Top Ten Albums Of The Decade... 2003 Zwan:: Mary Star Of The Sea

The best Smashing Pumpkins album that never was. Billy Corgan famed front man for one of the most credible and intelligent bands of the 90's. The Pumpkins were Billy Corgan, and Corgan was the Pumpkins. He was a musical genius, who was sometimes his own worst enemy. Aren't all musical geniuses. However, the love lost between bandmates and drugs broke up the band in the late 90's.

You saw the great art-grundge music of the 90's fade away as hybrid-rap rock took over.
Limp Bizkit anyone???...yeah...definitely glad that phase in music is over.

The Pumki...err... I mean Zwan released an album in 03 that was bright, upbeat, and spiritual.
For Corgan, this was a different take on music from Pumpkins past.
A welcome change during a time when everyone needed Hope in the wake of war and terrorism.

For me, the album was the soundtrack of summer love, between myself and my soon to be wife Marisa.

We played this album out during the summer of 03, as we traveled for picnics in the park, sushi, and trips to the mall.
(yeah we like to shop...what can I say, fashion has it's price.)
We would listen to Corgan croon as we drive to and fro between Camp Hill and Philly.

The song "Honestly" was our song.

Even now when I listen to the album it just takes me back to the time when the ministry has not yet consumed our lives, fresh out of college and free. (Don't get me wrong I love being a pastor, but it is definitely a calling.)

It was a great summer.

It was our summer.


Check out this clip from Letterman way back in 2003. Take it away Paul.

Top Ten Albums Of The Decade... 2002 Coldplay:: Rush Of Blood To The Head

Coldplay's Rush Of Blood To The Head was epic, before epic was over used as much as awesome. It was the album that catapulted this British troupe to be accepted in The States as the U2 for a new generation. From the opening banging piano chords on Politic to the hip drum beat on In My Place, this album was special from the first listen.

I still remember the night when I bought the album on South Street in Philadelphia at a now closed and extinct Tower Record's Superstore.

There was something special about a CD back then. The anticipation of opening the plastic, and sometimes frustration of getting it actually opened. I guess that was part of the drama and fun. I remember the smell of CD book, and reading the liner notes as my brother drove thru the streets of Philly.

I love iTunes, I love the convenience and the price.

But I miss going with friends to the local CD store and discovering new music. It was a shared experience I miss these days in the world where MP3 is king.

One song captured my ears and senses and was unlike anything I have ever heard before. I remember telling my brother "Dude, play it again! Play it Again! I love this song!"

Clocks was the song that changed everything.

It made people care about a British indie band and made them mainstream.
It made piano a crucial part of any new band that wanted to be taken seriously.
It made Chris Martin cool.

(Cool enough for Gwyneth Paltrow to marry him.)

I'll never forget seeing them for the first time with my brother in Philly later that year.
As much as their music captures your heart, the band's passion is unmatched and it captures your soul.

I never saw anyone play like that before.

It left an indelible impression on me.
I knew one thing, as a musician myself, if any thing is worth playing, it's worth playing with passion.
I want to play with passion the way Chris Martin does.

Now singing on the other hand... I know one thing, I'll never hit that falsetto like him... LOL.

Check out this interview with Coldplay from back in 2002.
Where Chris Martin was challenged by his Grandfather's words to "Do It Now," as inspiration for the title "Rush Of Blood..."
He also talks about his passion for music.

Also look for his dialogue on the song "The Scientist." A brilliant piano ballad, that is the jewel of this album.

Top Ten Albums Of The Decade... 2001 Ryan Adams::Gold

Ryan Adam's Gold was a throwback Rock and Roll album chock full of retro-inspired ditties. Not to be confused by the insipid crooner Bryan Adams (ugh remember that lame song from the Robin Hood movie, the one with Kevin Costner...yikes!), this Adams brings an Americana sound to 2001. You can hear inspiration from The Stones to Bob Dylan.

This album maybe out of left field, but this album really defined a year for me when I was a Junior at Valley Forge Christian College.

I remember seeing him in concert with my brother at the Tower Theatre in Philadelphia. If you have not seen a concert at The Tower, it is a must; beautiful architecture and acoustics. The cool thing that happened at the concert, that I have never seen before (and i've been to alot of concerts) was that Ryan Adams interacted with the crowd in such a open and authentic manor.

He gave away guitars! Like four of the them! Free... to fans with a whimsical comment that Ryan Adams thought was worthy of a six-string engine.

Above all, the reason that this album gets my pick for album of the year is for the opening track on the album, "New York New York." Im from Philly, and I am definitely not a fan of New York, but I am a fan of this song. It is a catchy, well crafted song, with loads of heart.

The eerie thing about the video for "New York New York" was that it was shot on September 7, 2001. A few days before 9/11. This video features Adams under the Brooklyn Bridge with the Two Towers in view practically throughout the whole video.

It reminds me of New York... New York in another place and time.

Top 10 Albums of 2000-2009 Countdown

As we approach this new decade in 2010, I want to do a top ten countdown of my favorite albums leading up to the new year. Starting with the year 2000 I will pick my album of the year, and end with the album of the year in 2009. Some albums you might agree with, others maybe not. Each one of these albums are significant to me and my experience, so let the discussion begin...

For the year that started off the new millennium it's definitely not an album of the same name by the Backstreet Boys, or any other boy band. Im definitely glad that phase is over.

My album for 2000 is U2's "All That You Can't Leave Behind."

What an amazing album! U2 opens up the decade with their classic sound of epic guitars ala The Edge and moving lyrics that inspire by Bono (ready to save the world...again).

In the late 90's U2 really got away from their signature sound, and in "All That You Can't..." they return to what people loved in albums like "War" and the "Joshua Tree." Every time I hear the first couple of bars in "Beautiful Day" it just takes my ears for a ride.

Funny thing about this U2 album is that I was in a pretty bad car accident that year; totaled my car actually. I got hit by a speedy pizza delivery guy... I think I was kinda hustling too. I was ok, spent the day in the hospital, but upon leaving the hospital the next day I was at the junk yard getting my car CD Player with my U2 album still inside.

I had to get that album. It was just that good...and still is!

U2 released a couple of other albums later in the decade, still good...still U2, but nothing capture my heart and soul like this effort from the boys of Dublin.

Notable Songs:

Beautiful Day

Stuck In A Moment...

Elevation

Walk On

Primal Mark Batterson's Latest and Greatest Effort

Primal is Mark Batterson's latest book, and to be honest, I didn't know what to expect with this one.

I loved "In A Pit..." for challenging me to chase lions, the big hard, and scary things in life. (A great book for church planting).

The interesting thing about "Wild Goose..." his second book, is that I had to keep buying it because I gave away like 5 copys. I would just have these "Wild Goose" Holy Spirit inspired conversations with my friends and I just felt compelled to give the book away.

Primal is a book that cuts right to who you are and forces you to look in the mirror of your soul.

One of the most challenging things about being in the ministry is being yourself.

Some of the great things that Batterson does in this book is help you find the you, the you that may have gotten lost in everyday life. Primal gets to the essence of what it is to be a believer, the Real, Authentic, and Primal side of Christianity, when today being a believer can get lost at times in the Rehearsed, the Manipulative, and the Polished.

In the details of his latest work, Batterson is as well thought out as ever, using more scientific reference material to drive home points as well as touching personal elements to inspire.

What I loved about reading this book is that Primal brought me be back to who I've always wanted to be, the person that God created me to be.

"My prayer is that this book will take you down two thousand stairs back to that primal place- the place where loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is all that matters." (pg 11. Batterson)

Thank you Mark for taking me on a quest of rediscovery.

Let your quest begin...

Random House

A Proud Brother & A Moving Film

There is a new movie out on DVD this week, The Book of Ruth. Movies come out all the time, and sometimes it can be hard to keep up, its even harder at times to find something worth watching. For movies based on the Bible its even harder to find something that is quality. Sometimes movies based on the bible can rely too much on the message and forget the fact that God calls us do to things with excellence.

The production of a movie is just as important as the message.

The Book of Ruth is a movie that can stand on it's own merits of production and message.

I maybe a little high on the film because the writer of this film is my brother, Salvatore Di Salvatore (yes, that name is not made up, its legit).

I don't think there is someone I respect more. Upon graduating Regent University he had a call and dream; and he never gave up. Many students after graduating give up their dreams for a paycheck and stability. For Salvatore, (Jack as I call him) he never compromised. The ministry is not easy, and when you follow the Holy Spirit, it can be down right scary.

Jack never gave up on his dream and there were so many times when it would've been easy to do so. Especially when people tell you too, advice is not always good advice.

My brother is an inspiration to me, because i think we all have dreams, and sometimes life gets in the way.

Never give up...

Never give up on your dreams...

Never give up on things God is Calling you to Do...

Thanks Jack for reminding us not to give up on our dreams... on my calling.

Do You Hear What I Hear

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. I love this time of year, it is the most wonderful time of the year, as we come all ye faithful to remember a silent night. This little drummer boy has always loved rocking around the Christmas tree as we count down the twelve days of Christmas. I hope we have a winter wonderland and possibly get to have a sleigh ride or two during a white Christmas. As many of you deck the halls remember the first noel and the joy to the world that Jesus brought away in a manger in O little town of Bethlehem. Now don’t be a mean one Mr. Grinch and have yourself and merry little Christmas.