Simplicity vs. Complexity

My choice? Neither.

There. That post was easy... see y'all next week!












Or not.

The decision between simplicity and complexity is, ironically, neither simple nor complex. Both have their merits, and both have their downfalls.

Simplicity... it's great because simple generally means uncluttered which makes for a great work environment, whether it's watching a movie (you don't want to have a remote that's difficult to figure out), writing a paper (you just need a simple text editor), or making music (having a bunch of complicated gear can get in the way). However, it can sometimes be not so great... having a remote that's too simple might mean not being able to access extra features, having just a simple text editor might not allow for special formatting (i.e.; if you need to include a formula), and having very simple gear might not allow for that special effect you need to put the finishing touch on a song.

Complexity... it's great because if you spend the time setting up stuff beforehand you can have a multitude of options at your fingertips. This might mean having a bunch of computer programs (easy to access a bunch of different computational functions quickly), using a camera (more expensive cameras have a lot more features to be able to use), or setting up a kitchen (having a variety of cooking tools). This also can be not so great, though... you have to be willing to take the time to make the complex simple and learn/know how to use it. If you don't know how to use some cool new gadget then it's worthless... and this is the primary downfall of the complex.

So how have I dealt with this? I do admittedly have a soft spot for complex, new things to try. However I've recently started moving towards more simple stuff (paper-based calendar instead of computer-based, fewer notebooks for school, fewer computer programs) and then starting to build it out to where I need it to be to get done what I need to get done, effectively. And you know what? Doing more with less is fun.

Ok, rant done. For the near future I'm going to start including a brief commentary on an album that I've recently gotten/enjoyed... so here goes. (Side benefit: this will force me to listen to more music aside from Crowder, Coldplay, Hillsong, MUTEMATH, needtobreathe, and Switchfoot. Yikes.)

This week: "Pieces of a Real Heart" by Sanctus Real. This has easily been one of my favorite albums that I've gotten this year... I first heard them back around the time of their first few major releases (Say It Loud and Fight the Tide) but hadn't listened to them for a while. Their sound has changed quite a bit since then... I'd describe their old sound as more straight-up rock but now it's got a bit of a pop flair to it for lack of a better description. It's a catchy album but the lyrics have a depth to them that makes this a great listen again and again (and again...). Also, the Deluxe Version adds some great acoustic remixes of 5 of the tracks from the album. Check it out on iTunes or Amazon MP3.