Luminous Student Ministries - Amelia Church of Christ

Here are the 10 albums that I think will rock the boat this year in Christian Music. Make sure to click on the photos of the artists or albums to visit their websites.

And now in the immortal words of Heath Ledger…..

“And here…we….GO!”

#10 – Rebecca St. James – “untitled”
Release Date – Sometime Late 2009

Rebecca St. James has been at the “forefront”(no pun intended) of Christian Music since her debut album “Refresh My Heart” in 1991. Her Rock style of music countered by her Pop style of vocals makes her an easy artist to listen to. I gave up on her a little while back when she seemed to be catering to a specific style of music, but then in 2005 she released “If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something” and instantly I was hooked again. Say what you want about her style and music, but she is a juggernaut in the world of Christian Music. Her new album will be a tour-de-force if it’s anything like the last one.

#9 – Skillet – “untitled”
Release Date – Summer 2009

Skillet was a band that dropped off the face of the planet after their hit song “Best Kept Secret.” A lot of us thought that they were just going to be a one-hit wonder, but boy, were we wrong. They were quietly building momentum for something huge. In 2001, Skillet released an album entitled “Alien Youth” which I really didn’t pay much attention to. I remember picking up a New Music Sampler CD in the Christian Bookstore and Skillet’s title track from that album was on it. I listened to it and kind of shrugged my shoulders, but nothing, NOTHING could have prepared me for what happened in 2003. Skillet released their album entitled “Collide”, and I couldn’t take it out of my CD Player (they didn’t have iPod’s yet.) I love every single song on the album. As a matter of fact, it was my second favorite CD of that year. Fast forward to 2006, where Skillet releases “Comatose”. Not as good as “Collide”, but certainly very good. We used their song “Rebirthing” from that album as our Nexus intro theme last year. I think that Skillet will do a good job with their new album.They usually put a lot of time and thought into their music and lyrics, so we’ll wait and see.

#8 – tobyMac – “untitled”
Release Date – Summer/Fall 2009

Toby Mackeehan was the first Christian artist I can remember laying ears on. Except, he came in a package with two other guys in a well known band by the name of dc Talk. I was an instant fan and stayed a huge fan until the band (AHEM! Kevin Max. cough, cough) decided to break up in 2001 and pursue solo projects. Toby became known as tobyMac and launched a very successful solo career. 3 solid albums later, I find that I can’t get enough “Mac” in my music diet. I didn’t think that “Portable Sounds” (2007) was as good as “Welcome to Diverse City” (2004), but tobyMac is a solid artist that you can count on to deliver the jams time and time again. I can’t wait for his new offering this year. Oh and will someone call Kevin Max up for me and tell him that dc Talk needs to do a reunion tour. I miss my Jesus Freaks!

#7 – Decyfer Down – “Crash”
Release Date – February 10th, 2009

You know you like Hard Rock. And lately, a lot of bands have been trying to mimic a Harder Rock sound. Not a lot do it successfully and they end up sounding like carbon copies of Creed, Disturbed, or Three Days Grace. Enter Decyfer Down – a little band from the dirty, dirty south. In 2006 they release a small, ten song album entitled the “End of Grey”. I couldn’t stop listening to it. Their music just hooked me in a way that hadn’t happened since Seventh Day Slumber came along. Great lyrics, tight guitar riffs and Melodic sweeping symphonies lifted this album to my top ten in ‘06. This album also netted my top song of ‘06 with “No Longer.” In 2008, Decyfer Down had almost completed the “Crash” album when they lost their lead singer, Caleb Oliver. Since then, they have been working feverishly to find a new singer (which they have) and re-record fresh vocals on their tracks. I have heard three songs from their new album and I must say, it rocks harder than “End of Grey” did. I’ll have to see how this album pans out though before I make a final determination on it.

#6 – Switchfoot - “untitled”
Release Date – March 24th, 2009

Okay, I have to credit my wife with this one. I didn’t like Switchfoot when they released their first couple of albums. I thought their music was a little too “Pop” for me and although I enjoyed their song “A New Way to Be Human”, the other ones really fell short. My wife really liked them though, so we somehow ended up with their albums. Fast forward to 2003. I took a youth group to CIY’s Summer Conference like I do every summer and their theme that year was “To Live.” As the intro for their Celebration services, they used a song called “Meant to Live” and I couldn’t figure out which band had done the song. I came back home still wondering and then I heard it on the radio and the D.J. said, “That’s Switchfoot with their new song “Meant to Live.” “ I shook my head in disbelief. There was no way. Switchfoot? Write a really good song? Yeah. It turns out they not only did they write a great song, they wrote a whole stinking great album. 2003’s “The Beautiful Letdown” is the only reason that Skillet didn’t have the top CD that year. Every song on that album was pure genius – to the point that I wondered if Switchfoot hadn’t pulled a switch and changed their tactics. Well, now 2 albums later, I love everything they write. They have had two dynamite albums since ‘03 and I expect their new one to be just as good. Here’s to hoping they never go back to the “Legend of Chin.”

#5 – David Crowder*Band – “untitled”
Release Date – Late 2009

It would appear that the name “David Crowder” is synonymous with the term “Great Worship Music.” The dichotomy between usable worship music and awesome worship music widened when this worship leader from the heart of Texas took the stage at CIY in the 1990’s. This band has set the tone for what worship music should be, and that’s glorifying God. Their album “A Collision or (3+4=7)” in 2005 remains my top worship album of all time. Crowder released “Remedy” in 2007 and,although not as strong as “A Collision”, it still had some great stuff on it. Since then, they have put out a live CD/DVD combo which took album #8 in my top ten of last year. I cannot wait to see what they have in store for us this year. New worship stuff is always great, but when it comes from DC*B, it’s simply phenomenal.

#4 – Falling Up – “Fangs”
Release Date – April 7th, 2009

This is where we’ll take a departure from the Hard Rock genre for just a little bit. In 2004 a little known band released a single called “Broken Heart” from the album “Crashings”. I took notice because it was Hard Rock. However, when I picked up the album, it was nothing like what I expected. I love Falling Up’s music because I cannot classify it. They are a lot like Coldplay in the sense that you never know what to expect musically from them, but you’ll love whatever they do. Now, they sound nothing like Coldplay, but Falling Up’s music becomes almost visual if you close your eyes and listen to it. Their last album in 2007 – “Captiva” was a work of genius. Not many people liked it, but it’s probably because Falling Up went in a new direction musically with the album. I love “Captiva” and if “Fangs” is anything like it, I’ll love it also.

#3 – Mute Math - “Clockwork” (working title)
Release Date – Spring 2009

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, there was a little New Orleans Rock/Jazz/Fusion Band by the name of Earthsuit. This five man combo spearheaded by Paul Meany and Adam LeClave put out a hit album entitled “Kaleidoscope Superior.” Thus was born a brand new style of music that few dare try to imitate. Fast forward a couple of years to the inevitable breakup of the band and the formation of two new ones. LeClave formed the band Macrosick and Paul Meany went on to form the group known as Mute Math. I followed them both, having been a huge fan of Earthsuit, but when Macrosick went nowhere and Mute Math hadn’t put an album out, I became extremely disappointed. Then, in the year 2004, an E.P. hit store shelves from Mute Math. I was so excited that I went immediately and got it and was not disappointed. It sounded like Earthsuit’s music, just without the grungy rap-style vocals from Paul Meany. I loved it. Then, to my ecstatic joy, two years later we got the self-titled debut from Mute Math which sold well over a million copies. However, the band hasn’t been heard from since that time. But as luck would have it, they plan to release something brand new this spring. I’ve heard a couple of tunes from this “secret” album and I think they’re dynamite. Look for this album to be one of the hottest of the year.

#2 – Seventh Day Slumber – “Take Everything”
Release Date – March 10th, 2009

I took the students to the Acquire the Fire Convention in Louisville, KY in 2003. We usually see bands that perform at those conventions, but typically they’re bands we already know in advance. Playing at the convention that year was a no-name Indie band called Seventh Day Slumber. We weren’t too excited to see them because we hadn’t heard them, but after their concert, we were in awe. Their music combined with lead singer Joseph Rojas’ lyrics make this band a force to be reckoned with. They went on to have a single from their 2005 album make an appearance on MTV Jams. I just got word that they are prepping a worship album and as there are not too many hard rock worship albums out there, this one piques my interest. I had a worship album as number 2 last year. I just hope this one doesn’t disappoint. We’ll see.

So who’s number One?

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#1 – RED – “Innocence & Instinct”
Release Date – February 10th, 2009

In 2006 another no-name band broke onto the Rock scene. This time, they did it through scary tactics and dark foreboding music. “End of Silence” was a cry for people to admit that they are helpless without Jesus. But nothing could have prepared us for what this album would sound like. The album quickly went to #1 on all of the Christian Rock charts, as well as high as #7 on the secular charts. The lyrics scream of originality, while holding onto reality. They define a generation who is lost, broken, battered and desperately in need of Christ. The symphonic strings behind Distortion driven guitars launched Red into the stratosphere of rock music. This album was a shocker and garnered the best new band award from me in 2006. I cannot wait for this album. I will be at the store Feb 10th to procure my copy.

So, did I get it right? Only time will tell. Look for my blog near the end of 2009 to see whether I nailed it, or like last year, only got half of them right.

Make it a great week.
-Brian

Those of you who know me, know that I love music. I am always trying to find fresh bands to listen to and new music to collect. Last year, I wrote a post entitled Top Ten Albums Upcoming of 2008. This post was set to showcase what I thought would be big hits in 2008. Was I right or wrong? This post will showcase what I actually thought the top ten albums were in 2008. So, without further ado, we’re off!

You can listen to samples of songs from all of these albums on the new Music & More Page.

#10 – Matt Maher – “Empty & Beautiful”
Ranking in 2008 – unranked

I love worship albums. I heard a song that was written by Matt Maher several years ago called “Your Grace is Enough.” It is a song that we use in our regular rotating worship set at ACC. Chris Tomlin used it on his album “Arriving.” But I never got the entire scope of Matt Maher until I heard this album. Matt has a unique talent for penning lyrics and his music seems to seep into the very core of your soul. Great tracks are included on this one such as the wildly popular “For Your Glory” which may find its way into the regular worship rotation at ACC. Hint-Hint. If you love worship music, definitely pick this one up.

#9 – Jeremy Camp – “Speaking Louder Than Before”
Ranking in 2008 – unranked

When Jeremy Camp’s first album “Stay” was released in 2002, I knew I was going to have to watch this guy. Then, I had the opportunity to see him live and was finally able to put a label on him. I love Jeremy Camp’s music and his lyrics are phenomenal. His new offering – “Speaking Louder Than Before” is one of his better albums to date. Songs such as “Slow Down Time” and “Capture Me” continue the driving rock and roll that Camp has become famous for, but its the mellow offerings from “There Will Be a Day” that really captured me on this one. Jeremy Camp is always a good bet and if I had more time to listen to this one before this post (it just came out November 24th) it might have ranked a little higher on this list.

#8 – David Crowder*Band – “Remedy Club Tour”
Ranking in 2008 – unranked

Honestly, I should have seen far enough in advance to add this one to my top ten upcoming for 2008 – but being a re-release of most of their hits, (even though I knew it was going to be a live album), I should have put this one down because DC*B is my favorite worship band to listen to. This CD/DVD combo absolutely blew me away. I have seen DC*B enough times live to get the full effect of their concerts, but if you’ve never seen them live, you need to check out this album. Not only does it come loaded with over 15 songs including almost the entire “Remedy” album, but the DVD also has the live concert plus lessons from the band on how to play the songs and backstage footage. This one blew me away. I love it and you will too if you give it a listen.

#7 – Disciple – “Southern Hospitality”
Ranking in 2008 – unranked

Are you noticing that none of these albums that have been on the list so far were ranked by me in the 2008 post? Clocking in at Number 7, it’s Disciple’s latest offering “Southern Hospitality.” I have a soft spot for Hard Rock since I grew up listening to bands such as Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots. Disciple is pretty much the heaviest stuff I will listen to because I feel a need to be able to discern the lyrics when a band is singing. I was not as impressed with Disciple’s last outing “Scars Remain” as much as I am with their new one. I instantly rocked out with the song “3-2-1″ and the title track “Southern Hospitality” which is just pure vintage Disciple Music, but the biggest surprise for me was the song “Whatever Reason” which is a call for people who resemble the Prodigal Son. This song ended up in my top ten list of songs this year (which I will post at some point) and also it gave this album the number 7 spot on my chart. If you are a hard rock fan, you should not miss this album.

#6 – Anberlin – “New Surrender”
Ranking in 2008 – #5

Finally! One I predicted! Anberlin comes in at Number Six, even though I predicted them at Number Five. It wasn’t that their album didn’t do as well as I predicted, but there were just some better ones than this one. That being said, “New Surrender” is a solid outing from this band who has risen to a serious level of stardom lately. They have been featured on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and their single from “New Surrender” entitled “The Feel Good Drag” is being used to kick off major sporting events around the world, including the outdoor Hockey Game that was recently played at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL. This album is not quite on par with “Cities”, or “Blueprints for the Blackmarket”, but it is very good. I have enjoyed listening to it and when it first came out, it didn’t leave my CD player for at least two weeks. If you enjoy U2, or Jimmy Eat World, give these guys a shot.

#5 – Lincoln Brewster – “Today is the Day”
Ranking in 2008 – unranked

Yes, I know – another unranked one. I must have been way off in 2008. Either that, or the bands I trusted didn’t put out good albums. Lincoln Brewster is God’s gift to guitar players. I had the opportunity to see him open for Third Day back in 1998 when he was fresh out of college and had just released his “self-titled” worship album. Having never heard of him before, I was instantly amazed at his skill with a guitar. Now, more than ten years later, you can’t call it skill anymore. Lincoln has a gift – not only for playing the guitar, but for owning it. I listen to the solos and riffs that he puts out now and after picking my jaw off the ground, I find myself exclaiming “No one should be allowed to do that…ever!” His guitar skills are just plain sick. And I mean that in the best way possible. I love his songs. His worshipful lyrics speak to me and are songs that I use in my own personal time of worship with God. This one wins 2nd best worship album of the year for me and overall, Number 5 on my chart. It is well worth the $13.99 you’ll pay for it.

#4 – Kutless – “To Know That You’re Alive”
Ranking in 2008 – #4

Hey! Not only did I get another one right, I drilled it in the number category also! Weighing in at Number 4 is Kutless with their Sixth Album – “To Know That You’re Alive.” With it, they bring the hardest material by this band to date. Their last album – “Hearts of the Innocent” could best be described as a “Wussie” album. Not that I didn’t like it, but it wasn’t the same kind of hard rock that I became used to from this band. Now, with their sixth album, they’ve finally listened to the fans and have brought their grunge feel back to the forefront. With gritty vocals and screaming electric guitars, Kutless’s new album is everything I had hoped that it would be. Songs like “The Feeling” and “The Disease & The Cure” remind me of Kutless’s first album while the song “Complete” feels more like the “Sea of Faces” album. Great songs and great lyrics combine to make this one a Tour-de-force. If they continue this trend, their next album will be even better.

#3 – Third Day – “Revelation”
Ranking in 2008 – #10

2008 saw a lot of change in the world of Christian music and one of those changes was the exit of Brad Avery from one of my favorite bands, Third Day. Avery had been a staple in the band since its inception back in 1994 and was known for his southern rock guitar solos and riffs. I thought that the band would head in a downward direction musically because of the loss, but I was dead wrong! Revelation may be my second favorite Third Day record of all time. (Nothing will ever surpass “Time”)
This album showcases the now four-piece band doing exactly what Kutless did this year – going back to their roots. This album features all of the southern gospel rock you could possibly handle and it includes vocals from special guests, like Chris Daughtry and Lacey Mosely from Flyleaf. I love the songs “This is Who I Am”, “Slow Down” and the title track “Revelation” may be my favorite Third Day song in years. Pick this album up if you like Southern Gospel Rock and even if you don’t like that style of music, you will not be disappointed. Third Day has something for everyone.

#2 – Starfield – “I Will Go”
Ranking in 2008 – #2

Sweet! Another one I got exactly right! Starfield is an amazing worship band and their new album “I Will Go” is a call to all Christians to stand up and head wherever God leads them. Now, I need to clarify something. I wrote in my post last year that I thought this album could surpass “A Collision” as my favorite worship album ever, but sadly, it fell just short. (Apparently DC*B is just too much of a juggernaut.) That is not to say that this album didn’t come in at Number 2 though. There is not a song on this album that I do not like. Every time a song from this album shuffles up on my iPod, I will listen to it. It doesn’t matter which song. Oh and ACC’ers, you will be hearing from Starfield this year because there are at least three songs on this album that I would love to add to our regular worship rotation. Pick this album up if you’re a worship enthusiast, or if you’re looking to add some new songs to your own personal worship time.

So, did I get the number one album right?

Was it even on my list?

I have to tell you, this one shocked me.

Number One

For 2008

Was the album…..

….

…

..

#1 – Fireflight – “Unbreakable”
Ranking in 2008 – #7

Talk about your shockers! When I first listened to Fireflight’s album “The Healing of Harms” in 2006, it was because I loved the band Day of Fire and their lead singer, Josh Brown sang a duet with Fireflight’s lead singer Dawn Richardson on the song “You Decide” which became a big hit in Christian Radio. I decided to listen to the rest of “The Healing of Harms” and by all accounts, it was a mediocre album with a few good songs such as “Waiting” and “Attitude.” The band Evanescence was big at the time and it seemed like everyone was just trying to mimic their sound like everyone mimicked Creed when they first became popular, so I really didn’t give Fireflight the attention that they may have deserved. Fast-forward to 2008. Fireflight releases the single “Unbreakable” from their upcoming album and immediately, it goes to number 3 on all of the Christian Rock charts. I was intrigued and so I listened to it, remembering the band I heard in 2006. It was nothing like “The Healing of Harms” and nothing like Evanescence. It was a musical symphony that was so satisfying, it almost became visual music. I love every single track on this album, and my wife, Cara, who never really cared as much as I do for harder music, also loves this album. Songs such as “Brand New Day” and “You Gave Me a Promise” scream about hope and the song “The Hunger” will definitely make my top ten songs list from 2008. Great, great stuff. If you are a fan of hard rock music, but are tired of the depressive lyrics and melodies, but love its edgy sound, give Fireflight a try. Album of the year for me.

So what about the other albums that I predicted would do well? As far as they go, Family Force 5’s “Dance or Die” was the biggest letdown of the year for me. They completely changed their sound from their original album that everyone loved and now, they’re going to have to listen to the fans if they want to redeem themselves. Also, P.O.D. brought back their first guitarist Marcos Curiel on “When Angels and Serpents Dance” and their music went downhill as well. Pillar did what Pillar always seems to do with “For the Love of the Game”, but their songs are beginning to sound repetitive. And the one I thought might surprise this year was The Showdown, but they went back to their Death Metal roots with “Back Breaker” and I couldn’t understand half of the lyrics in the songs. It just sounds like angry noise.

What will 2009 bring? Next week, we’ll get to that as I showcase what I believe will be the top ten albums to watch in 2009. Will I be right again? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Make it a great week.
-Brian

A week ago I wrote a post entitled Top Ten Villains which you can check out by going here.

This week we’re tackling my top ten favorite fictional heroes of all time.

Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I would be absolutely nothing without him and, like Satan topping my all time bad-guy list, Jesus tops my Heroes list indefinitely. But what about the stars to grace the silver and small screens. What about those in novels or comic books? What about the gaming world. Everywhere we look, we are exposed to heroes of young and old. Heroes of myth and legend, and so, I have decided to comprise a list of my top ten favorites. As with the villains list, you may have your own favorites, and whether you agree or disagree, I don’t care because this is my blog, not yours!

With all that being said, we’re off:

First, I want to tackle a couple of mentionables. Ones that I thought were good, just not good enough to make this list. When I read Greek mythology growing up, I was always partial to Hercules, and so I will mention him as close to the top, yet not Top Ten material. The same is true with heores such as: Conan the Barbarian, William Wallace, Zorro, John Mclaine (Die Hard), Luke Skywalker, Doc Holliday, and Green Lantern. They are all good heroes, and they embody positive characteristics, but they’re just not good enough. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.

#10 – George Bailey – “It’s a Wonderful Life”

George Bailey is Frank Capra’s invention of a man who grew up in the middle of small town America in the 1920’s and 30’s. He was a man who wanted to ride off into the sunset and see the world, but his Father’s untimely death, coupled with the crash of the stock market, forced George to stay in Bedford Falls and keep his father’s business and dream alive for the poor in the town. Jimmy Stewart does a marvelous job capturing every single emotion possible known to humans and the heartfelt ending is one of the best I can remember ever seeing in a film. George Bailey is a great example of what a role-model should be and his emotional integrity earns him the number ten spot in my countdown.

#9 – Master Chief – “Halo”

In the 26th Century, Earth will come to wage a war against multiple allied alien races that call themselves “The Covenant.” To combat these alien races, geneticists create a super soldier, bred for combat and tactics. His Spartan-2 Mjolnir armor weighs over a thousand pounds and can withstand multiple gunshot and explosive device shrapnel. It allows him to breathe underwater and in outer space. It also allows him to jump over eight feet high and run at speeds of up to thirty miles an hour sustained. Let me introduce you to Master Chief. You take control of him as you wage war on the covenant in Bungie’s epic trilogy of Halo games for the XBOX and XBOX 360. Master Chief is the ultimate soldier and these games would not have been as much fun without this character as the lead. He comes in solidly at my number nine spot.

#8 – Jack Sparrow – “Pirates of the Caribbean”

Hero or Villain? I say Hero, even though he manages to cause more chaos than he solves. Jack Sparrow was always about serving himself and his own desires, but when I go to the movies and end up cheering for a character and rooting them on, I say they’re a hero, especially when they save someone else’s life quite a few times. Jack Sparrow is the quasi-captain of the Black Pearl, a pirate ship with black sails that can outrun any ship in the King’s navy. Jack ends up being shot at, turning undead, imprisoned, marooned on a desert-island, imprisoned again, eaten by a monster known as the Kraken, pursued by Davy Jones, afloat in a casket on the ocean, left in Davy Jones locker, and eventually captain of his ship again. His uproarious lines and quick witted humor, (minus the scene from At World’s End where he talks to himself, and himself, and himself), lands Jack the number 8 spot in my countdown.

#7 – Superman – “Superman”

Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Look, up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, It’s number seven on the list and it’s superman. The Man of Steel. He flies, he’s fast, bullets bounce off him, he’s got super breath, super strength, lasers from his eyes. This guy almost has it all. I wanted to be Superman when I was growing up. I remember having a pair of superman pajamas and I would run around in them all day long. I loved Superman. Oh and Christopher Reeve will always be the ONLY Superman ever. I couldn’t stand Brandon Routh as the new one. That guy was terrible.

#6 – James Bond – (Most Recently) “Casino Royale”

I know right now you’re humming that familiar theme song. The one that goes with the coolest secret agent ever. 007. The only man to ever be known by a number. James Bond 007 is a fictional character created in 1952 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in 12 novels and two collections.The character has also been used in the longest running and second most successful film franchise to date, starting in 1962 with Dr. No. There have been 21 films in the EON Productions series to date, with the 22nd, Quantum of Solace, due for release in November 2008.

#5 – Wolverine – “X-Men”

If you’re a villain and you know that this guy’s on your tail, you’re shaking in your boots. Wolverine is the baddest of the bad, (I mean like bad meaning good), heroes ever. A mutant, Wolverine possesses animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, and a healing factor that allows him to recover from virtually any wound. This healing ability enabled the supersoldier program Weapon X to bond the near indestructible metal alloy adamantium to his skeletal system. He is also a master of hand-to-hand combat and martial arts. Oh, and I forgot to mention the claws and the bad attitude. He clocks in at number 5.

#4 – Han Solo – “Star Wars”

“Laugh it up fuzzball.” Han Solo the captain of the Millennium Falcon in the three Star Wars films and marvelous portrayed by actor Harrison Ford. Solo is introduced in Star Wars: A New Hope as a roguish spice smuggler who, through a twist of fate, becomes involved in the Rebel Alliance against the evil Galactic Empire. Over the course of this film and its sequels, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Solo becomes a chief figure in the Alliance. Star Wars creator George Lucas describes him as “a loner who realizes the importance of being part of a group and helping for the common good.”

#3 – Indiana Jones – “Raiders of the Lost Ark”

If you thought that Han Solo looked a little like Indiana Jones, it’s because they were played by the same actor, Harrison Ford. Indiana Jones was first introduced in the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark, set in 1936. He is portrayed as an adventurous throwback to the 1930s film serial treasure hunters and pulp action heroes, with an alter ego of Doctor Jones, a respected archaeologist at Marshall College – a fictional university in Connecticut. I’m sure now you’ve ditched the James Bond theme song and you have the famous John Williams March running through your head. Oh and grab your whip and head out to your local theaters because the only hero you can see there right now that’s on this list is our number 3 hero.

#2 – Link – “The Legend of Zelda”

Ah! Hyrule. Kingdom of Magic and mystery. Kingdom of faeries, fountains, and forests. Kingdom of the Triforce. Kingdom that gets turned upside down about every five years in a time-line that makes no sense, with a princess that always gets captured and an enemy that seemingly will never die. Is that enough for you? Well it’s not enough for our number 2 hero, Link. Link is a young Hylian boy from our fictional land of Hyrule. His age varies depending on which game you’re playing; incarnations usually vary from pre-teen to the late teens. Link often journeys through the realm of Hyrule defeating evil forces and Hyrule’s nemesis, Ganon. To defeat Ganon, Link usually requires the mystical Master Sword and Light Arrows, obtained after many trials and battles gathering magical objects or using other items such as musical instruments and assorted weaponry. This is my favorite video game hero of all time. As a matter of fact, when I heard that they were making the new Zelda, Twilight Princess, I had to go and get a Gamecube just to see what it was like. If you have ever played video games and have never heard of this guy, you’ve been living under a rock.

So Who’s my number One hero?

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#1 – Batman – “Batman”

If there was ever a hero that would strike fear into the hearts of heartless criminals, it would be this one. Batman is the ultimate hero because there is absolutely nothing special about him. Whatsoever. Batman has no special abilities like healing or flying. He has no superpowers or abilities. What Batman has is his brain and his never-ending cash-flow. As his alter-ego Bruce Wayne, he makes the money during the day which he turns around and uses to fight crime as Batman during the nights. Batman also has the most diverse rogues gallery around. Some of his villains are sick and twisted and if I had included any of them on the villains list, I would have had to include all of them because they are like a package deal. Batman is dark, he is fearful, and his is magnificent at the same time. The character of Bruce Wayne is a psychologist’s dream and the richness of the storylines that surround this character are phenomenal.

So, there you have it. Heroes and Villains. If you’re still hungry for more, you can go and compare the Heroes and Villains on the lists and try to see who would win the battle between both number 8’s or both number 5’s. Either way, I’m done with the top ten list for a little while, so I’ll see you Sunday!