American Gothic

David Eugen Edwards is nothing short of amazing. He sees the darkness within the faith. He understands the neglected corners of Americana music. His lyrics are borderline prophetic. I assume most of you already know this and probably already know this song, but I hope you enjoy it anyway.

Weird Folks Doing Weird Folk

If you are unfamiliar with the band Castanets, do not fret. Do not fear. Do not panic. Castanets is a musical project from the twisted mind of San Diego native Raymond Raposa. He now resides in the Seattle area and is a main contributer to the new wave of dark/gothic folk music scene that has grown in said area. If you enjoy Gothic Americana music (i.e. 16 Horsepower, Okkervil River, Decemberists (ish), etc.), then you will absolutely devour the deliciously dark tracks that Castanets deliver to your ear pits. Look them up. Look him up. Look you up. Below is a video of Castanets' Take Away Show, courtesy of blogotheque.net. If you enjoy this then you should comment. If you do not enjoy this then chances are we weren't that close anyhow.

#81.3 - Castanets - Cathedral 4 / Sway by lablogotheque

Day. Vet. Sea. Deal. Low.

David Cedillo, Jr. You may think you have heard of him. You may think you have seen him. But you haven't. He wears many faces and owns many aliases. D-Bird. Captain C. The Captain. The Thunderball Phantom. Only a handful of people have ever actually seen this international man of mystery. If you see this face, alert the authorities as he is considered extremely dangerous. Double dangerous. For more information go to davidcedillo.com.

No One Said It Would Be Easy

"You must submit to supreme suffering in order to discover the completion of joy."

-John Calvin

It has been said that he who increases wisdom increases sorrow. It has also been said that a man well-versed in suffering is a man clothed in great wisdom. Bottom line: this world will bring you pains that no amount of preparation can soften and no amount of pity can expedite the healing thereof. No man is exempt. Christ did not die so that those who believe in him could achieve immunity to pain. Salvation makes us no more impervious to the trials of this world than it makes us purple and ten feet tall. We are not called to be giants. We are called to drop our nets and follow Christ. We are called to drop our worldly aspirations and submit. We are called to suffer and trust that the fortification of our hearts and minds through the Holy Spirit will allow us to endure. No one said it would be easy.

Girls Choir + Music You Know = Things You'll Enjoy

Creep (Radiohead) - Scala & Kolacny Brothers from Alex Heller on Vimeo.

For those of you who don't already know Scala & Kolacny Brothers, they are a Belgian girls choir directed by Stijn Kolacny and accompanied by Steven Kolacny on Piano. They have put out over a half-dozen albums of mostly pop covers. This is their version of "Creep" by Radiohead set to a video that will make you hate/love all things dolls, stop-motion, British, plastic, and/or Belgian. Please enjoy on this melancholy Thursday afternoon.

Ash Wednesday

"Oh, how easy it is to exaggerate a virtue until it becomes a vice."

-Spurgeon

If you are so self-absorbed as to think that what you do is for anything other than the glory of the one who made you, then I shudder to think of what will happen when you are faced with the decision of hanging your hat. A seemingly small decision has the power to dismantle your entire eternity. You are not called to do just one thing in the name of the Father but all things and if you cannot acknowledge your talent as a gift from Him, for Him, then you will tie your shoe for the enemy before you bless the Lord with you virtues. How can you explain your accomplishment by any other means then blessing? Are you so bold as to claim ownership over your success? Do you not realize your own insignificance? From ashes you came and into ashes you will return. Keep your flowery words and keep your neon arrows. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away and if you don't tremble at His name then you will never tremble at His power. From ashes you came and into ashes you will return.

Wonderlust King

Indeed I am.