I will admit, that though Third Day is my favorite band, that I was a bit disappointed in their last release, Wherever You Are.  I thought there were some really good gems on the album, such as Communion, Tunnel and Carry My Cross, but on the whole I felt like it was missing some of that element that makes Third Day’s music so attractive to my ear.

The Third Day I know and love is back on Revelation…and then some.

Tracks like Otherside, This is Who I Am, Ready and I Will Always Be True throw back to that Southern rock sound that sets them apart from the majority of other bands out there.  Slowdown, which features background vocals from Chris Daughtry, is a song that would fit right in on mainstream rock radio.  Run to You and Born Again features guest vocals from Lacey Mosley, lead singer for the band Flyleaf, and are very good songs as well.

Every song on the disc is solid, and the mixing and sound is, unlike a lot of Christian CDs in the past, on par with anything out there in the mainstream.  This is definitely a rock album, and it has the big sound that a rock album deserves.

If you haven’t picked up this CD, I would definitely recommend it.

More on Third Day’s Revelation:

Revealing a New Chapter - Christian Music Today
Third Day: Bold Revelation - CCM Magazine
Third Day’s ‘Revelation’ comes at right time - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Revelation Sneak Peek (EPK) - PMG/SONY/BMG Channel on YouTube

Apparently, Starbucks is coming out with a line of coffee and tea flavored chocolates. According to this AP story, “the chocolates, which will include a blend of cacao, natural ingredients, Starbucks coffee, Tazo tea and other coffeehouse flavors, will be produced by Hershey Co. unit Artisan Confections Co.”

If I find some in a store somewhere, I will try it, and see how good it is. I like the sound of it, though. Coffee + chocolate = win.

(Via Starbucks Gossip)

E.L.F. (or Earth Liberation Front, for those of you who don’t know) has struck again. They decided that in defense of nature (or something) they needed to burn down some multi-million dollar eco-friendly model homes in Washington state.

E.L.F. baffles me. They rail against development in areas citing supposed damage to Ma Earth, yet their method of destruction usually involves setting said development ablaze. Doesn’t that send toxic fumes into the air? Isn’t that bad for the environment? Just saying.

Here are links to some interesting things I read or nifty sites I found this week.

• 25 tips to achieve a deep, uninterrupted sleep
• Biofuels Deemed a Greenhouse Threat - New York Times
• House approved the College Opportunity and Affordability Act, which includes a controversial MPAA-backed amendment requiring colleges to implement anti-piracy measures, or, by some interpretations, they could lose Federal Student Aid eligibility. Read more info on HR4137.
• Take a look at this $6 million home theater
• Internet “troll” anonymity is protected under the first amendment, according to a California court of appeals.
• How Many Countries Can You Name in Five Minutes?
• Check out this knee brace that can re-charge your iPod (or other electronic devices).
• Yahoo! is reportedly going to reject Microsoft’s takeover bid.

I’ve been reading and seeing on the cable news stations the mini-outrage over Jamie Lynn Spears being pregnant at 16. (And how she’s a bad example, and blah, blah, blah…)

First of all, is there not anything more important to report on?

Second, why is such a huge earth shattering ruckus being raised about her when there are 750,000+ teenage pregnancies every year in the US?

Why not get upset that this is not an uncommon occurrence? She’s just another one of many teen girls who’s having a baby too young.

This article from the Associated Press brings to light that some recording artists who are given credit for songwriting, in reality may not have contributed to the writing of the song. Unfortunately, by some of the quotes in this piece, this may be a common practice in the music industry.

Singer-songwriters, or just singers?

EMI is the only major record label that gets it, apparently, as they have now agreed to give away unrestricted, DRM free MP3 files of songs thru a promotion at United Kingdom Burger King restaurants. When a “kids meal” is purchased, there will be a promo code that can be entered at a website.

This follows EMI deciding to offer it’s catalog of songs on iTunes in a DRM free format almost two months ago.

Story via Wired blog Listening Post.

According to Mashable!, iTunes has released version 7.2 which includes the ability to purchase DRM free tracks for $1.29 a pop. Read iTunes’ DRM-free Music Now Available.

According to this article in PC World, Steve Jobs is lobbying for music publishers to release DRM free tracks. EMI has already agreed to sell DRM free tracks on iTunes, and according to this article, Jobs is writing letters to the rest of the big record companies to persuade them to follow suit.

For me, one of the most frustrating things about purchasing music online is the lack of portability of what I buy. If I could easily convert songs to MP3 format (which I prefer) or even buy those tracks as MP3 files (which I already do at eMusic) it would be awesome. I think getting rid of DRM is the first step in the right direction, and if the record companies offer consumers more choice with less restriction I believe it can only help their bottom line.

According to the Abilene Reporter-News, several juveniles are being questioned regarding the bomb threat phone call received yesterday, which was deemed to be a hoax.