ryan
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Post by ryan on May 12, 2009 11:10:33 GMT -8
I don't really pay much attention to current trends in Christian music. It was by chance that I stumbled across Jars of Clay's latest effort. Most of the CCM that I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy is the more "underground" stuff. When I venture into the mainstream I find that I still go back to older artists from the 80s and early 90s.
How do the current artists compare to older artists (in your opinion)?
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Post by Josh on May 13, 2009 16:03:53 GMT -8
I think that's a sign of being in your 30's  Personally, I don't really follow current mainstream Christian music either. I can't even remember the last time I listened to Christian music on a radio station. I do kinda like Third Day, but they've been around since the early 1990's. That said, there is a crop of younger musicians who are Christians (but not in the CCM industry) that I love-- for much the same reason I like the "underground" Christian artists- some of the other threads on here highlight their music. Examples would be Sufjan Stevens, M Ward, etc.. |
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ryan
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Post by ryan on May 14, 2009 10:32:53 GMT -8
I have tried to follow a couple of the Christian Artists that make music over the years, but even many of them date back to the 80s and early 90s (King's X, Mr. Mister, Extreme {sort of}, U2, etc.) I also do not listen to a lot of Christian radio. Mostly because I enjoy music that has more complicated alternate forms of expression. The most mainstream that I have listened to also dates back to the mid 90s (Jars of Clay, Sixpence None the Richer, and some of the stuff performed by the Newsboys). I find it difficult getting into an artist that is here today and vanishes the next. With a lot of the older artists you can follow their career, mark their growth, and enjoy a broader variety. I still hope that Whiteheart will get back together.  |
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ryan
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Post by ryan on May 14, 2009 10:34:45 GMT -8
When you first mentioned Sufjan Stevens I thought you were talking about "Cat" Stevens the 70s soft rocker that became a Muslim. I will have to expose myself to some of this guy's work. Educate myself, if you will.
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Post by Josh on May 14, 2009 14:41:46 GMT -8
I have several Newsboys albums and like them for what they're worth (Steve Taylor's influence was a notable benefit).
I used to like Whiteheart a lot... haven't listened to them for a long time. I do remember going to a concert or two of theirs back in the day.
Did you ever go to "Jesus Northwest"- up there in your neck of the woods?
My wife is going to laugh when she reads this. I can tell you how many times I have said the same thing when explaining my musical interests. I love getting to know an artist's story through their music and see it's twists and turns- Terry Taylor, Bill Mallonee, Dylan, Rich Mullins, Randy Stonehill, Larry Norman, U2-- those guys all rank high up on my list of artists who have a real story.
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Post by meghan on May 14, 2009 22:05:01 GMT -8
I don't listen to mainstream Christian stuff at all, really, so I don't know any of the artists or songs. One artist I do admire is Nichole Nordeman.
As for other stuff, you might be interested in Danielson (at various times known as Danielson Famile, Brother Danielson, etc.), Starflyer59, David Bazan, Joy Electric if you want some electronica... those are all fairly enduring artists with a little different bent.
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ryan
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Post by ryan on May 15, 2009 13:36:48 GMT -8
I've went to Jesus Northwest a couple of times. The last time the festival was here (1996?) I ended up getting interviewed by Channel 2 News (kinda cool - though I didn't see the interview). They wanted my feedback on how much the festival impacted my faith.
I would agree that Steve Taylor really brought out the best in the Newsboys. I can't really (honestly) say that he did the same for Guardian.
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Post by Josh on May 15, 2009 16:01:25 GMT -8
Guardian.
Heh- my wife liked them until I weaned her off.
Meghan- you know Starflyer 59? Jason Martin (the main dude in S59) is like really tight with Terry Taylor of Daniel Amos/ Lost Dogs.
True to the very end, huh?
I think the last time I was there was like 1994.
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Post by meghan on May 15, 2009 16:11:03 GMT -8
Haha. It always goes back to Terry Taylor, doesn't it? The Christian indie community is SO small that I'm pretty sure everybody knows everybody.
Yes. Starflyer's been around forever. Jason and his brother Ronnie (Joy Electric) have been on Tooth and Nail Records almost since the beginning. I remember my brother convincing me to buy Starflyer's "Gold" back when I was in middle school. I wasn't ready for it yet. I was still into pop/rock ala early Beatles, Jesus Freak-era Dc talk, and Switchfoot. I wasn't ready for screechy, drone-y shoegazer music. I like them now, just not then. However, "Gold" is a pretty essential album for me - my brother listened to a lot of Starflyer, so I have some of those songs burned into my brain from my teenage years. OH this makes me want to listen to Gold now!
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Post by meghan on May 15, 2009 16:14:41 GMT -8
oh- by the way - if you want to talk indie Christian music ever, you should hop on over to the Velvet Blue message board. Velvet Blue Music is a record label run by Jeff Cloud (who has done a lot of playing while touring with Starflyer and other bands). There's a message board and people on there are Christian indie geeks. They also know a lot about older Christian bands. A good resource for rarities and information. www.velvetbluemusic.com |
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Post by Josh on May 15, 2009 20:21:16 GMT -8
Meghan,
Gold is the only SF59 album I have. I put it on for a spin when I'm in the mood for hypnotic moodiness.
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Post by Josh on May 15, 2009 20:35:58 GMT -8
Uh, Rose corrected me. It wasn't Guardian she liked. It was a band called Legend 7. Remember them? If you do, then you get a gold star.
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Post by Josh on May 16, 2009 7:06:02 GMT -8
I just thought of another (younger) band I kinda like- Five Iron Frenzy. Kind of a ska-rock style. Heard of them?
I think they broke up though.
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Post by meghan on May 16, 2009 7:35:32 GMT -8
They did. But Reese Roper (the lead) has done Brave Saint Saturn since.
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Post by meghan on May 16, 2009 7:42:56 GMT -8
One of my favorite 'Christian' bands is mewithoutYou. Mmmm. They are like church on a CD.
Also, I really love jon Foreman (lead from Switchfoot) stuff.
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Post by Josh on May 16, 2009 7:53:34 GMT -8
Would you recommend them?
Would that be Winding Road, Aletheia, catholic, baptist, pentecostal? Pastor Frank's church maybe?
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Post by meghan on May 16, 2009 8:18:45 GMT -8
I haven't heard Brave Saint Saturn. I'm sure you could find some clips online or on itunes.... I know a lot about who is in what band and about bands... a lot of them I've never listened to.
Hmm. As for mewithoutYou.. I'd definitely say a little pentecostal (their shows are crazy), a little mystic, a little Jesus movement, and a little Winding Road. And maybe a little homeless shelter chapel thrown in for good measure. They have potlucks before their shows and drive a bus fueled by veggie oil, if that tells you anything.
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