and different bed every night. You lose a lot of sleep and your body goes into overdrive trying to keep endorphins moving. Couple that with the emotional, physical, and spiritual effort that goes into every single show, and it becomes incredibly difficult to stay healthy while giving every audience your very best every night. But, on the other hand, walking away from each performance having been able to share my heart and see the fruit of that vulnerability in peoples’ smiles, tears, and the stories they share makes every grueling moment away from home and on the road worth it. Knowing and seeing the Holy Spirit at work - through me! - is more rewarding and encouraging than anything else.

JT - What do you find most exciting about writing and recording music?
AC - It’s always exhilerating to write a new song and take it to a producer (or an audience) and show them a new baby. Because the writing process is one of such deliberation and vulnerability - especially for me, since most of what I write is me thinking or feeling out loud - it’s a relief to get it all down on paper. Starting with nothing and seeing where it goes is like watching evolution in fast-forward. It all comes out, and it’s kind of like that first day of feeling better after a bad cold. The recording process is different altogether. The amazing thing about it is bringing the different minds and artistic perspectives into the studio and meshing them in a way that works. I was completely blown away with all the final cuts on These Cold and Rusted Lungs, simply because what I took into the studio - these skeletons of songs that said something about me - were turned into these masterful bodies of timeless work that put color and texture to the bones. And when you work with someone like Neilson Hubbard (my producer) and the musicians on the project - from my own husband, Paul, to my drummer, Josh, to these guys I’ve never met, like Kris and Eamon, who all seem to know just what to play and where - it’s euphoric. What I’ve come away with is a full-bodied masterpiece. It’s incredible to be able to call it mine!

JT - Of all the bands I have spoken with, one thing I hear most of all is the difficulty in keeping spiritually grounded (I have had bands talk about being tempted by the secular life and how difficult that can be). Is there anything you do that helps keep you spiritually grounded while being part of the music industry?
AC - That’s a tough question to answer. While I do understand and experience the temptations of secular life, mostly in my worries over whether or not I’ll make the money necessary to sustain a musician’s life on the road, I don’t struggle as much with wanting to take part in the fame and celebrity of it all. Maybe I’m lucky in that the music industry - the Big Guns - hasn’t taken much notice of me, because I haven’t had to deal with parameters set by labels, producers or representatives and thus haven’t had to fight them over content or presentation of my music. I’ve been free to write what I want and what’s real to me. And really, I think it’s the content of the songs I sing that keeps me grounded spiritually. Knowing that every song came from a deeply personal, spiritual place (whether or not it’s about God, Jesus, praying, the Bible, or anything else definitively churchy), and that every single audience deserves a passionate, honest performance keeps me constantly aware of what I’m doing and why. Because I am naturally a person who wears her heart on her sleeve, I can’t pretend from the stage that everything is great when it’s not, or vice versa. I’m forced by nature to always be honest cause they’ll see right through me if I’m not. Besides that, God keeps me humble by letting me worry and then completely shutting me down and making them seem silly in light of His constant affirmation and provision.

JT - You talked of growing up in a singing and performing family and now being a Wife and Step-Mother, I know that this must be a change in your life. Have these things changed the way that perform or changed your outlook on the world?
AC-Oh man…the best and worst things about marriage and family life are the same: being inextricably bound and responsible to other human beings forces you out of yourself and into realms of selflessness you never thought imaginable. Becoming a wife and step-mother changed everything for me. In daily life, it means dying to myself and my desires. Specifically, it means choosing to love and give my best to my husband when I don’t think he deserves it, and more so receiving his unconditional love when I know I don’t deserve it. It means giving him an evening of my devoted attention when I’d rather rest. It means giving up my choice for where to spend vacation time because it’s more important to spend the days off with my step-son who lives a few states away. It means making a concerted effort to know him, love him, and be involved in what interests him, even when it makes no sense to me whatsoever. From the road, it means being deliberate about communicating even after we’ve both had really long days. Sometimes, it means passing up shows I’d like to do, or spending a little extra money to take the family with me. Invariably, though, it means putting them first. It means enjoying the uniqueness and beauty of two (and hopefully more, down the road someday) other people’s worlds, and becoming a person who makes that world better. I don’t have it perfected by any means, but the biggest change has been in learning that selflessness is far and away the most rewarding, satisfying thing I can do or be for them or myself.

JT - On your Myspace page, you are listed as being a contributing writer to www.newpilgrimpress.com and www.myspace.com/stalkingthemuse could you tell me a little more about these?
AC - Both are awesome publications! The New Pilgrim Press is a publication created by one of my dearest college friends, Lauren Geoffrion, who envisioned more for the next generation of Christians. She is a writer herself, and has surrounded herself with other like-minded, progressive Christian thinkers - whom she calls “The Revolutionaries” - who simply write about their own experiences and revelations about spirituality. Sometimes she’ll post quotes from amazing theologians like C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton, and other times she’ll just post thoughts compiled by the revolutionaries. But what she does in offering Truth-conscious forward-thinkers - people like me who often feel caught between progressive, post-modern theory and traditional, fundamental, irrefutable Truth - a place to gather, think together, write, and discuss matters of great importance across the spectrum is really fantastic. Stalking the Muse was the idea of one of Nashville’s biggest music fan who isn’t a musician himself. Being a lover of music and connoisseur of lyrical and melodic prowess, he decided to “stalk the muse” - ask singers, songwriters, artists, and bands what makes them tick, artistically. And he created a myspace entirely devoted to posting their musings and promoting their music and concerts. It’s become an incredible stop on the web for some of the best indie music around!

JT - What are your future plans, musically?
AC - Who knows!? I intend to keep doing what I do until I either can’t do it anymore. I don’t think I’ll ever just quit singing or writing…both are part of who I am. But, professionally speaking, I’ll keep doing it as long as I can afford to. And after that…I’ll do it for fun.

Lastly I wanted to end the interview with the famous 10 questions of James Lipton on “Inside the Actor’s Studio” but I find that several of the Question just don’t fit so I took the 6 that I thought made the most sense. If I may be so bold as to ask these questions?

What is your favorite word?
I’m a fan of “juxtaposed” and “acquiesce”…though it’s hard to find sentences in which to use either.
What is your least favorite word?
I’m afraid I can’t say that here.
What sound or noise do you love?
My husband playing guitar and singing, and babies giggling.
What sound or noise do you hate?
The wheezing sound my laptop makes when it goes into overdrive…it sounds like a dying hampster.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I’d love to be a writer…a journalist. I’m not all that great at writing novels (I lack the imagination and determination to see it through), but I’d love to write articles for various magazines. That, or be a Theology professor at a university.
What profession would you not like to do?
I really hate retail and food sales!

First off I want to thank Amy Courts, and encourage all of you to check her out, you can find the links here in the article. Also keep a lookout for her new CD “These Cold and rusted Lungs” when it comes out. Well you know, when I first started this project I was very excited about the idea of getting to interview an artist that I enjoyed. What I didn’t expect, and I really should of known better, was to be completely blown away by the depth of her passion both for the music and for Christ. I find myself in the happy position of telling you, my readers, that I am better off from having met, and interviewed, Amy Courts.

JustTerry puts out a weekly Podcast that can be found at www.jtindie.com and can be reached by email at jtindiepodcast@gmail.com

Well we have a very special set of Episodes. Michael returns to the podcast with a double episode of Creation ‘08. Here is part one of the two part Episode of Mikes review of Creation ‘08. Be sure to leave me a voice mail telling me what you think 206-338-5706 or you can email me at jtindiepodcast@gmail.com

Playlist
Steve Taylor - Moshing Floor Live
Reaching for Mercy - Conquering King
Three Cord Wonder - The Show Is Over

Contact Information
You can leave me feedback in several forms, technically you could try homing pigeons or trained weasels but I think you will find these options much more to your liking. You can leave me comments here on the page (I love getting comments) or you can Email me at jtindiepodcast at gmail dot com, or finally and perhaps the most exciting you can leave me voice-mail feedback at 206-338-5706

Legal Notices
First off I want to thank all the bands for allowing me to play their music, I would also like to thank Ioda Promonet, Podsafe Music Network, and Magnatune For Providing. Intro was Provided by the Band Mandrake Root and you can find them on Magnatune, Outro music was provided by the band Falling You and you can find them on Magnatune. Jt’s Indie Christian Music Podcast is part of the Farpoint Media Family and is Released under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial, No Derivs 2.5 License 2008.

Well we have a very special set of Episodes. Michael returns to the podcast with a double episode of Creation ‘08. Here is part one of the two part Episode of Mikes review of Creation ‘08. Be sure to leave me a voice mail telling me what you think 206-338-5706 or you can email me at jtindiepodcast@gmail.com

Playlist
Upon Beauty Rests - Another failed attempt to cure the Addiction
Neviah Nevi - Fate

Contact Information
You can leave me feedback in several forms, technically you could try homing pigeons or trained weasels but I think you will find these options much more to your liking. You can leave me comments here on the page (I love getting comments) or you can Email me at jtindiepodcast at gmail dot com, or finally and perhaps the most exciting you can leave me voice-mail feedback at 206-338-5706

Legal Notices
First off I want to thank all the bands for allowing me to play their music, I would also like to thank Ioda Promonet, Podsafe Music Network, and Magnatune For Providing. Intro was Provided by the Band Mandrake Root and you can find them on Magnatune, Outro music was provided by the band Falling You and you can find them on Magnatune. Jt’s Indie Christian Music Podcast is part of the Farpoint Media Family and is Released under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial, No Derivs 2.5 License 2008.

Well the Concert went really well and the T-Shirt received much much love. In the Picture above from left to right is Jim (Keyboards) Roger (Drums) Dave (guitar) Tom (Guitar) and Julian (Bass). We played the concert at Lutherlyn Summer camp, so it was we ended up playing for a bunch o little kids and councilers. still it was alot fun. I did perform my heart out! Read the Words to my poem After the Jump

10 years old and he sits alone
A Dirty little kid in a dirty little Corner
Trying to Be Invisible and succeeding
Because momma Doesn’t see him
Momma doesn’t care
She Sold her Soul
For a 10 dollar piece of ROCK
And Daddy?
Theres no Daddy here
Only Momma’s Boyfriend this week
But Momma’s boyfriend taught him about God
Momma’s Boyfriend taught him
GOD”S GONNA GET YOU!!
Momma’s Boyfriend taught him
GOD DOESN’T LIKE BAD LITTLE BOYS LIKE YOU SO GET ME ANOTHER BEER BEFORE I SLAP YOU AGAIN
Yeah he’s learned all about God
He’s Even heard the PREACHER MAN on TV
Telling him JESUS LOVES HIM
But he can’t find this Jesus
He doesn’t See this Jesus
Maybe this Jesus doesn’t come down to the hood
He thinks as sits alone
10 years old and waiting to DIE
Who’s gonna be his JESUS?
Who’s gonna risk their life
To Change his world?
Who’s gonna SAVE THE CHILDREN!

Todays bands are Children of God and Fairgreen, Both of whom I really enjoy, I have spent the day listening to the harder rock, just trying to keep myself moving. I think once this post is up I will head off for a well deserved lunchtime repast.

Be sure to leave me a voice mail telling me what you think 206-338-5706 or you can email me at jtindiepodcast@gmail.com

Playlist
Children of God - Ready Ready
Fairgreen - Every Chance

Contact Information
You can leave me feedback in several forms, technically you could try homing pigeons or trained weasels but I think you will find these options much more to your liking. You can leave me comments here on the page (I love getting comments) or you can Email me at jtindiepodcast at gmail dot com, or finally and perhaps the most exciting you can leave me voice-mail feedback at 206-338-5706

Legal Notices
First off I want to thank all the bands for allowing me to play their music, I would also like to thank Ioda Promonet, Podsafe Music Network, and Magnatune For Providing. Intro was Provided by the Band Mandrake Root and you can find them on Magnatune, Outro music was provided by the band Falling You and you can find them on Magnatune. Jt’s Indie Christian Music Podcast is part of the Farpoint Media Family and is Released under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial, No Derivs 2.5 License 2008.

Ok We have a big event on the Fourth where the band I’m in is playing a concert for like 400 people. I wanted to be sure I got the name of my podcast out there and this was the best and quickest way I could figure out to do it.

All I did was write on the shirt with masking tape, paint the shirt with Regular Spray paint and remove the tape. the shirt looks pretty darn kool but I wouldn’t recommend washing it or putting it in the dryer. I’m thinking it is a one time deal.

Today I am giving you a Double Shot of a band from Wounded Records, Neviah Nevi a rocking hard core band that is playing Cornerstone. I have to tell you that I Love the Lead Singer’s voice.

Be sure to leave me a voice mail telling me what you think 206-338-5706 or you can email me at jtindiepodcast@gmail.com

Playlist
Neviah Nevi - Intro
Neviah Nevi - Outro

Contact Information
You can leave me feedback in several forms, technically you could try homing pigeons or trained weasels but I think you will find these options much more to your liking. You can leave me comments here on the page (I love getting comments) or you can Email me at jtindiepodcast at gmail dot com, or finally and perhaps the most exciting you can leave me voice-mail feedback at 206-338-5706

Legal Notices
First off I want to thank all the bands for allowing me to play their music, I would also like to thank Ioda Promonet, Podsafe Music Network, and Magnatune For Providing. Intro was Provided by the Band Mandrake Root and you can find them on Magnatune, Outro music was provided by the band Falling You and you can find them on Magnatune. Jt’s Indie Christian Music Podcast is part of the Farpoint Media Family and is Released under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial, No Derivs 2.5 License 2008.

Playlist
Seeds - Rivers of Living water
Jennifer Begrin - Single Mother

Contact Information
You can leave me feedback in several forms, technically you could try homing pigeons or trained weasels but I think you will find these options much more to your liking. You can leave me comments here on the page (I love getting comments) or you can Email me at jtindiepodcast at gmail dot com, or finally and perhaps the most exciting you can leave me voice-mail feedback at 206-338-5706

Legal Notices
First off I want to thank all the bands for allowing me to play their music, I would also like to thank Ioda Promonet, Podsafe Music Network, and Magnatune For Providing. Intro was Provided by the Band Mandrake Root and you can find them on Magnatune, Outro music was provided by the band Falling You and you can find them on Magnatune. Jt’s Indie Christian Music Podcast is part of the Farpoint Media Family and is Released under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial, No Derivs 2.5 License 2008.

Artist: Alakrity
CD Title: You are here 5 song EP
Style: alt - pop punk
Website: www.myspace.com/alakrity
Itunes: Buy the EP on I-tunes Here!!!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Playlist
1 - Make a day of it
2 - The Percussionist’s Anthem
3 - For the Good of Getting Better
4 - What is it with Words
5 - The Aviator

I picked up the Alakrity CD on my trip to the Summer Slam Music Festival, so I was lucky enough to see these guys play live. Let me give you my first impressions of the Live Show before we go on to the Review of the CD. I only get to hear the very beginning of the Concert before I had to go to a meet and greet with another artist. But I did get to enjoy several of the songs at the end of there set, Including the Theme for GO GO POWER RANGERS!!! which should tell you that These guys aren’t afraid of having fun. With an impressive live show that the kids were really getting into and a great pop-punk sound I was really looking forward to getting to know more about the band. I was not let down, After their set they headed up to the Merchandise table where I got to talk with several of the members of the band. Each of them was willing to talk to everyone who came up and you could see that they have a real passion for what they are doing. During an Interview (which you will be hearing here soon) I asked the band what they thought was the most important part of what they do. The answer was clear and short. “The Message” and the message they are putting out is a clear message of hope, this message of hope comes out clear in their music, without it being overwhelming or coming across as preachy. Even after listening to CD alot I still find myself picking it on my MP3 Player over other music, Especially if I am looking for a pick me up. I find it hard to be tired or grumpy (both things I’m gifted at being) when I have Alakrity playing.

Ok, On to the Review of CD, “You are here” is a 5 song EP that has been very well produced and is put out by Spurgatory Records (www.spurgatory.com). The first thing I noticed while listening to the first song the first time is that the vocals were a great fit with the music. With strains of Greenday and Blink 182 that only lacked the angst. I truly enjoyed the whole CD and while I like some of the songs more than others, there isn’t a song I find myself skipping over. It is clear that A lot of time and talent went into these 5 songs. This is clearly a CD I will be playing on my show in the future. On the CD The Song I like the Best is “What is it With Words?” The songs talks about our problems with words and how easy it is for what we say to cause us trouble. The Lyrics at the end

What is it with words
All they’ve ever been are letters
So precisely put together
And they never seem to make things better
What is it with me
All I ever do is complain
Reprimand and lecture in vain
And it never makes it better

I guess that being a man who relies on the words your reading right now to get across the time and space that separates us my thoughts and feelings, I find the words of this song especially poignant. All of us have been faced with that situation where anything we say just seems to make things worse and that is the time where you simply have to shut up and love.

The only negative thing I could say about the CD, beside the fact that it was way to short, is that like a lot of the pop-punk style bands the songs tend to sound similar and several of the songs on the CD were similar enough that I had to listen to the words to know where I was in the music. I will say that I got a new song from them titled “Abbey’s Song” off their new upcoming full length album and it is a great song, a ballad almost but clearly by the same band.

My over all thoughts on this CD are as follows. If you get a chance to see these guys live don’t hesitate you won’t be let down. If you like bands like Three cord wonder, Greenday, Blink 182 then definitely check these guys out. it is clear that the guys in the band are a talented group of musicians who are on a mission to bring hope to the youth of today. One of the things I noticed is that on the CD sleeve the band is supporting Food for the Hungry, Check it out at www.fh.org/alakrity. I, for one, am always pleased to see that a band is thinking outside themselves and has a mission larger than the band.

I gave this EP 4 stars out of 5. Really the only thing that kept me from going all out and giving them 4.5 was the fact that it was an EP and only 5 songs long. I am really looking forward to getting hold of there New CD and hearing what they can do with a Full length Release.

Playlist
Kyle Cantrell - Grace Forever
Joy Whitlock - Cost of Being Free
Mission 5:16 - Shine
Gypsy Carns - Searchin’
Daniel’s Window - You Reign

Promo
Aliens you will meet

Contact Information
You can leave me feedback in several forms, technically you could try homing pigeons or trained weasels but I think you will find these options much more to your liking. You can leave me comments here on the page (I love getting comments) or you can Email me at jtindiepodcast at gmail dot com, or finally and perhaps the most exciting you can leave me voice-mail feedback at 206-338-5706

Legal Notices
First off I want to thank all the bands for allowing me to play their music, I would also like to thank Ioda Promonet, Podsafe Music Network, and Magnatune For Providing. Intro was Provided by the Band Mandrake Root and you can find them on Magnatune, Outro music was provided by the band Falling You and you can find them on Magnatune. Jt’s Indie Christian Music Podcast is part of the Farpoint Media Family and is Released under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial, No Derivs 2.5 License 2008.

CD review - Saints never surrender cd title brutus
Website: http://www.myspace.com/saintsneversurrender
Genre: Hardcore
Release date: July 15th 2008
Blood and Ink Records : http://www.bloodandinkrecords.com/
Rating 3.5 out of 5.0 stars

Read the Review after the Jump

Playlist
01 - Swan
02 - This Moment
03 - Companion
04 - Protector
05 - The Last Defender
06 - Lost to Time
07 - The end to the Epic
08 - Gathering the Forces
09 - Mapping the Years
10 - The Quest

Well I got home today to a surprise, music in my email box (its like Christmas only without the wrapping paper and relatives). Today I was lucky enough to get the new CD by Saints Never Surrender titled Brutus sent to me by the good people at Blood & Ink Records and Invisible Youth PR. Before I get onto the CD review I want to say a quick word about how these people are getting the Promo CDs out to us in the press world. I got an email with a link to a website with a user name and password. once in I could listen to the cd on a streaming flash player. This is a great Idea for several reasons. One only needs to look at my work desk piled high with CDs on every surface to figure out why I might appreciate the music without the bulk of a CD. Another reason why this is a great idea is, as Sean from invisible Youth PR states, it is not only Eco Friendly but it also lets them send the music out to many more people than they could afford to normally. The only difference I would make is to allow downloading of the music since as it stands now I can only listen to the music when I am near a computer and I usually listen to a CD 4-5 times before I start writing the review, and the idea of sitting here at my computer for that long isn’t one I am relishing. Also a set of Lyrics for the songs would be rather helpful as well.

Well enough of that and on with the review.

The CD starts with a mellow and almost lyrical instrumental piece titled Swan that threw me completely off guard. Saints Never surrender is without a doubt a true Hardcore band that holds nothing back in their musical performances. The drums are pounding, the Guitar is driving, and the vocals are harsh but still understandable, for the most part. I did lose the vocals at different times during the cd but I think that is more from only hearing it once than anything else. One thing I am sure of is that I would really like to see Saints Never Surrender in a live show. I will say this this CD suffers less from the stigma that seems to follow hardcore than many of the other CDs I have heard in the past. That being the problem on when you get loud guitars, screaming vocals and banging and thumping drums it becomes a challenge to get your message across and to keep every song from sounding like every other song on the CD. I was pleasantly surprised to hear just how The boys (and that is how I think of them, yes I am finally starting to get old) managed to make the songs sound seperate, not with music but with silence. I can remember hearing that it wasn’t the notes that made the music but the little bits of silence between them. This use of negative space is what gives this CD the texture that it has and what makes each of the songs as individual as a fingerprint.
The song I like the most was the final song on the CD titled “The Quest” and in actuality it is the use of what I would consider Non-Hardcore Elements that really make this song stand head and shoulders above the other songs on the CD. The use of background vocals on this CD are very well done. As is the mixing and use of effects. Over all the CD is very well balanced. The talents of Kim Rosen at West West Side Music (Lifetime, Mastodon), where the CD was Mastered and Studiotte (Comeback Kid, Still Remains, Brothers) where the music was recorded can really be heard as they allow the talents of band to show thru.

I had a really tough time trying to decide on the rating for this CD. I wavered between 3.5 and 4.0 stars out of 5.0 stars. In the end I decided on the 4.0 stars out of 5.0 The only real problem I saw with the CD was the times when I wasn’t able to understand the words. This is a CD full of texture, from the screaming vocals to the pounding music, this CD is hard core thru and thru. Be sure to keep your eyes open and mark your calendars for July 15th 2008 when this Loud and rocking CD drops, and don’t forget to head on over to the bands Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/saintsneversurrender and let ‘em know that you heard about here.

this is J to the T 
Bidding you Faith Hope and Love

Playlist
Beautiful Dying Day - Disregard the Following
Alakrity - Abbey’s Song
Fairweather Fan - Second Chance Summer
Travis Roberts - More of you
Here your proud waves must stop - The Starving Artist

Teaser
Joy Whitlock Teaser, I can’t wait to get her new CD.

Shallow Thoughts
Shallow Thoughts will be a new returning feature on Jt’s Indie Christian Music Podcast. Just felt the need to inject a little humor into the joy that is this podcast.

Contact Information
You can leave me feedback in several forms, technically you could try homing pigeons or trained weasels but I think you will find these options much more to your liking. You can leave me comments here on the page (I love getting comments) or you can Email me at jtindiepodcast at gmail dot com, or finally and perhaps the most exciting you can leave me voice-mail feedback at 206-338-5706

Legal Notices
First off I want to thank all the bands for allowing me to play their music, I would also like to thank Ioda Promonet, Podsafe Music Network, and Magnatune For Providing. Intro was Provided by the Band Mandrake Root and you can find them on Magnatune, Outro music was provided by the band Falling You and you can find them on Magnatune. Jt’s Indie Christian Music Podcast is part of the Farpoint Media Family and is Released under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial, No Derivs 2.5 License 2008.