Well that took a while

Man, I didn't intend for my Top 23 list to take so long. Any surprises for anyone? Anything you own that you think should be mentioned? Anything you think I definitely need to buy because it's just so good? Let er fly....

Keep me hanging on!

And now....NUMBER ONE!

Silers Bald - Real Life

You may never have heard of these guys, but stick with me.

One of the problems with the bubble gum pop crap music that is out there now is the loss of a distinctive musical sound. The good music relays a feeling of where the music actually came from. Yes, I'm talking about the geographical location of the band! A lot of California bands do that...you can picture yourself driving down Santa Monica Blvd. Marc Broussard does that (as most blues artists do.) And Silers Bald does that like no other. When I first heard this CD there was a point in one song where I literally felt like I was on an Appalachian mountainside with a beautiful winter snow falling around me!

Silers Bald is from western South Carolina...the Appalachian Mountains! You can sense that mountain feel (it's like bluegrass or Americana, maybe) in the guitars, violin, flute, and especially the dulcimer. Shoot, one of their songs is simply titled "Carolina Line." I can't describe it in words...you HAVE to hear it.

And their lyrics are outstanding. (You would almost think they're Reformed! I think they referenced Francis Schaeffer once in a blog!) "My Heart Will Sing" hooked me on these guys. They don't pretend to sing a simple cheesy song about God. They flat out say they can't put God into words (because you can't) but their heart will sing. And "Emmanuel" is an incredible song about a wedding...what pictures it paints! "Feel" turns up the rock sound of Silers Bald in a great way. "Turn" continues what appears to be a trend of great songs with single-word-titles. (ha.)

But one of my favorite songs (besides "Feel" and "Emmanuel") was actually penned when the group members were struggling one night in their creativity. So they sat down and free wrote...and out came "Truly Gifted." It is not ready for mass consumption whatsoever...and it is delicious! I love the music and the lyrics...and the four-bar musical interlude that paints a wintery scene in the mountains.

Sadly, I haven't heard much of anything from these guys since this album was released on Essential Records a few years ago. I think they are now an independent band, doing a couple of dates a year, but that is all I know. Serious, I'll give somebody money or a CD if they can give me some solid info.

Regardless, get out and hear this music. Go to their website. Find their page on MySpace. Ask about it in a store. HEAR IT!

Nearly at the top

No. 2: Smalltown Poets - Smalltown Poets

The group's self-titled debut remains not just their best, but one of the best albums ever. A combination of great rock and roll, great production and great lyrics put this baby up there.

I'm thinking that a five-piece band is turning into my favorite sound. Two guitars, bass, drums, and a creative keyboardist just get me. Then you throw in the solid production work of John Hampton and Dana Key (yeah, from CCM pioneers DeGarmo & Key) and you just have an incredible sound. My love of Smalltown Poets' sound is exemplified in the ripping intro of "Everything I Hate" and the light reverberations in "I'll Give."

And how about packing a punch...I'll take the first six songs on this album against a string of six of another album any day. Prophet, Priest and King; If You Let Me Love You, Everything I Hate, I'll Give, Anymore, and Who You Are. They show great writing, instrumentation, vocal range, and production.

Now let's talk lyrics. I could rattle on for a while, but I'll keep this short. "Everything I Hate" is about the classic battle that continually wages inside of us. Paul writes about it in the Bible. The war of what we want to do and what we DO do. That battle has never been put into poetry and song so well before.

Now let me devote some time to "I'll Give." This song is one of the best songs ever. This is an example of the instrumentation matching the soul of the song perfectly. This song is what I want my cry to be. If the chorus doesn't say enough (I'll give and I'll hold nothing back) check out the stripped away sacrifice in the bridge...

My hands are open so take what you see
And I'll keep nothing, hold nothing back from me.