"Experimental" Christian Bands?

anewhope · Apr 22, 2007

I'm not really sure if this thread belongs here, but can anyone give me some advice on what to listen to?

I'm a new Christian and would really like to get into some good Christian music, but my problem is that I'm VERY picky!

I turn on the radio to some Christian stations and I can't find anything that interests me. I guess what I'm really looking for are some bands with an off-the-wall kind of sound and strange song structures (Think: Tool/A Perfect Circle/Nine Inch Nails except Christian). Any bands you can send me to??

Thanks in advance and God Bless!

ParaCristo · Apr 23, 2007

Norma Jean
and
The Chariot
might be your cuppa tea...they are mine.

Nerdy · Apr 23, 2007

Go to I tunes and look up these artists

Newsboys

Tobymac

Relient K

DC Talk

ParaCristo · Apr 23, 2007

Nerdy said:
Go to I tunes and look up these artists

Newsboys

Tobymac

Relient K

DC Talk

sorry to tell ya bro'.....I think he is looking for something a little less CCM mainstream

The Theory · Apr 23, 2007

I think that your definition of experimental and my definition of experimental vary wildly.

There is a good experimental Christian underground scene... however, none of them would sound similar to Tool, NIN, etc... but then again, I wouldn't have considered any of those artists very experimental to begin with.

If you're looking for just some interesting, creative music I could help you out. If you're going to pigeon hole the genre that specifically? No can do.

ListenerFriendly · Apr 23, 2007

Well, depends on your definition of "experimental." There are a large variety of "Christian-minded" artists with unique instrumental palletes. NIN, in my opinion, is a little more main-stream rock. But if you want some off-the wall stuff you might have to look to the underground. Tooth & Nail is a mainstream label that still cares about signing creative artist, and there catalogue of past and present artists is quite impressive. I know that they have some groundbreaking (and some not so much) artists. Whether or not any of them fit your tastes, I am not sure. But good music to check out. If you want more "hard-core" their sub-label 'SolidState" has some of the best metal and heavier rock bands in the industry today.

ROCK ON

anewhope · Apr 24, 2007

Thanks for the replies so far everyone!

ParaCristo - I checked out the bands you mentioned. Some of their stuff is interesting to me but too much screaming for my taste. Thanks, though I really appreciate the input

And sorry for the lack of clarification - personally, my definition of "experimental", in this case, "experimental rock" is a band that takes the basics of the genre and mixes in an array of different time signatures, ambient sounds, effects, various vocal styles, different song structures, etc. And most importantly, they mix it up from song to song so that you aren't just listening to the same stuff over and over.

It's very disappointing to me when I hear a couple of songs from a band, go out and get the CD, only to find out that all of the songs follow the same basic principles. NIN and Tool, specifically, have a lot of tracks that you'll never hear unless you get the CD because they aren't radio friendly at all (12 minutes long, all instrumentals, etc.) Hope that clears a bit up.

Again, sorry for the confusion. I did say I was very picky !I would be very interested in hearing about some of these underground Christian-minded artists that some of you have been talking about, though. Thanks!

peanutbutter12 · Apr 24, 2007

Circle of Dust was very NINish. Might check them out, though they no longer exist.

CJ

Citanul · Apr 24, 2007

anewhope said:
And sorry for the lack of clarification - personally, my definition of "experimental", in this case, "experimental rock" is a band that takes the basics of the genre and mixes in an array of different time signatures, ambient sounds, effects, various vocal styles, different song structures, etc. And most importantly, they mix it up from song to song so that you aren't just listening to the same stuff over and over.

It's very disappointing to me when I hear a couple of songs from a band, go out and get the CD, only to find out that all of the songs follow the same basic principles. NIN and Tool, specifically, have a lot of tracks that you'll never hear unless you get the CD because they aren't radio friendly at all (12 minutes long, all instrumentals, etc.) Hope that clears a bit up.

There are a number of Christian prog bands around, and you can find descriptions and links to a lot of them at http://www.spiritualprog.com/. However, while they fit your description (different time signatures and song structures), I'm not sure if there are any in the vein of NIN/Tool so there may not be anything there to your liking.

anewhope · Apr 26, 2007

Sorry for the delayed response, but thank you all for the replies. I've been checking over the artists/links posted here and am finding some nice music I like Thanks for all of your help!

The Theory · Apr 26, 2007

http://www.christianforums.com/t3262776
http://www.christianforums.com/t3206878-christian-experimental-music.html

also, these two threads are great resources on the more creative side of Christian music. Might not find anything like NIN, but still might find a number of interesting gems.

OrangePower · Apr 26, 2007

If you're still interested in new stuff, you might check out This Beautiful Rebublic or Project 86. I listen to a lot of secular industrial, techno and experimental music, and these are tasty, too. Flyleaf also, if you like female vox.

swingnscream · Apr 27, 2007

Something hard & creative with not-so-much screaming:
mewithoutYou
Dead Poetic
Project 86
Falling Up
Emery

other great bands that actually are in the Expermential Rock category:
Bernard
the Listening
Hundred Year Storm
Mute Math

if you need links let me know. ...I'm just being a lil lazy tonight.

holyrokker · May 5, 2007

Mortal http://music.yahoo.com/ar-258538-discography--Mortal

The Prayer Chain http://music.yahoo.com/ar-261348---The-Prayer-Chain

Mike Knott http://music.yahoo.com/ar-281350---Michael-Knott

Adam Again http://www.myspace.com/adamagain

Dead Artists Syndrome http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=4619949

mewithoutyou http://www.myspace.com/mewithoutyou

Tranceformer110 · May 5, 2007

One of my favorites is Shiny Toy Guns...a couple of guys are beleivers though they aren't a christian band. They are kind of electronic rock. Check their myspace www.myspace.com/shinytoyguns

Sushi614 · May 8, 2007

OrangePower said:
If you're still interested in new stuff, you might check out This Beautiful Rebublic or Project 86. I listen to a lot of secular industrial, techno and experimental music, and these are tasty, too. Flyleaf also, if you like female vox.

I'm glad I read through all of this before posting. I was going to suggest Flyleaf too, they are an awesome band. Although, technically they are not on a christian label, I did hear them being played on our local christian radio station during the Sat night jam session for the more youthful listeners.

I do, however, know personally that everyone in the band is a christian. My cousin James Culpepper is the drummer. He and Lacey (the lead singer) had been dating for quite some time and come over for Thanksgiving just about every year. You can sample/listen to their music on their website: www.flyleafmusic.com There are several songs to choose from that just play in the background while browsing their site. Browse around, you can read the lyrics, watch music videos and check out the concert dates. (They are on tour right now) They were in Tx this past weekend. They got some inspiration of the music style from Evanesance when they were on tour together early in their career.

Anyway, hope you like them.

swingnscream · May 8, 2007

holyrokker said:
mewithoutyou http://www.myspace.com/mewithoutyou

That's true... mewithoutYou doesn't scream-vocalize as much as they use to. And of course they'd be the best band to pick ....if you can handle them, that is.

Macewindu77815 · May 9, 2007

Perhaps Mutemath? I mean I don't know very many Christian industrialish bands...there is AP2, and that's about all I know. If you're looking for indie stuff Mae, Sufjan Stevens, and Lovedrug are all pretty good. If you want a little harder, one can't go wrong with Thrice...

swingnscream · May 10, 2007

Macewindu77815 said:
Perhaps Mutemath? I mean I don't know very many Christian industrialish bands...there is AP2, and that's about all I know. If you're looking for indie stuff Mae, Sufjan Stevens, and Lovedrug are all pretty good. If you want a little harder, one can't go wrong with Thrice...

aww... did you just put Lovedrug in with expermenital-ish indie? That's sweet. I'm sure they'd love that.

The Theory · May 10, 2007

haha... you're so patronizing.

"Experimental" Christian Bands?

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