Tell me about Christian rock music

Cafe Society
1

For some reason, even though I’m a Christian myself, I really don’t like Christian rock (or pop?) music. You know, the stuff you hear on Christian radio. I’d say I downright hate it.

My mom listens to it occasionally, but I’ve found myself not riding in her car so much anymore because I really don’t want to hear it. I think it’s mainly because it sounds like secular rock/pop that I can’t stand either (I can be pretty picky about music).

I have also concluded that it seemed to me that the subject matter for the entire genre is about how much the singer loves God and/or Jesus, or how the singer needs more God/Jesus. Now, I realize that most secular rock/pop music is about how much the singer loves some man or woman…but still, there’s some variety in there.

So…anyone here a fan of Christian music? What do you like about it? What do you dislike about it? Are there more topics other than love of God/Jesus or is that about it?

And please, no threadshitting in this thread. If you just want to come post about how you don’t like Christian music, maybe start your own thread. If you used to be a fan but now are no longer a fan that’s cool to talk about but let’s try not to diss other people’s tastes.

I’m just wondering how widespread the popularity of Christian music is and why people enjoy it. And maybe see if there’s anything more complicated than Amy Grant.

2

I’m a big fan of MxPx. They’re a pop-punk Christian band, but they don’t gush about religion. Instead, they generally have fun, upbeat lyrics.

I also remember hearing a Jars of Clay song or two that I liked, but I can’t speak much about them.

Other than that, I’m ignorant about Christian rock.

Edit: I think ReliantK is a Christian band as well. I do know that High of 75 will get me out of a bad mood and the lyrics seem to be talking about either God or a girl.

By the way, I’m pretty much an aethiest these days.

3

Heh…I forgot to mention my secret love for MxPx. But if I admitted I liked them then I couldn’t tell people I hate Christian music so ssshhhh :wink:

You’re right tho - their lyrics, at least on the album I have, are nearly completely devoid of “I love Jesus.”

4

I used to be a pretty big consumer of Contemporary Christian Music. I didn’t really go for the loud hard-rock stuff (either Christian or secular – just not my sound), so I may not be what you’re looking for. But I’ll pitch in my experience anyway.

I’d say the “rockiest” Christian music I listened to entire albums of was Audio Adrenaline. Some of their stuff was good. Particularly liked “Chevette”, which is not overtly Christian. I listened to a lot of Chris Rice and Andrew Peterson who are more pop, less rock, and have more than a few songs with pretty decent lyrics. Relient K is a pop-punk band that did some good stuff and has turned semi-mainstream, last I heard.

The scene has likely changed – my experience was mainly in the late 90s, early 2000s, so there are probably others who have come along, but it’s not all crap.

5

Sufjan Stevens and Danielson are vaguely Christian groups, though everyone I know who’s even heard of the latter is an atheist hipster.

6

Not a big fan, myself, but there was a thread not too long ago about Christian music. I was really surprised to find so many different kinds of music represented. This is the earlier thread. Maybe you can find something you and your mom both like. (Hey, she’s your mom, you can’t avoid riding with her forever. :slight_smile: )

You didn’t say what kind of music you do like. You might find someone here can recommend a comparable Christian band.

7

Disclaimer – I am not a Christian. I am not even of Christian heritage (Jewish…)

That said:

  1. Evanescence. Definitely started out as self-proclaimed “Christian Rock.” Have become mainstream while, AFAIK, still carrying something of a Christian message (not overt) in their music.
  2. This one is a lot more “iffy” – my own favorite band, NightWish, is not by any stretch of imagination “overtly Christian.” You probably won’t find anything “Christian” on their web-site. Their leader and songwriter, however, **is **a (small-b) believing Christian, and there is a lot of Christian symbolism in their music. Plus, they’re really good! (IMHO, YMMV)

Hope this helps!

8

I really enjoy Rich Mullins’ music. Think celtic-ish pop.
I like The Normals and Five O’Clock People and I think the music would be described as alternative (I’m not too good at assigning music genres).
Nichole Nordeman does some fantabulous stuff. Her first album is the one I like best - sounds like just her and her piano, whereas the others have a more production-y sound.
And there’s Ginny Owens and Jennifer Knapp.
And then there’s 80s-era CCM, which I grew up with - early Michael W Smith, Amy Grant (I still think Lean on Me is a good album), Twila Paris, Out of the Grey (another group I still like), Whiteheart…And then there’s all the songs I remember but no one knows what they are. :slight_smile:

9

Former Christian and brief Petra fan checking in…

If you really think about it, any band that feels a deep need to advertise something other than their music is probably hurting in the music department.

Let’s face it. Music fans will give an artist who produces music they lke as much leeway as they please in their personal beliefs. U2 have not exactly been villified for their religious beliefs, which are no secret to anyone. If Cat Stevens had not stopped writing music, no one would have cared if he were a Muslim (at least until all that stupid shit he said about Salman Rushdie).

Petra used to advertise in the 80s that their light show was as big as Genesis’. So why not just go see Genesis, other than price? Because it’s Jesus’ light show. There is an audience who has decided that warmed-over top 40 that sings about God is automatically of better quality than better-sounding music about something else.

So “Christian Contemporary” music is meant to appeal mainly to those who think they are not “supposed” to listen to anyone who does not proclaim their Christianity from the rooftops. Hence, these bands essentially have no choice but to sing about God and Jesus and not much else. Because they have chosen to say that what makes them special is that they sing about Jesus.

It’s not even simply a modern issue. The early days of rock and soul are filled with stories of artists who had to make a hard decision whether to leave the “gospel circuit”, and some were shunned forever by their early fans because instead of singing about God and Jesus all the time, they chose to sing a song or two about a girl or a car.

ETA: Back in the day, I used to like Steve Taylor a lot, because he wasn’t afraid to get political

10

[QUOTE=scotandrsn]
…The early days of rock and soul are filled with stories of artists who had to make a hard decision whether to leave the “gospel circuit”, and some were shunned forever by their early fans because instead of singing about God and Jesus all the time, they chose to sing a song or two about a girl or a car…
[/QUOTE]

Or blue combs. (Couldn’t resist, sorry)

11

The only Christian rock band I could ever stomach was Jars of Clay. They were less repititive lyrically and broader musically than any other band I heard. I’m sure there were some other groups who were just as talented, but I never heard them.

I went to a Christian high school and I’ve heard a lot of Christian rock. Most of it was bland, terrible or gussied-up terrible punk music.

12

Saviour Machine

On July 7, they end their ten year Legend experience. It’s worth buying.

13

Your beef may be not so much with Christian rock as with Christian radio, whose target audience is, I’m guessing, people like your mother. Judging by what little I’ve heard of it, I can’t stand Christian radio either—but then, I don’t listen to the radio much at all.

Yes, there’s definitely stuff out there that’s more complicated and challenging than Amy Grant. See the thread DfrntBreign linked to, and the earlier thread that it linked to, for numerous examples.

14

Obligatory Hank Hill quote:

“Don’t you see you’re not making Christianity better, you’re just making rock and roll worse.”

[sub](sorry, couldn’t resist. please return to your regularly scheduled thread.)[/sub]

15

[QUOTE=Thudlow Boink]
Your beef may be not so much with Christian rock as with Christian radio, whose target audience is, I’m guessing, people like your mother. Judging by what little I’ve heard of it, I can’t stand Christian radio either—but then, I don’t listen to the radio much at all.
[/QUOTE]

Yeah, this is an important point. In my (admittedly limited) experience with Christian radio, it always felt like they were aiming for the “Christian mom” demographic (and there were even commercials for the radio station directed the same way…“Don’t want to worry about what your kids hear while you’re listening to the radio in the car?”).

16

[QUOTE=Noone Special]

  1. Evanescence. Definitely started out as self-proclaimed “Christian Rock.” Have become mainstream while, AFAIK, still carrying something of a Christian message (not overt) in their music.
  2. This one is a lot more “iffy” – my own favorite band, NightWish, is not by any stretch of imagination “overtly Christian.” You probably won’t find anything “Christian” on their web-site. Their leader and songwriter, however, **is **a (small-b) believing Christian, and there is a lot of Christian symbolism in their music. Plus, they’re really good! (IMHO, YMMV)
    [/QUOTE]
    I’ll have to add you to my list of “Dopers whose taste I agree with”. :slight_smile:

Only problem I have with Christian rock is that rock is very much about emotion, and a lot of Christian bands don’t really sound all that.. into it, if that makes sense. I’m not questioning their faith, but it can sound pretty by-the-numbers when really they have every reason to* feel * it.

I like a few of Long-view’s songs (the British band, not the American one), though they’re more spiritual than outright Christian.

17

I think the problem with Christian rock is not the Christianity but the monotony of the subject matter. Any cause or ideology starts to become tedious and strident after a while. A band that does nothing but berate its audience about saving the rainforest or women’s rights or ending all wars gets annoying just as quickly. It’s artistically limiting and can’t help but become repetitive.

Having said that, Stryper’s To Hell with the Devil is a guilty pleasure of mine. 80’s hair band candy metal all the way but with a persistent edge and some pretty cool riffs all through it.

18

The only band I can stomach who are overtly Christian would be Kaizers Orchestra - and mostly only 'cause they turn out the best live shows I’ve ever been to. I mean, you have to be good to sing in only Norwegian and have fans in Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, England, France and Spain sing along with your lyrics perfectly. Try this video on for size: http://youtube.com/watch?v=zt9Dpd0rTig

19

[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic]
I think the problem with Christian rock is not the Christianity but the monotony of the subject matter. Any cause or ideology starts to become tedious and strident after a while. A band that does nothing but berate its audience about saving the rainforest or women’s rights or ending all wars gets annoying just as quickly. It’s artistically limiting and can’t help but become repetitive.
[/QUOTE]

heh It’s kind of like message boards. I can’t count how many message boards I’ve signed up on over the last ten years — every one of them on a topic near and dear to my heart. And yet, the SDMB is the only one I still visit regularly. The problem with the others? They’re all “single topic” boards (bands, hobbies, games, fetishes, etc). With a single topic board it gets to the point, sooner or later, where I’ve discussed everything I can think of on that topic — whether I’ve started the threads myself or participated in somebody else’s threads. And then from there on out every thread seems to be a repeat of something that’s already been discussed, and it seems pointless to me to keep repeating things I’ve already said. So I stop visiting those boards. The SDMB, however, covers so many topics that it never gets boring.

Christian rock is the same way. It’s mostly one topic over and over again, though there is the occasional burst of something different. Sadly, though, I’ve found little to spark my interest over the years. I’ve still found precious few bands with lyrics like the Resurrection Band:

“American Dream”

The complexity of life is a label I must bear
Snarled visions of a dreamer condemned by his own dare
As a child I asked the questions, but only for their sake
Believin’ there were answers became my one mistake

The holy morning paper slaps the steps at dawn
America’s doors open — let’s see what’s goin’ on
Confusion with our coffee, fear and Frosted Flakes
The dollar takes another dive, another bubble breaks

A shuffle offstage, a change of scene
The expose of the American Dream
Watergate bunglers, comedy relief
Laugh at ideals, survivin’ our grief
It’s fool’s gold for gilded fools
Playin’ daily with twisted rules
Hail to the families in the TV rooms
Suicide, genocide, abortion, cartoons
Terrorism, violence, starvin’ refugees
Conscience crucified, reality recedes
Nuclear tyrants, computerized plan
Holdin’ hostage every man …

20

[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic]
I think the problem with Christian rock is not the Christianity but the monotony of the subject matter. Any cause or ideology starts to become tedious and strident after a while. A band that does nothing but berate its audience about saving the rainforest or women’s rights or ending all wars gets annoying just as quickly. It’s artistically limiting and can’t help but become repetitive.

Having said that, Stryper’s To Hell with the Devil is a guilty pleasure of mine. 80’s hair band candy metal all the way but with a persistent edge and some pretty cool riffs all through it.
[/QUOTE]

Our beloved Cynic is actually a fan of the Yellow and Black Attack!?!

Just… Wow!