CD Review: Paula Sexsmith

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This is a music review I found of a project I produced for Paula Sexsmith. The album was a Christian praise and pop CD entitled “Worry ‘Bout Nothin'”. Here’s the review, or go here to read the original Paula Sexsmith CD review.

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Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. – Phillipians 4:6-7

I don’t often come across music by independent artists that is this expertly produced. Worry ‘Bout Nothin’ shows an excellence in production that is a pleasure to hear, allowing the music to be a very nice medium for delivering her messages of worship, praise, encouragement, and prayer. If I didn’t know better, the expertise obvious in some of the complicated arrangements of strings, piano, percussion, and voice would almost lead me to believe Michael W. Smith had a hand in its production.

“Pillar of Fire” introduces Paula’s warm and pleasant voice, backed by upbeat percussion and some screaming electric guitars. The energetic nature of the song perfectly compliments the image of Christ as a pillar of fire in a dark world, much like God was a pillar of fire to guide Israel through the desert many thousands of years ago. “Pillar of fire, love of my life. You inspire me to walk in Your love. You bring God’s presence, protection and guidance. Jesus You are my pillar of fire.”

“I Feel Small” turns prayerful, a la Anointed’s “Send Out a Prayer.” A Morse Code S.O.S. introduces the thoughtful and vulnerable song, in which I can picture Paula standing small in a huge world, looking upward for the God who gives her significance in an overwhelming world. The reverb effects on her vocals feel a bit out of place, though.

“Worry ’bout Nothin’ throws the throttle open in a juiced up encouragement to take to heart the apostle Paul’s admonition to cast your cares at the feet of God and let Him do the worrying. Christ Himself told us not to worry about tomorrow, because today has enough worries of itself. This song expounds on the spirit of that message, encouraging us not to worry about anything, but rather to pray about everything.

One of my favorite songs on the CD is “Glory to the Lamb,” an absolutely beautiful contemporary praise and worship number. I hear what sounds like a penny whistle or pan flute in the background, while an Aramaic recitation of the Lord’s Prayer adds a unique element to the song. Very simply, the song says “Glory to the Lamb, glory to the King of Kings. Jesus You are faithful and true. Every nation will bow and worship You. Jesus You are worthy of all praise. Honor, glory, power to Your name. Jesus, You are the beginning and the end. Alpha, Omega, You’re coming back again. Jesus, You’re worthy. Jesus, You’re holy.” That’s about as succinct a description of God’s praiseworthy characteristics as I’ve heard!

Worry ‘Bout Nothin’ was a pleasant surprise, one which I suspect will spend some time in my car CD player. The songs are well sung and purposeful, and the production work on the CD is second to none. If you have the opportunity to do so, I encourage you to listen to this CD!

Manifestations

From the “Report on the Perversion of Science to Support Mysticism” by Conrad Askland.

I have been taught that there are masters walking the earth that make tables of food appear before them. I have been taught that Sai Baba manifests Holy Ash and rings.

When I ask for proof of this I am told the Masters will not tempt God. When Jesus was in the desert the devil asked him to turn a rock into a loaf of bread, Jesus said, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” Also alternatively, and incorrectly, I am quoted the same passage as Jesus saying “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

But then why manifest at all? Why manifest trinkets and rings. Why not manifest the cure for cancer? That would make more sense to me. The act of manifesting a ring with someone’s name on it is an old parlour trick using “palming”, a favorite vehicle of magicians and illusionists.

Every fraud seems to have one incident they can refer to where they have been scientifically observed and therefore proved to be real in their manifestation. But they won’t do it again, and there always seems to be questionable approaches to the observation.

Why won’t any of these people go on 60 Minutes to be observed and reported on? And if then they are still called a fake, why won’t they do it again? I would. That is, I would if I had a real divine message to deliver AND I wasn’t faking my manifestations.

But I guess I’m not a believer so the whole world of divining spirit is closed to me as punishment for my lack of belief. Interesting. God gave me a brain so I would imagine I’m supposed to use it to the best of my ability.

Can we manifest joy in our lives? Absolutely. Can we manifest pain? Sure. Can we manifest hate, beauty, intellectual capacity, the ability to serve, forms of healing, enlightenment. YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! And any of those can be easily documented. I would imagine there are very few
of us, if any, that have not experienced a part of this in our lives.

So if Sai Baba’s palming technique for manifesting cow dung has been exposed, how does knowledge of that fact diminish my spiritual capacity? How does it limit my ability to manifest peace in my corner of the world? It doesn’t. This knowledge actually empowers me to not waste my precious time trying to replicate lies.

Face to Face playbill

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A concert playbill for punk band Face to Face and No Motiv at the San Bernardino Fairgrounds.

Face to Face is from my old stomping grounds in Victorville, CA. Rob Kurth, their drummer for many years, played drums on several tracks that I mixed and mastered in the recording studio. He is an excellent drummer, not just for punk, but for pop styles as well. Very solid player.

Origin    Victorville, California
Country    USA
Years active    1991-2003
Genres    Pop punk, Skate punk
Labels    Dr. Strange Records, Victory Records, Vagrant Records, A&M Records, Fat Wreck Chords

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Beginnings

face to face originally formed in 1988 as a local band under the name “Zero Tolerance”[7] by Keith (guitars, vocals) and Matt Riddle (bass), who had been friends since high school during this time. They found Rob Kurth, as their drummer, through mutual friends and started writing and rehearsing, although Zero Tolerance never released any recordings. Kurth’s friend Mark Haake joined on as an additional guitarist for a couple of months before getting orders to the Middle East with the Air Force. As a 3-piece, the band played a show at Spanky’s in Riverside, California, and a couple of other local shows. When Haake left, the band continued as a 3-piece and changed their name to “face to face” in 1991.

The band continued to play frequently throughout the Inland Empire and Orange County and quickly became a local favorite alongside bands like The Offspring, Guttermouth, Voodoo Glow Skulls, and others. At one of the local shows, the band met Bill Plaster of Dr. Strange Records. They decided to do a record together and face to face entered the studio at Westbeach Recorders in Hollywood, California to record songs for their first album, Don’t Turn Away (1992). Once the recording was finished (in 2 weekends) there was trouble getting it released; in the interim the band met Jim Goodwin. Goodwin offered to record the band’s new songs for free, and they entered the studio to record songs such as, “Nothing New,” “Pastel,” and “Disconnected”, which also ended up being on the Don’t Turn Away album.

As a four-piece band

In 1993, just after a three-week tour in Germany supporting Lagwagon, face to face added Chad Yaro as an additional guitarist to fill out the sound of the band. Before the band would work on their second album, they made a decision to go with a then-new label that had major-label distribution. The label, Victory Music, signed them and then they entered the studio with producer Thom Wilson (of The Offspring fame) and began recording their second album, entitled Big Choice.

The label was nervous about their distribution deal and wanted a test release to run through the system, and the band put together an EP of songs from 7″s and other rarities called Over It. The EP was released weeks before Big Choice and the label had a remixed version of the song “Disconnected” on the play list at KROQ-FM in Los Angeles, California. Because of the success of the single on radio, the label convinced the band to add “Disconnected” to Big Choice as a bonus track (a third recording of the song); additionally, a cover of The Descendents’ “Bikeage” is included as a bonus track. After touring with bands such as NOFX, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and The Offspring during 1995, Riddle left face to face and went on to play in 22 Jacks and Pulley before settling on No Use for a Name. The band replaced him with a then-unknown bassist, Scott Shiflett.

In 1996, face to face began writing and recording their third album, which is self-titled. This being the first record without Riddle, who had been Keith’s songwriting collaborator, Keith wrote the majority of the songs with some help from Shiflett and Yaro. They recruited Jim Goodwin again to record and produce the record. Following the release of the album, they joined the Warped Tour in 1997. After the release of their self-titled album, Kurth left face to face in early 1998. To finish out the touring cycle for their self-titled record, the band replaced Kurth with Jose Medeles, who was out with them on a co-headlining US tour with the Reverend Horton Heat band, before taking a break to write and record their next album. After Pete Parada joined the band as Kurth’s replacement, the band started writing and recording two more albums (with producer Chad Blinman), Ignorance is Bliss (1999) and Reactionary (2000), before Yaro left the band in 2001.

Post-Yaro period

Following Yaro’s departure in 2001, face to face decided to stay a three-piece again and began writing material for what would be their sixth and final studio album, How to Ruin Everything. After getting out of a less than desirable deal with Beyond Music, How to Ruin Everything was released on Vagrant Records in 2002. Following that, the band headlined and joined The Warped Tour for the first time since 1997.

Breakup

In 2004, after announcing their breakup, it was announced that face to face’s hiatus would be permanent as their official website displayed “Don’t call it a come back”. They gave most of their fans a proper farewell with “The Only Goodbye Tour” of 2004 with supporting acts My Chemical Romance and Seconds to Go, which followed the raucous Warped Tour finale in Boston. Orlando fans had their farewell show cancelled due to Hurricane Charlie. It was rescheduled as the last date on the tour, but that show was also cancelled.

Askland Photos 1985

I ran across these photos taken back in 1985 in Seattle, WA. At the time I was heavy into the underground music scene in the Seattle area and Capitol Hill. Being from Bellevue, WA which was widely regarded as the preppy, snobby and uppity suburb of the Seattle area – I would play that up and went to most of the underground clubs wearing suit and tie. Very fun times.

Other person in the photos is Michael Shropshire. At the time he was often mistaken for the lead singer of the Cure. And that was always fun too.

Click on images for full size resolution, if you dare.

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Creation 2007 – Creation Northwest

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Creation 2007 Northwest at the Gorge Ampitheatre in George, WA. Here are some pictures from the Creation festival. Visit the Creation concert series website.

I’m told that David Crowder stole the show with a very inspiring performance. Was also told he played the guitar from the video game “Guitar Hero” as well as a toy keytar. And you know I love keytars! Visit the David Crowder Band website.

*Note* – I’ve been told that some of these pics are from Creation 2006.

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Creation 2007 Main Stage

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Aerial view of the Gorge in Washington State

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Baptisms at Creation

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Evening Concert and candles

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Casting Crowns performs in concert

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David Crowder

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Toby Mac

Bands, Musicians and Events at Creation 2007

Relient K • Switchfoot • Newsboys • Toby Mac • David Crowder BAND • Chris Tomlin • Jars of Clay • Kutless • Leeland • Emery • Barlow Girl • Hawk Nelson • Thousand foot Krutch • Skillet • Superchic[k] • Downhere • Disciple • KJ-52 • Sanctus Real • Phil Wickham • Falling Up • Pocket Full of Rocks • Group 1 Crew • Ayiesha • Woods • Aaron Shust • Starfield • Britt Nicole • Project 86 • MXPX • Family Force 5 • Stellar Kart • Run Kid • Run • Ruth • House of Heroes • Fireflight • Red • Voice • Everyday Sunday • Day of Fire • SPEAKERS Ron Luce • Bob Lenz • Harry Thomas •Reggie Dabbs • Pam Stenzel • Jeremy Kingsley • David Burke • Michael Yankoski • Jose Zayas • Justin Lookadoo • Zoro • OTHER FEATURES Candlelight Service • Prayer Tent • Fireworks • Gear Giveaway • Huge Video Screens • Exhibit Area • Youth Leaders VIP Area • Youth Leader Seminars • X-Games • Mountain Top Lookout • Food Court • Water Baptism • Campfires • Beautiful Camping • Fun Contests • Modern Worship Tent • Musician Seminars • Comedy Night • Blues Night National Talent Search • Skateboard & BMX .

Conrad’s Top Ten Tennis Rules

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I’ve been playing a lot of tennis lately and am a little fuzzy on the rules. My partner and I are not very good so we’ve altered the rules a little bit.

CONRAD’S TENNIS RULES

  1. “Out of Bounds” means it went over the tennis court fence. Person closest to the gate has to walk out and get it. Note to self: Never take the side closest to the gate.
  2. Extra Points – Players receive one extra point for each time the ball bounces before return.
  3. If you totally miss the ball entirely, player must stare at their racket for two seconds to find the hole.
  4. Every once in a while try to hit the other player with the tennis ball, just to see if you can.
  5. If sending two balls to the opponent, be sure to send them at the same time so they both reach the opponent at the same time. Then laugh at them that they missed one of them.
  6. When opponent is collecting balls and has their back turned to you, lob one real high at them.
  7. If players in the court next to you are competitive seasoned pros, be sure to announce to them “Hey, we’re not very good.” Just in case there was confusion and they had also thought you were a pro. If they respond “We’re not either”, then you know it’s ok to lob balls at them. If they respond any other way, stare at them coldly for being snobs.
  8. When playing a game, giggle a little bit every time you say “Love All”.
  9. Everytime you fail to return the opponent’s ball you should yell loudly “Out”; whether it is or not.
  10. When opponent returns the ball to opposite side of the court from where you are standing, give them “the look” that says “you’re a real jerk.”Eventually they’ll get tired of it and just hit the ball to you.

Hitting the Big Time: Recycled on Ebay

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Well either I’m on my way up or on my way down. Just by chance I saw an auction on Ebay where someone is selling a CD I produced. The CD on the right in this picture is the New Faces Volume Four that I produced for Road Records recording studio in Southern California. Ironically, Road Records (Victorville, CA 1989-2004) never sold any CD’s in the New Faces series. They were given away free as promo. Artists paid small fees for combined recording time and duplication of the project but the record label never sold them directly to the public.

My life is being recycled on Ebay. I always wondered how artists must feel when they see their CD’s at the dollar store!

Track List from New Faces Volume Four
(Thanks to my Ebay buddy)

1) Intro – My Mom
2) Conrad Askland: Let’s Get The Party Started
3) Mudfish: Shotgun Sam
4) Sarah Caruso: The Right Touch
5) I Have A Hairy Back
6) Broken Melody: Broken Haerted Shoulder
7) Things Go Better With Butter
8.) Butter: It’s All Good
9) Gailyn Addis: Best Lie
10) Brothers Of The Creed: Medulla Oblongata
11) Teething: Ascend
12) Charlie Freak: Amnesia
13) Sarah Caruso: Stupid Girl
14) Robby Combs Band: I Glorify
15) Cheryl: Satterlund
16) Conrad Askland: Honey Will You Love Me
17) Violet Minds: 20 Days To Hollywood
18) 627 Band: Soy
19) David Siaki: Welcome Home
20) I Record at Road Records
21) Jim Nettles: Angel
22) Result Of Christ: Never Again
23) Off The Record: Move Along
24) Manny Gutierrez: Moonlight Dance Serenade
25) Angie LaDuke: Couldn’t Give Up Everything
26) Paula Sezsmith: Worry ‘Bout Nothin’
27) Deveraux Divens: Police Rap
28) Opposite: Who Cut The Cheese
29) Radio Active Donuts
30) C. Diggs & K Etheridge: Agnus Dei
31) Elena: Friend
32) Minister Fred Reliford: Stop Running
33) Sean Clavin: The Tragic Spaniard
34) Carlotta Diggs: I’m Alright
35) Missing Link: Sconte
36) Versatile Aggression: Conscience Lost
37) Mr. Kyung Soo Him: Korean Choir
38) Gina Keller: Thru Your Love
39) Rachael Kime: I Wanna Go To Mars
40) Monty Jackson: Today
41) Billy