My 14 Favorite Albums of 2010 / Back In Time Top Songs of 2000

Taylor Swift -Speak Now - Yep I love this album! She absolutely writes amazing and eventhough she has a studio voice and not a concert voice (at least on the scream songs), this album is good from start to finish and very catchy. Listen to: Back to December, Haunted, and Never Grow Up

Michael Jackson - Michael - What can i say?! I mean I've been waiting for some new MJ music since 2003. A lot of new artists that worked with him said that his music shouldnt have been finished and put out, but I say you can't hide a mans talents in the ground as the scriptures say! I love most of this album! I know there are some songs I just can't get into. But Michaels melodies, voice changes, and the music perfection is just too amazing. Listen to: I Like The Way (You Loving Me); Hollywood Tonight; Monster (which 50 Cent kills his rap); Hold My Hand w/ Akon

Kenny Chesney-Hemingways Whiskey - Ok, so at first I just didn't expect this from KC. I even told Filip Matous, that it just didn't seem like KC. But then a few listens in I was loving it. He knows how to really tell his life through songs and us fans can think of sometime in our life where we felt the same. Good duet with Grace Potter! Listen to: Somewhere with You, Where I Grew Up, Boys of Fall, and Reality

Zac Brown Band - You Get What You Give - ZBB is amazing! Sophomore album is absolutely just as good as the Foundation if not better! Including someone like Alan Jackson on the first single will always be a good idea! Listen to: As She's Walking Away, Oh My Sweet Carolina (Live), I Play The Road, Settle Me Down

John Mayer - Battle Studies (November 2009 but i didnt listen until 2010) - This album got me through ALOT. It was my summer soundtrack! He continued his legacy from Continuum and whatever those critics say about losing his touch, NOT TO ME! Listen to: Heartbreak Warfare, Perfectly Lonely, Half of My Heart

Kanye West -My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - I really don't like Kanye West! And to have TSwift and him in the same 2010 list of albums is weird to me! but this album is amazing. I got the super clean version, somehow from a torrent, and there are some amazing raps on this! Listen to: All The Lights, Runaway, Monster

Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid - Just listent to the whole album! You're life will change! Tightrope has an amazing track with Big Boi! And the video is so dope! Even though she got some mainstream push, she still is very indie to me! Listen to : Tightrope, Dance or Die, Wondaland

Mark Ronson- Record Collection - I love Mark Ronson! I love anything that includes Motown mixed with 2010 electronic production! Bang Bang Bang has Q-Tip and thats all you need to know. Listen to: Bang Bang Bang, The Bike Song, Somebody To Love Me

Black Eyed Peas - The Beginning - They are not really hip-hop anymore! They went away from that after Bridging the Gap, but they once again are producing at great lengths! This one is way more chill than THE E.N.D. even though Dirty Bit is pretty hardcore. Listen to : Love You Long Time, Fashion Beats, XOXOXO, Do It Like This

Yeasayer- Odd Blood - I love this band! Reminds me a lot of Depeche Mode 2010 and O.N.E. is my favorite track

Lady Antebellum - Need You Now - What can I say?! they are amazing, even if they are country pop- they do well at it! Hello World, American Honey, Need You Now, and I Run to You. Amazing!

N.E.R.D. - Nothing - When I heard the snippets before the album dropped, it just didnt sound great! but Travis May and I saw them live in Phoenix and it was amazing. Listen to: Hypnotize U (W. Daft Punk), I've seen the light / in the clouds, God Bless Us All, Hot N Fun

Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot - Shutterbug is soooo dope! And its good to have one of the members of Outkast droppping some lyrical bombs! Great album!

Arcade Fire -The Suburbs - just Listen!!!!!

Top Songs of 2000:
Its Gonna Be Me - Nsync
Nelly - Country grammar
Blaque-Bring It All To Me
Never Let You Go - 3rd Eye Blind
Britney Spears - Oops I Did it Again
Jay-Z - Big Pimpin'
The Next Episode - Dr. Dre
Mary Mary-Shackles

Special Time of Year (Lets make it 365)

At this time of year we come together with our family and loved ones, we feel a sense of love, comfort, and remembrance. Why does it seem to be every year from Thanksgiving onto Christmas we give more to others or seek the well-being of those less fortunate? Does the timing of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago set a mood or a feeling that we should honor Him by serving others? We know of the many signs that the world was to receive when Christ the child was born such as a new star would present in the night sky. It's interesting to think of the knowledge the world had of Christs' birth by looking to the north and seeing a new star to guide the souls and lives of men. Guiding mens souls and lives...those words just in themselves can change the whole scope of the purpose of this earth life.

In our world of noise that every day seems to create so many negative things, we need to find some balance and create a world where can inspire change for the better. We try to do our best to help others at this time of year and bring joy into not only our hearts but those close to us. We make lists of what was good this year, while we also make lists of what we are going to change next year. It seems our intentions to make changes are very fresh and can motivate us to start off the year on a good foot. Yet a few weeks into the new year or sometimes even a few days in, we let the stresses of the world get to us and we're back to where we began. Everyday should bring us a new set of goals to achieve, a new sense of direction, or even an attitude that will not only keep us positive but those that we come into contact with.

I recently read a great book by the name of "The Message", which the author has an experience of going into a coma for a number of weeks and while he is in a coma he visits the Spirit World. He shares many inspiring messages which he is to share with the world about his experience, but his greatest message of all is service. His guardian angel, which is his nephew who passed away as a teenager, shares that service is the action of love. Christ went about his ministry and served the people through so many ways. We can pray for opportunities to serve those around us whether they be family, friends, or strangers. There are thousands and thousands of stories of service which rendered by one person brought an action of love as well as a change to many people.

May we learn from the perfect man, the perfect example, and our perfect Brother, the Lord, Jesus Christ. As we start to think that this world has so much negativity and that this life is so difficult, pray for opportunities to help those that need you. Christ came to save us through his perfect nature. Christ came so that we may have an example to live by everyday. Christ came to atone for our sins, infirmities, weaknesses, tears, and faults so that we may come unto Him and be more like our Father in Heaven. We never know the result of our service until sometimes years later, but in your heart and in your daily life you will see a change for the better as life gets a little easier.

Merry Christmas and may we serve each other everyday pure in heart. And bring about a change for the better through our talents, our words, our actions, and so many other ways which we have been taught.

Clayton Ashcraft

Hard Work and Timing- Are They Related?

We all know the adage, "Practice makes perfect." So what does it mean to you? Lately, as I have had a lot more time to think about things in my life about where I'm going and what I exactly want to do, I've noticed that there are some relations with hard work and timing. I believe though there are times when hard work does not always bear the fruits right away but in a time when life or God see's fit to allow it. Whether you believe in God, a higher power, or not at all, I think we can all agree certain events in our life happen at the right time for the right reason.

One of the things that has crossed my mind of late is my LOVE LIFE. Do you work hard to find that special someone or do you just let things come to pass with that significant other? I've questioned why I haven't had a girlfriend in about 2 years or why things dont go beyond being just a friend (or best friend). A lot of friends just say it usually happens when you aren't looking or just keep doing whats right and doing you-it will come. I see a lot of people dont many different people and quite a few of these people they don't really last. For me I have had really only 2 solid type girlfriends or girls I've dated. Each time there was some type of work I had to put into building something that would last. The other person also has to work at it as well.

So when your out looking for someone to love, do you actively pursue finding that love or do you just allow things to come as they are? The last question deals more with is your energy so powerful that people are naturally attracted to you or maybe you've worked hard with friendships or relationships in the past that its comes back around like a boomerang? I've made several attempts to create opportunities of girls that I am interested in or want to get to know better. I'm not sure if its who I am that creates some type of friend zone attitude or if who I am makes them to intimidated. I like to be honest with others and with myself, so I have definitely learned to have a different attitude towards seeking a relationship.

Hard work and timing are related! One takes a lot of will, motivation, sometimes blood, sweat, and tears. The other is just the timing of your universe coming together from the hard work. What motivates you to work hard? What keeps you going?

K-Os and The Peaceful Order of Our Existence

It's been a long time I shouldn't have left you with a strong beat to step too! I'M BACK! It's been some crazy months. I'll make this brief, since I am tired! But I went to @Pollstar.com yesterday around noon pm and check the concerts coming to Phoenix. To my joyful surprise I saw K-OS on the bill at @Chaser's in Scottsdale. So I purchased my ticket cause I had to see @K-OS rock the mic like he did when I met and saw him at Warped Tour 2007! So I went to a YSA event rocked the concrete dancefloor and met some amazing peole such as Stacey (through Audrey), who is from Texas but has lived in LA as well. I said sorry to interrupt our awesome convo but I have a hip-hop show to get too. I said you are more than welcome to come to it, so she and AUdrey went with me to Chaser's.
K-OS music is insane...rock n roll, eclectic, hip-hop, and lyricist all combined with a percussionist, a guitarist, keyboardist, another percussionist, and @DJ Jazz. ALtogether you just have to go on YouTube and watch his live music. He is spiritually beyond any emcee's today in the underground. He's from Canada and is huge there and in Europe. I met alot of cool people at the show but altogether I had an experience that took me out of my self...relaxed me and made me think about my existence and my gifts on this earth. Just listen to some of his songs and you'll know what I mean!
Peace and Love

C-Bass

Lessons from The Incredible Mr. Thicke

So I was just talking to my thuper (haha) amazing friend, Ch-ch-ch-Chelsea, and we were talking about a situation she was having trying to not hate on someone who may be hating on her. I was trying to give her some perspective as to being the bigger person and not stooping to the level of that person. It's easy for us to complain, hate, and moan about what people who don't know us or who do sometimes say behind our back. We've all done it in some for or fashion to another and I believe bad karma comes back to haunt us when we hear someone do the same thing towards us.

We have to be the bigger person in life, we have to let the sun shine, and not create the clouds. I know we all have those days where we just can't seem to do anything right or everything goes wrong, believe me I've been Debbie Downer lately, and I want to be the old Clayton who was always happy no matter what.

As I was talking with Chelsea, I said something to the effect that everybody is looking for their balance and happiness in life. Everyone has been made different and happiness is achieved in various ways. I was watching a Robin Thicke interview last night on YouTube and he said why his music is different from others is because its his, not yours, or mine, - we all have been given gifts to make this world a better, happier place. So what he creates is from other inspiration that could have come from you or me, but what inspires him allows him to create whats his.

So as I think about that and talking with Chelsea, I thought we shouldn't judge others if we do not know them and most of the time if we do. We can do what we can to provide happiness from what we create and create a world around us which if we train our minds and hearts to keep the sun shining even in storms or a few passing clouds, then we can always be spreading that happiness and postivity to others.

Recapturing My Magic

I need to recapture the magic of who I am

I need to get back to Clayton who lives life to the fullest

I've got to get back to meeting people which was the center of my universe

I need to balance my life from what I have to do with the things that made me smile

I need to be happy, laugh, smile, and inspire

I used to be excited about the day and enjoy life even when the clouds came, and the last little bit I haven't

The magic of being able to know who I am and make others happy

I need to recapture the magic of who Clayton Andrew Ashcraft really is

Liken The Scriptures - (Not Biting Kyle's Style)

My friend, Kyle Aldous, is doing a wordpress blog which everyday, or when he updates his blog, he will liken the scriptures to events happening in his life. I have regularly followed Kyle for the past few weeks and past blog posts. All I can say is I'm really impressed how he bringing the scriptures words in his life and comparing them to things that are happening. It's really admirable and I've definitely been impressed to do things similar in my life. I may not be blogging it everyday but I am definitely looking at what I read everyday and trying to apply somehow in my life.

One of the things I've been terrible at writing in my journal everyday but being able to get on here and share whats going on in my life has been a lot easier. I've found a lot of inspiration through other friends blogs both in the Church and outside the Church. I believe the words we say, write, hear, and things we do will echoe in eternity, so eventhough we cant take things with us to the next life, these words I'll be able to go back on in this life and the next.

I'm going to try my best at the end of everyday to analyze what happened and where in the scriptures I can find something similar to my situation. My life right now, I feel like I need to stabilize it and be grounded a little bit more. I think the last few months I've put too much stress on myself in so many different ways and I need to step back maybe get to the basics again while moving forward.

At these points of my life where things get crazy, I like to run away and just not deal with the stress in its face! Maybe thats another fear I have to face, is not run when something doesnt go my way- say a potential relationship, work not going as well as I'd like, or when school is just boring. So I guess rather than relying so much on moving through this world like a rolling stone, I need to put my trust in the Lord that as I do what I need too, he will help me bear the stresses I come upon! A HA MOMENT!