The previous album, Healing of Harms, was full of haunting melodies, quite different from previous work. I truly enjoyed the progression, but it seemed like a different group. Now, on the other hand, sounds like 10 extra tracks were made for Unbreakable. Some of the songs are so similar I had to listen to them back to back to know for sure it was a different song.

Overall I think this is a good collection of songs from a band I really love, but while I’d give Unbreakable 8 or 9 out of 10 I can only give this about 7, maybe 8 out of 10. I love the sound, but it is just too much like their previous work with little sense of growth and change. Bands that hold too much to their classics (if you can call 4 years ago classic) might make some fans happy, but I think they lose something for lack of dynamic growth.

That said, if you like rock with a female lead (such as Flyleaf or Paramore) then give Now by Fireflight a chance.

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I love the story behind this song. Plus Skillet does amazing concerts.

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Jimmy Needham was the concert on Friday Night at ATF. All the students liked this concert better than the other two. When he covered Stand By Me I have to say, well I immediately went and bought all his CDs.

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They are going to be playing at Acquire the fire this weekend. I’m hoping to write about the event on Monday.

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My biggest frustration when working with youth is investing tons of my life into them, trying to teach them, hoping I can keep them from messing up like I have and like my friends have; only to have them often ignore me so that I have to deal with the fall out. Then I take a step back and remember how much God invests in all of us, myself included, only to be rejected and have to deal with our fall out, but He loves me anyway.

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Anyways, that truth aside I believe there is an even greater truism. Music can be the gateway to the mind. I say “can be” so my truth is more accurate. Some people are less receptive to music in general and even those that are receptive will not allow all music to enter their mind due to personal tastes, but for most of us the music we listen to can shape us.

Music is the gateway to the mind

There have been many studies into music and how it affects us. The faster the beat the more anxious we become. There are measurable biological reactions in our response to the rhythm of music. One study I read years ago found a definite link in music and road rage like reactions. Interestingly it was established that the beat alone mattered most. Even classical music could cause the body to react with tension, increased heart rate, blood vessels in the extremities narrowing, pupil dilation, and several other “fight or flight” responses once the beats per minute increase to more frenetic levels. Flight of the Valkyrie (and similarly Flight of the Bumblebee) is one song you probably shouldn’t listen to on the drive home if you wish to remain calm. Alternately songs with a much slower rhythm have a very calming effect. For a simple anecdotal evidence to this concept, consider lullabies. They all focus on calm and slow measures to sooth a crying infant. Interestingly it also works to relax the parent.

OK, so I think we can all agree on the principles tying music to certain body reactions, maybe even emotional responses, but how is this the gateway to the mind?

If this song happens to cause negative feelings then guess who is suddenly having a crappy kind of day.

Other studies have been done that show the body’s fight or flight repose, and other powerful emotional reactions, also causes strong ties to events in our memory. This is one of the reasons for PTSD. Basically an event that causes stress or other strong emotions is imprinted differently in our mind. There are more “links” to that data so it is more easily retrieved. In extreme cases the information comes to the surface unbidden and with overpowering vividness. In less powerful experiences it just allows for seemingly unrelated sensory input to trigger the memory.

Now I’m sure you can follow the link, but why should this matter?

Well now, let’s say a person has the opportunity to listen to a high energy song that brings up feelings of depression, frustration, angst … and they like this song. That isn’t terrible by itself, but every time they listen to this song those feelings are reinforced. The song will stay with them and various things in life will help them to think about the song. I think most of us can relate to this. Going through the day, minding my own business when something gets me thinking about some song and next thing I know the song is on some kind of infinite loop in my head.

If this song happens to cause negative feelings then guess who is suddenly having a crappy kind of day.

Now some folks might expect me to go from here and say “you should only listen to Christian music.” Those folks would be wrong.

Actually in my experience there are a lot of Christian songs that can really bring me down. On the other hand, there are “secular” song that are very uplifting. They leave me motivated to get stuff done and even to do good things. I’m not trying to promote a specific genre of music. Instead I would say the rational person, the wise person would think about what they listen to. Catch that? Think. Of course that takes introspection and effort. One must think about how a particular song affects them, not just the lyrics but the whole song. Does it leave you in your misery or lift you out? Can it motivate you to goodness or nudge you toward anger?

Ultimately the stuff we put in our mind guides and shapes our thoughts. I don’t know why so many people will check food labels but don’t really consider the effect their music might be having on them.

So what is your favorite music? How does it make you feel? What thoughts does it leave you with? How might things change now that you are aware of how music can affect you?

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So yeah, I get to preach Sunday AM for Palm Sunday. I have a feeling that won’t happen again but I’m gonna take full advantage and play this as part of my sermon.

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I recently, as in last night, found out about a really frigintacular music resource called Groove Shark. Basically it is a music database much like what you might have in the form of your personal music collection. The difference is this system has way more songs than I do and can find new music based on what I am listening to. I’ve used a few other resources like this but generally they start making recommendations that are nothing like what I want to listen to.

So far this has been a much better engine for finding new songs than other resources I’ve used in the past. As you add more songs to your listening queue and rate them gets smarter with the “you might like” songs it plays.

It also has some other nice features. There is an online community where you can find and follow other users and shape your listening based on their choices too. It also integrates with various other social networks. You can share what you are listening to via twitter, for example.

The best thing is it is free. They have a small ad banner but whatever. You can also pay $3/month or $30/year for VIP status which gets some extra benefits and removes the ads. This is a really good price if you can’t stand even a small add banner and want some of the extra features like first selection of new songs and extra themes.

I’d like to see a few other options, but right now it is clean and works well so I’m not sure if it is a good idea to try and make many changes. One of the things I really think that someone needs to figure out is a mood based play list. I can do it manually but I want to have something a little more intuitive. Basically a way of saying what kind of mood I’m in and then the system noting what songs I start selecting and then making recommends based on that. Next time I select the same mood it should know what I’m interested in listening too and make it happen.

I’d also like a preview of some of the VIP features to see if it is worth my money, but over all I’m really happy with the service, so check it out.

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Anyways, last night did have a couple really awesome points. I have been doing this series on refuge and trying to make a point about the difference between the things we try to use when we need to get away and the kind of peace that God can give even though He doesn’t take away the circumstances in life. I have used examples from the Bible and my life the past two week but I asked one of the teens to share her testimony last night.

The short version is that she moved here in 7th grade and didn’t have any friends. She felt very along and some really bad things happened to her. She started cutting and felt better but kept cutting more and more, deeper and deeper. Eventually they had to rush her to the ER because she had cut too deep into her leg. That didn’t stop her though. She started talking to people in church who encouraged her in her walk with God and she started praying more and reading her Bible. She got out of cutting completely because of God.

The whole time everyone listened. I never get everyone to listen. At the end of service I had a few people respond for salvation including one girl that I have really been concerned about. I think what the student said really went to their hearts more than anything I’ve said this past year.

In other words I’m going to make a point to start having them share their testimonies with each other. I already know who I’m going to next.

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