There are two avenues for this post:
(1) To delve deeper into last nights topic of so called "Christian" music being/seeming inferior
(2) To list good bands (believers or not). Names, websites, whatever...just try to stay away from myspace if at all possible.
Get crackin...
7 comments:
(1) I'd made the comment that you can listen to the music (sans lyrics) and like one form of music over the other (usually main stream gets the nod here). However, that's only half of what music is, right? I believe it was Richie who mentioned that there aren't manny believers who are lyrically artistic and continuing to reinvent themselves (a la Jars of Clay) and I have to agree here, but when I think about most music I've heard, I can't think of many on the radio this fit this category either...or have anything lyrically noteworthy.
How many pop bands have their sound produced for them and have lyrics that are...lacking? Need I even mention that hump song?
How much is in the hands of the band and how much is in the hands of the producer? Every band I know that gets signed (By The Tree and Rhythm being the main two that I know first hand) hated it. So is """Christian""" music that far off, or do we not have people to get the good music out there?
Meh.
(2)
*Mute Math (believers) - Um, they're just musical. Not sure how to describe.
http://www.mutemath.com/ (The video for Typical is amazing. See website or YouTube)
*Fly Leaf (also mentioned by Richie)
*P.O.D. (also mentioned by The Prez) If you get their latest album Testify on iTunes, it comes with a full length audio album commentary...pretty cool.
KK, mainly I just wanted this to have a comment on it before I set it out to you guys. They're not real thought provoking (yet?), I'll come back with more later.
Specifically speaking, music related to Christ (hereforth known as Christian music) is, it's purest form, intended to be pleasing to God, not man. It is not a surprise that the two do not often intertwine. 92% (from the dept. of Pulling Numbers out of the Air) of secular music is written and produced with the sole purpose of selling albums. A Christian album is not (should not) be produced with the sole purpose of making syrics and music pleasing to both God and man (Shanks, feel free to insert chapter and verse). So I think the thought and feelings put into heartfelt Christian music plays a major part. And this may be the reason why the really good Christian artists stay popular for so long (Michael W Smith, Amy Grant, Newsboys, dc Talk/Toby Mac, Jars of Clay, Third day, etc)
Now, if you are talking about rap music, things totally change. (Purists would scoff at the thought of calling rap "music, but hey, I'm not here to judge). Every effective selling point in rap music has been tried to be replicated once it has been deemed a hit. For example, Akon's synthesized lyrics, Eminem's rapping/rhyming scheme (not easily duplicated). Doing the 1st round of the basketball tourney at Cornerstone, we had some Christian rap blaring, and the beats and the flow of the music was indescernable from secular rap music. Lyrics were certainly Christ oriented, but other than that was totally interchangeable from any other rap music. Kinda cool, I thought.
2) I'm not the one to ask for any references. I consistintly listen to the same Christian artist over and over: Michael Bleeker, The Passion Band, David Crowder, and Rich Mullins.
Speaking of Bleeker, I usually don't listen to country or western, but that opening song this weekend at church was awesome.
Setting this up was a great idea, Shanks. I could write forever on music, Christian or otherwise...but I am at work right now so I'll just throw in a quote by my homeboy Bono.
"The music that really turns me on is either running toward God or away from God. Both recognize the pivot, that God is at the center of the jaunt."
See you guys tomorrow...
Cheers,
Richie
My music well its eclectic to say the least...Im glad you love Lecra and the man is amazing as well. I was humbled meeting him.
I lvoe me some Johnny Lang...and luckily the world agrees, cause he won some grammies. His newest album is title Turn Around and man is it somethin fierce(country accent). He makes me move abnd fall to my knees all in one hour, and that is something that few can do.
I know its also cliche and a bit on the well...the dark side, but I love me some Beyonce, and not onle because she's the future wife of my kids, but because no matter what she does she has talent doing it.
Gavin Degraw...nough said most of you are tired of my ringtone, so you got that.
And last but not least by far is India Arie. I cant figure out if shes a full bible carrying christian or not, but her music is soothing and uplifting and she has some religous undertones that I lvoe. That is all
sorry my spelling looked more like the kids i will be teaching, but Im working on it so don't hate.
ooh ooh! I also thought of Eisley. They're a cool kinda groovey music with some whacked out harmonies. It never goes where you think it's going to, but it still always sounds so good.
Post a Comment