David Crowder Band - Church Music

There’s much more to David Crowder than the beard.

David Crowder Band is one of the most creative bands you’d hear these days. The thing is, they make music for the church (Christian). So chances are if you’re not a Christian, you probably haven’t had the chance to hear this great band. There’s been this ongoing debate about what defines “Christian” music, and whether or not it simply all sucks. There is the “Christian version of a mainstream act”, which usually equates to a lack of creativity from an artist where they see their music strictly to share their faith. While I can see where they are coming from, the quality of the music is usually low. Now here’s the kicker with David Crowder Band. They are definitely “Christian” as far as the messages in their songs. That part is clear so you know where they stand with that. But the quality of their sound is definitely original and I would even say better than some mainstream acts. The thought just popped in my head if there’ll be a day when we’ll see a mainstream version of a Christian band. One thing is sure, if that day ever comes, David Crowder Band would be the band that people copy from. Take their latest album Church Music for example. If I had to choose one word to describe it, I would say EPIC. From start to finish this is a well produced, hypnotic album that takes you away with each track. With this band, you never know what to expect with their wide range of influences. Here, they incorporate everything from rock to electronica to create probably their best album to date. Another nice surprise is the guest appearances by the band Eisley and Lacey from Flyleaf on various tracks. So if you’re already a fan of the DCB, then you’ll see they upped their standard a bit more on this release. And I must say, even if you’re not a believer, give this album a try. You’ll be in for a surprise. Trust me.

Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs (DVD)

The gang is back from Ice Age, and this time they meet some more prehistoric friends. As if the Ice Age films weren’t good enough, adding dinosaurs to the cast makes it a whole lot better! Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs finds Manny as a proud new dad, and Sid thinking he is one. When Sid finds some abandoned eggs, he takes them as his own, not realizing they’re dino-eggs! That sets off a chain of events that put the gang against some Jurassic giants! This film was lots of fun to watch. Just like the others, everything from the animation and comedy is in top form. The DVD is out now and it contains lots of fun extra features such as two special Scrat shorts, deleted scenes, director’s commentary, and an Ice Age digital story book maker. Make sure you don’t miss out on this one!

Two and a Half Men: The Complete Sixth Season (DVD)

I don’t have the time to keep up with regular TV. That’s why I’m thankful for TV sets on DVD. Two and a Half Men is one of those shows that I would watch religiously, if I had the time. Since I don’t, I’m glad to be able to catch it on DVD. The latest season to be released on DVD is season six. This four-disc set contains all 24 crazy episodes of this hilarious show. Yeah, sometimes it’s over-the- top, but that’s what makes it great. Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer work great together as the comedic duo of the show. One of the highlights of this sixth season is seeing Charlie’s character begin to take some responsibly when he thinks he’s the father of one of his ex-girlfriend's kids (the joke's on him)! Overall, this is a great DVD set that provides hours of laughter.

Smallville: The Complete Eighth Season (DVD)

The eighth season of the longest running “Superman” TV series is out in a fantastic DVD set. Otherwise known as Smallville (you heard of it right?), this show proves that it’s among TV’s best as it has made it this far. In this eighth season, two characters draw closer to their destiny: Clark as Superman, and Davis Bloome as Doomsday! The season is filled with so many thrills and new characters that it leaves no room for it to be lacking in entertainment value. On this DVD set, all 22 episodes are here along with tons of extra features, including a special one called “Smallville’s Doomsday: The Making of a Monster.” This set is extremely entertaining from start to finish and I highly recommend it.

SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS 1960s VOLUME 2 and SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS 1970s VOLUME 2 (DVD)

Prepare yourself for some awesome animated fun with the new releases of SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS 1960s VOLUME 2 and SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS 1970s VOLUME 2 on DVD.

On these sets, Warner Home Video features some of the best cartoons that spanned both decades. There are over five hours of animated goodness on each set giving viewers plenty of shows to indulge in. To give you an idea of what's included on each set, check this out. On the 1960’s set, there are 2-discs with a nice mix of retro classics such as The Jetsons, Quick Draw McGraw, Young Samson and Goliath, The Bugs Bunny Show, The Porky Pig Show, The Adventures of Gulliver, The Wally Gator Show, and The Magilla Gorilla Show! The 1970’s set also is a 2–disc set and it contains episodes from shows such as The New Adventures of Gilligan, Valley of the Dinosaurs, Sea Lab 2020, Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan, The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour, The Tom and Jerry/Grape Ape Show, and The New Adventures of Batman and Robin!

For anyone that loves cartoons, these sets provide hours and hours of pure entertainment. With all these rare shows on each set, I definitely think these are not to be missed!

For your viewing pleasure, check out these video clips from the DVD's:

Eleventh Hour - The Complete Series (DVD)

What do you think of when you hear the name Bruckheimer? Do you think only of blockbuster movies? How about a real thought provoking TV show? Eleventh Hour is a fast-paced series produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and it’s out for the first time on DVD. This show is based on the British miniseries by writer Stephen Gallagher and it’s one that effectively combines science and the excitement of a great investigative show. Think of it like X-Files, minus the UFO’s and paranormal stuff. The Complete Series DVD set is one that is a must see for anyone that likes their crime dramas mixed in with a little scientific crises. Starring Rufus Sewell and Marley Shelton, this show is not to be missed. This packed set contains 6-Discs with 18 Episodes from this memorable show. For more info on where to get this exclusive DVD set, click here.

17 Again (DVD)

I wish Matthew Perry would start getting more roles. He’s probably my favorite actor out of the Friends cast and I was happy to see him star in 17 Again. Yeah I know Zac Efron is really the main star here, but Perry had an important role too playing the elder Mike O'Donnell. I didn’t expect much going into this film, other than a slapstick comedy. But it was the universal theme of a guy that’s unhappy with his life and at risk of losing his family that got me. I really liked the humor in this film and think this is the one to break Zac Efron out of High School Musical limbo. Expect to see more of him in the near future. Overall, this was an enjoyable film that a lot of people facing a family crisis can relate to, and laugh along the way.

Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

Donald Miller is back with a new book titled A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. For those of you familiar with Don, you’ll probably remember a little known book called Blue Like Jazz. This book is what thrusted Don into national spotlight as a bestselling author. Don’s unique writing style is one that brings the reader into the story rather than just being a spectator from the outside. His transparency makes you feel like you’ve known him personally for a while. In A Million Miles, his style hasn’t changed much, except for the fact that he seems a little more mature and wiser. You won’t find any stories about confessional booths on college campuses or penguin sex, but you will get inspired to really LIVE life to the fullest. To sum it up, Don takes the opportunity to edit his life just like a character in a movie. And he invites us to do the same. It’s hard to come away from a book like this and not see life differently. Having said that, I recommend this book to anyone who’s stuck in a rut. Scratch that. I recommend this book to everyone.