YOUR WORDS ARE NOT MINE
Despite some accusations to the contrary, we do try to be balanced and fair here at Down The Line.  Except against the music industry giant, of course. Most people get this… but we still get surprised at those that don’t. Not that they don’t get it, but the weird logical leaps they go through to prove (to us, at least) that they don’t.

A few people need to learn that printing someone else’s position in a magazine does not equal to us agreeing (or disagreeing) with what they say.   The Earth is not going to stop rotating because someone else got to say something that I don’t like.

Of course, this is really just part of the culture we live in. How many million blog posts have been written just because someone has to get the last word in? The older I get, the less I care about correcting every wrong sentence in the world and the more I become concerned with righting what is wrong in me or the people that I am called to advocate for (my friends and the needy).

Action Spotlight:
Don’t just complain about the world – do something to change it

Streams of Mercy is transforming the lives of orphans around the world by partnering with existing orphanages to raise awareness, to raise funding, and to send volunteer work teams. Streams of Mercy was “established to meet the needs of the most needy individuals in nations around the world. These individuals are often children who are desperate and helpless in changing their circumstances. The organization is actively involved in disaster relief, both man-made and natural, by mobilizing volunteers and resources to assist those in need.” streamsofmercy.org (Streams of Mercydid not buy this ad nor do they endorse this magazine – just givin’ ya food for thought)

Print Articles:

• Letters to Us
• News
• Steve’s Corner
• Matt’s Musings and Meanderings
• Joey Taylor: “Ojo Uncovered”
• 4-4-1: “The 80’s were a lifetime ago for all of us…”
• Paravell: “A Lifetime Of Stars And Dreams”
• Ryan Weaver: “The Timeless Tradition of Tattooing”
• Bill Walden: “continuing the discussion on Homosexuality, God and the Church”
• Brian Kirsch: “Sterling Dishes On Life, Pain, Regression And Mr.Sunshine”
• Was It So Bad? by Josh Lory

Reviews:

• Jimmy Hotz – Beyond the Crystal Sea (30th Anniversary Edition)
• Lost Dogs – Old Angel
• Ojo – Relative
• mewithoutyou – It’s All Crazy! It’s All False ! It’s All A Dream ! It’s Alright!
• The Choir – Burning Like The Midnight Sun
• Maylene & The Suns Of Disaster – III
• Doug Burr – O Ye Devastator
• King Never – Possibilities
• A Hill To Die Upon – Infinite Titanic Immortal
• Vision – Mountain In the Sky
• Vision – Vision
• Voice Of The Mysterons – They Have Pulled Down Deep Heaven On Their Heads
• Grave Digger – Inner Sanctum
• Disaffection – Begin the Revolution
• Rex Carroll Band – That Was Then, This Is Now
• My Silent Wake/The Drowning split
• King James – The Fall (re-issue)
• Adiastasia – Life War (Collector’s Edition)
• Blood and Water – In Character

Credits:

EDITORS: Matt Crosslin and Steve Ruff
MARKETING: Ulike-a Youtellafriend
WRITERS: Steve Ruff, Matt Crosslin, Joshua Lory
COVER IMAGE: Ojo Taylor by Susan Ann Luce
LAYOUT: Matt Crosslin
WEB DESIGN: Matt Crosslin for Monsoon River Designs

Contact:

WEBSITE: www.downthelinezine.com
EDITORIAL: downthelinezine@gmail.com
ADS/MARKETING: downthelinezine@gmail.com
MYSPACE: myspace.com/downthelinezine
TWITTER: twitter.com/downthelinezine

Subscriptions:

U.S.A. – $0, Canada – $0
International – $0
Online – $0

More info:
downthelinezine.com/subscribe

If You Move:

Don’t lose your computer – you won’t be able to download the newest issue without one.

Write Us:

Letters and comments need to contain your full name. All submissions become property of Down the Line E-zine and may be edited or condensed. Or even printed out and framed if you really kiss our… um… never mind…

Vision:

Down the Line covers bands that explored the intersection between faith and art in the 1980s through the early 1990s – even though they were probably never accepted in to what is called “Contemporary Christian Music” because they were too edgy or alternative or liberal or for whatever reason. Some of these bands may still be making music today, and others may have moved on. We cover these bands (active or dormant) as well as any new projects by former members of these bands and any new bands that may have the same spirit as these bands.

ALL IMAGE AND STORIES ARE THE COPY RIGHT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CREATOR. YOU MUST HAVE PERMISSION TO RE-USE, RE-PUBLISH, OR RE-PRINT ANYTHING IN THIS MAGAZINE. SO THERE.

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CAN YOU HANDLE THE TRUTH?
“Without vision, the people perish.” Or another way to put it: Without a clear vision of what to do, the loonies will come in and force their agenda. This is exactly what is happening with the homosexuality issue in the church: so few want to deal with it, so the loonies like the “God Hates Fags” movement rush in to fill the void. I am completely convinced that God hates the spirit behind the people that promote such hatred. But since the church won’t deal with the issue – sometimes even pretending that it doesn’t exist – we have to deal with the extremes whackos.

The Bible challenges everyone to change and grow – so to just saying that we are who we are and there is nothing we can do about it doesn’t agree with about half of the scriptures out there. But the whole “can’t you just stop sinning and being gay?” philosophy hasn’t ever worked for anyone, either.

We don’t have the answers. We just want to raise the question. You might come to a very different conclusion than we would. That is okay. The important thing is to think and talk and engage an issue instead of ignoring it.

Print Articles:

• Steve’s Corner
• Sean Doty: Behind the Veil…
• Veil of Ashes: A Special Pictorial Section
• dUg Pinnick: There is No Room Inside a Box
• Ric Alba extensive interview
• Santo Porta of St. John Lateran by Rick McDonough (2009)

Reviews:

• Veil of Ashes – Pain
• Ric Alba – Holes in the Floor of Heaven
• King’s X – XV

Credits:

EDITORS: Matt Crosslin and Steve Ruff
MARKETING: Ulike-a Youtellafriend
WRITERS: Steve Ruff, Matt Crosslin, Joshua Lory
LAYOUT: Matt Crosslin
WEB DESIGN: Matt Crosslin for Monsoon River Designs

Contact:

WEBSITE: www.downthelinezine.com
EDITORIAL: downthelinezine@gmail.com
ADS/MARKETING: downthelinezine@gmail.com
MYSPACE: myspace.com/downthelinezine
TWITTER: twitter.com/downthelinezine

Subscriptions:

U.S.A. – $0, Canada – $0
International – $0
Online – $0

More info:
downthelinezine.com/subscribe

If You Move:

Don’t lose your computer – you won’t be able to download the newest issue without one.

Write Us:

Letters and comments need to contain your full name. All submissions become property of Down the Line E-zine and may be edited or condensed. Or even printed out and framed if you really kiss our… um… never mind…

Vision:

Down the Line covers bands that explored the intersection between faith and art in the 1980s through the early 1990s – even though they were probably never accepted in to what is called “Contemporary Christian Music” because they were too edgy or alternative or liberal or for whatever reason. Some of these bands may still be making music today, and others may have moved on. We cover these bands (active or dormant) as well as any new projects by former members of these bands and any new bands that may have the same spirit as these bands.

ALL IMAGE AND STORIES ARE THE COPY RIGHT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CREATOR. YOU MUST HAVE PERMISSION TO RE-USE, RE-PUBLISH, OR RE-PRINT ANYTHING IN THIS MAGAZINE. SO THERE.

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LIFE IS CONTROVERSIAL
The great thing about putting out a free magazine is that no one really complains about anything.  We can be as controversial or as lame as we want to be – it’s not like we have to give refunds.

Everything in life is controversial to some degree. People fight about how to improve healthcare, whether vinyl or digital is better, and over how to load a toilet paper roll.

But the truth of the matter is that we don’t try to be controversial or even seek out controversial subjects. They just seem to find their way to us. If you think some of the issues we touch on here might rattle some cages, wait until you see the upcoming special issue.  This special issue will deal with a specific topic instead of a musician.  More details will be coming soon.

Until then, make sure you have signed up for the free subscriptions – get DTL emailed straight to your inbox.

Action Spotlight:
Don’t just complain about the world – do something to change it

Microcredit is “the extension of very small loans (microloans) to the unemployed, to poor entrepreneurs and to others living in poverty who are not considered bankable.”  While some institutions take advantage of the poor by charging high interest rates, some organizations provide microloans that allow the poor to start a business and learn to provide for themselves.  Once these businesses are sustainable, the business owner can repay the loan and start helping others to start small businesses.  The goal is to help people willing to work to begin supporting themselves.  Organizations like Kiva (http://www.kiva.org) can make this process easy for those of us in the Western world to support those who are less fortunate than us.  Visit their page to see how you can help. (Kiva did not buy this ad nor do they endorse this magazine – just givin’ ya food for thought)

Print Articles:

• Letters to Us
• News
• Steve’s Corner
• Matt’s Musings and Meanderings
• dUg Pinnick: “catches us up on his solo album, a couple of side projects and some pretty cool Kings X news”
• Doug Burr: “Faith, Family and the Christ-Haunted South”
• While Rome is Burning: “The Mix and the Music”
• Jim Chaffin: “Pounding the Skins”
• Bride: “Bombs Away!”
• Maugrim: “The Dark Ambient Aim”
• Bill Mallonee: “Eternal Sunrise, Eternal Sunset, Eternal Dawn & Gloaming”
• Tattoo You: Dave Quiggle
• Delaware Morning by Rick McDonough (2008)

Reviews:

• dUg Pinnick – Strum Sum Up
• L.S. Underground – PTSD
• Doug Burr – The Shawl
• While Rome is Burning – S/T
• Bride – Tsar Bomba
• The Wayside – Spiritual Songs
• L.S. Underground – The Grape Prophet
• Gasoline Heart – Nostalgia Ain’t What It Used To Be
• War of Ages – S/T
• Vigilantes of Love – Live at Eddies
• Map – Speechless
• The Langley Sisters – Queen Bee 7″

Credits:

EDITORS: Matt Crosslin and Steve Ruff
MARKETING: Ulike-a Youtellafriend
WRITERS: Steve Ruff, Matt Crosslin, Joshua Lory
COVER IMAGE: dUg Pinnick
LAYOUT: Matt Crosslin
WEB DESIGN: Matt Crosslin for Monsoon River Designs

Contact:

WEBSITE: www.downthelinezine.com
EDITORIAL: downthelinezine@gmail.com
ADS/MARKETING: downthelinezine@gmail.com
MYSPACE: myspace.com/downthelinezine
TWITTER: twitter.com/downthelinezine

Subscriptions:

U.S.A. – $0, Canada – $0
International – $0
Online – $0

More info:
downthelinezine.com/subscribe

If You Move:

Don’t lose your computer – you won’t be able to download the newest issue without one.

Write Us:

Letters and comments need to contain your full name. All submissions become property of Down the Line E-zine and may be edited or condensed. Or even printed out and framed if you really kiss our… um… never mind…

Vision:

Down the Line covers bands that explored the intersection between faith and art in the 1980s through the early 1990s – even though they were probably never accepted in to what is called “Contemporary Christian Music” because they were too edgy or alternative or liberal or for whatever reason. Some of these bands may still be making music today, and others may have moved on. We cover these bands (active or dormant) as well as any new projects by former members of these bands and any new bands that may have the same spirit as these bands.

ALL IMAGE AND STORIES ARE THE COPY RIGHT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CREATOR. YOU MUST HAVE PERMISSION TO RE-USE, RE-PUBLISH, OR RE-PRINT ANYTHING IN THIS MAGAZINE. SO THERE.

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LIKE A REAL MAGAZINE
Even though we are free, that doesn’t mean we can’t do things like other magazines. One the features we have been working on for a while is the ability to subscribe to DTL.  After a few trials and a lot of procrastination, we finally have that feature.

What does it mean to subscribe to DTL? Well, the main method will be to sign up on an email list to get the PDF emailed directly to your inbox. If you have storage limit concerns, we will also have an option with a download link. Don’t worry – we won’t send out anything other than new issues through this system.

Another option is to subscribe to our blog RSS feed. We will announce the new issues through that, as usual.  The final option is to follow us on social networks, such as Twitter or FaceBook. Of course, these final methods will also give you other updates and stories as we write them, so make sure you follow us there, too, for exclusive content not in this magazine!

Action Spotlight:
Don’t just complain about the world – do something to change it

There are tens of millions of orphans in the world today. A group called World Orphans is one of many groups trying to help out. According to their website, “WORLD ORPHANS is committed to rescuing millions of ORPHANED AND ABANDONED CHILDREN, the strengthening of thousands of INDIGENOUS CHURCHES, and the impacting of hundreds of COMMUNITIES with the Gospel of Jesus Christ…through the COST-EFFECTIVE empowerment of CHURCH-BASED orphan prevention, rescue, care and transition programs in the LEAST REACHED AREAS of the world.” See www.worldorphans.org (World Orphans did not buy this ad nor do they endorse this magazine – just givin’ ya food for thought)

Print Articles:

• Letters to Us
• News
• Steve’s Corner
• Matt’s Musings and Meanderings
• Bill Mallonee “…heart made for Heaven, skin made of earth…”
• Grizzly Owls “…like nothing you’ve ever heard…”
• Kissing Cousins “baby, baby, baby, don’t look back”
• Western Grace “rescuing the scene”
• Bloodline Severed
• The Dark Reactions “Bringing It All Together”
• Tattoo You: Dan Michaels
• D-T-L Live Report: U2 – Dallas, TX – 10-12-2009
• Dobro-Austin by Rick McDonough (2008)

Reviews:

• Bill Mallonee – Cabin Songs
• 4-4-1 – Broken Reunion
• Michael Roe – We All Gonna Face The Rising Son
• Western Grace – Take Back the Scene
• Kissing Cousins – Pillar of Salt
• The Huntingtons – Punk Sounds
• Book Review: God’s Not Dead (And Neither Are We) by Jerry Wilson
• Book Review: And Yet You Continue To Provoke The Night by Shawn Ness

Credits:

EDITORS: Matt Crosslin and Steve Ruff
MARKETING: Ulike-a Youtellafriend
WRITERS: Steve Ruff, Matt Crosslin, Joshua Lory
COVER IMAGE: Bill Mallonee
LAYOUT: Matt Crosslin
WEB DESIGN: Matt Crosslin for Monsoon River Designs

Contact:

WEBSITE: www.downthelinezine.com
EDITORIAL: downthelinezine@gmail.com
ADS/MARKETING: downthelinezine@gmail.com
MYSPACE: myspace.com/downthelinezine
TWITTER: twitter.com/downthelinezine

Subscriptions:

U.S.A. – $0, Canada – $0
International – $0
Online – $0

More info:
downthelinezine.com/subscribe

If You Move:

Don’t lose your computer – you won’t be able to download the newest issue without one.

Write Us:

Letters and comments need to contain your full name. All submissions become property of Down the Line E-zine and may be edited or condensed. Or even printed out and framed if you really kiss our… um… never mind…

Vision:

Down the Line covers bands that explored the intersection between faith and art in the 1980s through the early 1990s – even though they were probably never accepted in to what is called “Contemporary Christian Music” because they were too edgy or alternative or liberal or for whatever reason. Some of these bands may still be making music today, and others may have moved on. We cover these bands (active or dormant) as well as any new projects by former members of these bands and any new bands that may have the same spirit as these bands.

ALL IMAGE AND STORIES ARE THE COPY RIGHT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CREATOR. YOU MUST HAVE PERMISSION TO RE-USE, RE-PUBLISH, OR RE-PRINT ANYTHING IN THIS MAGAZINE. SO THERE.

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WHAT THE @#$%?
I knew the whole cussing issue would come up soon enough.  Just didn’t know it would come up so many times in one article! So here is where we get to deal with it, like it or not.

Some people think that Paul cussed in one of his letters.  That is controversial at best – with some Greek scholars disagreeing with what others say on the issue.  Those nutty Greek scholars – always disagreeing with one another!

Think of us like some gritty modern action movie that has no cussing. You know that the people making the movie cuss, and that the characters in the movie would also cuss in real life, but they choose not to show that because they want the movie to be seen by the widest possible audience.

So I guess you could say that we are like the Joker in The Dark Knight – creepy enough even without all the cusswords.

Action Spotlight:
Don’t just complain about the world – do something to change it

The Not For Sale Campaign is designed to equip and mobilize Smart Activists to deploy innovative solutions to re-abolish slavery in their own backyards and across the globe. The Not For Sale Campaign seeks bridge knowledge to action: “With your help, we are working to raise awareness and collective understanding about human trafficking. But we live in a time and place where people are restless “to do something”. In recognition of this desire to act we will be completing and distributing handbooks for action. What can your athletics team do? What can your university do? What can your community of faith do? What can your business do? What can you do as a musician?” See www.notforsalecampaign.org (The Not For Sale Campaign did not buy this ad nor do they endorse this magazine – just givin’ ya food for thought)

Print Articles:

• Letters to Us
• News
• Steve’s Corner
• Matt’s Musings and Meanderings
• Brian Healy / D.A.S.: “Jesus Wants You to Read This Interview”
• BATTZ in the Belfry: “Sparks Still Fly Upward”
• I-Dragon-I: “Oceans of the Divine Inferno”
• Seventh Circle: “From The Struggle to the Forthcoming Human”
• D-T-L Live Report
• Change of Season by Matt Crosslin (1997)

Reviews:

• Sincerely Paul – Grieve re-issue
• Seventh Circle – The Struggle Remixes
• Dead Artist Syndrome – Prints of Darkness
• Eva- O – Ride the Madness
• The Awakening – Ethereal Menace
• The Last Dance – Whispers in Rage
• Virgin Black – Sombre Romantic
• Idle Lovell – Surge et Illuminare
• Book Review: Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music by Mark Allan Powell

Credits:

EDITORS: Matt Crosslin and Steve Ruff
MARKETING: Ulike-a Youtellafriend
WRITERS: Steve Ruff, Matt Crosslin, Joshua Lory
COVER IMAGE: Brian Healy
LAYOUT: Matt Crosslin
WEB DESIGN: Matt Crosslin for Monsoon River Designs

Contact:

WEBSITE: www.downthelinezine.com
EDITORIAL: downthelinezine@gmail.com
ADS/MARKETING: downthelinezine@gmail.com
MYSPACE: myspace.com/downthelinezine
TWITTER: twitter.com/downthelinezine

Subscriptions:

U.S.A. – $0, Canada – $0
International – $0
Online – $0

If You Move:

Don’t lose your computer – you won’t be able to download the newest issue without one.

Write Us:

Letters and comments need to contain your full name. All submissions become property of Down the Line E-zine and may be edited or condensed. Or even printed out and framed if you really kiss our… um… never mind…

Vision:

Down the Line covers bands that explored the intersection between faith and art in the 1980s through the early 1990s – even though they were probably never accepted in to what is called “Contemporary Christian Music” because they were too edgy or alternative or liberal or for whatever reason. Some of these bands may still be making music today, and others may have moved on. We cover these bands (active or dormant) as well as any new projects by former members of these bands and any new bands that may have the same spirit as these bands.

ALL IMAGE AND STORIES ARE THE COPY RIGHT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CREATOR. YOU MUST HAVE PERMISSION TO RE-USE, RE-PUBLISH, OR RE-PRINT ANYTHING IN THIS MAGAZINE. SO THERE.

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GLENN ROWLANDS
LIVING LIGHT EP

This is called a companion disc to Red Road and “a rock and roll tribute to the visions of Holy Man Black Elk.”  I would agree with both.  If you like Glenn’s solo discs, or classic-rock inspired hard rock that has an eclectic streak, this will be right up your alley.  All of the songs rock along at a mid-paced tempo. None of the songs from Red Road are repeated here, although there is a song on this ep called “Red Road.”  Five songs total for $2 (including shipping).

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STARFLYER 59
MINOR KEYS EP

The obligatory “between albums” ep from SF59.  This one is a digital ep, so you only have to get the songs you want.  The lead-of song, “Minor Keys,” is the same as from the album (would have liked a “radio mix” or something at least). This is followed by two nice acoustic covers of “The Brightest Of The Head” and “I Love You Like The Little Bird.” Closing out this slightly short ep is a cover of “Under The Milky Way” by The Church. Can’t say I like it more than the original, but it is still a good cover and fits the ep nicely.

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RONALD OF ORANGE
BRUSH AWAY THE COBWEBS EP

Yet Another Ronnie Martin project, Ronald Of Orange is in the vein of the Rainbow Rider stuff he did way back in 1993, adding guitar and other instrumentation to his signature sound. This project, to me, spans a history of British pop – there’s inklings of The Beatles, New Order, The Kinks, The Smiths, Herman’s Hermits, etc. Five songs of some of his best material to date, I hope to hear a full length someday.

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THE LASSIE FOUNDATION

This E.P. is a wonderful return to form, back to the spacey feedback pop of the California E.P. and Pacifico album. The blues driven “Jetstreams” is a fantastic opener, I like how they held off the drums until about three minutes into the song. “Three Wheels” has a humbling vibe with great lyrics and really good guitar lines. “Under the Moon” is epic, goes in movements rather than a straight forward approach. Far too short on this release, can’t wait for more.

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