I love music. I cannot live without it….if I’m not listening to it, I’m humming a tune.

Not that you are at interested in what I like, but I’m going to post about 2 artists I really like. First is Big Daddy Weave. Yeah, sounds funny, but they rock. If you love Rob Thomas’s voice and Matchbox 20 style of music, as I do, then you will love to rock to the tunes of Big Daddy Weave. I first heard this awesome group when their second CD came out “Field’s of Grace.” Naturally the song I was listening to was #4 on the CD, Field’s of Grace. I fell in love with this band.

Here’s a Review from Ashleigh Kittle Slater, All Music Guide:
In September 2003, Big Daddy Weave released their sophomore project, Fields of Grace. While their name may invoke visions of a ska group, the band is far from it. Instead, Big Daddy Weave — made up of members Mike Weaver, Jay Weaver, Jeremy Redmon, Joe Shirk, and Jeff Jones– offers listeners a style similar to that of Steven Curtis Chapman and the Dave Matthews Band. Produced by Mike Weaver and Jeremy Redmon, Fields of Grace clearly represents the collaboration of bandmembers who have learned how to play off each other. The musicianship is superb, including supportive organ and Rhodes licks, tight drum fills, confident guitars and bass, unselfconscious synth parts, and the occasional violin and sax. Vocally, lead singer Mike Weaver is in the company of Chapman, Bob Carlisle and Bebo Norman. His strong voice serves each song well, drawing attention to the lyrical content rather than himself. Lyrically, the album follows consistent themes, such as freedom, grace, and mercy. The instrumentation and arrangement of each song is different, orchestrated appropriate to the meaning of the song. Tracks include “New Every Morning,” “Heart Cries Holy,” and “Be Your Everything.” Fields of Grace is a well-recorded and well-produced album. It is evidence that Big Daddy Weave isn’t the “typical” pop group. Instead, they are a band of five men who are striving to master their craft in a way that brings glory to God.–

Their latest venture, What I was Made For, is even better. As my husband switched through the stations I made him stop on this song. At first I thought it was Matchbox 20, but then ultimately realized it was the latest from Big Daddy Weave. Oh Santa, I hope you are bringing me this CD for Christmas!!!

Rebecca St. James’ latest CD simply ROCKS. Just look at the CD cover, she looks like she is ready to hit the clubs. Her first song “Alive” off her CD “If I had one chance to tell you something,” gets you moving. If there is anyone out there that does not at least tap their toe to this song, I will have to consider you without a pulse. I love any female artist that rock like the big boys.

Here’s a review from Rob Theakston of All Music Guide:
Throughout her career Rebecca St. James has been a bit of a musical chameleon, dabbling in electronica, folk, and traditional praise & worship settings. But like all good vocalists, she rises to the occasion and adapts with great ease to whatever the canvas presents to her. This time around she finds herself in the trenches of the highly polished, extremely commercial alternative rock sound throughout “If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something.” The driving sound of “Alive,” “You Are Loved,” and “Shadowland” brings to mind tonal qualities normally found in Linkin Park or Coheed & Cambria, but only if they were filtered through having tea with the Cranberries with lyrics emerging from a wholly Christian perspective. Like on most of her releases, St. James’ pleasant and inoffensive presentation throughout the 12 songs could easily find their way onto the soundtrack or background music found on any prime time teen soap opera on the UPN or WB networks. And the music is so contemporary and the lyrics sometimes so ambiguous, it’s easy to forget where her message is coming from and what it’s all about.