I came across an interesting article on an excellent blog I frequent called: What to do about Embarrassingly Bad Popular Christian Muisc which inspired me to write about the topic. I have often asked myself that question, there is a lot of bad Christian music out there. In fact, I went through a stage in college where I rarely listened to Christian music because I felt that so much of it was bad.
Why is that? Why is so much CCM (Christian Contemporary Music) so poor–both musically and lyrically. I have mentioned before that I would rather listen to beautiful secular music that reminds me in some way that man is created in the image of God and therefore capable of creating beautiful art than Christian music that is trite, shallow, and unoriginal.
It bothers me that so much CCM is so bad because I think Christians ought to be making the most beautiful and compelling music of all. Let me explain. God is holy. There is no one like Him (1 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 24). No one comes close to his splendor and majesty. Christ the son is our only savior, he too, is glorious beyond compare. He is the king of all creation (Colossians 1:15ff). God is the greatest being in existence. No one comes close to matching his greatness. If God is the greatest being in existence, then there are no higher thoughts that can be expressed than thoughts of God. If everything really is rubbish compared to knowing God through Christ (Phil. 3:1-11), then shouldn’t Christian music express that reality in a compelling manner?
If there is no greater being in existence than God, then shouldn’t our songs about him reflect that? If coming into a relationship with Him through Christ has transformed us, shouldn’t our music reflect that new relationship beautifully? Furthermore I think those who are truly Christians understand the world in which they live in a more profound manner, shouldn’t we be able to write music in such a way that we accurately reflect truths about the world in which we live?
I believe that Christians have come into the most profound relationship in the universe, a relationship with almighty God. If that is the case then I think that Christians are capable of producing beautiful music but it seems that is rare. Why do you think this is?
There are some great Christian artists out there but most people haven’t heard of them. This is probably due in part to the way the CCM industry works–they simply try to produce artists that sound like popular secular atists etc. Thinking about this has inspired me to come up with a list of Christian Music Worth Listening to.
In no particular order, here are some artists who write from a Christian worldview that are worth checking out (please feel free to add to the list in the comment meta):
Folk/singer song-writer–Denison Whitmer (friend of Sufjan Stevens who would obviously be at the top of this list, he also released a side project with some other guys called the River Bends, which is also quite good); Bill Mallonee (formerly of Vigilantes of Love–Paste named him #65 in the top 100 living songwriters, he really is an amazing song writer!); Rodney Branigan (he plays two guitars at once–one of the best guitarists I have ever seen live); Five O’Clock People (The Nothing Venture is simply amazing!); Sam Ashworth; Damien Jurado; Drew Thomas.
Indie Rock/Decent Emo (i.e. not that lame stuff they call emo today)–Cool Hand Luke; The Rocket Summer (some find him annoying, I love his first album); Ester Drang; Jeremy Enigk (former lead singer for Sunny Day Real Estate–his new band is called The Fire Theft); Lovedrug; Mae; Mineral; Pedro the Lion; Quiet Company; This Providence; Breaking Pangea; Copeland; Pop Unknown; Sleeping at Last.
Oddities–Danielson; Half-Handed Cloud; Woven Hand; The Gloria Record;
Some Christian Indie Gems–Christie Front Drive; All Things Bright and Beautiful; Denison Marrs: World Renowned For Romance (I don’t know what happened to them after this album because the band got worse and worse–kinda like what happened to Jimmy Eat World after they released Clarity); Lewis: Even So.
Again, please feel free to add to my list in the comment meta if you know some great Christian artists worth listening to!
I don’t know the answer to your question about why isn’t the joy and life-transforming power of Christ in us evident in the music Christian artists produce.
I have often asked myself a similar question: Why is it that all those people who claim to have witnessed the healing power of Jesus in their own lives or the lives of their friends or relatives who were ill, or in their ministries, are not shouting it out loud to the four winds? Why don’t these miraculous signs and wonders make it to the news and start bringing more people to know the love of Christ? Why is it that the only news we get about Christians is when those in the limelight stumble or their behaviour puts into question the integrity and authenticity of the rest of the body of Christ?
I think you may have partly answered your own question. Many Christian musicians who know are in this world but not of it, conform to the demands of the world instead of following the lead of the Holy Spirit. Many who call themselves Christians do not lead lives to match that worthy name and this is often evident in the fruit they produce or the lack of it in their ministries, be it music or other. But God knows the difference between the wheat and the tares.
One of my favourites Christian Artists through whose music I have been able to worship God and enjoy His presence is Jason Upton. His worship music is raw and unrehearsed. His relationship with the Father is so evident through his music.
I shall check all the artists you have suggested.
God bless you
ransom33 @ http://www.ransom33.wordpress.com
jon foreman, thrice, over the rhine, rosie thomas, house of heroes, of course there are all the legends like the 77′s, charlie peacock, daniel amos, the lost dogs, mike knott and LSU, adam again, midnight oil, the call, t bone burnett, mrk heard, bruce cockburn, the violet burning…. i could go on and on
Jamie Barnes.
Well I have to agree with you for the most part. Some of what I hear on christian radio is good. Most of it really isn’t my style. I have dealt with the same question myself. The best Christian music I could find I found by just looking up christian artists online. Also another way of doing it is to just go to the Christian store and(I know this sounds lame) listen to samples of the music based on the cover. To be honest I can usually tell if a CD is going to be my style or not simply based on what the cover looks like.
I don’t know but that’s just a few suggestions. I think my biggest problem with christian radio is just that they don’t ever branch out into different styles of music.
One band you should deffinately check out is “The Classic Crime”!!!! Not well known but great music if you are in to rock!
@Ransom,Thanks for sharing your thoughts. On the whole I agree with you that many christian artists just try to emulate secular artists and therefore fail to to do anything original or honoring to the Lord.
I also think, however, that the CCM system is set up to make only “Christian” music and that isn’t necessarily a good thing. We are called to be the lights of the world and to go and make disciples of all nations–how is it that CCM is contributing to those callings? I don’t think it is because CCM caters to Christians and seems to utterly fail to reach out to the lost. This is due in part to the quality of the music but also to the message of the music. Someone who is not a Christian is probably not going to want to pay much attention to music that wears its Christianity on its sleeve.
What I mean is, I think its possible for Christians to make music that appeals to both the lost and the saved–we are just not doing it–or not doing it very well. It doesn’t bother me when a song’s message is subtle. It would obviously bother me if someone claiming to be Christian were making music contradictory to the Bible, but it doesn’t bother me if I have to work to understand the meaning of a song–that is part of the beauty and joy of music, good music makes you think and takes time to let its message sink in.
I also think its ok for Christian artists to write about their struggles, the world, experiences, frustrations, joys, everything doesn’t explicitly have to be a “praise song”–at the end of the day if we write with honesty and conviction about what is true, then I think we have honored God.
When everything a Christian artist puts out is explicitly and obviously about Jesus, then the artist seems to be relegated to playing on Christian venues and their CD gets placed in the “Religious” or “Inspiriational” section at the record store and Joe-lost-guy will never listen to it. That is why I am ok with Christians producing music that isn’t obviously Christian on the first and even second listening. By making such music, the artist might just get some opportunities to make disciples of Jesus Christ in some very dark places.
A good example of someone who is making this kind of music is Sufjan Stevens. Some have complained that Illinoise was not explicitly Christian enough. That is what I loved most about it. The songs made me think about difficult and deep truths in a very compelling way. For instance, listen to John Wayne Gacy Jr. and tell me what you think Sufjan believes about man’s sinful nature? Or listen to Casmir Pulaski Day a few times and tell me what you think Sufjan thinks about the Sovereignty and wisdom of God?
In fact, I don’t know if its true, just heard this from a student in my church, I head that one of the guys from Staind came to faith in Christ. Supposedly due in large part to the influence and witness of Underoath–a Christian band who took flack from Christians for touring with a band like Staind! I don’t know if that is true, but I hope it is!
Thanks for the suggestions Drivebymedia, Kevin, and Peter.
I meant to include Over the Rhine in this list–they are very good. I also used to listen to the Violet Burning and completely forgot about them.
I have listened to Jamie Barnes but don’t have any of his ablums, maybe I should.
I have never heard of the Classic Crime.
Hopefully this comment meta can turn into a massive running list of good Christian bands to check out!
Thank you for the reply to my comment.
You raise a very fair and true point. The majority of Christian music is addressed to Christians and in this manner we remain inward-looking and far from being “all things to all men”.
God bless you for your insight and for opening my eyes to all the wonderful Christian music/bands that is out there. Can’t wait to check it all out!
ransom33 @ http://www.ransom33.wordpress.com
@ Ransom33,
You are very welcome. Thanks for dropping by our blog. I hope you enjoy the music, I post videos from time to time of good musicians.
And let me know when you come across good music I might like!
You forgot TobyMac! Not only does he do a lot of different stuff, he even prays at his concerts. Not even some of the so called “Christian Artists” do that anymore.
Also another great band if you’re into the hardcore stuff is Disciple. They base all of their songs off of scripture…
Nathan
First of all I want to say, I love your blog. I found it through the Challies post on the 3:16 conference.
Secondly I listen exclusively (with the exception of David Crowders cover of some hymns) to “reformed rap”. Artist like Trip Lee, Lecrea, Cross Movement, Flame etc….
I find their music to be both doctrinally sound and entertaining.:)
I have links to them posted on my blog, if anyone would like to check them out.
Keep up the good work here!
-Bill
Blog address…….
http://lifecypha.wordpress.com/
My Bad.
Thanks for the link Bill and for sharing music–I have listened to several of those guys and like some of them quite a bit–its pretty cool that there are so many “reformed rappers” out there!
I will definitely have to check out your blog as time allows this week!