Top 5 of 2008 | #1 for 2009

The end of one year and the start of another naturally generates different kinds of countdowns and Top lists. I’ve been going back and forth on what i deem to be my Top 5 albums of 2008.  A lot of music and many factors to consider, how does one decide? In the end, I made my list below including my choice song and lyric.  My comments are further down.

#5 | This is Our God – Hillsong
Choice Song: Stronger

“It is written, Christ is risen…”

#4 | Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt – Augustana
Choice Song: Hey Now

“It’s quiet in the streets now, but it’s screaming in your head.”

#3 | Leavingtaking – Peter Bradley Adams
Choice Song: The Longer I Run

“If I wander ’til I die, may I know whose hand I’m in.”

#2 | Viva La Vida – Coldplay
Choice Song: Strawberry Swing

“People moving all the time in a perfect straight line. Don’t you want to curve away?”

#1 | Three Flights From Alto Nido – Greg Laswell
Choice Song: I’d Be Lying

“Won’t you let me give you a hand? I have an extra I’m not using.”

More Than an Honorable Mention
Fall, Winter – Jon Foreman
Choice Song: The Cure for the Pain

“It would be a lie to run away.”

Okay, some comments for each album.  #5, Hillsong continues an incredible streak of live albums.  Even in the midst of the unfortuneate news of guest artist, Mike Guglielmucci, Hillsong produces not only another album but another great resource for the Church to connect with God.  Their excellence in musicianship commands respect and Brooke Fraser delivers the strongest lyrics in “Desert Song.”

#4, I listened to this Augustana album so much that i made the CD cover my Facebook profile picture for a while.

#3, I discovered Peter Bradley Adams on accident in 2008 and good thing at that!  The lyrics meld so well with the melodies on this album.  Adams sang me to sleep a lot last year.

#2, This album converted me to a Coldplay fan.  I was browsing through HMV a week before the release of Viva La Vida and i hear this ultra rhythmic song on the speakers.  I literally stop mid-step and stand in the middle of the store trying to figure out what song it is.  The voice sounds a lot like Chris Martin?  I ask the HMV employee what is playing and she says it’s the new Coldplay album that comes out the next week.  Then and there i decide i would buy the new album.  Mucho tres good.  Btw, the song that was playing was “Lovers in Japan.”

#1, I love Greg Laswell.  And this album through and through.  He has this magic about him as illogical as that sounds.  Maybe it’s his calm voice that sounds so unique and yet totally isn’t't at the same time (unique voices in my book are the likes of Robbie Seay and Caleb Followill).  Maybe it’s his look, which i take as confident but laid back (as a true west-coaster would be).  Or, it’s his success without needing to be in the limelight.  Or, maybe it’s none of the above but simply because he’s pleasantly easy on the eyes. *Wink =p

Honorable Mention. Jon Foreman is brilliant and the only reason why he didn’t make the Top 5 was because I didn’t listen to this EP as much as I did the others to warrant any of the 5 to get bumped down.  Where does Jon Foreman come up with his lyrics? I’d like to be in his brain for a day.

So, I look forward to new music in 2009.  And even though we’re barely one week in, i’m pretty sure i already know what will be Album #1 for 2009…

U2′s new album comes out on March 3rd!!!!!!!!! It’s called No Line on the Horizon and it was supposed to be released for late 2008.  But can you believe that U2 said they weren’t done writing for the album even though they already had 50-60 songs for it?!  These boys never stop.  I mean, what other band out there can tour the same album for 2 years?  March 3rd, come sooner!

Mike Guglielmucci and Healer

Sigh, I’ve been following this story all week and it looks like another one is biting the dust. Mike Guglielmucci, an Australian pastor and musician, has confessed that his alleged two-year battle with terminal cancer is completely untrue. There was never any cancer to begin with. Instead, according to Mike, he created this elaborate lie as a form of escape from his 16-year secret struggle with pornography addiction.  It’s one thing to fabricate such a thing, even to the point that your own wife and family are in the dark about it, but what’s at stake becomes even greater when countless others are unknowingly pulled into the mess.

Recently, Mike’s powerful song called, “Healer,” has been gaining popularity within churches and Christian circles all around the world. The story behind the song was originally a testament of Mike dealing with how to reconcile his (now, fake) cancer and his faith.  It was first recorded on a Planetshakers album but it’s gained even more attention earlier this year as Mike was invited by Hillsong Church to record “Healer” on their newest live album, This is Our God. Up he went, before thousands of people, with oxygyn tank and tubes in hand, and belted out the song, “Healer.”  I like the song.  I mean, i do, it’s great, it’s powerful, it’s truth, it’s an anthem for many…

But no doubt, there’s mixed feelings now.  On the one hand, thousands have been touched, moved, impacted by Mike’s story.  But it was a lie.  On the other hand, thousands have been touched, moved, impacted by Mike’s song, “Healer”… and though Mike’s circumstance has been a lie, the words to this song are still resoundingly true!  Do we still sing the song? Or, is it too distracting considering this whole debacle?

I’m still floored.. can you imagine?  The feelings of betrayal and shock and anger and everything.  No one knew.  Apparently his wife didn’t know, his family didn’t know, his friends didn’t know, his church didn’t know, Planetshakers didn’t know, Hillsong Church didn’t know, the public for sure didn’t know!  How?! What?!  I guess the only one NOT shocked by all this is, well, God.  As if it’s a surprise to him.  Mind boggling.

Now, it seems the response from around the world is either forgiveness and prayer for Mike or condemnation and judgment.  I definitely think this a time for grace, yes, but it makes me so flippin’ mad!!  We have to hold others, especially Christian leaders, to high accountability.  I still think Mike has a lot more explaining to do to help so many who’ve been hurt to make sense of it all.  But, i suppose the ball is rolling.  Mike has confessed, hopefully in the process of repenting.  He’s getting psychiatric help – it’d be so interesting to be a fly on the wall in that room..

There’s compassion for sure, we’ve all messed up.  But it just goes to show how personal integrity is so freakin’ important.  It’s worth so much.

Mike’s written statement

Mike’s interview on Today Tonight (9min)

CNN video for a shorter news clip (2min)

From Brian Houston, senior pastor of Hillsong Church – he mentions Galatians 6