Crave, Brave and Shine: Crave

If you've never heard of the band "The Swell Season", you'd probably recognize their music. You might have been introuduced through the 2008 film "Once." You know, the one that won the Academy Award for music written for a motion picture... Falling Slowly.. No? That's ok, I don't follow sports, so this is what I do with my spare time. If you get a chance, and you love music at all, check out the movie "Once".

The album from the motion picture did so well, they figured they'd go out on tour together. They went out and formed "The Swell Season." Their latest album, "Strict Joy" is definitely worth a listen whether it's your kind of music or not. There's a depth of emotion on this album that has a way of somehow delving deep into hurt and the struggles of love. It's almost as if they have a psychology degree in pain and it comes out on screen and in their music. Their dynamic tension lends to the feeling that they've tapped into this real life and it hurts but it's beautiful.

I fell in love with the song "This Low." It starts off as a couple is discussing their parting of ways and then during their discussion there's this switch in direction. They start talking about Light.

Shine the light, Don't hide the light, Live the light, and give the light, seek the light, and speak the light, crave the light, and brave the light, stare the light, and share the light, show the light, and know the light, raise the light, and praise the light, thread the light, and spread the light

You see this depth of pain in parting but also they're holding on to this expectancy that there is a future. There's a possibility they might be able to get out of "This Low" and there's really no place but up from here.

This song screams a way of life that is better. There is a way out.. There is a life to be lived. There's a light for us all to seek after and wrap ourselves up in. There's a light to chase after with tears in our eyes. There's a light to muscle after.

This song reeks of an eternal truth that whether we're parting ways with someone or have fallen into a pit of despair with some struggle, there's always an eternal light to show us the way out and to bring us hope.