Needtobreathe’s new album “Out of Body” is a keeper

I had the pleasure of listening to this album in it’s entirety on a recent trip to Memphis. I was pumped to have the time where my attention could be wholly given (except for the driving thing, of course) to the 11-track album Out of Body. While I’m not an expert in music, I am an expert in listening to music, so what I will offer you is my reaction to this album after listening through it all for the first time, with a quick note: I had heard 2 of the tracks before the full album release, “Who Am I” and “Mercy’s Shore.” 

My first thought to share after listening to all of it is that Needtobreathe is one of the best, most authentic, bands playing music that will not only resonate with you, but will also spark a fire in your soul if you let it. The key is, will you let it? Are you in a place to receive music that says ‘it’s ok to not be ok’ because there is a God that knows. 

The band is known for their deep spirituality showing up in their songs, but they also have a lighter side. I’m thinking of one of my favorite songs, “Girl Named Tennessee,” from the 2009 album The Outsiders.  

See? It’s just fun. Well, don’t hold your breath because Out of Body has no such song… and that’s OK! Each of the tracks are either thought-provoking in their projection of who God is to us as His creation, or lovely in their profession of love towards another person. Yes, I’m referring to “Banks.” 

And if you ever feel like you are not enough, I’m gonna break all your mirrors.

I want to be there when the darkness closes in to make the truth a little clearer. 

I want to hold you close but never hold you back, I’ll be the banks for your river.

With every album that they release, I am becoming more and more of a lifelong fan. I would even greatly hesitate to say they “make Christian music,” let’s just call it music about life on earth, the ups and downs, the love and loss, the heartbreak and hope, it’s just plain ol’ great music that’s about God but never comes close to preachy.  

-Out of the Wilderness

Joe Biden is coming for your guns

Republicans will say Biden is out to take the 2nd Amendment away, and Democrats will say that’s a huge exaggeration. Without a total upheaval of the Constitution, there is no way that kind of government control will ever happen so… Republicans, you’re safe. Democrats… don’t forget this (specifically 0:33)…


and this…

Joe Biden (at 8:25) says: “You’re going to take care of the gun problem with me.”

 

Pew pew pew!

-Out of the Wilderness

Who hasn’t wiped since July?

It can’t just be me. I have a bidet and if you don’t, you need to stop what you’re doing right now and order one. It will…

 

change…

 

 

(scroll down)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

your…

 

 

(scroll down)

 

 

 

 

 

LIFE! 

 

(stop scrolling)

tubes of white toilet paper and plastic basket on bathroom floor
Photo by Vlada Karpovich on Pexels.com

This might be too much information, but I’m not exaggerating when I say I haven’t used toilet paper since last month. I sit. I take care of business. Then it’s b-b-b-bidet time, babbaayy! If you need a recommendation comment below and we can talk it out 🙂

-Out of the Wilderness

Maddie & Tae “Bathroom Floor” music video set pieces, locations, and more!

I’m going to take a look at some of the props, set pieces, and locations of this video so we’ll start off with the thermal device on the bathroom counter.

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This is the LTO-Quest by Leupold. According to their website, this thermal scope is used for hunting. For Maddie & Tae, I guess it’s used for scoping out “hot” men?

Then, as perceptive fans already know, Maddie is wearing the same red dress from the Die From A Broken Heart video (left), suggesting this is a continuation of that story.

Side note: Have you ever noticed in music videos or movies you can’t see the logo of a certain item? Check out the way this wine bottle is conveniently facing away from the camera. This is done mostly to avoid any legal issues from showing a brand you may not have the approval to show, or it could be they just don’t want to give free advertising to a particular brand.

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Notice the same thing on this cup. She could be covering the brand very much on purpose.

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Location… a lot of this video was shot in the Melrose/ 8th Avenue area of Nashville, Tennessee. I know for a fact one of the locations is 2606 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN. How do I know this? Because I’ve been in this parking garage before.

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I’ve made a handful of Uber Eats to residents in this gated community. I’d also assume the apartment scenes in the music video are from this housing complex, as well, because why not?

If you’d like to see more from behind the scenes, Maddie and Tae have a short video showing the fun they have with the crew and their band.

As a confirmation this is a continuation of Die From A Broken Heart, the male star of that video shows up again at the end of Bathroom Floor… his name is Ricardo Hoyos.

Lastly, these folks were the ones to bring this video to life in such a fun, entertaining way. Good job, team!

Film Editor: Adam Little
Film Director: Carlos Ruiz
Producer: Jimmy Robbins, Derek Wells
Film Producer: Christen Pinkston
Composer Lyricist: Josh Kerr, Taylor Dye, Maddie Marlow
Photography Director: Roger Pistole

If there is anything else you want to know about this video, comment below!

-Out of the Wilderness

This is rocking my world right now

51YZhSQhAjL._SX330_BO1,204,203,200_I’ve written about a book I picked up from Thriftsmart here in Nashville, a book by William Barclay in the Daily Bible Study Series- the Letter to the Hebrews. You can read that post here but as odd as it may be, I can’t help but write about it again.

Just in the past few days I came across inspiring words from Mr. Barclay. Of course, the true greatness is the actual book in Bible- Hebrews- but just check out these thoughts from the study book:

Finally, the writer to the Hebrews says that our Christian duty to each other is all the more pressing because the time is short. The Day is approaching. He is thinking of the Second Coming of Christ when things as we know them will be ended. The early Church lived in that expectation. Whether or not we still do, we must realize that no man knows when the summons to rise and go will come to him also. In the time we have it is our duty to do all the good we can to all the people we can in all the ways we can. 

I took the liberty to make bold the last sentence because, as the kids say, that line hits hard. I love it, and in a sense that is the simplicity and yet the impossible challenge of Christianity. For me, it’s most difficult when it comes to drivers like this and this. But we all have areas we struggle in, right? It’s like Needtobreathe sings in their song, “Who Am I?”… (scroll down for more about the Hebrews book!)

While I’m on this road you take my hand
Somehow you really love who I really am
I push you away, still you won’t let go
You grow your roses on my barren soul!

The next line in the book by William Barclay is this:

The appeal of the writer to the Hebrews is one that could be made to every man. In effect, he says: “Be what you were at your best.” If only we were always at our best, life would be very different. Christianity does not demand the impossible; but if we were always as honest, as kind, as courageous, as courteous as we can be, life would be transformed.

Rocking. My. World. Hope y’all are having a great week!

-Out of the Wilderness