Francesca Battistelli - My Paper Heart

It's not often that I get REALLY excited about a cd, but since September, two have come along that I can barely keep off my iPod. The first was Lincoln Brewster's fabulous "Today Is The Day" album, and now the debut from major label hotshot Francesca Battistelli.

What makes this album doubly exciting is that Battistelli is a committed, and very open Christian, a fact which comes over loud and clear on this Warner Brothers/Curb release.

Aside from a very cute paper heart shaped lyric booklet, you first notice just how mature a songwriter this 23 year old from New York City really is.

Immediate reference points I guess (although I really don't like having to do that) would be Sara Bareilles with a possible hint of Nichole Nordeman, but musically Francesca sails a lot closer to Bareilles, as the more up-tempo songs have some real guts and groove without being musically overbearing.

It's not often you can say, hand on heart, that there is not one poor song, or filler on a record, but I can honestly say this applies here.

There are three types of song really on display here; the uptempo rockers (opener "Free To Be Me", "Unpredictable"), the songs with a groove (the excellent funky title track along with "Blue Sky") and then the ballads, which on this album are not just used as quiet interludes, but which are quality songs in themselves.

Recent single "Beautiful Beautiful" is a sensitive worship song in which Francesca sings

"Now there's a joy inside I can't contain/But even perfect days can end in rain/And though it's pouring down/I see you through the clouds/Shining on my face"

The brilliantly simple worship song "Forever Love" which I could easily see being sung in churches accross the land, and closer "Time In Between", which is again very cleverly written.

The playing is at all times sympathetic and never overshadows Battistelli's work, and her voice itself is a tour de force; at times a powerful growl, at other times a soft purr, but always mesmerising.

This album will easily sit in my top 3 for 2008. Francesca is coming to Medford in November, and I for one cannot wait to hear her in person.

A subtle way to argue?

In my near 18 months in this great nation, I have noticed one (among many) interesting thing about Democrats who appear on TV and radio news channels.

It would appear that they have decided that they are unable to win the argument in a rational and calm fashion, so they have taken - almost without exception - to attempting to shout and bully as loud and as stridently as possible.

Time after time on TV I see Democrats trying to yell and bully their way to what they appear to see as some kind of victory.

What they do not appear to realize is that apart from making them look increasingly uncouth, irrational and dismissive of any contrary opinion, far more importantly they are shown up as desperate and childish in their crazed mission for power at all costs.

The American nation will not be fooled.

Fireproof

So this is the third - and eagerly anticpiated - production from Sherwood Baptist Church and the Kendrick brothers, following the lead of their first movie "Flywheel" by focusing in on husband/wife relationships, but this time in the context of a firefighter, played by former child TV star Kirk Cameron.

The story concentrates on the story of a marriage gone bad and how divorce proceedings are put on hold while the husband is challenged to a 40-day dare.

Let's be frank; Fireproof isn't going to win any Oscars, but I'm sure that is not anywhere on the list of priorities of the film makers. What's important to them, and what is by far the most striking thing about the movie is the pro-marriage, pro-family message, and that shines out loud and clear, although sometimes at the expense of smooth narrative.

There are some weaknesses, and it would be remiss of me not to point them out.

In my opinion, the opening set-up of why Caleb and Catherine are so bitter towards one another isn't really established, with the result that Caleb flies off the handle frequently at his wife without there seeming to be any real reason. Several times his rage seems totally disproportionate to his wife's behavior. Now to married people, this may make perfect sense, but singles may not get that.

Whilst the main body of the movie is fine, I also had problems with the ending, or rather, endings. The Kendricks just don't seem to know when to stop the movie. Two or three times we reach melodramatic climaxes and expect credits to roll, only to be propelled into yet another emotional scene.

Whilst I could also gripe about some really cheesy moments and a few rather cheesy acting performances, let's be fair, a lot of the actors are first-timers, and there are some really strong performances, underpinned by Cameron, who is powerful and authentic as Caleb. There are also some very deft comic touches (although some are a bit less subtle than they need be, as if the director wants to make sure the audience knows what's happening when they already will),

The music throughout is well chosen and very well positioned. Particularly noteworthy are Casting Crowns' "Slow Fade" and John Waller's "While I'm Waiting". Look out also for songs by Third Day and Leeland.

Overall, as I've said, this movie is important mainly for it's message and not it's production values (although it is definitely streets ahead of its two predecessors in that area), and I'm sure it will be an important ministry resource along with the "Love Dare" book that's already been published along with a number of other products.

My only concern I guess would be getting non-believers to see the movie, especially when those in the secular field who don't understand it's mission have already started panning it for it's low budget deficiencies.

But I pray that God will use it, as there is no doubt that this is one of the more important movies of the year.

Thanks Nancy

Well, to no-one's great surprise, the big bail-out was rejected, thanks in no small part to Nancy Pelosi's rather unsubtle derailing speech beforehand, but with oil prices (and therefore gas prices) set to free fall downwards, what Pelosi clearly meant to cause harm when she opened her big mouth could actually turn out to be rather good news for the man in the street!

So thanks Nancy. All we need to do next time we need a break is get you to open your trap!

Lincoln Brewster - Today Is The Day

As far as I am aware, this is Lincoln Brewster's first full album of original material since around 2002, and as such it is long overdue, but believe me, it is well, WELL worth the wait.

In the intervening years since his last full studio effort, a lot has changed in Lincoln World. Perhaps the most significant fact as it affects this album is that he has his own fully functioning studio which allows for more creativity and less time pressure, and it could be this that has resulted in Lincoln's most liberated-sounding recording of his career.

Originally, this project was to be another live one, but lucky for us that Lincoln and band are able to give full rein to their endless creativity and musical sensibility.

Finally Brewster sounds like he is really able to be himself, firing off a series of brilliantly unfeasible riffs and solos, and in the process creating a funky, rocking, but ultimately worshiping wonderland.

Highlights are many, from the ridiculously catchy title track, co-penned with Paul Baloche, through the equally infectious shuffle groove of "Everywhere I Go", the joyous Black Gospel romp of "Give Him Praise", which features the silken vocal cords of Israel Houghton, the gorgeous "God You Reign" which features the voices of Lincoln's wife and 2 young sons.

But maybe the two best moments are saved until last, the definitive version of Joel Houston's "Salvation Is Here" which is longer than the previously available Lincoln version of this song, with the addition of an extra rocking middle section. And then there's closer "Let Your Glory Shine", which is the sound of Eddie Van Halen finding Christ.

There are few words that can adequately express just how good this song is. From a musician's point of view it has everything; a ludicrous opening guitar salvo, a wickedly funky groove with a humungus drum sound and a massive singalong chorus. And then just when you're settling into expecting a funky solo halfway through the song, Lincoln pulls a master stroke. Off we head into a totally different tempo and rock groove a la Van Halen before returning to the funk groove for a delicious ending. Genius.

All in all, the best album by far that Lincoln Brewster has made, and one which finds him acknowledging his rock, gospel and funk tastes whilst also musically namechecking the likes of John Mayer, whose influence on the record seems clear.

Any musician will eat this album up, while any worshiper will find encouragement and inspiration.

Well said, Greg Gutfeld

According to many in the media, we truly have discovered someone worse than Hitler — and it's Sarah Palin.
Head to any left-wing blog or even CNN for that matter and you'll find the zaniest of conspiracies -- froth that even a dude with rabies would find unseemly.

So how can one person create so much bile among folks who claim to be the most tolerant in the universe? I mean, liberals are the good people: They're open-minded, caring and of course, fair.

But somehow, a Republican lady in her 40s is exempt from this treatment. Perhaps, she truly is the devil in a dress, a ghoul that eats children and pollutes the planet and possibly beats Barack Obama, the patron saint of every customer buying wheat germ in bulk at GNC.

But I know the real reason why every single elitist media type is terrified of her. They've never met her. And by "her," I don't mean Sarah Palin. I mean "her", an actual normal woman with a bunch of kids, an average husband and no desire to watch "The L Word."

She's scary to these folks the way Wal-Mart is scary to them: Both are alien to someone who blogs about their chakras. They won't go there, because they've never been there.

To them, hating Sarah Palin is a symptom of larger bigotry against the rest of us, the normal. If they saw her at a party, they would wonder how she got in. She's the anti-Obama, the anti-New York Times, the anti-everything that Tim Robbins loves, which is why I love her — and you should too.

And if you disagree with me, then you sir are worse than Hitler.

McCain/Palin - the ONLY hope for the United States

I'll preface these remarks by conceding that I am not an American, so what could I possibly know? There, that saves somebody else saying it.

BUT, in the 17 months I've been living here, it's not been hard to assimilate just what's going on on each side of the political pond here, and I for one would be extremely concerned for the future safety and well being of this country if Barack Obama got into power.

For starters, here's a guy - like so many Democrats before him - that wants power for the sake of it. You only have to look at what he wants to do on day 1 to see that. Raise taxes, pull out of a war in Iraq that - despite what he might think - is all but won, stop drilling here for oil, relying instead on other nations to drain our dollars. So paranoid about political correctness and not upsetting anyone that he weakens the rights of EVERYONE. He also wants to potentially kill innumerable unborn babies in the name of choice. What choice does the unborn fetus get Barack?

Here is a man who has virtually NO relevant experience, and yet criticizes the opposing RUNNING MATE for the same thing, only it turns out she has more actual executive experience than HE has.

Here is a man who seems to think that the cult of celebrity is enough to win him the White House, and yet whose foreign policy shortcomings were ably demonstrated only a few weeks back when he asserted that the United Nations could end the Georgia conflict, blissfully unaware that one of the protagonists has a permanent veto in the UN.

Here is a man who, if criticized, plays the race card at the drop of a hat, and we KNOW if he loses the election (which I pray he will) will do just that.

John McCain knows what it's like to serve his country, and that's what he'll do, putting country first, not his own interests. He will be consistent and will use his huge experience to benefit the country.

In Sarah Palin, the US will have a VP who understands people, families and industry. Someone who values the sanctity of life and understands that children in any circumstances, whether you like it or not, are a GIFT not a MILLSTONE.

In short, McCain/Palin truly are the only hope for the United States. God help us all if Obama gets in. God help us all.