February is commonly the month for love songs and ballads. While I have included a few of those in my top ten list for the month, I've also stuck with some persisting hits, and brought in some songs that may not follow the theme of love. Still, this is a strong list!
1. Sugar - Maroon 5 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09R8_2nJtjg
This song claims the top spot for the month, not because of the love theme, but because of how musically amazing it is. The groove to the song is extremely unique, matching Adam Levine's vocals. I'm not sure if I've ever heard him sing a bad song before! The sound of his voice matches the sound of the song perfectly, really creating the pop groove to the song.
2. My Lighthouse - Rend Collective - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPtIv2lnkTY
I've never really thought of this song as a traditional Sunday morning worship tune, but I was proved wrong by Word of Life Bible Institute and their worship band. They pulled it off in a worship session perfectly, and now I see the song in a new light. Rend Collective is truly an unique band, and the spin they are putting on worship tunes is extremely refreshing.
3. Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzo-EL_62fQ
Another love themed song! Again, I didn't place it this high simply because it is Valentine themed, but rather because it is an amazing song. I find that the artists that had to work the hardest to get where they are always come out with the best material. Lewis for example worked as a receptionist and a Pizza Hut waitress to fund her studio time, before realizing that her demos were getting no where. She then decided to audition for X Factor, and the rest is history.
4. Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpyfrixXBqU
You just can't knock this song off of my playlists right now. It seems American/Canadian Radio is also picking up on the song, as it dominates the second spot on the Billboard Hot 100 right now, and is continually being played. I really like the fact that this is classic, good old, original, real music. It consists of good vocals, a catchy guitar lick, and some drums/bass to add a groove. None of that electronic, synthesized stuff that many pop songs are relying upon so heavily today.
5. Hideaway - Kiesza - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D70UT2wUnoM
Hugely being overplayed right now, this is song can get extremely annoying, yet at the same time it is a good song. It's catchy, has a good beat, strong vocals, and has the dynamics to motivate, or inspire people. These are my favourite songs. That special dynamic is hard to come by. There is a reason why almost every sporting event will play this song during the pre-game; to pump up their players.
6. Fix You - Coldplay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4V3Mo61fJM
In my opinion, this song would not be a hit if not for the electrifying guitar riff midway through the song. The sound from that guitar is incredibly difficult to duplicate. There seems to be a hint of delay in there, but not enough to mask the well rounded distortion that covers the note picking. The actual notes are simple enough to figure out, but the recreation of the sound takes work.
7. Overwhelmed - Big Daddy Weave - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6oxXwRWFTo
One of the things I struggle the most with as a musician is timing. When I hear songs, and finger picking in times such as 6/8 like this song, I automatically revere the song so much more. You can't really hear it in this song until you listen really closely. 6/8 usually produces a swing kind of feel, but this song maintains the head sway movement. Sounds silly, but there really is a difference!
8. Piano Man - Colton Dixon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAJcv3F6zyM
A cover of the original song, Colton Dixon's version is fabulous. He originally did a part of it on American Idol, and won over the crowd and the judges with his rendition. The opening piano riff is my favourite part of the whole song. I love when instruments get a chance to shine, without anything else distracting from the talent of playing key pieces such as that intro.
9. Superman (It's Not Easy) - Five for Fighting - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRz4FY0ZcwI
Again a piano driven song. This one is another older classic song. I've always loved the song, and for a reason that is very similar to Piano Man. The opening piano riff is special, unique, and easily recognizable. It's also an amazing song to jam with, whether on the piano, the guitar, or even vocals. This song is definitely one of my all time favourites.
10. You Are My Fire - Sky Terminal - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBgxGyUlfSk
Sky Terminal's new album We are One won the GMA Rock Album of the Year 3 months ago! They can add this award to the Juno Nomination for Don't Close Your Eyes from 2011. This band clearly has a lot of potential, and it will be extremely exciting to see them progress in the coming years. They are heading out on tour later this year, and I can't wait to see them perform live!
Thursday 26 February 2015
Monday 16 February 2015
Steve Fee's We Shine Album Review
Rating: 8.7/10
Website: https://twitter.com/feeband
Purchase: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/we-shine/id264194446
This album served as a pioneer for a new sound that would take over the worship industry. With a new contemporary rock twist to some traditional tunes, and a revolutionizing rock sound to many original songs, this album was, and is a hit. Released in 2007 as Fee's first studio album, the record itself passed under the radar, with only two songs gaining major traction, All Because of Jesus, and Happy Day. Many of the other hit songs were unnoticed to a point, with the singles never being highlighted, but the general idea or purpose behind Fee's record caught on like wildfire in many churches.
At the time, worship songs were still stuck in a rigid standard. Fee's album broke this standard open. The band strived to make their music enjoyable, and fun, through their rocky sound. However, they maintained that the core message could not be lost. With originals such as All Because of Jesus, Burn for You, We Shine, and Broadcast, Fee combined their sound with good religious material to create hit worship tunes. They also dabbled in some cover material to show how their sound could really revolutionize church worship music, with Happy Day as an example.
Today, it is still a work in progress to ensure church artists don't feel limited by what people feel worship music should be. Fee's album was an amazing step forward, one that many do not recognize enough. The album deserves many more accolades, as does the band. This is an amazing album filled with excellent content, with a specific God-inspired purpose.
Website: https://twitter.com/feeband
Purchase: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/we-shine/id264194446
This album served as a pioneer for a new sound that would take over the worship industry. With a new contemporary rock twist to some traditional tunes, and a revolutionizing rock sound to many original songs, this album was, and is a hit. Released in 2007 as Fee's first studio album, the record itself passed under the radar, with only two songs gaining major traction, All Because of Jesus, and Happy Day. Many of the other hit songs were unnoticed to a point, with the singles never being highlighted, but the general idea or purpose behind Fee's record caught on like wildfire in many churches.
At the time, worship songs were still stuck in a rigid standard. Fee's album broke this standard open. The band strived to make their music enjoyable, and fun, through their rocky sound. However, they maintained that the core message could not be lost. With originals such as All Because of Jesus, Burn for You, We Shine, and Broadcast, Fee combined their sound with good religious material to create hit worship tunes. They also dabbled in some cover material to show how their sound could really revolutionize church worship music, with Happy Day as an example.
Today, it is still a work in progress to ensure church artists don't feel limited by what people feel worship music should be. Fee's album was an amazing step forward, one that many do not recognize enough. The album deserves many more accolades, as does the band. This is an amazing album filled with excellent content, with a specific God-inspired purpose.
 |
| Amazon |
Friday 13 February 2015
The Grocery Store Brawl
Check out my first published book! I wrote this short story as a school project in Grade 7, and have been working on the illustrations ever since. This is the first book in my Green Guy series, geared towards young kids.
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/the-grocery-store-brawl/id963257195?mt=11
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/the-grocery-store-brawl/id963257195?mt=11
Tuesday 10 February 2015
Best Delay Pedals
As a guitarist, my favourite effect to use is delay. Especially in worship settings, delay fills up the guitar's sound, and smooths out a lot of rough edges in transitions between notes and chords. Pioneers in the worship industry, Hillsong United spearheaded the movement to include more and more delay in their music. Electric guitarist Nigel Hendroff frequently uses the coveted Boss DD-5 Digital Delay pedal on the dotted eighth setting during many worldwide famous worship songs. The delay effect pedal market is rapidly expanding to include numerous options from small stompboxes, to douple effects, to large modelers. Here are some of the best for various price ranges for guitarists of all skill levels;
1. Boss DD Series Stompboxes - http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=958&ParentId=255 - 229.00-269.00 - 4.9/5
There are 4 DD Series Stompboxes from Boss, the DD-3, DD-5, DD-6, and DD-7. Each is generally the same with the 3 having the least amount of features, and the 7 having the most. Obviously because of that the 3 Series are the cheapest, with the price increasing each interval of Series.
Overall, these are extremely trustworthy pedals. With the stompbox frame, they can be dropped, kicked, and stomped on without any lasting impact on the pedal at all. Again, the small size of the pedal allows for easy transportation or attachment to a pedal board.
While there may not be an amazing variety of delay options, the control over the delays that are available are top class. The different time options are excellent, especially the dotted eighth delay. The down fall is that the tempo cannot be controlled unless the extra tap tempo pedal is bought.
Delay time can also be controlled, as well as Feedback. The Feedback control knob is one I use frequently, sometimes just to add an extra dimension to my sound, or find a pure delay tone. The DD series are simple, yet extremely efficient delay pedals. They should definitely be the first choice for anyone entering the delay market, or looking to begin to build the delay section of their effect setup.
2. Boss DD-20 Giga Delay Twin Pedal - http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=531 - 329.00 - 4.5/5
This is kind of Boss's pinnacle of delay pedals. It combines every aspect of their DD series stompboxes into a twin pedal with so many options and such quality. This may be the most high tech delay pedal, and the one with the most options on the market.
Again, this is a sturdy pedal. Boss is known for making durable pedals, and the twin pedals are no exception. Essentially they are kind of like two stompboxes squeezed in together. The size isn't actually that much of a problem, and can still easily fit on a pedalboard or in a gigbag for transportation.
The pedal includes the same famous delay settings from the DD series, and also features more modes such as dual or analog. The coolest feature of this pedal is it's user memory. With 4 easy accessible, writable settings, the pedal allows for endless options.
Really, this is the upgraded version of the DD Series. For those that have enough money to take the upgrade, this pedal is amazing in what it has to offer.
3. Line 6 DL4 Stompbox Modeler - http://line6.com/dl4/ - 279.00$ - 4.8/5
Known for their expertise with delay pedals, this is now the only Line 6 specific delay pedal, after they discontinued their others models. Even with the other Line 6 models on the market, this was and will continue to be their best offer in the delay section. The DL4 is only 1 part in Line 6's stompbox modeler series, with the MM4, DM4, and the FM4 finishing the combination.
The make and build, which are extremely important to the safety and longevity of the pedal, are structurally sound. While the pedal is larger, it is box shaped, and therefore easy to fit in a bag, or on a pedalboard. The frame is strong, and the front panel is sturdy.
The pedal features 16 delay models, ranging from practical U2 sounds, to exciting innovative ping pong delays. Four footswitches are included for easy saving and recalling of sounds. The pedal also allows for control over delay time, repeats, tweak, tweez and mix.
For the amount of options included, and the quality of the options, this pedal is one of the lead runners in the delay market. The size of the pedal is manageable, and the features of extraordinary. The DL4 remains one of the best.
4. TC Electronic ND-1 Nova Delay - http://www.tcelectronic.com/nd-1-nova-delay/ - 395.00 - 3.6/5
While I have never actually used this pedal, I've only heard good things about it. Again, this is a pedal that utilizes technology to the utmost degree. Extremely programmable, this pedal has everything.
This seems to be a strong pedal, with a strong metal frame. The size and shape does seem to be a little unique. The pedal in its square shape is again very different, and therefore may not be the usual shape required for a pedal board.
The actual delay on the pedal is decently good. The control over the delay is amazing, definitely top class. There are 7 types of delays available, with control over the tempo, and multiple other options. Much like a computer, the pedal again allows for saving certain settings, and other nifty options.
The Nova Delay is a great delay pedal, and extremely innovative. TC Electronic is doing a great job developing their delay sound, and this is only the first step. Actually, the company recently released a new delay pedal called Flashback, and it is gaining a lot of acclaim internationally.
5. MXR Carbon Copy Delay - http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/m169-carbon-copy-analog-delay - 227.00 - 3.9/5
Finally, the MXR Carbon Copy Delay. While the sound may not be as developed as some of the other delay options, the build of this pedal may be it's most impressive feature.
This pedal is extremely strong, built to endure almost anything. The size of the pedal is perfect, able to easily carry anywhere, or squeeze onto even the most crowded pedal board.
The actual sound coming from the pedal is also pretty impressive. However, there are not as many delay options as some of the other pedals on the market. This could be a good things for beginners, and possibly not as great for experts, but the pedal does include one special feature. There are two ways to run the delay through the pedal; modulation or no modulation. This feature allows for two very different sides of delay sounds to be heard at all times.
 |
| Boss US |
There are 4 DD Series Stompboxes from Boss, the DD-3, DD-5, DD-6, and DD-7. Each is generally the same with the 3 having the least amount of features, and the 7 having the most. Obviously because of that the 3 Series are the cheapest, with the price increasing each interval of Series.
Overall, these are extremely trustworthy pedals. With the stompbox frame, they can be dropped, kicked, and stomped on without any lasting impact on the pedal at all. Again, the small size of the pedal allows for easy transportation or attachment to a pedal board.
While there may not be an amazing variety of delay options, the control over the delays that are available are top class. The different time options are excellent, especially the dotted eighth delay. The down fall is that the tempo cannot be controlled unless the extra tap tempo pedal is bought.
Delay time can also be controlled, as well as Feedback. The Feedback control knob is one I use frequently, sometimes just to add an extra dimension to my sound, or find a pure delay tone. The DD series are simple, yet extremely efficient delay pedals. They should definitely be the first choice for anyone entering the delay market, or looking to begin to build the delay section of their effect setup.
 |
| Boss US |
2. Boss DD-20 Giga Delay Twin Pedal - http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=531 - 329.00 - 4.5/5
This is kind of Boss's pinnacle of delay pedals. It combines every aspect of their DD series stompboxes into a twin pedal with so many options and such quality. This may be the most high tech delay pedal, and the one with the most options on the market.
Again, this is a sturdy pedal. Boss is known for making durable pedals, and the twin pedals are no exception. Essentially they are kind of like two stompboxes squeezed in together. The size isn't actually that much of a problem, and can still easily fit on a pedalboard or in a gigbag for transportation.
The pedal includes the same famous delay settings from the DD series, and also features more modes such as dual or analog. The coolest feature of this pedal is it's user memory. With 4 easy accessible, writable settings, the pedal allows for endless options.
Really, this is the upgraded version of the DD Series. For those that have enough money to take the upgrade, this pedal is amazing in what it has to offer.
3. Line 6 DL4 Stompbox Modeler - http://line6.com/dl4/ - 279.00$ - 4.8/5
Known for their expertise with delay pedals, this is now the only Line 6 specific delay pedal, after they discontinued their others models. Even with the other Line 6 models on the market, this was and will continue to be their best offer in the delay section. The DL4 is only 1 part in Line 6's stompbox modeler series, with the MM4, DM4, and the FM4 finishing the combination.
 |
| Amazon |
The pedal features 16 delay models, ranging from practical U2 sounds, to exciting innovative ping pong delays. Four footswitches are included for easy saving and recalling of sounds. The pedal also allows for control over delay time, repeats, tweak, tweez and mix.
For the amount of options included, and the quality of the options, this pedal is one of the lead runners in the delay market. The size of the pedal is manageable, and the features of extraordinary. The DL4 remains one of the best.
 |
| Interstate Music |
While I have never actually used this pedal, I've only heard good things about it. Again, this is a pedal that utilizes technology to the utmost degree. Extremely programmable, this pedal has everything.
This seems to be a strong pedal, with a strong metal frame. The size and shape does seem to be a little unique. The pedal in its square shape is again very different, and therefore may not be the usual shape required for a pedal board.
The actual delay on the pedal is decently good. The control over the delay is amazing, definitely top class. There are 7 types of delays available, with control over the tempo, and multiple other options. Much like a computer, the pedal again allows for saving certain settings, and other nifty options.
The Nova Delay is a great delay pedal, and extremely innovative. TC Electronic is doing a great job developing their delay sound, and this is only the first step. Actually, the company recently released a new delay pedal called Flashback, and it is gaining a lot of acclaim internationally.
 |
| Amazon |
Finally, the MXR Carbon Copy Delay. While the sound may not be as developed as some of the other delay options, the build of this pedal may be it's most impressive feature.
This pedal is extremely strong, built to endure almost anything. The size of the pedal is perfect, able to easily carry anywhere, or squeeze onto even the most crowded pedal board.
The actual sound coming from the pedal is also pretty impressive. However, there are not as many delay options as some of the other pedals on the market. This could be a good things for beginners, and possibly not as great for experts, but the pedal does include one special feature. There are two ways to run the delay through the pedal; modulation or no modulation. This feature allows for two very different sides of delay sounds to be heard at all times.
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