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Showing posts from December, 2023

“You’re Not Alone” by Saosin, December 31, 2023

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In Chinese, the word 小心 (xiǎo xīn) translates to careful. Anthony Green proposed the name to a band he was fronting, choosing to spell the Chinese as Saosin instead. But the band wouldn’t record their first record with Green, though, who stepped down due to a battle with depression and feeling homesick. Anthony would later form the band Circa Survive and would rejoin Saosin for their third album. In the meantime, Saosin hired 19-year-old Cove Reber , who would sing on Saosin’s Capitol Records eponymous debut and their Virgin Records sophomore record, In Search of Solid Ground .     CONFUSED BY THE LIES SHE’S BEEN FED. When Cove Reber submitted his demo to sing for Saosin, guitarist Beau Burchell thought that Anthony Green had submitted his own demo as a prank due to the similarities in Reber and Green’s voices. With a similar-sounding lead singer, Saosin headed out on the Taste of Chaos Tour with The Used, My Chemical Romance, Senses Fail, and Killswitch Engage, among others. The

“Should You Return” by Copeland, Saturday, December 30, 2023 (repost)

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On the  first season of the  Labeled Podcast ,  Aaron Marsh  talked about his writing process for  Copeland 's debut album,  Beneath Medicine Tree . In early 2019, he returned to the podcast to talk about the band’s latest album,  Blushing . If most listeners casually picked up the two records, forgivably, they'd assume they were listening to different bands.  Beneath  is a guitar-driven product of late '90s/early '00s emo rock. The album has mostly an optimistic tone.  Blushing  is a dark electronic-influenced album with darker lyrics. Marsh told  Labeled  host  Matt Carter  that rather than writing lyrics that are easily pinned to real people, like his ex-girlfriend Paula (in the song " When Paula Sparks ") he doesn't "want to write songs about [his] private life." He says, instead, "I want to write poetic songs about my private life." The band's fourth album,  You Are My Sunshine ,  does just that. Listeners don't know the

“No Plan B” by Manafest ft. Kanta Koie of Crossfaith, Friday, December 29, 2023

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Ontario-based Christian rapper Manafest signed to BEC Recordings and Tooth & Nail’s Hip-Hop imprint Uprok Records in 2005. In 2008, Mananfest released his third album, Citizens Activ , which was surprisingly successful in Japan. His fifth album, 2010’s The Chase , saw the rapper fully embracing rap-rock. The album was preceded by Avalanche - No Plan B EP . The two songs “ Avalanche ” and “ No Plan B ” contained remixes and alternate versions, including a version of “No Plan B” featuring Japanese metal vocalist of Crossfaith , Kenta Koie contributing a verse to the song. The video for the song also features Koie. FACE MYSELF OR GET TAKEN OUT. Christopher Scott Greenwood , the future Christian rapper Manafest suffered many setbacks in his early life. When he was five, his father committed suicide. He became a Christian after attending a summer camp. When he was about 14, he dreamed of becoming a professional skateboarder, but in 1998, he suffered an injury that stopped that dream

“Somebody’s Watching” by TobyMac, Thursday, December 28, 2023

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In 2000, DC Talk announced their intermission, a hiatus that has outlasted their 15-year existence. According to Toby McKeehan , better known by the stage name TobyMac , Michael Tait and Kevin Max wanted to record solo projects and McKeehan wanted to pursue DC Talk. But then McKeehan was approached about recording the theme song for a film called Extreme Days . With that single, McKeehan crafted his debut solo record, the genre-bending Momentum . The album was filled with hip-hop, rap-core, soul, and funk. Eventually gold-certified, Momentum started the career of the reluctant solo artist in DC Talk who became the most commercially successful of the trio. SOMETIMES I FEEL GOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. In 1984, Rockwell released his number 2 Billboard Hot 100 single “ Somebody’s Watching Me .”  Rockwell, born Kennedy Gordy , wrote the track when his father, founder and CEO of Motown Records Berry Gordy , challenged him to write a chart-topping hit. The one-hit-wonder has often b

“Youth Cats” by Secret & Whisper, Wednesday, December 27, 2023

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In August 2010, Katy Perry released her seminal album Teenage Dream . While the former CCM singer had several big hits from her rebranded debut album, One of the Boys , it was Teenage Dream that solidified Perry in pop music history as the album tied with Michael Jackson ’s Bad for having the most number 1  Billboard’s Hot 100 . Teenage Dream wasn’t exactly a concept album, but many of the songs involved fantasy--romantic and sexual. But Teenage Dream wasn’t the only adolescent themed album of 2010. In April, Secret & Whisper released their sophomore record on Tooth & Nail , Teenage Fantasy . Unlike Katy Perry’s sophomore record, Secret & Whisper faded into obscurity after releasing their follow-up to  Great White Whale .   After one single, “ Warrior ” (Southern Arrowwood), was heard on Christian Rock radio, the band announced an indefinite hiatus in July 2011.  TONIGHT I TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM YOU, LADY OF NORTHERN STAR. Listening to Teenage Fantasy, listeners would be