Christmas. The time for family, friends, love, and God.

And gift cards to stores. For Christmas, I recieved a gift card to Target. Great, I figure. Now I can buy one of the cds I've been waiting for. Or clothes. Or make-up. Yeah, that would be good. I'm running out....right. Admist the unusually empty store, I wander around, aimlessly, looking at the rackes of secular music, trying to spy a name I trust. MCR, FOB, Green Day...sure, they all sound great, but really. What's the motive behind thier lyrics? Finally, I see The Fray, Relient K, and some other bands that I like.

Then, like a proverbial slap in the face, the Special Edition Bonus DVD version of Flyleaf's debut album shouts out at me. I look at the price. $15? No problem. Besides, it comes with a poster. Like I don't have enough of those already. But they're all signed, so I make room on my wall for them.  The album cover doesn't do the cd any justice. As I listen to Flyleaf cranked up to 9, I can't figure out why I didn't buy this cd before......maybe I was just waiting for them to include the bonus dvd with music videos.

From Websters Dictionary, one of the free endpapers of a book. A blank page, waiting for someone to dedicate the book to someone, or perhaps write a letter to a loved one. A blank canvas. Yet the band by the same name is everything but a blank void. Flyleaf touches the listener's hearts (and ears) by pairing past pains and heartaches with the promises of a new beginning.  Sometimes, Lacey Mosely gives a eerie sound to her songs, resembling the secular band Evanescence.

Most of Flyleaf's songs are about the traumatic dark emotions that people encounter at one point in life, such as abuse, neglect, addiction and dysfunction. But instead of the negative outlook on life from Lacey Mosely's prior band, Flyleaf gives broken hearts a chance at hope. 

 I'm So Sick, starts out with Mosely's almost etheral singing, only leading to the screams that, somehow, suit the overtly feminine Mosely. Which is really what Flyleaf is all about.  Maybe that's why it's the first song....

Cassie is the heart-wrenching song based on the horrific story of Cassie Bernall and her fellow students of Columbine High, who, in the face of death, profess their faith in God. When I thought this song couldn't become any more emotional, Flyleaf let out their acoustic version of Cassie. The acoustic Cassie is so beautiful, and watching the music video along with it will bring shivers to your spine.

No matter how alike the Flyleaf songs sound, this band won't ever sound bad. The S.E. cd with the acoustic performances adds to Flyleaf's sound, giving them a new edge.

-throughtheblack

Flyleaf Main Page

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Hey everybody,

Relient K just released a new music video entitled 'Sleigh Ride'. Visit here to check it out!

-throughtheblack

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We all know TBR. Starbucks-drinking, Best Buy shopping, musically inclined guys...until Perceptions came out. This album is brand new, bringing new elements to their sounds as they reward the listeners.  To some of their songs, they bring a gentle, soft sound, but still keeping the trademark TBR sound. And then they bring back some of the old, such as yelling a chant at one point, or screaming at another. Which is why we love them, right?

Starting with Pain,  Olin sings of a long lost love, who feels hesitant to give their heart away to be broken again. Which I can imagine would reach out to some people. Next comes Surrender Saved My Life, which tells the tragic tale of a person addicted, hopeless, and feeling unworthy who finally finds hope in the form of a Savior. No Turning Back is my personal favorite, dealing with the biased nature of a evil greater than any other- society.

Mostly, this album touches on the issues of fighting sin in this world, and finding God in the darkness that shrouds us.

-Throughtheblack

 Links:

TBR's Myspace

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Have a female vocalist with an unearthly voice, you get Leigh Nash. Have two, you get Eisley. This super-indie band consists of siblings Sherri, Stacey, Chauntelle, Weston, and cousin Garron, creating a true family of musicians. The wimsical and über unique band captivates from the first song of Combinations and leaves you needing more.

These songs use imagery to portray the feelings and emotions of thier lyrics. Plus the uses of interesting instruments such as a xylophone add to the different nature of the songs. The overall feeling of the songs gives a creepy feeling sometimes. As in Invasion, you feel like you're being watched. No kidding. At night, when it's dark all around, and you're watching the music video, you sink into your chair...slowly...and slowly. No one has given this portrayal of music except Falling Up.

Some have said that the band doesn't "ooze" their faith in their songs, but I think they haven't delved deep enough. If I'm not mistaken, A Sight To Behold seems to be about their faith.

-throughtheblack

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What can I say besides...w.o.w. I'm not sure if underOATH can outdo themselves any more. On They're Only Chasing Safety, underOATH sounds younger, like they're just beginning...which, I guess they were. Their screamo rep slowly gave way to the metalcore/screamo band we know as Lost In The Sound Of Separation. On Desparate Times, Desparate Measures, the intro actually has the sound of Showbread's Nervosa album. 

On most of the songs, they give the impression that they're  dangling precariously on the edge of a preverbial cliff. When listening, you want to turn the volume up and drown everything else out...unless you don't like hardcore screamo. During Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear, Chamberlain's gentle melody during the first half of the song is a different change from the usual screaming known to underOATH. Then the clapping and drum kicks in, and you have yourself an addictive song...and then you turn to songs such as We Are The Involuntary and Emergency Broadcast: The End Is Near, and the punishing sounds begin. On Desparate Times, Desparate Measures, you can feel the urgency, the desparation in Gillespie's voice when he sings 'Where God have I been, where have I been?'  You can imagine the panic and shame when he wakes up from his daze of sin, and realizes all the havoc  that has been shed.

I've heard some, eh, negative reviews on underOATH's new album, but I think that they are turning a new road, onto a path to greatness. Great metalcore that is.

-throughtheblack

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Jonezetta-Indie/garage/surf/southern rock/

Jonezetta has been known for their catchy lyrics, dance-to tunes, and their comparability to crunk-rockers Family Force 5. Their *very* humorous music video filled with ski lodges and tacky clothing. That was their trademark...that was during their reign of Popularity. Now they come out with Cruel To Be Young. A whole new page in the thesarus that describes Jonezetta.

Cruel To Be Young sounds like Coldplay meets R.E.M. with a pinch of sunshine thown in. Not the same super cool Indie band we hear in Popularity. Now, I'm not saying that C.T.B.Y. totally stinks. I like Coldplay. Very much. And on Busy Body, I love the upbeat tempo. It cheers me up. On Paint & Picture, Chisolm's vocals shine through for Coldplay fans. On Sick In The Teeth, I think I could hear a little Depeche Mode in there...I'm sure of it. *For all you listeners that don't expand your boundries, Depeche Mode is an old-skool band that yor parents probably rocked to*

To put it simply, Jonezetta has gone through a identity change.  Not an unwanted change, just a change...

Jonezetta's space

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Hey you rockers,

Showbread is on tour, and they need your help! If they are in your area, they would love to stay at your house. That means that YOU could possibly have Showbread stay at your house!

'Let us stay at your house....

There are some dates on our current tour schedule where we don't have a place to stay...yet...we have friends in a good bit of the cities in the US...but some we don't, or they won't be around when we come through.

That is where YOU come in. Let us stay at your dang house.

Below is a list of cities where we need housing.... we don't ask for much, three course dinners, king sized beds, hot tubs and private meet and greets with Michael W. Smith...or, you know, just floor space for 7 people.

Some things to consider before initing us over...
1.) If you live with your parents, awesome, ASK THEM FIRST. Make sure they say that is 100% okay to have 7 people at your house.

2.)Make sure you have enough space for 7 people to fit in, floor space is fine and we can make small spaces work,we'd be grateful for it! But if ou have one bedroom that you barely fit in, we probably can't all fit in with you.

3.) If for some reason you need us out of your house at the crack of dawn, tell us ahead of time.

If we can stay with you, come to the show and let us know. One of the lovely Cancer Bots will be at the merch table all night and will work out the details with you. Thanks!"

DATES/PLACES WE NEED A PLACE TO STAY:

9/29 CHARLOTTE NC
9/30 VIRGINIA BEACH VA
10/02 FARMINGDALE NJ
10/03 MAPLEWOOD NJ
10/04 ALLENTOWN PA
10/05 WORCESTER MA
10/09 CLEVELND HIGHTS OH
10/10 KETTERING OH
10/11 DETROIT MI
10/12 MADISON WI
10/18 IOWA CITY IA
10/22 SALT LAKE CITY UT
10/23 BOISE ID
11/03 TEMPE AZ
11/4 ALBUQUERQUE NM
11/9 METAIRIE LA
11/10 MONTGOMERY AL
11/11 PENSACOLA FL
11/12 ST. PETERSBURG FL
11/13 ORLANDO FL (WOOT!)

That's all for now. Yes, I made the poster myself, and I'm trying to figure out where to put them up at...lol. I'm a one-man street team.
Oh yeah.

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Hey everyone,

I'm kind of cheating here, I'm taking someone else's review of Capital Lights. But with school starting and all of that, you know how it goes. So for now, I'm going to post the admirable Lindsay Wiseman's review of Capital Lights...

Capital Lights

Indie/Punk/Power Pop

The latest on the Tooth and Nail roster, Tulsa-based Capital Lights (formerly knowns as After Eight) is definitely producing an outrage of excitement with their debut album, This Is An Outrage. With their power pop-rock and electronica sound, at first listen, you might find yourself confusing these guys with some band you've heard on MTV or VH1. Their sound is one that is seemingly common and popular in the mainstream market right now. Hence, the similarities you can find between the boys of Capital Lights and those of Metro Station, Relient K, and Fall Out Boy.

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Children 18:3

Punk Rawk/Indie/Alternative

The extreme and matchless bands of today can't stand up to this trio of homeschooled siblings. Delivering to you their raw and  electric sounds are David, Lee Marie, and Seth Hostetter. For all you punk rawkers, this is a new and refreshing sound from the *ahem* older sounds such as MxPx, Kids in the Way, and even Jonezetta. *Caution* I would turn this lower when Grandma comes over...

David and Lee Marie's awesomely matched vocals jump back and forth, keeping you on our toes, until they hit the finale, during which David's guitar brings on the constant riffs, Lee Marie's bass pulls it together, and drummer Seth keeps the beat going constantly, coming together for perfect, punk rawk harmony.

The bouncy and fun "Homemade Valentine" hooks you from the beginning, while The City faintly reminds one of the O.C. Supertones (RIP) with their ska sounds. The rebellious and sarcastic You Know We're All So Fond Of Dying tells of the persecution of Christians for their faith, while Even Sleeping wrenches the heart with a story of pain and loss.

Their namesake comes from Matthew 18:3, which states "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven…". This is the battle plan that the siblings take wth thier music. Not neccesarily trying to fit in, or make it big, or have their name in lights. They're just trying to gt the message out into the world...the message of hope.

Links:
Jesus Freak Hideout Profile
Children 18:3 Official Site

-Through The Black

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Hi! This is going to be a Indie Music Magazine that myself, throughtheblack and outcastprincess are writing. We will post about new bands that we think are worthy of the title "Indie Band".

Miss Viola Cesario AKA throughtheblack

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