Now I'm Ready To Be Extraordinary...

So I realized it's been a month since I last posted and it seems overdue. Last night I got onto iTunes and downloaded Mandy Moore's new album, "Wild Hope". I heard talk about this being a "folkier" record but didn't think much of it, I was just secretly satiating my guilty pleasures of pop. To my surprise, this was a great record, easily her best yet. It was different and had a fresh sound. Then, after scanning the credits, saw that half of the album was written with The Weepies and the other tracks were with Rachael Yamagata, Chantal Krevazik and Lori McKenna-not a bad line up at all. Now understand me here, I'm not saying that Mandy Moore has turned into the next Joni Mitchell and has changed the way music works, but she has shown that she is on that road and will someday make some really great albums. The opening track, "Extraordinary" is a simple (and short) tune that simply repeats "and now I'm ready...and now I'm ready...to be extraordinary..." it's a perfect introduction. She's ready to start doing some music of her own instead of the polished pop of the late 90's. The whole record is an easy listen and lives comfortably in a marriage of folk and fresh pop sounds. While I don't think it's a "must-have" record for everyone, it's definately worth a listen if you get a chance.


This last week I was also able to check out "One Punk Under God" a Sundance Channel Documentary about Jay Bakker and his church "Revolution". It's a very interesting view of modern religion and the struggles of Jay. If you're skeptical of the church like I am, this is a definate watch. If you're in a church, this is a definate watch to show you why people like me are skeptical.


In little over a week, I'll be on my way to Scotland and I am VERY ready for a vacation. I hope to take my new hobby of running (over 200 miles now! woohoo!) out there with me so I can say I jogged around castles.

So now, time to get back to work...will post more later.

-Rod