"Center Stage Shout Out" by Skyhawk Drive Review!

I'm really excited to review this project! I recently heard about Skyhawk Drive, and their EP, "Center Stage Shout Out" which was released in November of 2009.

Starting off the EP is a fun intro track that sets the pace for "Center Stage Shout Out": a fun, electro-pop/rock album with light hearted lyrics that bring a positive message as well. "Their Dance, Your Chance brings a fun pop track infused with elements of rock. This song is so fun, but brings a message of being who we are without caring what others think with lyrics such as, "Shout HEY! World it's me, I don't care what you think!"



Coming in at track number three, "Us Against The Clock" is one of the most fun tracks off the EP. Now, I want to clarify something. When I first heard this song, I thought there was a swear word in the opening lyrics. THERE IS NOT! Ronnie from Skyhawk Drive told me they do not use swear words in their music, which I think is pretty awesome of them. The music is fun, and I bet this is even more awesome live.

"Hey Candi" is a lighthearted, sweet song about a girl that equates how he feels about her with the effects of candy. It's a funny song, but doesn't fall into that "oh brother" category. "Finest Mistake" has got to be one of the BEST Pro-Life songs ever written. This song tells the story of a young girl who makes the choice to have her child; her finest mistake. "Finest Mistake" is a powerful and beautiful song, and I encourage you to listen to it as soon as you can.

 "Silence Says" is next and carries more of a punk feel, with lyrics that deal with the confusion of trying take the advice of others, trying to figure out who you are and what you want to do with your life. Great track with a strong punk feel.

"The Breakaway" closes out the EP, and is probably my personal favorite off the album. As teenagers, we go through a lot of terrible things, but through this song Skyhawk Drive encourages us to "give it all to grace" and promises "You're worth more than what they say, don't you forget for another day, that you're loved and you mean everything ". This acoustic track is beautiful, conveys God's love for us, and is the perfect closer for the album.

"Center Stage Shout Out" gave us just a taste of what Skyhawk Drive is capable of. Two years later, Skyhawk Drive is still going strong, and is currently in Skies Fall Studios creating a new project! I recently had the opportunity to interview Ronnie Bingaman, the lead singer of Skyhawk Drive! The interview will be up within the week, and I'm really excited for you guys to get to know this awesome band from right here in Pennsylvania!

Throwback Thursday: Bleach

No, this post is NOT about a certain chemical that brightens our whites and stains our coloreds. Nope, I am talking about, the one, the only......BLEACH!

Bleach formed in 1995, originally under the name "Muffin". Interesting, huh? They released their first album, "Space" in 1996 under Forefront Records. They quickly became popular in the pop/punk scene, and "Static" followed in 1998, earning a four star review from Jesus Freak Hideout. Their third album, simply titled "Bleach" released in 1999, and was their last album on Forefront Records. "Bleach" also earned rave reviews.



1999-2002 proved to be the era of changes for Bleach. Not only did they sign to Tooth & Nail Records, they also lost four members and added three more in this period of time. They released their first album on T&N, "Again For The First Time" in 2002. Blake Gams said of the album, "Another step in the right direction, Bleach adds a radio friendly gem to their musical library". 


Bleach released two other albums, "Astronomy" (2003) and "Farewell Old Friends" (2005) before they broke up. "Farewell Old Friends" proved to be the last album Bleach put out, other than a Greatest Hits compilation. After six albums, touring extensively, and ten years together as a band, it's possible Bleach just got burnt out. But....


BLEACH is making a COMEBACK. According to this website, run by Bleach themselves, Bleach has a four state tour lined up, and an EP coming out later this year! So for all you original pop/punk fans, your guys are back.

Music Review: "Not Too Young" by Mission Six

Mission Six.Where do I start? Their first cd, "Superhero" was a favorite of mine back in 2008. Mission Six and The Rubyz are the "original" iShine artists. They've toured extensively all over the U.S., recorded three albums, have received airplay on radio Disney, and star in one of the most popular Christian teen shows, iShine Knect. Did I mention the oldest member of M6 is 17? It's amazing what God has enabled them to do in just three short years.

Comprised of Noah Hayden on vocals, Anthony Barthel on guitar, Isaac (Biff) Alling on keys, David Horner playing the drums, and Michael Powers on bass, Mission Six has become one of the most popular teen Christian bands out there. You can find out the story behind their band name in this VERY old video. But anyway, this is supposed to be a music review, so let's review some music!

"Not Too Young" is Mission Six's sophomore effort, released in 2009. The 10 track album is comprised of five regular tracks, as well as five karaoke tracks. For review purposes, I will just be talking about the five regular tracks.

"Not Too Young" begins with the title track, "Not Too Young".  A fun song that has a great beat and solid guitars, "Not Too Young" is an anthem for teens all over.  The chorus boldly states, "Here we go, now we're not alone, yeah we may young, but we're not too young to change the world!" The music of Mission Six is strong, and they have been compared to the Jonas Brothers and Relient K. They're a fun mixture of rock and pop.  Overall a very good track, and one I'm sure you will enjoy.

Second we have "Stand Out", another high-energy song that encourages us to "stand out" and not back down. This track even features a surprise from bassist Michael Powers, at the end of the second verse. I'm sure this song is a blast live! Featuring strong, high-energy music and thought provoking lyrics, "Stand Out" is a top M6 song.

Now we've come to my favorite song off the album, "Misfits" which pretty much anyone can relate to at some point in their life, no matter how old they are.  The song opens with Noah declaring he is a "misfit", then a catchy bass line. "Raise your hands if you don't fit in" starts out the verse, and once again Michael guests. Michael and Noah compliment each other very well vocally, and they did an awesome job on this song. The most stirring part of the song is the bridge where they slow things down a bit and sing, "Just when you think you're all alone, you find a place where you belong".  Overall an amazing track that without a doubt encourages teens everywhere.

I can't review this song without laughing. It's not the nature of this song AT ALL, it's what I can imagine all the girls doing when they perform this live. "Forever" is a beautiful song about how important it is to stay pure for the one you will marry. "Everything has got a place in time, so before I call you mine, I wanna make sure you know you're worth the wait" is just a sample of how sincere and important the lyrics are to teenagers in our day. "Forever" brings strong vocals, equally powerful music, and even a fun outro complete with a good old, "yeeooowww"!

Lastly, we have a cover of the popular Newsboys track, "I Am Free". The music differs from the original a bit, giving a it more of a teen feel. Mission Six definitely does the song justice, and does not disappoint. I actually think I might like it better than the original Newsboys version. (Shhh!) It's an excellent cover.

Overall, "Not Too Young" is a solid sophomore effort. I know not everyone likes "teen bands", so this cd won't be for everyone. However, it's a great album! the sound of Mission Six has matured a lot since last year, and they will be releasing their third album, "Shockwave" next week, on May 3rd. They have been posting clips on their Youtube channel, and right now you can hear clips of three songs off that record.

The guys of Mission Six are pretty funny, and have several podcasts on Youtube. One of their most popular segments is 'Band Vs. Food" where they take on challenges to eat "that weird food". I'll post one below for you to watch.



As always, thank you so much for reading my blog! I hope you enjoy the posts!
-Lisa

FM Static "Critically Ashamed".....2 out of 4 ain't bad!

"Critically Ashamed" is the sophomore effort released in 2006 from FM Static. It is also my least favorite album from FM Static, but it definitely is not awful! Let's get to the review!

"Critically Ashamed" begins with a cute intro track that has Trevor's niece wishing him well on his next gig, and that track leads into "Flop Culture" which is a fun punk song in which Trevor laments the state of music in this decade. It really doesn't have much meaning, but is one of those fun songs.

"Six Candles" is one of the slower songs on the album, which is a welcome addition because FM Static's first cd didn't have any slow songs at all! "Six Candles" is a beautiful song about trusting in God whenever people say He's not real. This is one of the best songs on the album. "The Next Big Thing" is exactly what the song is about. Definitely a punk anthem, "The Next Big Thing" is about breaking into the music industry, but using your fame to make a difference, and is a fun listen.

Almost halfway through the album, "America's Next Freak" is all about standing up to those who put us down, finding ourselves in music, and name drops pretty much every artist in the music industry! It's an alright song, but not a favorite. The music seems a little average also. "Tonight" follows, and was a pretty popular track off the cd. I found out it is actually a song about Trevor McNevan's brother who passed away when they were children. "Tonight" is a very beautifully done track.

"The Video Store" carries some synth and punk riffs, and is a song about meeting a girl at a video store. I find songs like this a bit silly, but FM Static has a reputation for being fun and crazy! I really like the music in this song though. Another song about girls is "Girl Of The Year". It's ok. Probably my least favorite on the album. "Nice Piece Of Art" is a good song about how we have all been made unique by God. I like this song a lot, but I find the repeating "art, art, art, art, art" takes away from the song.

Next we have "What It Feels Like" and I like the opening with the drum rolls very much. It's something that stands out on the album. I'll admit I laughed at the lyric that said, "don't try to page me". Haha. It's a good song with good lyrics. Trevor speaks of knowing what it feels like to be on the outside, and is one of my favorites off the album. "Waste Of Time" is a bit formulaic in the music, but the lyrics take it far.

Finally, the last track is "Moment Of Truth". The track is about Trevor's moment of truth, realizing he loved a girl. It's ok. As I have said in the past, I'm really not a love song fan. It closes the album well, however.

"Critically Ashamed" is a decent album, but in my opinion, not the best one they have ever put out. If you are new to FM Static I would recommend "Dear Diary" or 'What Are You Waiting For" to start out with.

Overall rating: 3/5 stars.

Music Review: The Heart And It's Hope by Shine Bright Baby

Shine Bright Baby is a new and coming up band out of Orrville, Ohio. Remember? the were in my "New Bands You Should Know Pt. 2" feature! Posed to perform at Creation 2011, I'm sure people will want to know how their music stands up. This is a review of their first album which was released in 2009.

"Deadbolt" starts things off with a fast electric guitar intro, which immediately catches your attention. As Emily starts singing, you notice she sounds a lot like Hayley Williams of Paramore. She can hold her own however. "Deadbolt" is a great song about supporting a friend in a hard time, and giving a great message of hope and love. Midway through, the song slows a bit, and Emily and one of the male members (he has a decent voice, he just sounds a little deadpan) sing of how they've been through hard times. The song speeds back up and Emily ends the song with the plea, "You can give up on me, but don't give up on love." I really enjoy this track, both lyrically and musically. If you're new to Shine Bright Baby, I advise you to at least give this song a chance. You can download the acoustic version of this song FREE on their Pure Volume.

The second track is called, "Heartbreak!" It's another rocker, an again has a strong intro. It has a very Paramore-esque feel. The lyrics speak of someone who has been put down and broken. The Chorus says, "Who told you that you’re not good enough? Who filled your head with lies and undermined everything you are? Who told you that there’s something wrong? There’s nothing wrong with the way you are." This song is great lyrically, but I feel the music is a bit generic, like I've heard it before. That does not mean it's not an excellent song, however.

"We Were Made To" is next, and slows things down some, but it's definitely not a ballad. I enjoyed the verses on this song, but the chorus seems a bit cookie cutter. The chorus feels like it should be on a Hillsong album. Otherwise, I found this song to be strong vocally, lyrically, and musically. Emily has a very strong, beautiful voice. 

Next to last on the album is "1000 Ideals of Man". It starts of with a retro feeling intro, which I really like. I found this song to be a favorite! A song of how we can be stuck in the "ideals of man", but yet we long for more. This song mixed things up a bit, throwing a hint of male screaming into the beginning of the second verse. I definitely didn't expect that! This song is also filled with thought provoking lyrics such as "My soul is aching for something more glorious than what I see. Another smudged page is turning with a salty stain. Crooked and depraved is such an awful state…I’m left jaded in the wake of one thousand ideals of man, but none of them can stand beneath the pressure!" This song experimented a bit, and we are given a great song full of thought provoking lyrics, strong vocals and music.

"I'm Temporary" is the closer, and the only ballad on the album. It starts off with the story of wrestling an angel, but before the angel left, she wanted to know if she was strong enough to do God's will. It's a beautiful, almost modern retelling of when Jacob wrestled an angel. I know it's long, but I want to include these lyrics in my review. The 2nd verse says, "The leaves rustled on the ground, and I found myself afraid. It’s not lack of faith, I swear. But today, I feel so inadequate. And maybe today I’ll wander but I am never lost. I’ll walk through the flames if it refines my heart, that’s so untamed. The impact causes these grave clothes to fall… so I can now be whole. As Israel who cried, “I have seen the face of God! I have seen the face of God!” Whoa…". Beautiful, amazing song. I love the Biblical nature of this song. Not the most experimental ballad I've ever heard, but this is an amazing song.

Overall, Shine Bright Baby is a band that can be easily compared to Paramore, but with Biblical lyrics and a bit of a different sound. If I did have to compare them with another band though, it would be Paramore.

This album is full of great lyrics and strong vocals. I just find the music to be not quite as breaking the mold, but I can overlook that.It's definitely a strong debut, and if I can go to Creation this year, I will definitely try to see them.

I would recommend this cd to anyone looking for a good, Christian alternative to Paramore or Evanescence. 

FM Static.....1 out of 4 ain't bad!

I just recently purchased the FM Static Trilogy, "3 Out Of 4 Ain't Bad"! This 3 disc collection is of FM Static cd's they have put out, featuring "What Are You Waiting For?", "Critically Ashamed", and "Dear Diary". I plan to review all three, and what better way to start things of with the first cd, "What Are You Waiting For?".

FM Static kicks things off with "Three Days Later", which is a fun song about a girl he can't take his mind off. It's funny, all the FM Static cd's are like Trevor McNevan's high school sagas. This cd is almost like his Freshman year, discovering God and relationships. Not much in the way of spirituality in this song, but hey, we all need to hear a fun song every once in a while. "Three Days Later" has a fun pop/punk vibe, and is just one of those songs that's fun to sing along with!

"Crazy Mary" brings some depth to the album, and is a song for a hurting friend. I really like this song, and it's one of my favorites on the album. Trevor sings of "teaching her how to walk away" when she feels like running, and this is a very positive song with a message of trying to help a friend in need. "Crazy Mary" features some great music, and I appreciate a song that carries such an important message without taking away from the "fun" aspect of the album.

Third up is "Something To Believe In", is punk all the way. Here's where the "finding God" aspect of the album comes in. "Something To Believe In" describes the confusion we can feel as we try to sort out our beliefs for ourselves, and cement that true relationship with song. I enjoy the music very much, and I'm sure every teenager can relate to the message in this song.

"Definitely Maybe" is probably the first FM Static song I had heard. We're back to the romantic relationship aspect of the album, but Trevor manages to keep the "cheesy" aspect out, and the fun lyrics people can relate to. Who hasn't liked a person, but that person was in a relationship with someone who didn't care about them? This song is funny,yet ,makes a point, and has that awesome punk/pop sound FM Static is famous for. WIN!

"Donna" is the next track, and brings punk, punk, and more punk! It's another fun song, with a special meaning of finding who we are. "Donna" is another relationship song as well, and Trevor addresses the song to her...or rather, Trevor's "alter ego". :P Not much depth, but another fun song to enjoy!

Halfway through the album now, we hit "All The Days". I noticed this album seems kind of short, but it really isn't at about 40 minutes. Maybe it's because of all the fast songs? Hmmm.... but back to the song! It's sort of an ode to Freshman year, and the beginning of SUMMER! However, it takes the time to remind us to remember the important times in our lives, and also, to look ahead! It's very much a fun song, and I love the music! What gets better than that?

"Hold Me Twice" reverts back to Freshman Year. This song brings a bit of electronic vibes to the punk pop aspect of FM Static. Trevor speaks of himself as "the loser" who likes "that girl". But she doesn't notice him...but so he thinks. Turns out, SHE HAS! Then they meet....then she moves....but he wrote her a letter! I just find myself laughing at the "awkwardness" portrayed in this song. 

Yeah! "The Notion" has a fun beat, one of my favorites musically on this album. The lyrics are...once...again: girls, school, music, and having fun. There isn't a whole lot spiritually on this album, but it makes for fun listening. 

"October" is the 8th fast song on this album. "Crazy Mary" is really the only "slower track". But anyway....can you guess what this song is about......GIRLS! AND TREVOR'S ALTER EGO BEING AWKWARD! Lol, this album is fun, so why can't I have fun with my review? Apparently this girl awkward-trevor's-alter-ego really liked, but she was too cool. Now she's a model, and has been in magazines, and apparently has a pretty good career. The song in a nutshell.

Next to last is "My First Stereo"....this song is straight up hilarious. HAAA-LAR-I-OUS! It's an ode to Trevor's first stereo. When he starts the song off, it sounds like a serious song to God, or a really important person, but then he launches into this song about his stereo. The lyrics to the chorus: Everyone wants, everyone needs, Everyone hurts sometimes like me,It never rejects me, always accepts me,Nothing can compete with my first stereo! HA!

Finally, there is a hidden track. The only slow song on the album, is....about...GIRLS! What is Trevor's Freshman in High School alter ego doing in a club spinning records? Aren't 14 year olds a little young to be "in da' club"? Maybe it was a Fellowship of Christian Athletes club. Ha..."Hey Now, Hey Now a yow ow ow...." (Trevor sounds a lot cooler when he sings that)

 Ok, I had to have fun with this album. "What Are You Waiting For" is just so upbeat and fun, you have a hard time trying to be serious in a review. If you are in high school, like early Hawk Nelson music, or just pop/punk in general, be sure to pick up the Trilogy at your local Christian Bookstore,  iTunes or Zune Marketplace.