don't know if any of you listen to video game music much, but the Assassin's Creed 2 soundtrack is awesome, worth checkin out, just like a good movie soundtrack.

Just b/c Matt's hair is "long" doesn't make him look like a girl!

so I'm thinking I might keep my sister's Christmas present for myself . It's the new Britt Nicole CD...I kinda want it...

Does anyone else love MWS's Christmas albums?

The Pendragon, Article One is a Canadian CCM band, I'd say they're sort of pop rock/alternative rock. Check out their songs "Without You I'm Not Alright" or "Taken By The Storm" if you are so inclined.

Kate, Sounds great (*loooves piano stuff *)! I've only heard 4 of their songs, one of them was Cottonmouth (Jargon). I'll check the others out.

Ok, I'm afraid I will have to agree with GtG, long hair doesn't make Matt look feminine. If it did, I wouldn't like him.

Britt's CD is definitely one of my favs. It would be hard for me not to keep it if I were you

yeah I'm having a hard time keeping under the tree instead of my shelf...

So...I heard Mess of Me by Switchfoot, but I didn't really like it. It reminded me of this song called Death of Me by RED in the way that it's more kinda like spoken, if you know what I mean, instead of sung.

I love Red's song "Death Of Me"!
has anyone seen the music video for that song! it is awesome!

I have and it was a pretty good music video, I just didn't like the tune of the song really, though the lyrics were good.

Well, it is now the last month of the decade of the '00s. Wierd huh? I thought it might be fun if we shared our top 10 albums of the decade.

1. Mae, The Everglow (2005): This album is without a doubt the most defining album of my musical library. It has dictated my taste in music and remains today as my favorite album of all time. Every song on this album is absolutely amazing.

2. *TIE* Anberlin, Cities (2007): This wasn't my first Anberlin album, but this is their best. I love the dark, gritty sound and the soaring melodies. I listed to "Inevitable" so, so many times.

Anberlin, Never Take Friendship Personal (2005): My first foray into real rock music. So many of these songs are just phenomenal.

3. Eisley, Room Noises (2005): In which I break into the indie realm! While not truly that indie, Eisley opened up a new realm of music to me. This album is full of beautiful, fairy tale, pop gems. This also the only band with female vocalists that I listen to on a regular basis.

4. Relient k, Mmhmm (2004): I don't really listen to this album anymore, but this album sent me off on the path of listening to Alternative Rock. I have a lot to thank RK for.

5. Switchfoot, The Beautiful Letdown (2004): My sentiments toward this album are similar as toward Relient k's. I don't really listen to this anymore, but it was and is a great rock album and it opened the door to a lot of other band for me. It also proved that Christian music doesn't need to be trite.

6. dc Talk, Intermission (2000): This is pushing it since dc Talk is definitely a band of the '90s, but they were so important to me that I can't leave them out. My dad introduced this band to me as a child. They are possibly the single most important band in the formation of Christian music.

7. Coldplay, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008): I discovered Coldplay and decided I liked them with this album. I love the depth of their lyrics, their melodic and instrumental ingenuity, and just about everything about this album.

8. Owl City, Ocean Eyes (2009): I hate being mainstream, but I can't help it here. This album is clearly Adam Young's defining one and it's very good. It'll also be the album that lost him the "indie" title, but it's still a very important album to his career and also to me as a listener.

9. Copeland, You Are My Sunshine (2009): I started crying the first time I heard "Good Morning Fire Eater." So beautiful. Enough said.

10. Deas Vail, Birds & Cages (2009): I can't stop talking about or listening to this album. Wes Blaylock wins my award for best vocalist of our day and age in a rock or pop band.

Honorable Mentions: The Classic Crime, Albatross; Keane, Hopes and Fears; Seabird, 'Til We See The Shore; Jonezetta, Popularity; Acceptance, Phantoms

-I don't think the hair makes Matt T. look feminine--but I prefer it shorter anyway. But no, not feminine.

--Top ten CD's of the "decade"? Hm... Guess I'll have to think about that one!

top ten CDs of the decade:

1 HAWK NELSON Letters To The President
2 PILLAR Where Do We Go From Here
3 STELLAR KART We Can't Stand Sitting Down
4 KUTLESS Sea Of Faces
5 HAWK NELSON Live Life Loud
6 SKILLET Alien Youth
7 SKILLET Incivincible
8 SKILLET Collide
9 SKILLET Comatose
10 SKILLET Awake

others:

THE CLASSIC CRIME Albatross
SWITCHFOOT Learning To Breathe
SWITCHFOOT The Beautiful Letdown
RED End Of Silence
HAWK NELSON Smile, It's The End Of The World
HAWK NELSON Hawk Nelson Is My Friend
STELLAR KART All Gas, No Break
STELLAR KART Expect The Immosible
ANBERLIN Cities

Hmm... I wasn't really "into" listening to music until the past few years. So some of these albums are ones that I didn't discover until recently. They're certainly not the 'best', but they are my favorites.

1) Over and Underneath by Tenth Avenue North (2008)
One of the best CCM albums in my opinion. I've listened to loads of CCM, in fact that was pretty much the only type of music I listened to starting a few years ago other than classical music. And TAN's lyrics are so refreshing. I can say with a lot of confidence that if I had never picked up this record, I would spiritually be in a different place today. Musically they may not be revolutionary, but they're still very pleasant to listen to. Plus, they are just number one because I met them (I know, I'm not biased at all)
Highlights: Times, By Your Side, Love Is Here, Break Me Down

2) Five Score and Seven Years Ago by Relient K (2007)
A lot of people hate this album and consider MMHMM to be the best, but this is the album that made me go absolutely nuts over Relient K. Plus, the closer is one of RK's greatest songs ever.
Highlights: Must Have Done Something Right, Forgiven, I'm Taking You With Me, Bite My Tongue, Deathbed

3) Begin to Hope by Regina Spektor (2006)
Regina is an incredibly talented musician. Each song on this album is very unique and fresh, and I love how she incorporates strings and piano into her music.
Highlights: That Time, Samson, Hotel Song, Fidelity, On The Radio

4) The Beautiful Letdown by Switchfoot (2003)
Didn't listen to this album until very recently, but it's awesome. It just has so many of Switchfoot's top hits on it.
Highlights: Meant to Live, On Fire, Twenty-four, Dare You to Move

5) Fight The Tide by Sanctus Real (2004)
In my opinion this is Sanctus Real's best album. I love the LYRICS especially (they are so relevant to today's society). Sadly, I think they've become musically more mainstream since then... but this is the guitar-driven rock that I love.
Highlights: Closer, Everything About You (acoustic version--much better IMO), The Fight Song, Where Will They Go

6) Don't You Fake It by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (2006)
I can thank these guys for introducing me to alt rock. I was listening to really light CCM stuff until I think it was 2 years ago when I got this album. I fell in love with the genre's sound.
Highlights: Face Down, False Pretense, Cat and Mouse, Your Guardian Angel

7) Speak For Yourself by Imogen Heap (2005)
This album is what got me into electronic music. Like I said for Regina, she's really unique. All of the various textures, timbres and harmonies make this record brilliant.
Highlights: Goodnight and Go, Loose Ends, Hide and Seek, The Walk

8) Do You Feel by The Rocket Summer (2007)
I am in awe of one man being able to create all of this. Enough said.
Highlights: Do You Feel, Save, All I Have, High Life Scenery, Run to You, Hold It Up

9) The Lost Get Found by Britt Nicole (2009)
This stuff is addictive. Britt has a beautiful voice, and she can pull of different styles so well. Some of the songs make you want to get up and dance, and some of the others are just so gorgeous (with really sweet piano hooks).
Highlights: The Lost Get Found, Welcome to the Show, Headphones, Safe, Have Your Way

10) Ocean Eyes by Owl City (2009)
Oh Adam Young, you make me so very happy.
Highlights: Meteor Shower, Fireflies, The Tip of the Iceberg, The Bird and the Worm, Vanilla Twilight

*echoes Kat's intro*

Top Ten CDs of the Decade
In no particular order (b/c I'm just horrible at picking favortites.)

1. Five Score and Seven Years Ago, Relient K
-Made me love RK, they're best yet I believe.
-Fave Tracks: I Need You, Forgiven, Must Have Done Something Right, Devestation and Reform, Taking You With Me, Bite My Tongue, Deathbed

2. MMHMM, Relient K
-My second fave Rk album
-FT: I So Hate Consequences, Be My Escape, High of 75, Who I am Hates Who I've Been, Maintain Consciousness, Which to Bury; Us or the Hatchet?

3. Awake, Skillet
-First Skillet Album I heard (and loved)
-FT: Monster, Awake and Alive, Hero, Lucy

4. Ocean Eyes, Owl City
-I love the sound of this album- very light-hearted and happy. I didn't know I liked electronic til I heard this.
-FT: Meteor Shower, Tip of the Iceberg, Fireflies, Vanilla Twilight, Strawberry Avalanche

5. Revelation, Third Day
-This is a great CD, I love Mac's voice! The tunes and lyrics are awesome.
-FT: This Is Who I Am, Call My Name, Let Me Love You, Born Again

6. Expect the Impossible, Stellar Kart
-This is SK's best album! I love the sound of the CD, great lyrics!
-FT: Innocent, Pray, Shine Like the Stars, Letters, Jesus Loves You, Eyes

7. How Can We Be Silent, BarlowGirl
-BarlowGirl’s best CD IMO. The whole album has a great message.
-FT: Song for the Broken, Million Voices, One More Round, Here’s My Life, I Believe In Love, Sweet Revenge

8. Love is On the Move, Leeland-I LOVE this CD! Leeland’s best…*happy sigh*
-FT: The Door, Pure Bride, Carry Me On Your Back, Weak Man, Love is On the Move

9. Welcome to Diverse City, TobyMac
-though I do enjoy Toby’s more gospel/soul stuff, I do enjoy the rap
-Whoopsi-daisy (catchafire), The Slam, Atmosphere, Gone, Diverse City, Burn for You

10. Closer, Josh Groban
-haha, not quite a Grobanite but almost it helps that since I’m Hispanic and speak Spanish, I can actually understand most of the songs…
-Oceano, When You Say You Love Me, Remember When it Rained, My Confession, Si Volvieras a Mí, You Raise Me Up

Nominees:
Another Journal Entry, BarlowGirl
Alive Again, Matt Maher
Birds and Cages, Deas Vail
Comatose, Skillet
We Can’t Stand Sitting Down, Stellar Kart
Forget and Not Slow Down, Relient K
Dying for a Heart, Krystal Meyers
Live Life Loud, Hawk Nelson
Sound of Melodies, Leeland
Over and Underneath, Tenth Avenue North
Portable Sounds, TobyMac
Opposite Way, Leeland
Two Lefts Don’t Make a Right but Three Do, Relient K
Wherever You Are, Third Day
The Face of Love, Sanctus Real

Top Ten Cds of 2009

1. Forget and Not Slow Down, Relient K
-a great follow up CD, though it doesn't match others. It does have some nice raw emotion though...
-FT: Forget and Not Slow Down, This is the End (If You Want It), I Don't Need a Soul, Savannah
2. Love is On the Move, Leeland
-spoke of this before
3. Awake, Skillet
-and this one
4. Ocean Eyes, Owl City
-and this one as well...
5. Hello Hurricane, Switchfoot
-not their best CD but I like it alot
-Mess of Me (changed my mind), The Sound, Needle and Haystack Life, Your Love is a Song
6. Love and War, BarlowGirl
-not as good as the previous CD but still worth listening to
-Beautiful Ending, Time for You to Go, Love and War
7. Live Life Loud, Hawk Nelson
-I think this is their best CD
-Eggshells, Live Life Loud, 'Tis So Sweet
8. Everything is Different Now, Stellar Kart
-I haven't heard this CD yet but I know it will be amazing!!! Plus I had to support my third favorite band
9. Birds and Cages, Deas Vail
-I love the melodies, vocals, and uniqueness of this album/band
-Birds, Cages, Excuses, Atlantis, The Great Physician, The Leaper, Sunlight
10. Alive Again, Matt Maher
-it was great to see him live preforming these songs, they're really meaningful.
-Alive Again, Shout of the Kind, You were on the Cross, Hold Us Together

I think that was the longest post I've done...

Nice list, GtG. But I just thought I would point out Strawberry Avalanche is a single and is not on Ocean Eyes.
I would have put MMHMM on my list too, (heck, I would have put all of Rk's albums xD) but I felt like only listing one album for each artist

I guess I shall list some 'honorable mentions'...
-Hello Hurricane by Switchfoot (it comes close to The Beautiful Letdown though)
-The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek by Relient K
-Forget and Not Slow Down by Relient K
-Lifesong by Casting Crowns
-Beauty from Pain 1.1 by Superchick

...I have a hard time thinking of others. lol.

My top albums...in no particular order as well, I can't choose either

- Switchfoot The Beautiful Letdown: I don't have all of this album, but I have about 6 or 7 songs and they're all great. They're fun, yet still have meaning which I really like.
Highlights: More than Fine, Gone, Dare You to Move

- Howard Shore The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, complete recordings- Because I'm a geek when it comes to LotR Absolutely amazing, I can put this album (I think it has somewhere around 50 songs) on shuffle and listen to it just about anytime.
Highlights: Houses of Healing, Lighting of the Beacons, For Frodo, Battle of Pelannor Fields, The Days of the Ring, The Fellowship Reunited, A Far Green Country, Dernhelm in Battle, Marshalling at Dunharrow, Osgiliath Invaded

- Relient K Five Score and Seven Years Ago- Again, the mixture of songs that are fun and have meaning is one thing I really love about this album and Relient K in general. Also a great variety, and great music in general.
Highlights: I Must've Done Something Right, The Best Thing, Forgiven, Devastation and Reform, Up and Up, and Deathbed is pretty good as well.

- Relient K MMHMM- Again, a good amount of variety (not as much as Five Score, but still a good amount) great lyrics, and great music.
Highlights: My Girl's Ex-Boyfriend, Maintain Consciousness, I so Hate Consequences, Be My Escape, Which to Bury; Us or the Hatchet

- Howard Shore The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring complete recordings- Again, it's amazing, even though I like the RotK soundtrack a little more. This one has all the great Hobbit themes, and the Black Rider themes which are two that I really like.
Highlights- Flaming Red Hair, Shortcut to Mushrooms, Prologue: One Ring to Rule them All, Khazed-Dum, Balin's Tomb, The Fighting Uruk-Hai

- TobyMac Portable Sounds- I really like the music, and the way TobyMac writes is amazing, you can look at it and get the meaning on the surface you can also dig deeper and get even more meaning out of it.
Highlights: Feelin' So Fly, Boomin', No Ordinary Love, Made to Love

- Superchic[k] Rock What You Got- Great music, and the songs I've heard (again, I don't have the whole album just a few songs, but I've heard others on the radio) have great beats that just make you want to sings along.
Highlights: Hey Hey (awesome song), Alive, Cross the Line

-Hawk Nelson Smile, It's the End of the World- Some great rock songs, and a few really good quieter songs too (some great piano!) and some great lyrics :]
Highlights: Hello, Head On Collision, Something on My Mind, Bring 'Em Out

-Hawk Nelson Letters to the President- Greatness :] I really like this one, really catchy lyrics and great music.
Highlights: Late Show, Letters to the President, California, Every Little Thing

- Tie Between Hawk Nelson/TobyMac Live Life Loud/Welcome to Diverse City- I love both of these (probably TobyMac a little more) so they tied
Highlights: (Live Life Loud) The Final Toast, Live Life Loud, Meaning of Life (Diverse City) Hey Now, Gone Burn for You

And probably soon to be added to that list is Skillet's "Awake" that I just bought on iTunes

Also, I realized lately "Alive/Awake" seems to be a pretty big theme in music. Hawk Nelson, Superchick, and Skillet all have songs around that theme.

that's true, Josh Groban also has a CD called Awake..

whoops, Kat. I thought it was on the album too...

I just got all of Birds and Cages for free on the internet. I'm hoping it was legal, but it doesn't really matter b/c I'm buying the CD with my Christmas money anyways (after i buy and iHome and an RK tshirt... ).

I forgot to put the Altar and the Door by Casting Crowns on my nominees/honorable mentions...

These are the albums I've mostly been listening to this year. I've discovered a lot of music that seems like it was written just for me. It almost surprises me when others have heard of it. "You know about them? I thought they wrote all that just for me!" Don't know if that makes much sense!
So...

JustSwitchItUp by Switchfoot (1997-2009)
On my sister's computer, she didn't get the songs in order, so she put them all onto one list, and called it "JustSwitchItUp". She also made this photo the album cover. enough said. I cannot for the life of me decide which album I like best. It's impossible. I guess this first one doesn't count...
highlights: Home (LOC), Enough To Let Me Go (HH), C'mon C'mon remix (Oh!EP) The Blues (NIS), The Shadow Proves the Sunshine (NIS), The Beautiful Letdown (TBL), Twenty-Four (TBL), Daisy (NIS), Spirit (bonus song), and Let Your Love Be Strong (O!G). I love them all, but those are the ones that speak to me the most.

1) Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer EP's- Jon Foreman
These EP's are so raw and beautiful. Hard to describe...I love Jon's voice!
Highlights: Your Love Is Strong, I Am Still Running, The Cure For Pain, Southbound Train and Love Isn't Made. But I love them all!

2) Over and Underneath- Tenth Avenue North
this album has changed my life, and made me realize just how much my Father loves me!
Highlights: Beloved, Times, You Are, Satisfy, and Hallelujah.

3) Make Some Noise- Krystal Meyers
this album is really energetic and fun! Great lyrics and upbeat tunes!
Highlights: Beautiful Tonight, You'll Never Know, In Your Hands, My Freedom.

4) The Forecast EP and Now Is Not Forever- B. Reith
He is great at blending rap and singing! His voice is beautiful, and his lyrics are from funny laugh out loud, to I-think-I'm-gonna-cry songs!
Highlights: Go On, The Comeback Kid, Antidote, Just For You.

5) Do You Feel and You Gotta Believe EP- The Rocket Summer
This guy is awesome! He has the catchiest tunes! Do You Feel is SO deep and So Much Love is a song for dancin'!
Highlights: Light, So Much Love, Do You Feel, Hills and Valleys

6) Relient K
So, this is quite embarrassing, but I haven't heard that much Relient K. What I've heard I really like though! I think my favorites of theirs are the slower songs. I Don't Need A Soul is amazing though!
Hightlights: Getting Into You, I Don't Need a Soul, Up and Up, When I Go Down, The Lining Is Silver, Forgiven, I Celebrate The Day.

7) Attention! -Philmont
I have only heard five songs from them, but they are really good at making songs distinct and adding cool beats into a normally boring song. If that makes any sense....
Highlights: The Terminal, Letter to the Editor, Can't Stand To Fall, The Difference, Another Name.

8) Deep Enough To Dream and Smell The Color 9 -Chris Rice
I like him for his story-telling style, and putting genius line of poetry into songs!

9)In Between The Dreaming and Coming True- Bebo Norman
His songs are mostly soft ballads that make the guitar a piece of magic!
Highlights: Into The Day, I Know Now, The Way We Mend, Sunday, Bring Me To Life.

10)Tell Me What You Know- Sara Groves
She has the most gorgeous voice! Like she breathes the music. It was an album dedicated to the children of Kenya and their tragic lives in a poverty stricken country. Hope and sadness...
Highlights: When The Saints, The Long Defeat, Did You Ever Need A Song.