Phil Keaggy is also a fine musician in any genre, having started with the Youngstown, OH jazz-fusion group Glass Harp (who recently had a reunion), then moved on to CCM. He puts out classical guitar albums as well as vocal pop-rock albums, worships the Beatles right after Jesus, and released one fine pop album, “Phil Keaggy and Sunday’s Child.” A superlative performer.
You will all find me frighteningly knowledgeable about CCM.
“Argue with what I said, not what you think or hope I said.” - Me
Yes, Phil, but do you have any Stryper on vinyl? Hmmmm?
Yer pal,
Satan
What about the plight of the Satanist? Satanists are having the damnedest time trying to fit into mainstream american musical awareness. People continue to view the movement as absurd and full of hate. It’s not the case. I cite the following lyrics from a super-duper song on a super-duper album:
Hell is Other People.
And this week’s Multicultural Diversity and Tolerance Award goes to the composer of the song above!
Yeah, I’d say that’s pretty accurate concerning the feelings towards Christians these days…
Your persecution complex over how hard it is to be a Christian in America is really getting tiresome.
Of course, it’s perfectly OK when Christian pop culture depicts atheists as miserable, antisocial, sociopathic, immoral misfits, right? Right?
“Argue with what I said, not what you think or hope I said.” - Me
I don’t know about groups per se, but I do think some liturgical songs are absolutely beautiful. For instance, “Amazing Grace” and “On Eagle’s Wings.” One of my favorite recorded songs is Mannheim Steamroller’s version of the Christmas tune “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” The song was originally a Gregorian chant, and they incorporated that into the song. It’s done in latin. It’s an incredible piece, IMHO.
Thanks for all the responses! It’s amazed me that Satan listened to Christian music! (Can you imagine the endorsements?) And thanks to Pickman’s Model for recognizing the Larry Norman reference!
FWIW, I agree that too much is second-rate, derivative stuff. Of course that also applies to any artistic expression. Seems like there’s very few unique talents, and lots of wannabees. I’m glad there’s some of those rare talents in CCM too. There’s still an audience for the wannabees as well, whether it’s CCM, pop, rock, or whatever.
I found a good example of CCM bashing at: www.av1611.org/crock.html
It’s pretty obvious that the author never bothered to get past the title on Steve Taylor’s “Jesus is for Losers”. The lyrics are at: www.ac.biola.edu/~don/steve_taylor/squint_lyrics.html#thelament
so you can judge things for yourself.
One of the things I do like about CCM is the low cost of the concerts. Since they are a ministy, I’ve been to many where there wasn’t a charge, they just took up a collection. (Not just some el cheapo concerts either, talking packed out arena, full light show, type concerts too).
mikehardware:
I listen to MUSIC. Period.
I can appreciate good lyrics, but a lot of the cheesy metal I grew up on was exactly that - cheesy! But man, those riffs and drums…
I also listen to bands like Morbid Angel, Slayer and Marilyn Manson, if we’re gonna talk about some evil lyrics…
Yer pal,
Satan
Satan wrote:
Um … TWILA PARIS!!
(I’m still trying to find a recording of Twila Paris and Friends’ “Carry The Light” after all these years.)
Quick-N-Dirty Aviation: Trading altitude for airspeed since 1992.
If you want evil, listen to Cannibal Corpse.
Brian, not to even come close to flaming, but you did say a long time ago that you picked that user name partly for the humor value, and Mike did pick up quite well on that. “Just imagine the endorsements!” I did find that worth a chuckle. 
Now, imagine if the user who posts as GOD were to say he(?) likes Marilyn Manson!
I am a fairly devout Catholic and have listened to every genre of pop/rock music for the last 25 years. I think this qualifies me to offer the opinion that 99.9% of “contemporary Christian” music is just plain awful.
Now, in fairness, 90% of the artists in EVERY musical genre are pretty awful. Most SECULAR heavy metal is pretty lame, most SECULAR rappers stink to high heaven. most SECULAR country music is boring. SO, I’m not just picking on the Christians. Still, there is no other genre in which so much of the music is utterly without ANY merit whatever.
I don’t object to the idea of “Christian” music at all. I love Mozart’s Requiem, Haydn’s “Creation,” Bach’s “Matthauspassion,” etc. And when talented rock musicians who are NOT pigeonholed a “contemporary Christian” turn their attention toward religion, they often make wonderful music (I think of U2, Bruce Springsteen, Run DMC, Steve Earle, Kansas, et al.).
But most “Contemporary Christian” music I’ve heard is mighty weak. Typically, they sound like Journey or Bryan Adams love ballads, with the name “Jesus” inserted instead of a girl’s name. The occasional Christian bands that play rap or heavy metal bring to mind a line I used to hear a lot from Joel Hodgson on “MST 3K”). Stryper always made me think, “You know, this is just like Aerosmith, only not good.” DC Talk always makes me think, “They’re a lot like House of Pain, except that they’re not very good.”
In music, as in most areas of life, good intentions don’t count for much. And VERY few contemporary Christian artists show much real musical talent, and even fewer show any REAL thought, reflection or introspection.
Robbie Robertson did an album that was shot through with religious overtones, albeit a lot of it Native American, but it’s a great example of how you can make good music with spiritual themes.
Listen to songs like “Sweet Fire of Love”, and “Testify”. I’ve never heard CCM even approach this level of quality.
Personally, I can’t stand to listen to much of the contemporary christian artists. It all sounds about the same, and the lyrics aren’t very original. However, I do like some of the older gospel songs (Mahalia Jackson comes to mind). I also like many of the songs we hear in church (like “On Eagles Wings” which is played frequently in my church).
You will all find me frighteningly knowledgeable about CCM.>>> Phil
I would bet this is just as much a product of your radio connections as it is your former “faith” days, eh?
I used to be in Christian radio, in the early 80s. CCM as a genre was not as well defined, and was just beginning to get mainstream recognition as a legitimate category. Many of the main record companies had just formed Christian music subsidiaries, and some “big time” secular pop artists (most notably Bob Dylan) had declared themselves Christians. Unfortunately, the station where I was a DJ was an “adult contemporary” Christian format. Sort of the “lite-rock, less talk” version of Christian radio. It tended toward the kind of blandness many of you complain of.
But probably the greatest change in the CCM realm is that its made what had been stylistically verboten acceptable.
The little Christian radio station where I worked stuck with its middle of the road format for years. Our “Anchor” sponser was the First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana, and we dared not offend the sensibilities of the pastor there, who did a live talk show every morning. He often preached on the evils of “worldly” music, which included much of what was then cutting edge CCM.
Our program director was an upstart young fellow who wanted to bring this “new” music to the masses. He started a program on Saturday nights called “Silver Lining,” which featured what were then the cutting edge of CCM, artists like Rez Band, Petra, etc. I helped man the phones the first couple weeks. The backlash was horrible. The program did not last long.
Seems ironic, only 20 years later. Kind of like the fuss made over Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show.
As for modern CCM, I tend to agree that its pretty bland (particularly the pop stuff). But I’ve found that the production values are pretty high compared to other genres, but this may be borne of the Nashville based studios that crank out most CCM, who lend similar production values to the better C&W acts.
SoxFan59
“Its fiction, but all the facts are true!”
I don’t listen to music because of its relious message I listen to music because to me it sounds damn good. I listen to Creed because I like the music and it inspires me, but by the same token I can go straight from Creed to C.O.C., or Megadeth, or just Bush. I mean if it sounds good to me I’ll listen regardless of what anyone thinks, wheather it is talking about religion or beating someone’s ass.
dkgreath just wrote:
Don’t tell me Satan and Heather are putting their activities to music now! 
pldennison: Well well well, I was wondering if anybody was going to bring up Phil. Nobody could ever outplay him in his genre! One awesome musician!!! BTW, phil, I have known Keaggy for 22 years and have a recording that I made with him at his house, add that to the lawyer/scientist bit! I also have super 8mm films of Phil and I together. The last time I spoke to him was two years ago and I am waiting for his new album. I am somewhat of a collector of his stuff. Did you know he sold his vintage Les Paul?
Also I used to live at 2019 Eglindale right off of Scranton by the hospital. That was years and years ago. Sorry to hear about your guitar and amp, wow, I would have cried. I own a strat, Les Paul, classical guitar, fender acoustic and a custom made Lanjegens just like Phil’s. If dennison refers to your street, I know exactly where that is.
That which a man had rather were true he more readily believes.
To the rest: Listen to Phil Keaggy and tell me if you can find a better guitarist! Eric Clapton said in 1971 when asked by Dick Cavett who was going to be the up and coming world renowned guitarist and Eric said something like I’m not sure but there is this guitarist in Youngstown Ohio that is really hot! Who was he referring to? Phil Keaggy!
Come on gang! show your stuff, who is better than Phil?
Since I think that Clapton was an overrated blowhard, I don’t think his opinions of other musicians would sway me much. But if I see an album of his around, I will pick it up. I’m nothing if not a completist…
Yer pal,
Satan