AP Tour!

So Casey, Ashley, and I went to the AP Tour in Ft. Lauderdale last night.  Even though 3Oh!3, The Maine, Hit The Lights, and A Rocket To The Moon played, we were there for only one band: Family Force 5.  This was the 4th time I’ve seen FF5 in concert, and it was by far the best.  They played 10 songs, and the crowd loved it.  It was great having less then two inches of space between you and the people around you.  The FF5 guys came out, all dressed in matching shirts, vests, and bowties.  I made new friends, saw old ones, and had a killer time.  I can’t wait for Night Of Joy in September!  That’ll be my 5th time seeing them. ;D

~Ritz

Ack!

I know I’ve been busy this week, but I’m becoming a horrible blogger. D:

So Mike and Kristin’s wedding last night was ballin’!  It was pretty emotional seeing Kristin walk down the aisle in tears, and seeing Mike trying not to be overly emotional as they repeated their lines into eachother’s eyes, and of course seeing Kristin’s dad, Ken, reduced to tears as he danced with his daughter.  I’ll admit, I was tempted to let a tear run down my cheek, but I’m not Travis.   It was a pretty fun wedding, and I eventually did get out on the dance floor.  I learned a few things last night.  One of them is that dancing at parties is very similar to making crap up while following the rhythm of the music.   Another thing I learned is that, at a wedding, all the single people daydream about what their wedding might be like, and all the married people look back at their own, and forward to their childrens’.  I was no exception.  I spent about a quarter of the night thinking about my own.   I have to be patient and know that God has the perfect woman for me, set aside from all the others.  The only question is “when?”  So I’ll wait.

Congrats again to Mike and Kristin BETANCOURT!  may God bless your marriage!
~Ritz

Week-begin

[[As opposed to "weekend"]]

So yeah guys, Easter was yesterday, and it was ballin’!  The highlight of my morning was seeing our dear Ela Ortega come to the 9am service.  I haven’t been hugged like that in a long time.
Apparantly in second service, some drunk lady was being loud, and a former drunk told her to shut up even louder.  We’re Gs at LPC. =D
And service in Plantation Key was great too.  We had a total of 111 people attend yesterday.  Then after service, we all partook (?) of the potluck medley of pastas, chips, pizza, rice, and some pretty good black beans (as a Cuban, I have the right to judge black beans as “good” or “bad” ;D)

This week is going to be a busy one.  Youth group Wednesday as usual, but then we have Mike’s bachelor party on Thursday, and then Friday is the big day!  Mike and Kristin get married this Friday.  It’s going to be a good week. =]

In other news, my last English class is next week.  The semester itself ends on May 2nd, but I for sure will be done May 1st at the latest.  Yay for almost not being a college freshman anymore! =D

~Ritz

“Spring Break”

So with the end of my class today, I am officially on MDC’s “Spring Break”…Which is Friday off.  Eh, all the same.  I don’t mind going to school at all, in fact, I enjoy doing so.  I’ve made many friends there.  Unfortunately, most of those friends are high school kids, who had this week off from high school…So most of them have been leaving early this week, leaving me bored at the college with nothing to do.  I’ve been coming home early every day this week.  At least there are things to do at home.  Like right now, I’m doing laundry. =P

Easter is THIS SUNDAY at LPC!  Let’s show up and be REBELS!
~Ritz

Tuesday Song of the Week!

I’ve been in a party mood for a few days now, so let’s party it up this week with:

Numb by Family Force 5

(Hey, you know, cardboard is, uh, one of the coolest things ever
made by paper. Dance on cardboard!)

Oh no they broke out the cardboard
Looks like I’m headed to the dance floor

to break it down for ‘em once again
Guess what, jigga what, hey, I can do a head-spin
I don’t care what jam is on
Cause i ain’t going home until the break of dawn
Find myself in tune with the groove
I can’t stop, uh, I gotta move

[chorus x2]

Play me song
Make it nice and long
Pump it through the speakers so I can hear
The beat of the drum
rockin all night long
Make you wanna dance till ur feet go numb

YEAAHHHHH!! Ur feet go Numb
Dance to the beat till ur feet go Numb, baby
YEAAHHHHH!! Ur feet go Numb

Watchout I’m gonna do the moonwalk
Got so many moves I’m against the law
You Can’t step to this. don’t wanna mess with this, hey, and even if
you tried
I’d go like this (HEYYYY!!!)

Ok, I’m back in the picture
Gonna do the centipede, don’t let me hit you
You try to step on the floor
But you realize I’m in control
Of the party, of the party, y’all
You don’t stop ur feet until we end this song
To the left, to the right, to the back, to front
Hey, DJ, put it on

[chorus x2]

Play me song
Make it nice and long
Pump it through the speakers so I can hear
The beat of the drum
rockin all night long
Make you wanna dance till ur feet go numb [x2]

YEAAHHHHH!! Ur feet go Numb
Dance to the beat till ur feet go Numb, baby
YEAAHHHHH!! Ur feet go Numb

[chorus x2]
Play me song
Make it nice and long
Pump it through the speakers so I can hear
The beat of the drum
rockin all night long
Make you wanna dance till ur feet go numb

Haha.  It’s a fun song to listen to. =]
~Ritz

Thursday Morn’

So I was up ’til like, 2:30 last night.  Yay!  Yesterday was Mark Similey’s birthday, so after youth group, we all headed to Flagship (can’t get away from that place!) and saw “Taken.”  It was pretty good, and seeing it with Mike and Kristin, and Kelly, and Mark and Elizabeth made it one of the best movie-going experiences I’ve had in a while.  After the movie let out at 11, we talked for about an hour in the parking lot, then decided to run to Mario’s restraunt for no reason.  So we were out ’til like, 2 in the morning.  Fun stuff.

Let’s see, what else happened yesterday?  Oh!  I turned in all my final stuff for my second essay in English class.  There are only like, 9 or so classes left this semester for English, so that’s something to be happy about. ;]  Everything else is going fine too.

Yay!
~Ritz

Tuesday Song of the Week

Hi all!  This week’s song comes courtesy of As I Lay Dying:

“Within Destruction” by As I Lay Dying

If music is
A mirror revealing
The depths of my heart
Then I will write
The darkest song
For without
Forgiveness
My soul is lost

All that is hope
Within destruction
Comes from you
For I have fallen

Fallen

If music is
A mirror revealing
The depths of my heart
Then I will write
The darkest song
For without
Forgiveness
My soul is lost

All that is hope
Within destruction
Comes from you

For I have fallen
And there is nothing good
Within me yet I’ve
Been given life
I will
I will never
Deserve
For without
Forgiveness
Without forgiveness my soul is lost

All that is hope
Within destruction

All that is hope

Sunday Update

Hey all.  Just a quick update to let you all know that we got back from Gainesville safely about a half hour ago.  I had a good time over there.  The people were really cool, and the campus looked awesome!

~Ritz

Thursday Bay-bay!

Yeah…I need to be more creative with my blog titles.

Anyhoo, I want to quickly thank everyone who has read my last post, the album review for TSP’s “Anthems For A Broken World.”  In just two days, it’s risen to become my fifth most viewed blog. =]

In personal news, Zechariah[sis] Timotheos [Copernicus] Hinkle[smith] and I are heading up to Gainesville to tour the University of Florida campus tomorrow.  We’ll be back on Sunday, so no blogging until then, or possibly even Monday.

Have a great weekend everyone!
~Ritz

Anthems For A Broken World Album Review

The following is a review of the debut album from The Saturn Project, “Anthems For A Broken World.”  The following review is entirely the author’s opinion and does not necessarily reflect the views of the band or anyone associated with them.
Friends, as I type I am listening to what very well may be the best album of 2009.  The Saturn Project is a four-piece band composed of lead singer/keyboardist/guitarist Jesse Santoyo, his brother Alex Santoyo on drums, lead guitarist Brent Maloney, and bassist Matthew Izaguirre.  Before I begin the actual review, let me give you some insight into what sets TSP apart from every other band out there right now.  The purpose of the Anthems For A Broken World project is not to propel the band to fame and fortune; it’s just the opposite.  The Saturn Project is giving away all 100% of the money they make off this album to a charity called People for Care and Learning in order to build homes and fresh water wells in the poorest parts of Cambodia.  PCL has the aproval of the Cambodian government, and the support of the Red Cross and the United Nations to build these villages.  So far, album sales have exceeded expectations, selling 4,413 copies on the first day.  Now you may be saying “sure, it’s a worthy cause, but is the music up to par with the intentions behind it?”  Please, continue reading.

1. Dynamite
   While most albums begin with a sweet instrumental intro to slowly draw you in, “Anthems” wastes no time getting to the vocals as lead singer Jesse Santoyo exclaims “lose yourself, lose control!”  This song mixes it up a bit, beginning with the vocals and keyboards, then heading straight into the rock, and then it mixes in some hip-hop straight from the mouth of guest vocalist Esteban Shedd.  The hip-hop is a great addition to a song that is already a great way to start things off.  But as great as this song is, it doesn’t even make my Top 5 for the songs on this album.
2. So Alive
   Track 2 is the first single from the album, “So Alive”.  This song eases you in with a catchy keyboard and drums that slowly build up to the vocals.  The chorus of “So Alive” is probably one of the most memorable on the album (not that the album isn’t already chuck full of great lyrics as it is), proclaiming “’cause I would walk on fire, I would march in the frontlines.  If I made my bed in Hell, You are there.”  This is truly one of the great “anthems for a broken world” on this album, showing that nothing can seperate you from the God who loves you and seeks you out, no matter how messed up you are, and no matter what you’ve been through.
3. Tonight
   This song is one of my favorites on the album.  Right from the beginning, it sounds like a chart-topper for radio stations everywhere.  Once again, it is the keyboard that captivates you from the start.  And the chorus is hard to ignore as we hear “God save us all, shake the dust right off these bones, ’cause tonight is all we’ve got.”  Embrace your life, live it to the fullest, and let God take control of your life.  “Give me the strength of an army…”
4. Beautiful Stranger
   At this point, things start to slow down in the album, leaving behind catchy melodies for a more meloncholy, perhaps even somber tone.  Why?  “Because of love, love, love.”  This is one of the many songs on this album that sounds like it deserves to be included in a movie soundtrack.  There’s nothing too special about this song, but the simplicity of the music lets you focus more on the words.  This song is also one of my favorites on the album.
5. U-Turn
   Here we go.  This song is my absolute favorite song to watch them play live.  This one starts off with a very latin feel, drawing on Jesse and Alex’s Hispanic background for influence.  There’s nothing wrong with this song!  The lyrics are powerful, and the drums even moreso as Alex gets to enjoy himself with a drum solo about two and a half minutes in.  U-Turn leaves behind the mellow-ness of “Beautiful Stranger” and makes you remember what an awesome song sounds like.  Seeing this song performed live is a treat in itself as you see Alex go crazy on his drumset and do the “water effect”.  The “water effect” uses a strobe light, and lots of water, and that’s all I’ll say about that.  It’s fun to watch though.
6. Sail Away
   “Sail Away” is probably the best song on the album.  I’d call it my favorite, but it’s so hard to choose one favorite song here.  “Sail Away” takes you back to the slower side of things, but the lyrics make a great couple with the music.  Jesse’s vocals also do a great job of getting the emotion of the song across in a big way.  This song has been described as “a bit sad”, but emotional songs are usually pretty good as long as they’re not whiney.  This song is just plain amazing.  There’s no other way to describe it.
7. Chicago
   Fans of late 70s rock ‘n’ roll will love this song.  Another one of my favorites.  At first, it may not seem like that special of a song, but soon enough, “Chicago” gives birth to the only guitar solo on the album, and it is an amazing solo!  It makes you think of a smoke-filled bar or blues joint.  It’s impossible NOT to air-guitar along!
8. Butterfly
   A heart-wrenching song when you listen to the lyrics.  The music is upbeat, which is pretty deceiving given that the topic is abortion.  Jesse sings “feel the vibe, deep inside, like a lullaby, like a butterfly come to life”, and “for all you know she’ll one day grow, with a smile and eyes just like yours; maybe she will change the world, maybe just saving yours…”  Easily one of the better songs on the album.
9. Silas
   “Silas” is right up there with “Sail Away” as one of the best songs on the album.  It’s more rock-ish than most of the other songs so far, and we see Jesse leave the keyboard to pick up his acoustic guitar and sing what should no doubt be one of the singles from the album.  In this song, the electric guitar and drums set the mood, and the mood is rockin’!  But it’s not all rock-n-roll ladies and gentlemen.  Esteban returns for another hip-hop interlude.  I’ve never been a fan of rap or hip-hop, but dang!  Even that aspect of the album is a great touch!  This song wouldn’t be the same without Esteban laying down some phat rhymes.  “Silas” also provides one of the catchiest choruses on the album: “late in the midnight hour, I’m gonna break these chains, erase the walls and see my own way out the door.  I’m gonna start a revolution that screams and bleeds…’libertad!’”
10. Prelude
    “Prelude” provides us with my favorite 45 seconds on the album, proclaiming “we will move beyond the clouds and storms making ways and roads where there are none.”  But the great thing about it is how it leads into…
11. Time
    Ah!  My favorite part of the whole album is how “Prelude” leads right into “Time”!  I had the biggest smile on my face the first time I heard that.  But as awesome as that is, “Time” is in itself another one of the greatest songs on “Anthems.”  The guitar riff is captivating in a way that no other on the album is.  My favorite part of the song though, is when Jesse begins to sing “all the things you thought I lost, I left behind to be with you.  The thought of losing love and life opened my eyes to hold you close tonight.”  It’s one of my favorite things about “Anthems.”  “Give us time” as we head into the final two songs.
12. Farewell
    No, it’s not the end of the album, but musical guest/producer Jeremy Larson offers his incredible talents to compose a hauntingly beautiful instrumental that would be even more amazing if only it lasted longer.  The great purpose of this track, however, is to set the tone for the final song on “Anthems.”
13. Only You
    Possibly the slowest, most full-of-emotion song on “Anthems For A Broken World.”  This track makes sure you don’t forget Who and What the band is all about.  Jesse’s vocals soar above the light piano, also contributed by Jeremy Larson, so that you can get the full impact of what he’s trying to say.  He softly sings in a way that should no doubt move you in a way no other song on this album does.  About four minutes and 20 seconds in, the music picks up, but not at all in a way that ruins the mood; if anything, it enhances it.  The guitars mix with the piano and Jesse’s vocals to create a haunting musical piece that is no doubt an amazing way to end the album…
14. Better Days
    …If only it were the end.  While not an actual “track” on the album, “Better Days” is an acoustic song that follows “Only You” if you’re willing to wait for a minute and a half, if even that.  This could quite possibly  be the most encouraging and uplifting song on the whole album.  The vocals let you know that “better days are yet to come, better days are yet to come, and I know we’re gonna make it.”  I would write out all the lyrics (because they’re that good), but then where’s the fun in listening to it yourself?

I tried my best to make these songs sound as awesome as they are, but you all can be the judges of that.  For only $10, you can be the proud owner of your very own copy of “Anthems For A Broken World.”  It is an amazing album, and no amount of adjectives could describe just how good it is.  I honestly could not find anything wrong with this album.  I love it!

Buy music, do good.
-Ritz