This post on ThinkChristian got me thinking. As I tried to post my top ten Christian songs, I found that I couldn't even come up with TEN that came to mind as truly excellent songs. I ended with the lament, "There just doesn't seem to be those 'Hotel California'- or 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'-type songs out there in Christian music."
Granted those types of songs are rare even in secular music; there are probably only a few dozen songs from the past 50 years that truly transformed music. Yet there are plenty of secular songs in the "great, even if not totally revolutionary" category. I continue to be unable to come up with any Christian songs in either category. Part of this post is to ask you to help me come up with those.
The other part of the post is to share what happened when I turned my focus from great Christian songs to great Christian artists. Again, there's an enormous hole where the list of groundbreaking, revolutionary Christian artists should be. But where there are no great Christian songs (that I can think of), I can immediately think of a number of Christian artists whose body of work qualifies them as very good, or even "great, even if not totally revolutionary". Jars of Clay, Third Day, Delirious?, Kutless. Those are all from the past 10–15 years, and all with my VERY limited taste in Christian music.
Is it just a misperception, or is it easier to find great Christian bands without ANY great Christian songs? What should I be listening to, if I'm missing the boat? What songs have I egregiously forgotten?
Posted by pcg at April 22, 2008 10:19 PMExcellent questions. As a musician and music fan, I struggle with this myself. This is all highly subjective, of course - a lot of this will depend on the reader's opinion of what constitutes good music.
My tastes are wide, I like classic rock, modern alternative, some metal, jazz, blues, some country, bluegrass, very little rap/techo/house, some classical, some hymns, very little opera just so you know where I'm coming from. You'll also note that significant portion of the songs or artists I'll mention aren't on major labels. I frequent several Christian Musician sites, and have found many of these artists through contacts on the net.
Groundbreaking Christian songs in today's music - I can't come up with any that I can point to to make me think that someone is turning the music industry on its ear. There are a few I like to play, or that move me personally, but everything I've heard is either formulaic to a fault or a direct copy of secular tunes. I think about 90% of the music out there is based on U2 or Coldplay's music. Christian music today, almost as rule, follows - it does not lead- when compared with the whole of the music industry.
Now, within the genre of Christian music itself, I think there are a few standouts that I really like, even if they're not groundbreaking.
Amazing Grace (my chains are gone) by Chris Tomlin. Timeless hymn+forgotten verse+relevant chorus = a staple on the worship setlist
Wonderful Cross by Matt Redman (I think..might've been Tomlin). Another old hymn arranged with modern music and an added chorus. I love to play this one.
Breathe by Marie Barnett and covered by almost every artist to nauseating repetitiveness. I have a recording of it by Kathryn Scott that I adore.
Living Prayer by Alison Krauss and Union Station. My wife and I have covered this song in church. I'm not sure of the roots of the song, though - but lyrically it's beautiful.
Great artists? Well, I think there are some! I think the quality of musicianship in Christian music has improved dramtically in the last decade, even if the quality of the songs themselves hasn't.
If you like progressive rock like Yes and early Rush - check out Neal Morse. I *love* his Sola Scriptura record. I'd put it up there with 2112 and Fragile as excellent recordings and music.
Also in the progressive rock area, have a listen to Orphan Project. Their stuff isn't as 'massive' as Morse's, but it's technically excellent and well produced.
Phil Keaggy is a phenomenal guitarist and has stunning recordings. His voice is reminiscent of Paul McCartney, his playing is incredibly his own, and his songwriting is inspired. I attended a guitar workshop he put on here in Denver a couple years back. He endeared me with this comment about his music, "I'm too worldly to make the stalwart Christians comfortable and too Christian to make the secular labels comfortable."
Lincoln Brewster is the former guitarist for Steve Perry's band (lead singer of Journey) and is a great musician and worship leader. His songs and style are a little too "pop" for my tastes, but I think he's groundbreaking in that he takes "making a joyful noise" to another level simply by leading with electric guitar (I'm biased here for sure..).
Day of Fire is heavy rock that I just can't help but crank when one of their tunes hits my itunes playlist. Crankable tunes are rare even for the best Christian rock. I blame this on the advent of the compressor which brought about the evil ruination of dynamic range.
POD, though I'm not really a fan, is a groundbreaking artist in that they've had success on both Christian and secular charts, appealing to a wide range with a good message never hurts.
Jars of Clay you mentioned - I think they're groundbreaking in that they've melded several genres in their music. I'd classify them as alternative on the whole, but their use of styles and instrumentation is fairly unique in Christian music.
Other recommendations:
Jami Smith - I love her voice and style. Her songwriting, especially musically, isn't formulaic, and there's lots of electric guitar (I like electric guitar..in case you hadn't picked up on that).
Ashley Cleveland - gritty country voice, classic rock sound. Husband is Kenny Greenburg, who's a renowned Nashville session guitarist. He's played for most every major country and contemporary christian artist out there. Her albums are a mix of christian and secular themes - kinda like most of us are in reality. She has an album of old hymns done to modern music that I really, really, like.
Ken Verheecke - instrumental acoustic guitar, new agey, some vocal albums that are defintiely christian based. A good friend and stellar musician. I like to listen to his stuff while working or relaxing. His concerts are a treat, he's a pretty personable guy.
I think it *is* easier to find great christian bands than it is songs. Are you missing the boat? Depends on your tastes, I'm sure. I'm really liking some of the old hymns done to modern music lately. Oh, I'm also listening to music content first, then lyrics - that's just me, though. A fantastic guitar riff or solo will draw me into song quicker than any lyric - again, just so you know where I'm coming from.
Great post, sorry for long reply.
Posted by: steve on April 23, 2008 12:17 AMOH I forgot to add King's X to that list! One of my all-time favorite bands. Fantastic music and musicianship. Started out as solidly Christian, but got shunned from the "Christian" community when the bass player came out of the closet.
Posted by: steve on April 23, 2008 12:36 AM- Skillet; their most recent album is absolutely awesome. I'm also a big fan of their older stuff.
- Thousand Foot Krutch; if you're into the style.
Note that these two are currently touring together, and put on an awesome show. ;)
Posted by: nc on April 23, 2008 5:42 AMSteve, I agree, King's X rocks.
A song that I really enjoy is the Veggie Tales theme song done by Rebecca St. James on the Veggie Rocks album. VERY Evanescence. If she did a whole album like that I'd buy it in a second.
Posted by: Topher on April 23, 2008 7:01 AMI guess a lot of it depends on the time frame you're looking at, what your definition of a "Christian Band" is, and what genre music you're talking about. Do U2 or Johnny Cash Count? Or Mavis Staples or Moby? Or are you limiting your query to CCM-branded acts and songs?
Wow, lots of interest here. :-)
Steve: thanks for the "thorough" reply! ;-) Seriously, I'll have to check out some of the music you referred to. I don't listen to much prog rock these days, but there's a lot in there I don't listen to. Also, I listened to Kings X a little as a kid without even knowing they were Christian. That's always a good sign IMO. :-)
Nate: Good call on Skillet; I also have Comatose and like it pretty well. The B-side is a little weak, but the A-side is very solid. Rebirthing is one of those VERY excellent songs I was looking for, and had forgotten about. Dunno about Thousand Foot Krutch, though I've heard a LOT about them (as well as Disciple, as both seem to have spirited followings). Both seem a little emo to me, but I'll have to give them a further listen. :-)
Topher: I have to admit a VERY strong aversion to Rebecca St. James, as her vocal styles seem very weak to me. As for that particular song, is it one that anyone will remember in 10 years? I mean OTHER than your kids? ;-)
Brian: I guess it depends on what your definition of "Christian" is. :-) I'm certainly not limiting it to CCM-branded music; God knows (as do the rest of us) how messed up the CCM music scene is, and how utterly trite CCM music can be. What I *am* considering "Christian music" is music that has overtly and intentional Christian themes. In terms of "Christian bands", the case can be made for and against acts like U2 and Johnny Cash. I would suggest that U2 is a band with Christians in it, and Johnny Cash was a performer who was a Christian. Both can (and have) made overtly Christian songs, but not primarily so. I don't know Mavis Staples, and as for Moby... well, I'll let his words do the talking. (I defy you to read that and still consider him a Christian in anything other than a namby pamby, postmodern sense. :-)
Thanks for the wonderful comments, all!
Posted by: pcg on April 23, 2008 8:11 AM"I defy you to read that and still consider him a Christian in anything other than a namby pamby, postmodern sense."
Best sentence in thread :)
Posted by: steve on April 23, 2008 10:16 AMI really don't like RSJ either. I tried her most recent cd, and it didn't do anything for me. I think the Veggie Rocks song won't be hot 10 years from now simply because of how it was framed, on a Veggie Tales cd. I actually played that cd in class this last week, and none of my students had ever heard it, and there was a pretty universal "Holy cow, that's awesome".
It think if RSJ did an entire album in the style of that one song, it would be "great" and extremely popular.
Posted by: Topher on April 23, 2008 10:18 AMI agree with Steve that your namby pamby phrasing is pithy, but I wonder if you're reading stuff into Moby's quote. Let's see what he says:
* Moby loves Christ, "...I really love Christ..." That seems okay.
* Moby thinks Christ's wisdom trumps everyone else, "...the wisdom of Christ is the highest, strongest wisdom I've ever encountered..." Hard to argue with that.
* Moby posits that Christ's "...description of the human condition is about the best description or understanding of the human condition I've ever encountered." Who would know the human condition better than God become man?
* Moby, tries to "live [his] life according to the teachings of Christ, a lot of times [he] fall[s] short." I think we can all identify with that one.
* Moby acknowledges Christ's divinity, saying, "I really do love Christ and recognize him in whatever capacity as I can understand it as God."
* Moby notes that many people confuse "Christian" with, "[going] to chuch or [believing] in cultural Christianity." Sad, but true.
* Moby is disillusioned with the church, complaining, "it seems like their focus doesn't have much to do with the teachings of Christ, but rather with their own social agenda." Preach it, Moby!
Where's the namby pamby? It's okay to take shots, but I'm reminded of Ken Hamm's slides shooting arrows at the faith of other believers. Remember that?
The one BIG thing missing from something approaching a statement of faith is that there is no way to salvation except by grace. Omission is not equivalent to denial, but I'd be happier if he had directly addressed the topic nonetheless.
Sorry to hijack the topic :-/
Posted by: alan on April 24, 2008 7:36 PMAlan: if I'm reading something into his quote, then we both are. Of course, without an explicit statement of faith, we're left to do just that: interpret nebulous phrases and read into it what we can. I notice, too, that you chose to omit certain portions of his statement, like: "In my own strange way, I'm a Christian...". It's odd that he rails against "cultural Christianity" because the idea of being a Christian in one's "own strange way" is a distinctly American idea. American Christians have so thoroughly individualized every aspect of Christianity, from the Lord's Supper, to worship being a matter for only that person and God, to one's FAITH being a matter for only that person and God.
Beyond that fact, it's not strange at all at how one is a Christian; it's laid out pretty clearly in the Bible as having a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. How that plays out might seem strange in some people, but the thing itself is not strange.
So what does having a relationship with Jesus Christ look like? Here are some things it is not:
* Loving Christ, but not loving the church;
* Thinking Christ was wise or had a good understanding of the human condition;
* Trying to live life according to Christ's teachings;
* Admitting failure to live up to Christ's standards;
* Acknowledging Christ's divinity.
Some of those things are positive, some are forgivable, and many are simply common among Christians and non-Christians alike. The statement doesn't include a statement of faith and belief in Christ as savior, and without that we're kinda left to draw our own conclusions. I do acknowledge that one point if data is not really sufficient, especially not one that (as you point out) does show some signs of a real Christian walk (even if it comes off a little grumpy at the church more than reverent of her Bridegroom).
So here's a challenge, partially because I think I know the outcome, partially because I want to believe Moby is a committed follower of Christ. Find a piece for me, secular or Christian, wherein Moby simply states his belief in Christ as Lord and Savior. Even if he doesn't use those words, but communicates a lordship or salvation through the person of Jesus Christ. The catch? You must find one that isn't immediately followed by or entrenched in him attacking conventional Christianity or the church.
Please know that I was not attacking Moby. I tried to keep my "pithy" statement light by including the smiley on the end. I maintain, though, that his statement here, and elsewhere, seem to add up to little more than a mental assent to Christ, and not a committed relationship with His son, Jesus Christ. Hardly Ken Hamm material, I think, but if I have acted in that way, I ask your forgiveness and patience in bringing this brother back into the fold. :-)
Thanks for the (challenging, as always) comment!
Posted by: pcg on April 25, 2008 8:35 AM