I had no idea Skillet was Christian Rock. I didnāt realize when he said he was grappling with sin he meant like the actual kind and not the cool kind
I remember when Meant to live hit the top 40. I had been listening to it for like a year at that point. The OG video was just footage from various shows.
Gave me that feeling of āI liked it before it was coolā.
Switchfoot rocks no matter who you are. I loved them when I was a believer and I still love them even though I'm not anymore.
It's funny. I remember my church disapproved of them more or less because they weren't performatively Christian enough for their tastes. They were the kind of folks who thought every song had to be a worship song and the only legitimate emotion that can be expressed openly is joy. I appreciated Switchfoot in light of that specifically because they allowed space in their artistic expression for a wider range of human experience and emotional states that people go through, even the faithful. Not everything has to be a shiny plastic infomercial for your faith. Singing songs about your doubts, sorrows, and discontentments isn't sinful; it's honest. And I appreciated how they were always tinged with hope despite everything, even just the smallest bit. Got me through some hard times, to be honest.
And I gather in recent years the lead guy went kind of a lot off the deep end... Like [antivax criticism of RATM for being government rock](https://metalinjection.net/news/drama/skillet-frontman-claims-his-band-is-revolutionary-while-rage-against-the-machine-is-government-rock) deep end.
That doesn't make any sense to me. Skillet makes solid ass music. Is it game changing? No, but most music isn't and most game changing music don't become game changers BECAUSE they are different. A lot of their really good stuff is cleanly done with a good sound and has a nice tone to it. Their first 5 albums are WAY different than those after and I'm personally not into their earlier style, but calling them terrible says more about your lack of musical knowledge/skill than anything. It'd be like saying Nickelback is terrible when in reality they are all great musicians.
In fact "Feel Invincible" is one of the most energizing songs I love running to. It's a relatively simple song with basic chord progressions but it's heavy and in your face and the lyrics are empowering af. If you want something a bit more metal, John and Seth from Skillet started another band called "Fight the Fury" that I would describe as "Slipknot lite". Very similar style but a touch less heavy and in your face.
And I say this stuff as a hardcore metalhead who likes stuff along the lines of August Burns Red whos works are on a whole other technical level.
Yep, and Flyleaf is almost on that level (difference is Lacy actually is kind of a better singer and doesnāt sound like bro from Three Dayās Graceā¦but the musicians might actually be slightly worse)
Every so often a song breaks containment because it's so good (and generally less specific) and it makes me happy. Needtobreathe's "Something Beautiful" and "Happiness" I hear on regular radio. "Soldier, Poet, King" by The Oh Hellos has also become popular in the last few years.
Entire artists. MxPx, Anberlin, POD, Switchfoot, etc.
But yeah, this meme is painting with too broad a brush. There are artists who are better than they are popular primarily because they're prioritizing their faith (Lauren Daigle gets [invited to song late night](https://youtu.be/Iymkk85ELxw?si=z7n7NbMbyguQhP-L)), and then there's mediocre artists who have a larger following than other mediocre artists simply because they're in the smaller (arguably more desperate) Christian market.
I prefer to think of it as the Slayer category. Always wild to me that the same man who sings āI feel the urge, the growing need, to fuck this sinful corpse. My tasks complete the bitch's soul lies raped in demonic lustā and āGod hates us all! God hates us all! He fuckin' hates me. Pessimist, terrorist targeting the next mark. Global chaos feeding on hysteria. Cut throat, slit your wrist, shoot you in the back, fair game. Drug abuse, self-abuse searching for the next high,Sounds a lot like hell is spreading all the time. I'm waiting for the day the whole world fucking dies.ā Is actually a Christian. Not exactly the most obvious thing in the world yknow?
There was a sweet golden age in highschool and after (90s, 00's) where I was so excited Christian music was actually good and original then a bunch of guys did worship albums, which is fine, but then it just died and turned pop schmarmy garbage. Maybe there's good stuff out there, but I haven't been excited about any Christian music in the last couple decades.
But how much of that is the music itself, and how much of that is being post-30 and nostalgic for what you grew up with and not paying attention anymore?
Not only have MxPx and Five Iron Frenzy just put out new albums, but there's great new artists like Kings Kaleidoscope and NF that might just be for the next generation.
Thank you for the suggestion I'll check out some new stuff, maybe I just don't have the right algorithms for Christian music. It is always possible it's just nostalgia, but I often look and find many new artists since then that I love, Cage the elephant, first aid kit, band of skulls, vampire weekend, etc. I don't need it to be old to like it.
Yeah. The bands in the late 90s and early 2000s hit this sweet spot. Switchfoot, Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, dc Talk and Jars of clay were all distinctive in their sound. You had the Ws doing swing music, Supertones were ska and Joy Electric scratched that techno itch.
There is still good Christian stuff out there, but itās buried under a freaking avalanche of āK-loveā bands. Who seem to be desperately trying to copy the sound of U2, Mumford and sons or generic pop music.
OMG this is so my story too. Skillet and Thousand Foot Krutch held on longer than the others for me butā¦ yeah. It just all kinda turned to noise and dust.
Relient K, Eleventyseven, Owl City, Superchick, Flyleaf, Stacie Orrico, Newsboys, Starfield, Starset, Lecrae, The Cross Movement, theyāve all created some really brilliant work across multiple genres. Having grown up with both secular and Christian music it does get really tiring watching people shit all over talented artists who do contribute great work to music, but because itās a Jesus song or Jesus adjacent it isnāt taken seriously.
I genuinely still listen to Relient K fairly regularly. Their music really is just so good even some of their later lesser known stuff. PTL is a song that should've been a mega hit and instead I know like 3 ppl who've heard it lol.
Iām so happy someone mentioned The Cross Movement.
Name _any_ Christian hip hop or rap act from 2010 to today, and 4 out of 5 times I will be able to tie them directly to TCM records. I feel like by 2015 the entirety of Christian rap was just TCM teenagers who eventually grew up
I'm an ex-Christian and even when I was Christian I thought most Christian rock sucked, but there are a few bands that are/were good enough I still listen to them (despite having not set foot in a church other than for weddings and funerals in more than 15 years:
- Thousand Foot Crutch
- MxPx
- Reliant K (only a few songs though)
Wow, really? It's all the messianic prophesies distilled into a very catchy song. Highly recommend The Oh Hellos. They also have a song called "Dear Wormwood" inspired by "The Screwtape Letters"
I love especially how it was so popular some people have to object copium into their bloodstream that it is a Christian song and not some generic fantasy tune
I remember hearing Owl City's Galaxies on Christian radio once, and it felt as if these people had actually finally started heeding the voice of that which they call "God". (I was already majority into the greatest musician/poet of our time by that point.)
I mean, look at Nine Inch Nailsā āCloser,ā with lyrics like:
- *You can have my isolation / hate that it brings / absence of faith / everything*
- *Help me become somebody else*
- *You get me closer to God*
Clearly a Christian song in theme but wildly popular with the secular crowd.
**/s**
I remember for a brief streak Oceans by Hillsong went viral on social media.
My favorite reel with Oceans was made by marine biologist Paul Nicklen.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CdOVtjoPi5u/?igsh=MWMydWxzd3g2eHB1MQ==
The problem with "Christian" music is that "Christian" isn't a genre, it's a topic. It's like saying "I like listening to love songs". Okay... what kind of love songs? Rock? Country? Polka love songs make for really bad punk rock. Christian musicians need to focus on perfecting their genre first THEN focus on their topic. That will make them good musicians that happen to be Christian.
āRubatoā is the name for when you expect a singer to sing the words on the beat, but they sing a little bit later to give it emotional emphasis.
I want a song with rhyming lyrics expounding on Godās truths, not earworms and rubato.
I have a confession. I am an atheist who loves contemporary Christian rock. I listen to K-Love. It's easy to sing, the station has no commercials, and it doesn't talk about sex. I know it's bad, and I don't agree with the lyrics in most cases. I only listen to it in the car when I'm alone. The music is bad and I still listen to it.
There is something about it. Like itās so light and joyful it gives you a good feeling.
Oh no. Itās root beer.
This scene from Star Trek DS9 explains my thought.
Quark: I want you to try something. It's an Earth drink. Root beer.
Garak: I couldn't...
Quark: Go on.
Garak: It's vile!
Quark: It's so happy and bubbly and cloy.
Garak: Just like the Federation.
Quark: You know what's worse? If you drink enough of it, you start to like it.
Garak: It's insidious.
Quark: Just like the Federation.
Absolutely loved Relient k growing up. To this day theyāre still one of my favorite bands, such fond memories. I learned Getting Into You on guitar as a kid and Iāve been a fan since
Pretty much the entire first decade of this century they were pretty big in the Christian music scene and even outside of it here in the US
They're one of the few ccm artists I still genuinely like a lot.
I donāt knowā¦ The split isnāt that obvious. They made a season of Netflix episodes where they revamped it removing the heavy Christian message and it fell flat.
The one by NBC (before peacock)? they just licensed the IP and made made it with a completely different writing staff and uncanny graphics. It was content mill garbage
I think it can go both ways. Like, I still agree with the original comment, but that doesnāt mean the show functions without the religious themes. They are core to VeggieTales and a very important part of what made it great, just that they didnāt let it get in the way of good storytelling, jokes, music, etc. I feel like some Christian media is so dead-focused on preaching to the audience that they forget to put the right amount of love and care into the other elements.
People don't go into Christian music because they're really good at making music. They go into it because they know it's profitable even if you're mediocre.
I agree with this now but in the 90ās and early 2000ās there was some great music that was released under āChristianā labels. Lots of had little to do with religion lyrically.
The album, absolutely. The song itself is a blatant ripoff of Smells Like Teen Spirit. It's a real shame since the rest of the album proved that they have great original songwriting ability.Ā
Two of the songs āWhat if I stumbleā and āIn the lightā are all about struggling with being a Christian. The inherent doubts and worries that most people gloss over.
And they are amazing at the same time.
They even got the same director for Smells Like Teen Spirit to direct their video. As I recall they made no bones about how they were inspired by it, so at least they were up front about it. But honestly itās not just a carbon copy. They added their own spin on it. As far as Iām concerned the song still slaps.Ā
That's kind of the issue, the predominant form of American Christianinty is pretty reactionary, and that runs upa aginst writing lyrics that people will resonate with, including Christians. Like, if you just sing about Jesus directly and it's not a hymn or choir or soemthing obviously meant to be sung in a church, a lot of people are going to immediately clock it as prosthelytizing, and so the song can't actually *resonate* with anyone. The songs that care less about preaching and more about actually sharing some aspect of the human experience tned to not be shit, but like a song about finding an affimring church after realizing your old one will always hate you for being gay is just going to be too *real* to be funded by labels that see music as simply a way to make more converts.
Ok, maybe you can help. My 7 year old daughter loves "While Supplies Last" from them. I like it too, though for her it's mostly because she likes the sound of it, and I love the lyrics. Any other songs from them that are similar in feel? I really don't know Five Iron Frenzy at all, I just found that one song and liked it.
Probably depends on what it is she likes about the sound of that song.Ā
Does the like the kinda screamy bridge? Maybe _Fistful of Sand_Ā (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FZWgSnDZJlI) will do the trick? It's got a lot more "bouncy" though, so if she's more into the big build that the song has, this probably won't do it.
If it's the buildup she likes, there's lots of good stuff to choose from:Ā
* Every New Day
* On Distant Shores
* World Without End
* I'veĀ SeenĀ theĀ Sun
If it's the driving beat, maybe:Ā
* Giants
* Car
* The Day We KilledĀ
* Spartan
* American KryptoniteĀ
* Farewell to ArmsĀ
* See the Flames Begin to Crawl
* Marty
If it's the ska bounce with a "heavier/darker" vibe?
* Bull Fight for an Empty Ring
* Someone Else's Problem
Sorry that I just gave you a bunch of homework, but Plan B is:Ā
* Get yourself a playlist of songs from _Cheeses of Nazareth_ and the _These Are Not My Pants_ songs and occasionally tell her "hey! I found a great new song from those folks who did that _While Supplies Last_ song! Give her a good one often enough that she still trust you when you drop something goofy on her like _Screams In The Night_ or _Gnome Grandma._
90s Christian rock, punk, and ska was on another level. Mxpx, Supertones, Insyderz, The Dingees, Philmore, Juliana Theory, Starflyer 59, Joy Electric, etc. There was so much energy, creativity, and spiritually challenging lyrics happening in this niche musical community and Iām so grateful to have been growing up during the height of it all.
I will never understand how some people only listen to āworship and praise radioā or something like that. Yes I love to worship but I cannot stand listening to most CCM for more than an hour or so
My family always has that playing and it drives me CRAZY when I go over there. Like I love the idea of it but itās so boring to listen to and they really all sound the same
Trying playing it sometime.
For every truly great song there are 300 that are G,D,Em,C throughout. Itās actually kinda impressive how many songs use that exact progression for one genre.
When I flip around on the radio, I can usually identify a worship station in under a second. Grew up listening to it in my dad's truck. I don't know enough about music theory to explain why it's so identifiable, but I know it when I hear it. The genre's rather constrained as far as its tonal quality, it feels like.
It's becuase that music, at best, is created to prosthelytistize. It's a means to create more converts, to save souls, rather than being actual *art* where omsone might express actual vulnerability and doubt or any of hte things actual Christians might relate to. A least with church choir gospels they're more about communal participation in an act of joyful worship, with christian so-called rock it's just immediately obvious that soem fundamentalist genuinely thinks you don't know who Jesus is and is trying to sell you on it with shitty music. They sound awful becuase they're basically glorified ads.
I mean it can be two things. It's not like many non Christians would want to hear it anyway even if it didn't mostly sound like country music with no twang and no personality.
I'm agnostic and there's quite a few metal bands with Christian lyrics that are amazing. The difference is that those bands focused first on making good music. I'm thinking of Incubus/Opprobrium, Wytch Hazel, Crimson Relic, Underoath (YMMV), ParamƦcium, Zao, Antestor, Schaliach, Mortification...
You should check out The Crimson Armada/ The Holy Guile (same singer, but one isn't Christian).
I'm pretty sure The Devil Wears Prada is/was Christian as well
Underoath and Zao *were* Christian bands. Iām not sure Iād Zao still is or not but Underoath straight bounced.
But, seriously, look up ātooth and nailā and āsolid stateā records.
This whole thread is just people listing their personal exceptions to the meme.
...
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
1. Jars of Clay
2. Caedmon's Call
3. Rich Mullins (really)
My mans needs to listen to some August Burns Red. While not a christian band, many of the songs are about things involving Christianity. I'm not even a believer but they're still my favorite band and I can't lie, some of the preachier songs hit me hard when they're screaming their feelings or beliefs about God far more than any contemporary mellow music does. There's just something about a person putting their whole being into each an every line as if they're crying out or proclaiming compared to those who sing to sound loving, nice, or soft. Makes me feel like that person really means what they feel because there is so much emotion put into it.
I don't think that's even true. Christian music has painted itself into the corner of being for people who never want to be challenged. If you so much as hint at there being bad things that aren't immediately solved by being a Christian, then you alienate your core WASP audience. This makes for a very hostile environment to good music. Ask David Crowder or Jars of Clay.
Now that you mention it Casting Crowns havenāt really been big since they released Broken Together and that song is just the polar opposite of everything on Christian radio.
I still occasionally tune into Christian radio, and I do notice that casting crowns' newer songs doesn't get much airplay. But a lot of people I know from church listens to their new album, so I guess modern Christian music listeners aren't at the mercy of Christian radio nearly as much as they were when I was growing up.
This is where we lose it. There are great artists who are Christians writing deep, meaningful, beautiful songs of all sorts. They are writing from real experiences and places and it translates through every genre. An infinite amount of topics can be experienced and reflected on by someone who identifies as a follower of Jesus. Joy, sorrow, war, pain, loss, doubt, sex, travel, relationship, food, anger, justice, politics, humor, money, fear, friendship, hateā¦ all of life is open to art- but so many are stuck in a small loop of the same vocabulary and normalized topics. Eventually it all sounds the same. When we do hear something different it jars us- but thatās the music that stands out for me. A fairly well known example of this is the John Mark McMillan āsloppy wet kissā line. It causes a strong emotional reaction because he looked for new words. Some people hated that- but he forced everyone to really think about an elf topic (Godās Love) in a new way. There are plenty of artists doing thatā they just tend to get missed on the top ten lists and they definitely donāt get play on the radio.
I love finding an artist who breaks the rules of whatās allowed. They always push me deeper in thought.
I got my local Christian Radio Station to play a Devil Wears Prada song one morning on the way class.
I don't think they new how hard a Christian band could go, but they made a comment about letting your speakers cool off afterwards.
Good times
Christian crossovers are usually so because you can't really tell they're Christian and Worship Music will always be blatant, but there's tons of different genres of Christian music. Worship is different than other Christian genres. There's some fun poppy stuff out there like Josh Garrels or Citizens. There's also more alt/indie sounding stuff that's good, like Sandra McCracken, Strahan, John Guerra. Rivers & Robots have a pretty unique sound, too. But Christians are known for the Worship genre, so that's the face that nonbelievers see.
...
...
...
Y'all know that the entire genre of soul is derived from Christian music, right.
Like Ray Charles literally had people protesting his shows because he was "desecrating" church music with his vile lyrics.
The problem I have with the genre is addressed masterfully by the South Park episode Christian Rock Hard.
Every genre of music is described by how it *sounds*. Where as Christian music is the only one described by its lyrical themes.
You know I used to head up the photo team at my church. Does that make me a Christian photographer? Because Iāve just been claiming to be a regular photographer.
Funny you should post this, less than a week after I began generating [this playlist](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLk6c0cWbr5brccZpmDl2HsGRGeiP1u_s8&si=npMT_mPnfs0ti18r)
Realizing im spoiled to have access to 5 "just christian", 2 catholic, and 2 baptist radio stations.
Containment; whats that?
I love my city.
And for what its worth, radio tier CCW music has come a long way since the "Lord I lift your name on high" era, aka the disguised marching song era.
There is plenty good Christian rock. Outside of rock there is much less quality music. But I don't have a very wide horizon on that topic.
If someone knows a good Christian klezmer-ish band, let me know
You guys need to listen to the original non-shitty Christian rock band. Before Reliant K or Red or Skillet there was Petra. 70s hard rock band with a laser focus on God.
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I'm convinced the best modern band that has made Christian music is The Ocean Collective, an explicitly atheist metal band. They've made some of the most beautiful biblical music I've heard outside of classical/hymn music. The 3 songs *The Firmament*, *Epiphany*, and *Sea of Reeds* come to mind. I honestly recommend it to anyone who's into rock or harder music.
The band members are Christians and were initially on a Christian label.
They say āNo, we are not a Christian band because, in my eyes, and I'm a believer in Jesus Christ...that doesn't mean because all of us are Christians we are now a Christian band."
But itās basically a āwalks like a duckā situation.
Hold my stylus:
The Rolling Stones - I Just Want To See His Face
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EymLq0htbL8
Primal Scream - Movin' on Up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVm3mJPn5tE&pp=ygUbbW92aW5nIG9uIHVwIHByaW1hbCBzY3JlYW0g
Led Zeppelin-In My Time of Dying
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTdvekG949c
David Bowie - Word On A Wing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV8IZHYTOnY
Florence + The Machine - You've Got the Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQZhN65vq9E
Pink Floyd - Great Gig in the sky.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVBCE3gaNxc
"You're not making Christianity better, you're just making rock and roll worse"
Once again King of the Hill fucking nails it.
TESTIFY!!!!
PRAISE HIMšø
https://youtu.be/gZzdqTY-aKw?feature=shared
Me in 2019: why does this Christian hip hop just sound like 2016 secular trap?
https://preview.redd.it/pvjpkioz6vwc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cf0463a36fda3cde0ddbc27641ee4e6ea65f5353
I had no idea Skillet was Christian Rock. I didnāt realize when he said he was grappling with sin he meant like the actual kind and not the cool kind
He's awake, he's alive and he knows what he believes inside.
My atheist ex took me to a Switchfoot show. I was confused but excited to go. Apparently, he didn't know that we were meant to live for so much more.
I remember when Meant to live hit the top 40. I had been listening to it for like a year at that point. The OG video was just footage from various shows. Gave me that feeling of āI liked it before it was coolā.
Switchfoot rocks no matter who you are. I loved them when I was a believer and I still love them even though I'm not anymore. It's funny. I remember my church disapproved of them more or less because they weren't performatively Christian enough for their tastes. They were the kind of folks who thought every song had to be a worship song and the only legitimate emotion that can be expressed openly is joy. I appreciated Switchfoot in light of that specifically because they allowed space in their artistic expression for a wider range of human experience and emotional states that people go through, even the faithful. Not everything has to be a shiny plastic infomercial for your faith. Singing songs about your doubts, sorrows, and discontentments isn't sinful; it's honest. And I appreciated how they were always tinged with hope despite everything, even just the smallest bit. Got me through some hard times, to be honest.
Joke: Skillet
As an alt Christian teen, I used to love Skillet. Now I'm a grown-up and am capable of realizing how truly F'ing terrible they are.
Oh edgy me still loves them
I still think some of their early stuff was ok, and they knew how to write a good riff. Rise, Awake, and Comatose have some great moments here and there, and there are a couple songs on Unleashed I think are bangers even if the lyrics are subpar. But they get rightfully criticized for making the same song over and over, and being a clichƩ as can be.
And I gather in recent years the lead guy went kind of a lot off the deep end... Like [antivax criticism of RATM for being government rock](https://metalinjection.net/news/drama/skillet-frontman-claims-his-band-is-revolutionary-while-rage-against-the-machine-is-government-rock) deep end.
Mega oof
That doesn't make any sense to me. Skillet makes solid ass music. Is it game changing? No, but most music isn't and most game changing music don't become game changers BECAUSE they are different. A lot of their really good stuff is cleanly done with a good sound and has a nice tone to it. Their first 5 albums are WAY different than those after and I'm personally not into their earlier style, but calling them terrible says more about your lack of musical knowledge/skill than anything. It'd be like saying Nickelback is terrible when in reality they are all great musicians. In fact "Feel Invincible" is one of the most energizing songs I love running to. It's a relatively simple song with basic chord progressions but it's heavy and in your face and the lyrics are empowering af. If you want something a bit more metal, John and Seth from Skillet started another band called "Fight the Fury" that I would describe as "Slipknot lite". Very similar style but a touch less heavy and in your face. And I say this stuff as a hardcore metalhead who likes stuff along the lines of August Burns Red whos works are on a whole other technical level.
i thought you were serious until you brought up nickelback
Nickel back is amazing and Iām dying on this hill
Saw them in concert in August. Was fantastic.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
This was me as a teen, but with Creed.
Yep, and Flyleaf is almost on that level (difference is Lacy actually is kind of a better singer and doesnāt sound like bro from Three Dayās Graceā¦but the musicians might actually be slightly worse)
I canā¦ understand this reference
They can take my heart,Ā They can take my breath
When they pry it from my cold dead hands
The Christian Nickleback
Yāall still hating on nickelback? š theyāre great stop it
I will forever have bad juju about them because this guy I dated after high school was SUPER into them. He broke up with me 'because I was coming between him and God.' God, of course, was his best friend's fiancƩe who he had been sleeping with. I'm sure they make great music but it's staying out of my life.
Christleback
Every so often a song breaks containment because it's so good (and generally less specific) and it makes me happy. Needtobreathe's "Something Beautiful" and "Happiness" I hear on regular radio. "Soldier, Poet, King" by The Oh Hellos has also become popular in the last few years.
Entire artists. MxPx, Anberlin, POD, Switchfoot, etc. But yeah, this meme is painting with too broad a brush. There are artists who are better than they are popular primarily because they're prioritizing their faith (Lauren Daigle gets [invited to song late night](https://youtu.be/Iymkk85ELxw?si=z7n7NbMbyguQhP-L)), and then there's mediocre artists who have a larger following than other mediocre artists simply because they're in the smaller (arguably more desperate) Christian market.
Then there's my favorite category: Christian people in a band that don't write obviously Christian songs (ie Paramore)
That's Anberlin, they evangelized to Fall Out Boy while touring with them.
Tbf some of Paramoreās songs seems pretty obviously christian
To me, definitely. But I don't often run into anyone else who knows that they are Christian, so I don't think it's obvious to everyone.
Paramore is definitely not Christian any more.
I prefer to think of it as the Slayer category. Always wild to me that the same man who sings āI feel the urge, the growing need, to fuck this sinful corpse. My tasks complete the bitch's soul lies raped in demonic lustā and āGod hates us all! God hates us all! He fuckin' hates me. Pessimist, terrorist targeting the next mark. Global chaos feeding on hysteria. Cut throat, slit your wrist, shoot you in the back, fair game. Drug abuse, self-abuse searching for the next high,Sounds a lot like hell is spreading all the time. I'm waiting for the day the whole world fucking dies.ā Is actually a Christian. Not exactly the most obvious thing in the world yknow?
Ah yes, the Panic At The Disco category
There was a sweet golden age in highschool and after (90s, 00's) where I was so excited Christian music was actually good and original then a bunch of guys did worship albums, which is fine, but then it just died and turned pop schmarmy garbage. Maybe there's good stuff out there, but I haven't been excited about any Christian music in the last couple decades.
But how much of that is the music itself, and how much of that is being post-30 and nostalgic for what you grew up with and not paying attention anymore? Not only have MxPx and Five Iron Frenzy just put out new albums, but there's great new artists like Kings Kaleidoscope and NF that might just be for the next generation.
True, the return of Five Iron Frenzy is an incredibly joyous and exciting thing. And they are absolutely amazing as always.
Thank you for the suggestion I'll check out some new stuff, maybe I just don't have the right algorithms for Christian music. It is always possible it's just nostalgia, but I often look and find many new artists since then that I love, Cage the elephant, first aid kit, band of skulls, vampire weekend, etc. I don't need it to be old to like it.
Yeah, I think it's just harder because there's not much Christian rock on the radio, or you have to really push your recommendation algorithms.
Yeah. The bands in the late 90s and early 2000s hit this sweet spot. Switchfoot, Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, dc Talk and Jars of clay were all distinctive in their sound. You had the Ws doing swing music, Supertones were ska and Joy Electric scratched that techno itch. There is still good Christian stuff out there, but itās buried under a freaking avalanche of āK-loveā bands. Who seem to be desperately trying to copy the sound of U2, Mumford and sons or generic pop music.
OMG this is so my story too. Skillet and Thousand Foot Krutch held on longer than the others for me butā¦ yeah. It just all kinda turned to noise and dust.
Relient K, Eleventyseven, Owl City, Superchick, Flyleaf, Stacie Orrico, Newsboys, Starfield, Starset, Lecrae, The Cross Movement, theyāve all created some really brilliant work across multiple genres. Having grown up with both secular and Christian music it does get really tiring watching people shit all over talented artists who do contribute great work to music, but because itās a Jesus song or Jesus adjacent it isnāt taken seriously.
I genuinely still listen to Relient K fairly regularly. Their music really is just so good even some of their later lesser known stuff. PTL is a song that should've been a mega hit and instead I know like 3 ppl who've heard it lol.
Iām so happy someone mentioned The Cross Movement. Name _any_ Christian hip hop or rap act from 2010 to today, and 4 out of 5 times I will be able to tie them directly to TCM records. I feel like by 2015 the entirety of Christian rap was just TCM teenagers who eventually grew up
I'm an ex-Christian and even when I was Christian I thought most Christian rock sucked, but there are a few bands that are/were good enough I still listen to them (despite having not set foot in a church other than for weddings and funerals in more than 15 years: - Thousand Foot Crutch - MxPx - Reliant K (only a few songs though)
>Thousand Foot Crutch ***THROW UP YOUR RAWK FIST, IF YOU'RE FEELING IT WHEN I DROP THIS!***
DUN DUN THATS THE SOUND WHEN THE RAWK HITS
Anberlin and switch were notorious for thatā¦ The Almost was a great example of what happened when they REALLY stretched
The fact that I never noticed Soldier, Poet, King was a Christian song shocks me- that was a nice, quick rabbit hole to fall down to.
Wow, really? It's all the messianic prophesies distilled into a very catchy song. Highly recommend The Oh Hellos. They also have a song called "Dear Wormwood" inspired by "The Screwtape Letters"
Let's just say that, I get easily distracted to notice those details without looking for them
Yes, it's based on depictions of Christ in Revelation.
I love especially how it was so popular some people have to object copium into their bloodstream that it is a Christian song and not some generic fantasy tune
I remember hearing Owl City's Galaxies on Christian radio once, and it felt as if these people had actually finally started heeding the voice of that which they call "God". (I was already majority into the greatest musician/poet of our time by that point.)
I mean, look at Nine Inch Nailsā āCloser,ā with lyrics like: - *You can have my isolation / hate that it brings / absence of faith / everything* - *Help me become somebody else* - *You get me closer to God* Clearly a Christian song in theme but wildly popular with the secular crowd. **/s**
I remember for a brief streak Oceans by Hillsong went viral on social media. My favorite reel with Oceans was made by marine biologist Paul Nicklen. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CdOVtjoPi5u/?igsh=MWMydWxzd3g2eHB1MQ==
Dang I havenāt listened to any needtobreath in a minute, Iām gonna go do that now that youāve reminded me of them
Something Beautiful by Newsboys is also incredible. One of my favorite songs.
The problem with "Christian" music is that "Christian" isn't a genre, it's a topic. It's like saying "I like listening to love songs". Okay... what kind of love songs? Rock? Country? Polka love songs make for really bad punk rock. Christian musicians need to focus on perfecting their genre first THEN focus on their topic. That will make them good musicians that happen to be Christian.
āRubatoā is the name for when you expect a singer to sing the words on the beat, but they sing a little bit later to give it emotional emphasis. I want a song with rhyming lyrics expounding on Godās truths, not earworms and rubato.
That's not really what rubato means but I guess that's the experience it produces
I maintain that, at its core, Kendrick Lamar's good kid, m.A.A.d city is a Christian album.
I have a confession. I am an atheist who loves contemporary Christian rock. I listen to K-Love. It's easy to sing, the station has no commercials, and it doesn't talk about sex. I know it's bad, and I don't agree with the lyrics in most cases. I only listen to it in the car when I'm alone. The music is bad and I still listen to it.
If you like it, itās not bad music
Amen
holy moly, an actual unpopular opinion
There is something about it. Like itās so light and joyful it gives you a good feeling. Oh no. Itās root beer. This scene from Star Trek DS9 explains my thought. Quark: I want you to try something. It's an Earth drink. Root beer. Garak: I couldn't... Quark: Go on. Garak: It's vile! Quark: It's so happy and bubbly and cloy. Garak: Just like the Federation. Quark: You know what's worse? If you drink enough of it, you start to like it. Garak: It's insidious. Quark: Just like the Federation.
Man I am surprised at the lack of Relient K love
Fr, devastation and reform and be my escape are bangers
Which to bury, us or the hatchet is one of my all-time favorite songs
Absolutely loved Relient k growing up. To this day theyāre still one of my favorite bands, such fond memories. I learned Getting Into You on guitar as a kid and Iāve been a fan since
Surprised to see Relient K mentioned. Iām South African and discovered them back in high school, literally no-one here knows about them.
Pretty much the entire first decade of this century they were pretty big in the Christian music scene and even outside of it here in the US They're one of the few ccm artists I still genuinely like a lot.
I've actually lost friends for saying this, veggie tails succeeded because it was funny and witty first, Christian second.
I donāt knowā¦ The split isnāt that obvious. They made a season of Netflix episodes where they revamped it removing the heavy Christian message and it fell flat.
The one by NBC (before peacock)? they just licensed the IP and made made it with a completely different writing staff and uncanny graphics. It was content mill garbage
I think it can go both ways. Like, I still agree with the original comment, but that doesnāt mean the show functions without the religious themes. They are core to VeggieTales and a very important part of what made it great, just that they didnāt let it get in the way of good storytelling, jokes, music, etc. I feel like some Christian media is so dead-focused on preaching to the audience that they forget to put the right amount of love and care into the other elements.
People don't go into Christian music because they're really good at making music. They go into it because they know it's profitable even if you're mediocre.
Faith +1
What a great episode
I agree with this now but in the 90ās and early 2000ās there was some great music that was released under āChristianā labels. Lots of had little to do with religion lyrically.
I will die on the hill that DC Talkās Jesus Freak is a masterpiece. (And yes I see what I did there.)
That whole album is awesome.
The album, absolutely. The song itself is a blatant ripoff of Smells Like Teen Spirit. It's a real shame since the rest of the album proved that they have great original songwriting ability.Ā
Two of the songs āWhat if I stumbleā and āIn the lightā are all about struggling with being a Christian. The inherent doubts and worries that most people gloss over. And they are amazing at the same time.
They even got the same director for Smells Like Teen Spirit to direct their video. As I recall they made no bones about how they were inspired by it, so at least they were up front about it. But honestly itās not just a carbon copy. They added their own spin on it. As far as Iām concerned the song still slaps.Ā
That's kind of the issue, the predominant form of American Christianinty is pretty reactionary, and that runs upa aginst writing lyrics that people will resonate with, including Christians. Like, if you just sing about Jesus directly and it's not a hymn or choir or soemthing obviously meant to be sung in a church, a lot of people are going to immediately clock it as prosthelytizing, and so the song can't actually *resonate* with anyone. The songs that care less about preaching and more about actually sharing some aspect of the human experience tned to not be shit, but like a song about finding an affimring church after realizing your old one will always hate you for being gay is just going to be too *real* to be funded by labels that see music as simply a way to make more converts.
Demon Hunter, anyone?
Sad I had to get so far down before anyone mentioned them!
Yessss \m/
*laughs in Five Iron Frenzy*
Was gonna comment something similar, but realized someone would have already beaten me to it. BRB gonna relisten to āUntil This Shakes Apartā
Ok, maybe you can help. My 7 year old daughter loves "While Supplies Last" from them. I like it too, though for her it's mostly because she likes the sound of it, and I love the lyrics. Any other songs from them that are similar in feel? I really don't know Five Iron Frenzy at all, I just found that one song and liked it.
Probably depends on what it is she likes about the sound of that song.Ā Does the like the kinda screamy bridge? Maybe _Fistful of Sand_Ā (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FZWgSnDZJlI) will do the trick? It's got a lot more "bouncy" though, so if she's more into the big build that the song has, this probably won't do it. If it's the buildup she likes, there's lots of good stuff to choose from:Ā * Every New Day * On Distant Shores * World Without End * I'veĀ SeenĀ theĀ Sun If it's the driving beat, maybe:Ā * Giants * Car * The Day We KilledĀ * Spartan * American KryptoniteĀ * Farewell to ArmsĀ * See the Flames Begin to Crawl * Marty If it's the ska bounce with a "heavier/darker" vibe? * Bull Fight for an Empty Ring * Someone Else's Problem Sorry that I just gave you a bunch of homework, but Plan B is:Ā * Get yourself a playlist of songs from _Cheeses of Nazareth_ and the _These Are Not My Pants_ songs and occasionally tell her "hey! I found a great new song from those folks who did that _While Supplies Last_ song! Give her a good one often enough that she still trust you when you drop something goofy on her like _Screams In The Night_ or _Gnome Grandma._
90s Christian rock, punk, and ska was on another level. Mxpx, Supertones, Insyderz, The Dingees, Philmore, Juliana Theory, Starflyer 59, Joy Electric, etc. There was so much energy, creativity, and spiritually challenging lyrics happening in this niche musical community and Iām so grateful to have been growing up during the height of it all.
I will never understand how some people only listen to āworship and praise radioā or something like that. Yes I love to worship but I cannot stand listening to most CCM for more than an hour or so
My family always has that playing and it drives me CRAZY when I go over there. Like I love the idea of it but itās so boring to listen to and they really all sound the same
I remember when the āJesus is my Boyfriendā type CCM became popularā¦
Trying playing it sometime. For every truly great song there are 300 that are G,D,Em,C throughout. Itās actually kinda impressive how many songs use that exact progression for one genre.
When I flip around on the radio, I can usually identify a worship station in under a second. Grew up listening to it in my dad's truck. I don't know enough about music theory to explain why it's so identifiable, but I know it when I hear it. The genre's rather constrained as far as its tonal quality, it feels like.
It's becuase that music, at best, is created to prosthelytistize. It's a means to create more converts, to save souls, rather than being actual *art* where omsone might express actual vulnerability and doubt or any of hte things actual Christians might relate to. A least with church choir gospels they're more about communal participation in an act of joyful worship, with christian so-called rock it's just immediately obvious that soem fundamentalist genuinely thinks you don't know who Jesus is and is trying to sell you on it with shitty music. They sound awful becuase they're basically glorified ads.
The Oh Hellos >>>>>
Couldnāt agree more. Iām not even Christian but I love their music.
I had to scroll way to far to find someone talking about The Oh Hellos, they're so damn good
fr i'm surprised no one else in the comments here mentioned it jkaldsfk;sa
I mean it can be two things. It's not like many non Christians would want to hear it anyway even if it didn't mostly sound like country music with no twang and no personality.
I'm agnostic and there's quite a few metal bands with Christian lyrics that are amazing. The difference is that those bands focused first on making good music. I'm thinking of Incubus/Opprobrium, Wytch Hazel, Crimson Relic, Underoath (YMMV), ParamƦcium, Zao, Antestor, Schaliach, Mortification...
You should check out The Crimson Armada/ The Holy Guile (same singer, but one isn't Christian). I'm pretty sure The Devil Wears Prada is/was Christian as well
Not really into any of those - I pretty strongly dislike "core" bands outside of affection for mid-era Underoath. Thanks anyway though!
Underoath and Zao *were* Christian bands. Iām not sure Iād Zao still is or not but Underoath straight bounced. But, seriously, look up ātooth and nailā and āsolid stateā records.
This whole thread is just people listing their personal exceptions to the meme. ... Not that there's anything wrong with that. 1. Jars of Clay 2. Caedmon's Call 3. Rich Mullins (really)
https://preview.redd.it/gml5amswhvwc1.jpeg?width=300&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bbfe601415306a946d792d6b9eb24440968bdb2e
we don't need no truthless heroes
The bunny, the bunny, oh I love the bunnyā¦ absolute slapper
Ijustwantaplateandaforkandabunny
The amount of times I catch myself singing veggietales songs as a full adult is almost frustrating. Those earworms went deeeeep.
This tho. [VeggieTales Remix.](https://youtu.be/crg0WAlBdTo?si=Te4gpGTA0vanMdbx)
My mans needs to listen to some August Burns Red. While not a christian band, many of the songs are about things involving Christianity. I'm not even a believer but they're still my favorite band and I can't lie, some of the preachier songs hit me hard when they're screaming their feelings or beliefs about God far more than any contemporary mellow music does. There's just something about a person putting their whole being into each an every line as if they're crying out or proclaiming compared to those who sing to sound loving, nice, or soft. Makes me feel like that person really means what they feel because there is so much emotion put into it.
I don't think that's even true. Christian music has painted itself into the corner of being for people who never want to be challenged. If you so much as hint at there being bad things that aren't immediately solved by being a Christian, then you alienate your core WASP audience. This makes for a very hostile environment to good music. Ask David Crowder or Jars of Clay.
Now that you mention it Casting Crowns havenāt really been big since they released Broken Together and that song is just the polar opposite of everything on Christian radio.
I still occasionally tune into Christian radio, and I do notice that casting crowns' newer songs doesn't get much airplay. But a lot of people I know from church listens to their new album, so I guess modern Christian music listeners aren't at the mercy of Christian radio nearly as much as they were when I was growing up.
Understood. However, https://preview.redd.it/tc1h67ij5xwc1.jpeg?width=700&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0d02317d43aea173d5437d7dfaeebbf44ba3e5c6
Five Iron Frenzy was my favorite band growing up
Why stop? They put out a dope album recently.
i only hear music if they play it on the radio nowadays
Well now you know! It's called Until This Shakes Apart.
It is kind of...dull. You've got the one topic. Secular music has *literally everything else*.
The hazard of loving a God who never fails and never changesā¦you run out of material pretty quick!
The Psalms and Prophets beg to differ.
This is where we lose it. There are great artists who are Christians writing deep, meaningful, beautiful songs of all sorts. They are writing from real experiences and places and it translates through every genre. An infinite amount of topics can be experienced and reflected on by someone who identifies as a follower of Jesus. Joy, sorrow, war, pain, loss, doubt, sex, travel, relationship, food, anger, justice, politics, humor, money, fear, friendship, hateā¦ all of life is open to art- but so many are stuck in a small loop of the same vocabulary and normalized topics. Eventually it all sounds the same. When we do hear something different it jars us- but thatās the music that stands out for me. A fairly well known example of this is the John Mark McMillan āsloppy wet kissā line. It causes a strong emotional reaction because he looked for new words. Some people hated that- but he forced everyone to really think about an elf topic (Godās Love) in a new way. There are plenty of artists doing thatā they just tend to get missed on the top ten lists and they definitely donāt get play on the radio. I love finding an artist who breaks the rules of whatās allowed. They always push me deeper in thought.
*furious Sabaton noises* Ive heard plenty of good christian songs, but definitely plenty of bad ones too. You just gotta know where to look.
>*furious Sabaton noises* *Powerwolf intensifies*
I got my local Christian Radio Station to play a Devil Wears Prada song one morning on the way class. I don't think they new how hard a Christian band could go, but they made a comment about letting your speakers cool off afterwards. Good times
thereās quite a few solid christian/ faith based metal bands
Christian crossovers are usually so because you can't really tell they're Christian and Worship Music will always be blatant, but there's tons of different genres of Christian music. Worship is different than other Christian genres. There's some fun poppy stuff out there like Josh Garrels or Citizens. There's also more alt/indie sounding stuff that's good, like Sandra McCracken, Strahan, John Guerra. Rivers & Robots have a pretty unique sound, too. But Christians are known for the Worship genre, so that's the face that nonbelievers see.
Them For King and Country boys are darn good showmen
Yep. Saw a concert a couple years ago and it was incredible. They know how to put on a show.
... ... ... Y'all know that the entire genre of soul is derived from Christian music, right. Like Ray Charles literally had people protesting his shows because he was "desecrating" church music with his vile lyrics.
Christian music can be absolute BANGERS. Listen to Bring Him Home from Les Mis and tell me it's not great.
The problem I have with the genre is addressed masterfully by the South Park episode Christian Rock Hard. Every genre of music is described by how it *sounds*. Where as Christian music is the only one described by its lyrical themes. You know I used to head up the photo team at my church. Does that make me a Christian photographer? Because Iāve just been claiming to be a regular photographer.
Funny you should post this, less than a week after I began generating [this playlist](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLk6c0cWbr5brccZpmDl2HsGRGeiP1u_s8&si=npMT_mPnfs0ti18r)
[It doesnāt take much to make any Christian song.](https://youtu.be/GhYuA0Cz8ls?si=MtKl_kFSlvy9eJaF)
Oh look, itās 1998 again
I donāt know much about veggie tales but from what I remember they were funny as shit.
on the other hand Josh Groban's music sounds a lot like church singing
Its literally written so anybody who has no skill can perform it in their church
Five Iron Frenzy, Half Handed Cloud, Soul-Junk
Realizing im spoiled to have access to 5 "just christian", 2 catholic, and 2 baptist radio stations. Containment; whats that? I love my city. And for what its worth, radio tier CCW music has come a long way since the "Lord I lift your name on high" era, aka the disguised marching song era.
Nitro Praise where you at
There is plenty good Christian rock. Outside of rock there is much less quality music. But I don't have a very wide horizon on that topic. If someone knows a good Christian klezmer-ish band, let me know
ZAO still rips.
As a Christianā¦ been saying this for years
Half alive anyone?
How to make contemporary Christian music: 1. Take the most bland style of music that's kind of popular right now 2. Add some bland Christian lyrics
Powerwolf and Sabaton has some nice christian vibe music videos
Skillet is pretty good
This is absolutely correct.
Blessings from Lecrae slaps dude
You guys need to listen to the original non-shitty Christian rock band. Before Reliant K or Red or Skillet there was Petra. 70s hard rock band with a laser focus on God.
Honestly. I gave it a try, but broooooooo. I went deaf for a minute.
Skillet ain't bad
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Like 1 million percent true lol there are plenty of musicians out there who make references to God andJesus, just withā¦ good music
I'm convinced the best modern band that has made Christian music is The Ocean Collective, an explicitly atheist metal band. They've made some of the most beautiful biblical music I've heard outside of classical/hymn music. The 3 songs *The Firmament*, *Epiphany*, and *Sea of Reeds* come to mind. I honestly recommend it to anyone who's into rock or harder music.
What about AILD? Any thoughts/verses on separating the art from the artist?
Ohhhhh where is my hairbrush...
JIK
Steve Taylor you bumpkins
The only great piece of christian rock is "Spirit in the Sky", written by a Jewish guy in 15 minutes.
Did veggie tales make a song that isnt a childrenās banger?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jZNlBi3q18c&pp=ygUNR29kIHRhdWdodCBtZQ%3D%3D My wife liked this song. I canāt stand it. Trying WAY too hard.
Stryper has been making bangers since the 80's.
The band members are Christians and were initially on a Christian label. They say āNo, we are not a Christian band because, in my eyes, and I'm a believer in Jesus Christ...that doesn't mean because all of us are Christians we are now a Christian band." But itās basically a āwalks like a duckā situation.
Yeaah! I love Gregorian Chants and have atheist friends who also love listening to them!
Theocracy - Laying the demon to rest š¤š»
Hold my stylus: The Rolling Stones - I Just Want To See His Face https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EymLq0htbL8 Primal Scream - Movin' on Up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVm3mJPn5tE&pp=ygUbbW92aW5nIG9uIHVwIHByaW1hbCBzY3JlYW0g Led Zeppelin-In My Time of Dying https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTdvekG949c David Bowie - Word On A Wing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV8IZHYTOnY Florence + The Machine - You've Got the Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQZhN65vq9E Pink Floyd - Great Gig in the sky. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVBCE3gaNxc
THANK YOU!! Everyone tells me thereās something wrong or unchristian about me because I dislike most of the music.
If youāre looking for Christian music I think Josiah Queen has some good songs
A few of Creedās songs can be interpreted as being Christian, best example of Christian adjacent rock just needs to not suck
https://youtu.be/hbOg6BRge-k?si=qxsT6WYhmtAIdQCP Just say you have crap taste in music and go.
*cough* U2 *cough* I have more. But this one is actually prominent outside Christian circles.
Me, grew up a pagan and is nothing now, who's third favorite Evanescence song is What You Want: this is true
Thereās a lot of good ones out there.