BlakeAtwood.com

Music

Waterdeep
Sadly no longer with us, as a band at least, but their music was so diverse, and so good, and so deep, and so spiritual, and so real. Live at New Earth is easily in my top 10 albums.

U2
What’s a list of influential bands without U2? Considering that they’re still together after 20 years (and the POP Tour), their music is still good, and with how much they do for the world apart from music, hardly anyone can deny their influence. I still can’t believe that there were Christians back in the early 80s that almost got the band to quit.

Switchfoot
I’ve been a fan of theirs since the time I bought Legend of Chin. I’m still a fan, and am glad to see their mainstream success. Might Have Ben Hur and Chem 6A will forever ring in my brain.

Coldplay
Yes, I’m just like everyone else. I like Coldplay. In fact, I like them alot, although I was a little disappointed with their last effort, X&Y, but one song redeemed that album for me (Fix You, in case you’re wondering). I have my college roommate to thank for turning me on to them with their first release. Yellow will always remind me of my carefree college days. Coldplay is in the vein of U2 in that they can create something so seemingly simple yet so musically fantastic.

David Wilcox
If you like smart guys with great guitar skills and a voice like James Taylor, you’ll enjoy David Wilcox. A friend turned me on to his music, and I can’t buy enough of it. Thoughtful, spiritual, introspective, irreverent, but beautiful, the words slide into your mind beneath the sweet notes of his smooth vocals.

Derek Webb
From the "tell it like it is" camp, Derek’s music has brought revelation after revelation to my Christian walk, while encapsulating every difficult lyric into acoustic melodies just as memorable as the words themselves.

Bob Dylan
There’s not much to say that hasn’t already been sung about this icon of musical history. I took a course on him and his music in college and he’s still an enigma to me. The fact that he continues to make evocative music into his 60s says something about the resiliency of a true musician and the lifelong power of his genius. I finally saw His Bobness in the fall of 07. It was difficult to believe that such a cultural icon and force was standing, singing (sort of) not ten feet away from me. Killer band with him too.

The Flaming Lips
Only within the past few years have I become a fan, but man, am I a fan. They produce some of the most inventive, happy, intriguing, and weird music I’ve ever heard. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots was my first introduction, and it’s a fantastic album. After seeing them live at the Austin City Limits Festival in 2006, I’m even more of a fan.

Matisyahu
Orthodox Jewish Reggae Rapper. What’s not to like about that combination? I saw him for the first time at the Austin City Limits Festival in 2006 and his set was simply transcendent. He sings about his faith, and his vocal abilities are sublime. I wasn’t much of a reggae fan before, but hearing his music has definitely swayed my tastes.

Rhodes
What? You haven’t heard of Rhodes? Well, you wouldn’t have, at least not yet, unless you lived in a certain part of California or somehow stumbled onto their Myspace page. They will be the next big thing, and I’m not just saying that because a friend of mine is the frontman. Seriously, their sound is amazing. Look for the album soon (or so I’m told). Go to their Myspace page for a taste of the future of rock. The front man is going solo, but their breakup was amicable. Support good music!

David Crowder Band
It’s still hard for me to believe that they’re based in Waco. While I love the town I grew up close to, it doesn’t seem like such an inventive band could come from there. I loved their first album, but I adore their latest, A Collision or (3+4=7). It’s nearly indescribable in its goodness. Go buy it now and thank me later. It’s better than this, although this a pretty good cover of a DCB song, so far as good means an emotive attempt.

Mutemath
Somewhat formerly known as Earthsuit, my friend Pocket turned me onto Mutemath when he told me the drummer played so wildly that he had to duct tape his headphones to his head. Then I saw this video on Jimmy Kimmel live and was hooked.