Nerdy Blogger

Christian music lovers (and really ANY music lovers, period) from the late 90’s and early 2000’s, be prepared for the onslaught of musical, lyrical, and vocal talent coming back at you!  Jennifer Knapp, my friends, is back in business. 

After a near 8-year hiatus, Jennifer Knapp has returned to the music scene, providing her persevering followers with a couple of new tunes on her myspace page, a few show dates, and the promise of a new studio album coming tentatively in the first quarter of 2010.  After learning of her return (courtesy of none other than one of the best voices in music today, Derek Webb, via Twitter), I screamed and did a very fabulous dance.  I began listening to Jenn in early high school when I was getting my roots in walking with the Lord and had been playing guitar for a few years.  Being very proud of myself as a female musician, I sought to listen to other female musicians, especially those who had a good rock sound.  Jennifer Knapp’s music was an unparalleled fit for my musical tastes then, and is still some of the best music out there, end of story.  Her hard-hitting rock riffs are solid, and are complimented beautifully by her more melodic, softer songs.  I can honestly say there are few other artists whose words have hit me more strongly, pierced me more deeply, and helped bring me to repentance more quickly than that of Jennifer Knapp.  Needless to say, I’m a bit excited.

This news is quite possibly one of the most exciting and unexpected pieces of musical news I’ve come across recently.  If you’ve never listened to any of her music, I strongly encourage you to check it out.  If you’d like more information on her return, please check out the following websites:

http://jenniferknapp.com/

http://myspace.com/jenniferknapp

Or follow her on Twitter @jennifer_knapp.

I’m very likely going to go see her in Nashville on Nov. 18, so if I’m able to go, I’ll be sure to review it up here.  Any other Jennifer Knapp fans out there?  I’d love to hear from you.

Blessings,

Nerdy Blogger

Good day, Nerdy Bloggers!  As is per usual, fall always catches me off guard, and throws my scheduling for a loop.  I’m back today though with a blog I feel like I should have written ages ago.  Today, I’m reviewing The Hog’s Head Pubcast, which is the podcast of TheHogsHead.org, a blog for smart talk on Harry Potter run by Harry Potter author and speaker Travis Prinzi. 

I’ve followed Prinzi’s blog and podcast for about 3 years or so now and I must say, it’s been incredible to watch The Hog’s Head go from a little known blog and podcast to one of the leading voices in Harry Potter literary criticism to date.  If you’re interested in smart talk on Harry Potter, then look no further than The Hog’s Head.

The thing that drew me into The Hog’s Head was Prinzi’s discussion of the Christian themes in the Potter novels.  I found the Pubcast very shortly after its beginnings at the end of 2006, which at the time, it was one of the few places online where Christianity and Harry Potter was being discussed seriously (perhaps with the exception of John Granger’s blog, HogwartsProfessor.com).  I had just completed my senior thesis on the subject, and very quickly began regretting that I had not discovered Travis’ blog sooner, as it would’ve been incredibly helpful in my research.  Prinzi does an excellent job extrapolating on the Christian themes in J. K. Rowling’s novels.  Also, if you’re not a Christian, or Christian symbolism isn’t your thing, don’t let that keep you from checking out The Hog’s Head.  Travis does an excellent job of pulling in loads of other types of literary criticism on the Harry Potter novels.  His discussion on the parallels between Rowling’s work and The Fabian Society is an excellent example of the diverse discussions taking place at The Hog’s Head.

Not only does The Hog’s Head contain smart discussion on Potter, Prinzi and the other authors of the blog (affectionately known as the “Blogengamot,” a spoof on the Harry Potter world’s high court of wizarding law known as the “Wizengamot”) also bring in interesting discussions on other comparative literature and literary topics.  Currently for the month of October, The Hog’s Head will be discussing some gothic literature, as well offering other fun Halloween themed discussions (see a recent post on the blog on “Who’s bitten you?,” a discussion on reader’s favorite vampires.  Mine is Count Chocula).

In short, I love The Hog’s Head and it’s easily become my favorite place for smart HP discussion, as well as other fun literature talks.  On the Nerdy Blogger scale, I give The Hog’s Head two thumbs up for offering smart talk on Potter, and also for providing a fun, friendly atmosphere to discuss Harry Potter and other great literature.  The Hog’s Head really encourages me to keep doing this whole blogging thing and to keep on writing, not only here, but in other formats as well (more on that in the coming weeks).  Also, Travis is kind enough to support my blog here by linking it up on his vastly cooler and smarter blog, so I’d appreciate it if you supported him, too.  He’s a pretty cool guy anyway.  So as Travis would say, “Pull up a barstool.  Aberforth will pour you the drink of your choosing, and let’s talk Potter.”

Blessings,

Nerdy Blogger