Sunny Day Real Estate Their singer, Jeremy Enigk, found god after they released they debut album, 1994’s Diary. The band had all sorts of issues with this, they broke up for a while, Enigk released a solo album in 1996 –Return of the Frog Queen – that was pretty expressively Christian. SDRE got back together and released 2000’s The Rising Tide which is not really a “Christian” record per se, but you can hear Enigk’s spirituality in some of his lyrics. The Rising Tide is my favorite SDRE album (all of you diehard old school SDRE fans can throw tomatoes at me now.)
Low – This band is really, really good IMO. They play extremely slow, minimalist music, kind of in the same vein as Codeine (anyone remember them?) but not as distorted or fuzzy as Codeine was. Maybe somewhat more like the first Spain album. Anyway, they are another band that doesn’t jump out at you as being overtly Christian, but if you pay attention to their lyrics it is not hard to see. They are very forthcoming about their religion in all the interviews I’ve read with them.
Pedro the Lion – This guy does the low-fi emo thing, kind of in the same arena as Death Cab for Cutie and 764-Hero. I haven’t heard too much of his stuff, but what I’ve read about him makes it seem like it’s something I’d like to check out. He’s also frank about his religious stance in the interviews I’ve read with him.
I disagree. Check out this link and see if there is a station in your area. Click on “station list” under the “interact” tab. You can also listen online. I think you’ll be surprised.
i can’t tell if you are serious or not. five iron frenzy is one of the most openly christian bands out there. thinking about them really brings me back. when they first got started way back in the day (between 5 and 10 years ago), i remember seeing them in the garage of a local church on a regular basis. they got bigger, and i kinda lost track of them, cause their shows got more expensive. i heard that their upcoming (or possibly already released) album is going to be their last, as they have been together for a long time, and this will be their 6th album i believe.
they started out being produced by jars of clay. i’m not sure if they are any more, but i know at least their first album was.
I am a born-again Christian, but I don’t listen to Christian comtemporary at all. I don’t have a problem if people want to use music as a tool to declare their message, especially if I agree with that message, but too many times the music suffers since it’s just a vehicle. I absolutely hate that when the music sucks just to carry their message.
I’ve also found that Christian music is too reactionary, in that a lot of bands and people in the industry just follow whatever musical styles are currently popular, therefore are a step or two behind the times.
I hate Creed. I think their music sucks and Scott Stapp makes me angry. If he’s a Christian, his desire to be ambiguous about it makes me sick, but I also can’t stand the persona he plays to the public–that tortured, “touch-me-I’m-sensitive” artist crap.
I’ve read interviews with Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencort, both formerly of Extreme, that they are born again Christians. Knowing that, it’s unmistakeable in the band’s music, but the main reason I love that band is the music was so good as well. I don’t go “looking” for performers that may be Christian, but to me it really helps when I see people in the limelight professing what they believe, but also putting out exceptional product, whether it’s music, film, art, books, etc.
Back in the 70s, when I listened to progressive rock, I went to college at Saint Louis University, a Catholic school. Believe me, some of those kids were very Catholic, just living in a Catholic world. Once I was in the dorm playing the piano; I was playing the beginning of “Dancing With the Moonlit Knight.”
Another frosh came along and said, “That sounds nice. What is it?”
I said “It’s a song by Genesis.”
She’d never heard of them. “Genesis? Is that a church group?”
As a recommendation for another good Christian artist/band, I suggest Steve Taylor. I’m a Christian but have disliked almost every bit of contemporary Christian music I’ve ever heard except Steve Taylor (I don’t like schmaltzy music and I don’t like to be beaten over the head with the point). I don’t agree with a few of his songs (I’m pro-choice, he’s not) but he’s got a wonderful sly sarcastic “twig the hypocrites” tone that appeals to me.
Some of his better songs include “The Lament Of Desmond R.G. Underwood-Frederick IV,” “This Disco (Used To Be A Cute Cathedral),” “Am I In Sync?” and “I Want To Be A Clone.”
If you like Steve Taylor, than you will like Tonio K. He is probably one of the most underated Artists who is a Christian. “Romeo Unchained” is one of the best Albums of all time.
Bruce Cockburn is another great artist who is a Christian.
They were considered a “christian” band at one point in their career, but since the lead singer came out of the closet there has been some ambiguity surrounding their religious status.
I’m surprised that no one mentioned Moby before now. He’s a pretty outspoken liberal christian. Read his liner notes sometime.
The Supertones are another christian ska band who’ve had a little crossover success in the past few years.
And of course on the gospel tip there’s Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary who get a fair amount of airtime on mainstream urban stations.
Dadgummit!!! :mad: I knew I was going to forget something. If you like Tom Waits, check out 16 Horsepower. They have this kind of folky/bluesy/experimental sound kind of like…well…like Tom Waits. The lead singer was the granson-of-a-preacher-man and it comes thru in the music. They’re pretty popular on the indie rawk scene, so I don’t know if they actually count as “crossover” or not.
Is that a church group?”