HM Magazine Intern Diary: 7.10.09

Hmm, let’s forget about this week, ‘mkay?

Every time I said “Oh yeah, I’m gonna start writing my three stories now!” or “Oh yeah, I’m gonna post pictures from Warped Tour!” those were lies. Always something to keep me from doing either of those.

So, I make no promises for this weekend. I might make it out to the He Is Legend/Drop Dead, Gorgeous show at Emo’s tomorrow night, I might not. I might watch the Cubs-Cardinals game tomorrow afternoon, I might not. Who cares if it’s the only Cubs game I’ll likely get to watch before going home?

I got music for four more album reviews: Between the Trees, Hawk Nelson, Castanets and Skillet. So those will need to get done too, though again, the no promises thing.

I got a bunch of album reviews, including U2, The Devil Wears Prada, Emery and The Chariot from the last two issues posted, so there’s some proof of an accomplishment from this week.

Lord Save Us From Your Followers alternated between making me angry at being an American Christian and giving me hope that maybe all’s not lost, so it at least did a better job than most commentaries on Christian culture lately at not being completely depressing.

Have a better weekend,
Corey Erb

“Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say ‘infinitely’ when you mean ‘very’; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.” – C. S. Lewis

HM Magazine Intern Diary: 6.12.09

Listened to lots of new music today – Memphis May Fire, Neon Horse, Falling Up and Miss May I for album reviews or articles, will get the new Hawk Nelson, Thousand Foot Krutch and Showbread on Monday, and am about to check out the new He Is Legend album on my way to Doug’s church’s public baptism event. Plus there were finally a bunch of good indie bands in the stack I listened to today, so we’re going to have a tough time narrowing it down to 12. I’ll probably post the best of the ones that don’t make the cut here, so look for it. The worst of today was March Into Paris, so I wouldn’t dare give them any mention, and you shouldn’t waste your time checking them out.

Okay, maybe even they weren’t that bad.

While I was listening to all the new stuff, I assembled some media kits to hopefully get advertising sales going next week and got a bunch of tear sheets ready to mail to advertisers or publicists who sent us a DVD or book reviewed in last issue.

I got a weekend request for you all: Doug and I discussed the possibility of a Killswitch Engage article in this issue, but we weren’t really able to come to a clear decision. What are your thoughts, should we run a feature on them, review their album, both or neither? If you’re not familiar with them, check them out and report back. Their frontman, Howard Jones, is a man of faith but other members aren’t, and they’re touring with Marilyn Manson, among the many other pros and cons to covering them. Do it or skip it?

Check out the quote for some lyrics from one of KsE’s most puzzling songs.

Writing eight pieces totaling 4,200 words by next Friday is possible, don’t doubt me,
Corey Erb

“Rock / What would I give, to behold / The smile, the face of love? / You never left me / The rising sun / Will always speak your name” – from “Rose of Sharyn” by Killswitch Engage

HM Magazine intern diary: 5.19.09

Today consisted of listening to and reviewing indie CDs for the Pick of the Litter section, watching Valkyrie to count obscenities/sex/gore for the DVD Reviews section and filing subscription cards while watching, helping Doug tweak the front page design (another special double flip cover, this time like you haven’t seen) and proofing the “What He Is Legend Says” feature.

Doug was streaming It Hates You, He Is Legend’s new album, down the hall so I got a brief teaser of the new songs before the thing drops next month. With just that overheard bit, I’m pretty amped about the new stuff, though that may be the Monster I had earlier talking. Speaking of, Monster Energy sponsors the magazine so they send monthly cases of the stuff to the office, which means cans fill both the vegetable and fruit drawers in the fridge, the bottom of the door and some prime real estate behind the milk. And still, full cases curiously show up everywhere:



Somehow I wasn’t feeling wired enough after dinner, so Doug threw down for some late-night espresso milkshakes, which evidently he is famous for. This week is going to be heavily caffeine-influenced since we’re racing to finish the July/August issue by Friday. I’m using new HM staple Corpus Christi‘s solid debut disc, The Darker Shades of White, to prop me up for a bit longer right now.

That said, I’ll leave you with today’s quote. Less of a deep thinker than last time, but I think this quotable figure has Ms. Spears beat when it comes to sex appeal. Agree?

Sleep when you’re dead,
Corey Erb

“Don’t underestimate how fine you are.” – Dr. Laura Schlessinger

P.S. – I’m looking for a Bible verse to put on the masthead for the July/August issue. Any suggestions?

First HM Magazine intern diary: 5.18.09

The long trip from Miami to Texas is finally over and day one here at HM Magazine is too. Almost hit a buzzard tearing at a carcass on a country road on the way here this morning. Good to know that after 1,300 miles and six long days of road and friends’ couches, my life almost ended 20 minutes from arrival.

Anyway, since I made it here alive, my name is Corey Erb and I’ll be interning here from May 18-July 24ish, or whenever the September/October issue is finished. I’m going to be a senior at the University of Miami – the one in Florida, not the fake one in Ohio. I’m originally from Bloomington, Ill., about two hours from where Cornerstone is held.

Doug threw me right in today after showing me around, giving me the He Is Legend “So & So says” interview to transcribe. They’re a constant on my iPod so it’s cool to hear about their new album coming out June 23, It Hates You, as well as Schuylar Croom’s often misunderstood faith.

Here’s a fun fact about me, mostly for Mr. Van Pelt’s benefit (and to see if he actually reads this):

– I’m probably the most cynical person you’ll ever meet. I’m working on a list of things I like. I’ll get back to you when I find any.



But seriously, I’d like for this to be an interactive thing, otherwise I’m going to be very lonely out here in the middle of Texas. So one thing I’m going to try to do is end each post with a quote, sometimes related to Christianity, sometimes related to music, sometimes related to nothing. I’d like to hear what you think about it, whether you agree or disagree, or just if you think I’ve been in Texas too long.

Whatever it is, leave a comment. You know you want to. And follow me on Twitter. Shorter ramblings. Always a good thing.

I’ll start the quoting off with an old favorite, courtesy of an old friend of mine.

Bye,
Corey Erb

“I think you should never put boundaries on yourself. You should always want to grow.” – Britney Jean Spears