Dec 28, 2006 -
So I've been listening a lot to the newest Iron
Maiden album A
Matter of Life and Death, which I got from my brother Toast, one of
the biggest Iron Maiden fans I know. It is a truly excellent album which comments
on some pretty big subjects. Although it isn't a concept album per se, it is
thick with commentary on both war and religion. Songs like These Colours
Don't Run which questions the motives behind the individual's call to war
and The Longest Day which is about the D-Day invasion and borrows its
title from a 1962 John Wayne/Henry
Fonda movie of the same name, try to put a face on the soldiers themselves
and the horrors they face in war. Brighter Than a Thousand Suns then
contemplates man's quest to build a society only to destroy it with nuclear
weapons. For the Greater Glory of God and Lord of Light then call
to question religion's benefit to society in the face of the wars we fight in
the name of God. The final song on the album, "The Legacy" asks us to take a
look at our own lives and what we have contributed to humanity. The song asks
why humanity can't learn to live together in peace, and then in the same breath
provides the answer: that there are just some people who don't understand anything
besides death and killing. The song ends on a negative tone asking us "But do
you think that they care? They benefit from death and pain and despair," but
that the song exists at all reminds us that there are reasonable people out
there asking if it is all necessary. The album treads the thin line between
philosophical discussion and political commentary, and I believe it stays just
on that line - as the band intended. It questions impartially and forces us
to provide our own answers. All in all this is a truly great album both musically
and lyrically.
Dec 22, 2006 -
Christmas is almost here! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. The F150 I promised earlier is finished and posted on my gallery page.
Dec 15, 2006 -
So, with two weeks of work in the books, I'm diggin'
the new job. Photo texturing is challenging, but I'm really enjoying it so far.
My co-workers are nice despite the fact that the office I'm currently in is
being closed down, so there are only three people here, none of whom are on
my project. I've been working on a model of a Ford F150 XLT as a photo texturing
practice piece, which I'll probably post after I complete it.
Dec 04, 2006 -
Today was my first day at Camber. I mostly just filled out paperwork, but I'm so excited that this job has finally started. Tomorrow I start my first day of real work at the Springfield office.
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