Good Christian music?

ordinaryfool · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 3:56 pm Post subject: Good Christian music?

My boyfriend was cleaning/organizing his CDs while we were hanging out the other night, so he was playing some of his stuff. A big portion of his CD collection happens to be Christian music. I almost feel like I must be a horrible person for admitting this, but...I haven't found much in the Christian music genre that I like. So much of it sounds the same to me, and a lot of it just seems...over-produced, or something. It's just so boring! I don't get it. You would think Christian music could be some of the most passionate, what with the subject matter and all, but all I ever seem to hear is the same-sounding singers, sometimes with a choir providing background vocals, singing pretty dull music.

So what's the deal? There has got to be some quality music out there about God. I've heard some stuff by Relient K, and I like them, and I know Sufjan Stevens is sometimes labled Christian. But other than that, this isn't a genre I've gotten too deeply into, to really dig up any good stuff. Does anyone have some suggestions?

mojo shivers · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:57 pm Post subject:

My secret shame is that my best friend, who's a devout Christian, got me into Jump5 a few years back. I don't know--there songs are so simple and probably have more references to God than I am usually comfortable with, but they do put a smile on my face.

Plus, those guys are just like flipping monkeys who just happen to sing, what with their full-blown tumbling routines in the middle of their shows.

Spinning Around
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groove_champion · Regular Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Posts: 105 Location: Scotland

Check out Neal Morse if you like or are willing to try out some progressive rock.

I guess Ben Harper is my favourite outwardly christian artist. At least I presume he's christian - he mentions Jah as well as Jesus in some of his songs. I'm pretty sure he's not rastafarian though... And I suppose songs with a religious theme constitute a smaller percentage of his material.
Nonetheless, 'I Want To Be Ready' and 'Jah Work' are great songs in my opinion.
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Built To Post · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:25 pm Post subject:

Obligatory Pedro The Lion mention....
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hobochick · Cool Kid Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 784 Location: CT

ok soo anything off tooth and nail is concidered christian.
relient k -for teh moment i feel ain if youv never hered it find it and here it

as i lay dieing if you liek hardcore.
zao

good christian poet bradly hathaway hes freakin amazing he writes some awzsoem stuff

ummm well i basicly have teh same proble whith alot of christain music it all starts to sound teh same. but kutless is my guilty plesusure along with superchick. im absolutly in love with superchick its kinda sad.
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Chris · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 54

Eisley - though they want to be labeled as 'Christians who make music' as opposed to 'Christians who make Christian music'.

Corraiv · Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 2

Aye, I am Christian and I don't like most of CCM as well. But one guy, the late Rich Mullins, is a singer/poet who not only God used to change my life but I still listen to a lot and still find myself crying to many of his songs. Maybe I'm just a wuss. Anyway. Go listen. I recommend "Elijah" and "Creed" for starters.

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thegetaway · Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:56 pm Post subject:

Underoath is another metal/hardcore Christian band.
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v-rinny · Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 11:27 pm Post subject:

i don't know if you're into their type of music, but mxpx is a "christian" band. a majority of their songs are particularly direct christian/God references, but most are positive and some do mention Jesus, God, etc.
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Malomakaio · Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 12:24 am Post subject:

unwed sailor is christian i believe, even thoug they're instrumental...

mewithoutYou is definitely christian, and even though i'm not a fan of the genre, they write some pretty cool stuff, less singing and more spoken word if you're into that...

davidleeroth · Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:09 am Post subject:

Most Christian music makes me smirk but Judee Sill is one of my favourite singer/songwriters, despite genre. Not particularly Christian though, more like psych-folk stuff with some religious imagery thrown in.

Jesus Was A Cross Maker video

apexsensation · Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 10:57 am Post subject:

ordinaryfool · Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 11:39 pm Post subject:

Corraiv · Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 2

I would agree that the music is nice if it brings us into the presence of God. But Christian music is just the icing on the cake. If you want spiritual nourishment open up the Word and communion with God (Psalm 46:10). Punch me for preaching without authority(i'm just a poor college student) but from personal experience talking to God directly is almost always better than having a musician mediate for me. Seek ye first the Kingdom, I suppose I want to say.

At any rate there will be no one like Rich Mullins ever again.
Also, if you have heard any of Johnny Cash's songs, they're pretty good too. "Help Me", "God's Gonna Cut You Down", etc.

badbrainsmashitup · all-around quality person Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 452

superchick is NOT cool Confused

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queen c · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 3:49 pm Post subject:

I've avoided this thread simply b/c I'd have to admit that I used to listen to Xian music. Hey, we can't help how we were raised, right?

Anyway, CCM sucks. Seriously. If you're looking for something that will really excite you about God and all that, check out Keith Green. He was a 70's/80's piano man who came to Christ after drugs & mysticism, etc. He is the only Xian artist who I consider to be exactly that. His songs are so powerful and completely Bible-based. You might think it's kinda cheesy b/c it is musically, but don't discount it. He was a genius, imo.
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hobochick · Cool Kid Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 784 Location: CT

hobochick · Cool Kid Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 784 Location: CT

v-rinny · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:57 pm Post subject:

TheOtherOne420 · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:04 pm Post subject:

I had a roommate a couple years ago who went from being a Buddhist to a born again Christian while at the house. I liked hanging out on the back porch talking religion with the dude (while chain smoking cheap cigarettes).

Every now and then the subject of Christian music would come up. He used to say, "You know, really, if you just substitute God or Jesus for Baby, ta da, you have yourself a Christian Rock tune." He was only half joking. Then I'd ask him, "Well, can you have instrumental Christian music?" His response was, sure, inspired by Christ is all the prerequisite you need. To which I'd say, "Well, then, wouldn't ALL music thus be Christian from the Christian's perspective, since God would have inspired the creative spark?" My point being that if a Christian sits down, listening to music, anything that inspires a closeness to God would then fall under that category. So why label something "Christian"?

It's also interesting in this thread that no one has put forth any Gospel music. I'm not any one organized religion (and far from Christian), but I love me some Gospel. One artist I can completely get on board with is the Reverend Gary Davis. The guy was a bad motherfucker on acoustic guitar, and his lyrics weren't too shabby either (and not watered down at all, gritty, bluesy, and edgy).

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hobochick · Cool Kid Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 784 Location: CT

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