Good afternoon, morning or midnight to you all,

First of all, if you are reading this, Daylight Strategy loves you. We are nothing without our fans.

This is you favorite neighborhood lead singer, D.W. Hurt. I thought I would just take a few minutes here to tell you about a few of my favorite musical groups. These are my influences, my muses and, in most cases, part of the reason I am the way I am. Also, please be advised that as I write this, I am studying for the GRE and will try to use some large vocabulary here so I can practice. I know, it makes me sound like a major pedant, but why would I prevaricate to you?

To begin with, I show the utmost deference to Coldplay. Chris Martin's vocal work and stage decorum have had a lucid impact on how I want to portray myself. This is in no way to say that I think that Mr. Martin and I are in any way homogenous. Coldplay was thrust upon me in a most precipitous way. I was running sound for a Riley Armstrong concert at OBU and the group was eating dinner. While exchanging small talk Riley asked a difficult question, "If you were trapped on a deserted island and you could only have one CD, what would you bring?" I answered Led Zepplin III. I am still partial to that album. Riley, his drummer at the time, and someone from OBU all said Coldplay's, A Rush of Blood to the Head. I was astonished. I had heard of Coldplay before, but now I thought I must find out more. When I asked Riley why he liked it he gave me a very cogent response. I could tell he really venerated the group. I did my best to abstain from any garrulous responses and absconded as best I could. Later that year, my fervid interest in Coldplay caused my lovely wife, (then girlfriend) to purchase the album and mail it to me during finals week. I could not contain my zeal. I probably listened to it a full twelve times through in the next two days. The group's musical creations were laudable to say the least. I was impressed perhaps most with the vocal melodies, bolstered by simple and catchy piano and guitar hooks. The whole thing was the antithesis of a cacophony.

I apologize already for the loquacious demeanor of this blog. I promise it won't happen again. I know there are those of you who like to deride bands like Coldplay because they aren't aggressive enough for you. Allow me to mitigate, placate or assuage, (he can't do that to us can he?) your fears. I also love the Foo Fighters. I speak unequivocally here, even though it may seem convoluted or enigmatic. I firmly believe it is okay to amalgamate one's musical tastes. I love the Foo Fighters for their raw, high-energy rock. Dave Grohl really knows how to put on a show and is never bombastic. I really enjoyed the last live album Skin and Bones, because it shows off how musical the band really is. May I speak candidly here? I do not agree with the Foo Fighter's lifestyle, or all of their lyrics. Some people may regard this as a bit of a paradox and become caustic. I am not asking you to condone everything I do. I just want to you be laconic on this one because I promise to be obdurate. I know that liking secular music leaves me open to a diatribe from a number of people, primarily dilettantes. Allow me to corroborate my position here.

I believe that God created music as well as man. I believe God has given some individuals the gift of expression through music. I believe that everyone responds to music in some way or another, I feel it is etched in our souls. That being said, I do not believe that we are slaves to music or lyrics. You can listen to a Christian lyric imploring you to pray to God and to give over all the struggles of your life to him. You might be called to action to do just that, but the music didn't make you do it. You might here a secular song that tells you to live a lifestyle that is not God honoring. You might listen to it and think, "Yeah, that sounds like fun, I think I'll try it." You might not think anything of the sort. The point is that it is not the music that chooses your life for you. You choose your life for you. Take some responsibility for crying out loud. If you are still developing yourself as a person you have the opportunity to take bad advice from anyone. If you've lived your life a little, gotten to a place where you can rely on the Holy Sprit to guide you, then you will know when you are listening to something that is affecting you negatively. As a matter of fact, if you feel bad listening to something, it probably means you shouldn't be listening to it at all: even if that's my own band, Daylight Strategy. Therefore I have complied a brief list of bands that have my stamp of approval. Not that you care a whole lot, but I'd thought I'd offer it anyway. Also, I do not necessarily agree with everything these bands stand for or are.

Switchfoot
Coldplay
Foo Fighters
Tom Petty
Audio Adrenaline
Underoath
He is Legend
Delirious
Showbread
Anberlin
U2
Bahaus
Peter Murphy
King's X
Stavesacre
Project 86
Eisley
Skillet
Rich Mullins
Pink Floyd
Led Zepplin
The Pale Pacific
Ok Go
Supertones
Nora Jones
Ladytron

And there is much, much more.

Please leave a comment and tell me your thoughts. I am interested to see how people respond to my transparency.

Love,
D.W. Hurt