Salt and the Light - by Sent By Ravens

This song kinda hit me a today... namely at: "...but I've learned that it's ok to be broken at Your feet, & it's where I wanna be...".   ...

For those who read this: I'm sorry, but I'm not going to do research right now 'cause it's late, & I'm tired & sore.  I'm sure that if you follow along, however, that you will find me posting something by Sent By Ravens again soon enough.
But just so you know: they're from Columbia, SC & are signed on with Tooth & Nail Records.  This song is from their label debut LP "Our Graceful Words", released April 20th, 2010.  Other trivia: the lead singer's wife is from Quebec (just as a Canadian connection...  :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu0-5Y_DNgA

Crazy Crowd - by DJ FreeG ft. N.I.C.

Being as I'm not all up in slang terms: would this be an appropriate place to say 'dirty' (as in, the sick/cool/good kind of dirty)? lolDJ FreeG (Stefan Fritschi) is based out of Bern, Germany. He started off in the hip-hop industry before he bought his own equipment in 2009 & switched to house music as he started working in clubs as a DJ.  This song is one of DJ FreeG's & MC N.I.C.'s singles released in 2011.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmqHoA3vWS4


P.S. Sorry for sporadically missing a number of days over the past couple weeks.  Things should be a bit more normal by next week...

Beautiful Ashes - by Éowyn

New music video released just yesterday (Apr. 25th).  Rockin'.  lol
Éowyn Russel (<-- yes, 'Éowyn' is her stage & real name) is from Nashville, TN.  She's an independent artist who started her career (according to Wiki) in 1999.  Her debut release, "Shattered Illusions", however, didn't come until Feb. 10th, 2003.  She's obtained decent success with that & her sophomore "Identity" (Jan. 15th, 2006), but "Silent Screams" (Apr. 20th, 2008) pushed her even further with a couple of singles reaching top 5 in a chart (<-- for certain) or two.  However, as her website puts it: "In 2008 she was forced to announce her departure to the industry due to financial and was forced to sell everything that had to do with her musical career".  But, late 2010, she announced her return, & has a new album "Beautiful Ashes" set to be released May 3rd, 2011.  This song is from the upcoming album.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9SEAPXezG8

He's Alive - by Don Francisco (+ Dolly Parton's cover)

A good one to finish off the Easter weekend, eh?

Don Francisco was born Feb. 28th, 1946 in Louisville, KY.  He had a career in the 1960's as a folk rock artist before rededicating his life to God & a bit of a genre change.  His debut in this change was "Brother of the Son", released in 1976 on the recently founded NewPax Records (which has rostered the likes of Bill Gaither, David L. Cook, Brown Bannister, & other notables [that I haven't noted… lol]).  Francisco has won 2 Dove Awards over his 20 album (<-- including live?) career.  This song (which was written "from the point of view of Peter just after the crucifixion of Jesus) is from his sophomore album "Forgiven", released in 1977.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO-7gehGYII

& here's Dolly Parton's version live at the 1989 CMA Awards:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbRPWUHM80M

Also, you can download a bunch of Don Francisco's songs for free from his website:

http://www.rockymountainministries.org/ (just click on "Free MP3's!", then right click, & download...)

Atoning Sacrifice (&) Wine and the Bread - by The Relay

The former: an awesome song that crossed my mind a few times today (esp. w/ Easter & in general…).  The latter: an awesome song that I forgot about that happens to directly tie in with Easter.

The Relay is from Mililani/Oahu, Hawaii.  Beyond that, I can't find much about this specific band…  5 members: David Tamaoka - vocals; Daniel Kirnbauer - bass; Jacob Pierce - guitar; Josh Tamaoka - guitar; Matt Wellman - guitar.  They list their influences as Anberlin, Jimmy Eat World, The Almost, & the like.  However, David & Josh Tamaoka both are from the band Pennylane, & some of those members were from the band Longshot 808.  David (as Canefield Hero) has opened for a number of well known acts including Jason Mraz, Underoath, Rise Against, Mae, 311, & more.  The Relay currently appears to be signed to TMG Records & has a few bits of material here & there (most of it free).  These song is from their ReverbNation free downloads (or at least, that's where I got it!).

http://www.reverbnation.com/therelay

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Relay/181893668514079

(I'm not sure if this'll work, but here - it should pull up a general search for The Relay on Indie Vision Music)   :

http://www.indievisionmusic.com/?s=The+Relay


P.S. Sorry for missing the past couple days (if you've noticed! lol).  It's been a good, relaxing but full weekend being home from college.  For the fellow students: Hope your exams & year went well (& continue to, if you're not done..)!

Goodbye for Now - by P.O.D.

For us students who are saying such... Ok, well, maybe the actual message doesn't fit that exact scenario perfectly, but it's the thought that counts, right?

P.O.D. (Payable on Death) is based out of San Diego, CA.  They started in 1992, after Paul Joshua "Sonny" Sandoval's mother passed away of leukaemia & he became a Christian - he joined his cousin Wuv Bernardo & his friend Marcos Curiel; Gabe Portillo became their bassist but was replaced by Traa Daniels in '94 (they released 1 LP before then - "Snuff the Punk" in '93).  They're now 6 albums later, with the latest being "When Angels & Serpents Dance", released April 8th, 2008.  Some side trivia: Sonny made the girl's name Nevaeh popular after giving his daughter said name (& it apparently "has gained traction faster than any name since the [U.S.] government began tracking names in 1880").  This song is from their album "Testify", released Jan. 24th, 2006.  (& as a bit more trivia, it features Katy Perry before she got into the mainstream).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plGETDmXw5g

& here's a live version, if you wish:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCJXAfmLvsQ

Something Beautiful - by NEEDTOBREATHE (to which, it won Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year tonight!)

2 things I have to say: "Awesome song" - & "Congrats to NEEDTOBREATHE!"

NEEDTOBREATHE has their background from Possum Kingdom, in South Carolina (but are now listed as being based out of Charleston, SC).  They formed in 1999 - two brothers, Bear & Bo (Bo born Nathanial Bryant -) Rineheart (vocals, guitar & piano; & bg vocals & guitar, respectively) & childhood friends Joe Stillwell & Seth Bolt (bg vocals & bass; & drums/percussion, respectively).  They independently released & sold 3 EP's before signing with Atlantic/Lava Records & releasing their LP "Daylight" in 2006.  Their second LP "The Heat" hit the streets the next year & made it to #2 on the Heatseekers chart (coincidentally ;)  ), & they continued to tour & tour.  Their latest release, "The Outsiders" was released August 25th, 2009 & they have a new album set to release sometime this year.  This song is from "The Outsiders"; & "Something Beautiful" won Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year just tonight at the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards!

Music video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq1H3l7kyYU

& here's a live acoustic one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8cvqqQB_lQ