Well in the review he says that they have alot of songs that are sad without any hope, and also that they have a song about suicide

Glenstorm: The review says that Anberlin

echoes the futility of those bands [My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy]

. That one statement makes their credibility go out the window. I will say that Cities has dark tonality both musically and lyrically, but the members of Anberlin are very open about their faith. I really respect Stephen Christian for not ignoring the pain and hurt in the world. I know several Christian friends who have dealt with serious depression and thoughts of suicide. It's a lie to tell those people that Christians are always hunky dory. We suffer too. I agree with Deas Vail in their songs "Growing Pains" and "Birds" when they say that vulnerability is so much better than pretending like we've all got it together. Cities isn't the most uplifting album, but it certainly doesn't indicate that life is hopeless. It also has moments of lovely sweetness like on "Inevitable" and the idea that healthy relationships often keep people from depression on "Unwinding Cable Car." Far from glorifying derpession, suicide, and anger, I believe Anberlin makes these visible in order to call attention to the saving power of Christ (for example: "For most men that believe/Hell is never knowing who you are now/...Can you escape all by yourself?") and to call Christians to their higher calling to minister to the broken and often ignored of the world. Glenstorm, you should know that if I sound miffed, it's not at you. I've always had a bone to pick with pluggedinonline and it bothers me that they ignore the hope present in the album (like the overtly Christian themes on the worship oriented "A Whisper & a Clamor"). However, I'm aware that your parents seem to be pretty aware of your media choices and that they are careful about what they want you to take in. If that's the case, you might want to stay clear of Cities as their lyrics can be misunderstood if taken out of context.

W4J: I got the Eisley gift after Christmas too. My roommate was confused to find me listening to Christmas music in January.

Kat: You're right, Paper Route is rather different from Owl City. Owl City seems to really enjoy touring with Lights and then rotating the 3rd spot between obscure Christian band that I enjoy very much.
4 hours!? Wow, and I don't even consider driving the 1.5 hours to San Francisco that it would take me. You must be a true fan.

Kate: You make some points. They do sound like they have some good music, and I will probably give them a try any way as I don't always agree with pluggedinonline.com's reviews. I do like some more serious music anyway, deep music. So they sound pretty cool. My parents don't really monitor my music that much, but I like them to know what I'm listening to. They actually dislike most of the music I listen to, and really the only bands that I like that they also like are Leeland and Owl City. But they do let me listen to other things as long as they're Christian (or at least clean lyrics).

Lol, my family actually drives around 4 hours on a normal Sunday. Our church is two hours away so a concert 4 hours away wouldn't be that bad I think .

My family drives less than five minutes to get to church, but the closest any concert has ever gotten was three and a half hours away... by plane. That's why I've never been to one.

Kate: Ah, I see.
Well, we drove 8 hours to hear TAN, and then ended up missing them. I was so bummed. That's why we showed up for their concert here 5 hours early So 4 hours really isn't that bad
Gosh, that really stinks, winterlife. I had forgotten you lived in Alaska. Do you ever happen to go into other states for any reason? Maybe you could try to do it when a concert is happening

Today on iTunes I bought Gypsy Parade's EP. (Gypsy Parade is the side project Dave Douglas started w/ his wife Rachel). I am really loving it. Apparently now Gypsy Parade is called Attack Cat. I'm curious to see what the album they released under that name sounds like.

I don't mean to double post... but I'm so happy right now...... I've been crying for the past 5 minutes. I was looking at my twitter feed, and saw a post by Jon Schneck from Relient K. He had tweeted a link to my F&NSD piano cover ( http://twitter.com/JonSchneck/status/7465377943 ). Well, that made me happy enough. But then I logged into my youtube only to find a message from him as well:

"Hey, This is Jon from the band Relient K, just wanted to say that you have covered some of our songs really well. You are very talented. If you ever come to one of our shows, you should let me know and maybe you can perform with us! Hope you are well, feel free to stay in touch, [he attached his email address]"

blessings,
js"

I'm just.... speechless... I don't know what to say....

Ooh I have to get that! I've been wanting to hear what Dave's been doing...

I bougth Fireflight's single yesterday, from their new album. I'm really loving it

edit: OH MY GOSH KAT!!!! You are so insanely lucky! That would be so cool, I would definetly come to that concert! I'm almost crying for you- that is DIRECT CONTACT from one of the Relient K band members! That is SO INSANELY COOL!!!!

That's awesome!!!! Makes me want to go play my piano some more...

Me too.

That's great, MissAravis!

Oh, Kat, congradulations! *is insanely happy*
And in answer to your other state question, I visit Washington almost every year. But I looked at the tour dates for my favorite groups (when I could find them) and they're all for the east coast for the next few years. But the family wants to take a road trip up and down the east coast in a few years. I really don't like road trips (I get carsick as easily as I get lost), so I may try to bargain to fit some concerts in there. I'll just have to start a fund to pay for my tickets (there's no way my parents will pay for me to go to a RK concert; they don't like anything of RK's), since I'll be 17 or 18, and I have a job.

Kat: I am SO happy for you! that's really awesome! what a nice thing for him to say! if you get to play with them, let us narniawebbers know!

Oh. Wow. That's awesome!!!!! I'm so happy for you!

Wow Kat that's pretty dang incredible. You do realize though that you will now be required to go to a show? By all of us? And bring a sister or someone to take video? Yes please, thank you.

The Album Project gave Fair's new album a 5 out of 5, something they don't do often, so I'm so excited. I kind of want to buy the preorder package with a t-shirt, but it's pretty pricey. I feel like the T-shirt should cost less than 13$. 23$ plus shipping is getting to be a little too much. The album cover is pretty sweet...

I was just listening to "There Was No Thief" by Relient K and crying in my bedroom. For two reasons. 1) it's a sad sad song and 2) it reminds me of the concert- I soooo want to see them again! I was also watching some videos I took at the concert and crying, they are so amazing live!

Thanks guys. I'm hoping they decide to come to Iowa this year. They came twice last year but I wasn't free either time. Right now I'm just waiting around for the tour schedule and then I'll be in contact with Jon again...we've already talked a tiny bit on facebook lol. So we'll see what happens!

Winterlife: Oh, I really hope you can go to the east coast when a concert's there! It must be really frustrating sometimes to live where you do.

GtG: There Was No Thief will always be one of my favorite RK songs. It's not terribly popular, but it's so very beautiful...