Jimmy Eat World- Chase This Light

Well, it’s been nearly three whole years since Jimmy Eat World released their last album, “Futures.” Obviously, when fans have to wait three years from one release to the next, expectations can mount to a pretty high peak. Their new CD, “Chase This Light”,  is good, but it isn’t great. It might have a really cool cover, but the inside content is a little disappointing, not what I was expecting after waiting three years for a new CD. There’s nothing distinctively bad about it, it just doesn’t feel as powerful and well developed as their past CD’s. In other words, it’s not anything too special. It opens with strength with the track “Big Casino”, but unfortunately, nothing great happens again until the title track towards the end of the album, “Chase This Light”. Some of the most meaningful lyrics of the CD are found here, as well: “I’m only here in body, visiting./
My life is yours, in your gifted hands./ I’ve seen the best of love, the best of hate, the best reward is earned, I’ve paid for every single word I’ve ever said.”

Even though I wasn’t totally impressed by this CD, I’d still say it’s worth checking out, especially if you’re already a fan of the bands.

Over the Rhine- The Trumpet Child

Although Over the Rhine isn’t a specifically Christian band, they are Christians and themes of Christianity can be seen throughout many of their songs. The husband and wife duo has a way of creating incredibly beautiful song lyrics and hauntingly spectacular music to go along with them. The Trumpet Child, released this August, has a very jazzy feel to it, especially in the beginning songs. The last few songs aren’t my favorites because they have a country twang to them, but I think the beginning songs of this CD are some of their best yet, both musically and lyrically.

They begin the CD with an outstanding song “I Don’t Want to Waste Your Time” in which they put forth a manifesto of sorts for themselves… “I don’t wanna waste your time /With music you don’t need.” And listening to The Trumpet Child certainly won’t be a waste of your time. One of the greatest things about Over the Rhine is that they strongly feel that they shouldn’t be making music unless it’s great. They won’t settle for less than the best they can give. That motto shines through quite clearly, especially here. It’s also very easy to find Christian themes in there lyrics. The song “The Trumpet Child“, as you might guess, references the Second Coming of Christ, for example.

If you want to learn more about this intriguing band and The Trumpet Child, check out their official website and read the commentary about this CD on overtherhine.com. I’ll leave you with one interesting paragraph from that interview: “We’ve been joking about the music that’s on God’s iPod. I’ve been asking our audiences, What exactly is on God’s iPod? Someone recently yelled back, Over the Rhine. So there’s my self-imposed dream job description: I try to write music for God’s iPod.”

The Darjeeling Limited

Wes Anderson, one of my favorite film directors, has done it again. He has brought an important message about life and humanity alive on the big screen with his signature style of interesting and colorful storytelling and dry, witty humor. In The Darjeeling Limited, three brothers, Francis, Peter, and Jack, played by Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman, respectively, embark on a spiritual journey across India. Francis wants them to be close again, as they have presumably drifted apart since their father’s death about a year ago. Francis also wants to turn this trip into a spiritual quest. It seems all the brothers realize that something is missing in their lives, and they are willing to go along with Francis’ often silly plans in hopes of filling this nameless void. They stop at numerous shrines and spiritual places throughout India, trying to pray and get in touch with something bigger than themselves. At one point of time as they are going through an elaborate prayer ritual in one of the temples, one of the brothers says to another “Do you think it’s working?” His brother responds with “I hope so. It’s got to.” There is a sense of desperation in his voice. It’s as if this prayer doesn’t work, all hope is lost.

This brings to light a very important issue that courses through our culture today. So many people are searching for something. They know something is missing in their lives, and they search far and wide to try to fill the hole in their lives. They might turn to material goods, sex, drugs, or spiritual journeys. What they don’t realize is that while all these things might provide them with temporary pleasure and happiness, there is a deeper purpose that they are missing. They need only to turn to Christ to find everything they are searching for and find purpose and meaning in their lives. We, as Christians, need to exemplify Christ’s love to these seekers and let them know that only in Christ can their lives find true meaning and significance.

As the movie goes, the brothers go through many experiences together. They manage to get themselves kicked off of their train, go to visit their estranged mother, and, most importantly, try to save a group of boys from drowning in a river. They gradually begin to learn that maybe life isn’t just about them and their problems, but maybe it has a deeper and more meaningful purpose that doesn’t revolve around them.