Drue's Top 10 of 2009

Here is my list of top picks for 2009. This is NOT definitive so these are just the records I like, I tried to listen to as much of the new releases as possible to have an objective list. I want to showcase the ones that really popped and stuck out to me marking the 'times' or just being great albums all the way through.
-drue-
　　
10. Showbread The Fear of God / it was really interesting to interview these guys live on PowerFM. They were actually LESS weird then I thought they would be, lol. This new album from them is awesome, reminds me of an era of punk and rock when it was really dangerous. I like how they use crazy themes in the record and the last song is a great worship song.

9. Move Merchants Move Merchants / this is a hip-hop record from ManChild of Mars Ill fame and my good friend from Keller, tx. DJ Sean P. I was totally shocked when Sean told me he was doing a record with ManChild, and he truly delivered on this project. Its a hip-hop record, through and through, I think they keep it fresh, yep, #freshlikeseanp.

8. Emery In Shallow Seas We Sail / Emery's last full length cd was ummmh, can I say it? Not good. BUT, when that EP came out that preceded this album, I was like, wait a minute, I think somebody is back in business. This record was one of the first albums I could listen to over and over again and I am so glad they are being more clear and more bold in their lyrics. The song Butcher's Mouth is one of the greatest song they have ever written, love it!

7. Hillsong United Across The Earth / I goto Fellowship Church and we sing a bunch of these songs every week. Theses guys are taking it to a new level with everything they have done. I like how listening to the cd makes the songs more real and personal when we sing them in church on the weekends.

6. Sareem Poems Black and Read All Over / this guy is a card carrying member of the L.A. Symphony crew. He changed his name and got real serious about his hip-hop. I think he has come into a great sound as an artist and come light years since his last solo release. You want real hip/hop, skip the lecrae, get this.

5. Owl City Ocean Eyes / This came out of nowhere. All the music blogs I read say this guy is a biter of the postal service or secret handshake, but I think that twist he has on the this style is really fun. He is a bold Christian artist and if you look on his myspace you can totally tell. There was an awesome buzz about this album and I know for years I will look back on and remember as one of the ones to mark these times we are in now.

4. Flyleaf Momento Mori / Ok, do I really need to explain this? We did have to wait a little bit for this record, but the band totally delivered. Seeing them in Las Vegas w/ 20K people was an amazing experience. This new record is so good, I'm proud of this Texas band.

3. Rootbeer Pink Limousine / This is a project from Pigeon John & Flynn Adam of L.A. Symphony that sounds NOTHING anything either of them have ever done. Its in a class by itself and the quality and creativity in this is above the par so don't sleep on it. Watch them in 2010, I promise, big things.

2. Thrice Beggers / this band has really become one of the flagship bands of the decade. I think this album just speaks volumes about how far they have come in their catalog. I like the textures and lyrics the most, one listen is not going to get it, you have to sit down with this one.

1. U2 No Line On The Horizon / as a professional broadcaster for over 10 years now, NEVER have I seen anything like what happened surrounding this record and the single PowerFM played. I had to step back from my job and really let God work on me to forgive the mis-lead people that had believed the lies about this wonderful band that has put out their most 'Christian' album, ever. This is their best record start to finish the band has done since Achtung Baby.

End of the Year Wrap-Up

Power FM had a big year... we celebrated our 10th Anniversary of being on the air back in August. We had a great party, have had several other fabulous events and fun guests in through out the year. On a more personal level, several members of our staff had big years as well!

Three of our employees became engaged (uh... not to each other, of course)! Adrian asked Kayla to marry him and they plan to be wed in October of 2010 (plus he just graduated from UNT this semester!). Email asked his girlfriend, Alison, to be his bride. And Little Herbie popped the question and got a 'yes' from Skyler! Congratulations to our guys for landing the girls of their dreams!!! On a similar note, Drue and Eimi celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary in October!

Several of our promotions staff members went through job changes in 2009, and thankfully stayed on with us in the meantime. Bianca quit her full-time job to pay more attention to school and pursue some other passions including writing and photography! Leslie left a stressful position at a corporate office for a more ministry-minded organization. Wes was able to leave a job he did not enjoy so much for a job he is really loving! And he is helping to take care of his 5-year-old nephew on a full-time basis.

Rachel is excited that she's spent three full years working at Power FM and TBN/JCTV. She says, "Both jobs have provided me with incredible opportunities to meet and interview very talented people. The highlight of my year was interviewing the Newsboys at Celebrate Freedom because not only was it the freaking Newsboys, but the lead singer is now officially Tait of DC Talk fame, and seeing two greats 5 feet in front of me answering any question I asked was pretty stinkin' cool. Seeing MuteMath, Switchfoot, and Ferry Corsten all in concert again this year rounded it out, and I cannot wait for what 2010 has to offer! Maybe an engagement of my very own? !!! LOL."

Powertalk host, Rick Walker, is half way through law school!

We've done some rearranging at the front desk of our office this year. Tiffany and Flossie have moved on, and Elizabeth has moved in to answer your phone calls in the afternoons. She recently graduated from Baylor... go Bears!

And as for me (Jade), the latter half of 2009 was spent getting over morning (all-day!) sickness and watching my waistline expand. My second son is due to be born March 4th, 2010... so I definitely have that to look forward to this New Year!

We pray you all had a blessed Christmas and will have an extremely amazing New Year. Happy 2010!!!

Keep rockin' for Christ!
Jade =)

Stryper Raffle Winner!

Congratulations to Kevin from McKinney!

More info about this raffle available here.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Congratulations to Flossie, Shea and Manoah on the arrival of their new family member this morning...

Jaelon Michael was born today,
Wednesday, December 16th at 12:33am,
7 lbs, 15oz and 19.5 inches long.

Mommy and baby are doing well!

Flossie was our morning office manager, and left us at Thanksgiving because the baby was due soon. And now he's here! We're very excited for the O'Riley family and their new bundle of joy!

Helping you with Christmas Shopping...

The Powermobile is going to be out and about this Saturday, December 12th. We'll have Power Gear available to help complete your Christmas shopping and raffle tickets for all those Stryper fans dying to get their hands on our Stryper Prize (15 vinyl albums and a pair of tickets to see Stryper on December 22nd at House of Blues)! Bianca and Donielle will be out in front of Logos Bookstore in Dallas from 10am to 1pm! And Rachel will be at Mardel Christian Store in Lewisville from 4pm to 6pm! Come by to say hello, grab a sticker, some Power Gear or a raffle ticket!

Find out more about the Stryper raffle here. It ends December 18th, so act fast!

Keep up with the Powermobile here.