State of Christian Rock n' Roll/Punk?

[RocknRollRadio]

I grew up in the 90's in what you might call the golden age of Christian Rock n' Roll/punk music. Ghoti Hook, One-21, Blaster the Rocketman, Speedy Delivery, the Huntingtons, Squad Five-0, Officer Negative, Five Iron Frenzy, The Deal, Calibretto, Vroom, etc. When I was a kid, I listened to Christian rock exclusively, not because I felt like it was the only option but because I felt like I didn't need to listen to other music. There were plenty of bands in the scene that were incredibly talented and transcended the "Christian version of" label and just turned out great music that rocked. Last June I went to a reunion concert for a couple of those bands and it was like being in high school again.

I stopped listening to exclusively Christian music when I went to college and was introduced to some great classic rock bands, I also went through a Christian metal phase since all my roommates were big fans. But it pretty much only lasted as long as they were my roommates.

At this point in my life I listen almost exclusively to secular music. I love a bunch of classic rock and punk bands, as well as a lot of modern bands. I'll occasionally listen to a Christian rock album from way back in the day but I haven't bought a new Christian record in years, except for the last record by Cliffy Huntington's new band, Main Line Riders, and the Huntingtons reunion record "Punk Sounds".

The reason for that is, whenever I find myself in a Christian bookstore and peruse the music section I find myself getting ultra-depressed, because the punk scene has gone pop and the rock and roll scene just isn't fun anymore. I hear a lot of similarly sounding groups all trying to sound like the next Switchfoot.

I'm curious, I can't be the only one on here who remembers the original scene I was talking about above. If you did too, and you're STILL listening to Christian music, what bands are you digging? I'd love to know. If you can link to their myspace or something where I'd be able to hear them, even better.

 

[holyrokker]

I'm a couple decades ahead of you. I became a Christian as a teen in the 70's and saw the beginnings of Christian Rock: Rez Band, DeGarmo & Key, Servant, etc.

Throughout the 80's the music got better and better with Barnabas, the 77's, Adam Again, etc.

I think the quality peaked in the late 90's.

Cornerstone Festival used to define Christian Rock, but even many of the bands playing there seem to be mediocre any more.

Over the past decade it's been harder and harder to find new, good bands.

There are some: but few and far between.

 

[RocknRollRadio]

I was at Cstone '04 and it was the time of my life. Tons of great bands, I literally had to miss a bunch of shows because of other shows.

 

[holyrokker]

I was at Cstone '04 and it was the time of my life. Tons of great bands, I literally had to miss a bunch of shows because of other shows.

I was also at '04. It's impossible to see everything at Cornerstone.

 

[Qyöt27]

Most current Christian rock I add to my playlist is largely circumstantial...given away as a freebie on iTunes or Amazon, heard in a video project/background music/so on...stuff like that. For instance, Before Their Eyes/"Sing To Me" - I'll be the first to admit that it's very pop-ish, but solid and addictive nonetheless. Even the songs I have of Project 86 came via that way ("Molotov" and the cover of "Lucretia My Reflection" = pure win).

The exceptions largely come from more underground Goth and Industrial stuff - Flaming Fish and ChristianIndustrial.net, for example. Lots of excellent stuff there (Dead Artist Syndrome, The Awakening, Autumn's Descent, The Last Dance, Under Midnight, ThouShaltNot, The Echoing Green, Time's Arrow), but that scene mostly peaked in the 90s too, although some of the bands are still around and playing. Many of them also regularly play/have in the past played at Cornerstone.

A much longer list:
Category:Bands - Automatapedia

 

[LeightonH]

Most current Christian rock I add to my playlist is largely circumstantial...given away as a freebie on iTunes or Amazon, heard in a video project/background music/so on...stuff like that. For instance, Before Their Eyes/"Sing To Me" - I'll be the first to admit that it's very pop-ish, but solid and addictive nonetheless. Even the songs I have of Project 86 came via that way ("Molotov" and the cover of "Lucretia My Reflection" = pure win).

The exceptions largely come from more underground Goth and Industrial stuff - Flaming Fish and ChristianIndustrial.net, for example. Lots of excellent stuff there (Dead Artist Syndrome, The Awakening, Autumn's Descent, The Last Dance, Under Midnight, ThouShaltNot, The Echoing Green, Time's Arrow), but that scene mostly peaked in the 90s too, although some of the bands are still around and playing. Many of them also regularly play/have in the past played at Cornerstone.

A much longer list:
Category:Bands - Automatapedia

I am so looking forward to the Echoing Green's new album! It's only been what 8 years since the last one? Singles and EPs don't count (ok they help, but still).

 

[LivingFor]

I agree. The groups all start to sound alike, and (to me at least) writing commercial to a formula. I generally prefer the bands where I can hear that they are singing in the Spirit.

We have a local band here call Smithville South. They usually pop up in Google when you type in Smithville South Band (had to go look for a while to find them). They have a different kind of sound - some latin, some Caribbean and some good rock n' roll with a twist - and a unique way with the words.

I also like a local artist named Curtis Alley. A little dated, but a good message.

Don't know if that helps you much.

 

[shmody]

I think musically and artistically, things are about the same, if not a better, overall. I love the 90s Christian music too, but I think people become biased to the music they listened to when they were discovering what styles they like; basically your favorite artists from your teen years. Some artists whose cds I had, and still have, I would be embarrassed by now (dcTalk, Newsboys) while others bands I still listen to on nearly a daily basis (MxPx, Ghoti Hook). I love to go to the used music store and search out old cds and saying "Hey, I remember hearing about this band in 7ball!"

I do think a lot of what is out there in the Christian music world today is a lot less Christian than in the 90s. And I hate using those terms, because Christian isn't a style of music, etc. But why, like when I turn on Radio U, do I not hear hardly a single thing from artists about God, Jesus, or faith? It seems every band covers it up, if it's there, because they want to reach those that wouldn't listen otherwise. Now, don't get me wrong, I still like some of these bands and I'm fine with "Christians in a band," but sometimes I just want some good, unapologetic praise and worship or preaching from a rock band. Bring back Calibretto and FIF!

Hopefully, bands that claim to have a message really do and aren't just using the industry because it's easier than the mainstream. See Katy Hudson/Katy Perry.

Just my two cents.

Some of the newer Christian rock I listen to includes: The Almost, And Then There Were None, Secret & Whisper, Capital Lights, Children 18:3, Dreampilots, Flatfoot 56, mewithoutYou, MuteMath, The Rocket Summer

On a side note, I was finally able to find the Thee Pirates cd "Nasty Brutish and Short." I was looking for that one forever!

 

[jcnwog]

I think musically and artistically, things are about the same, if not a better, overall. I love the 90s Christian music too, but I think people become biased to the music they listened to when they were discovering what styles they like; basically your favorite artists from your teen years. Some artists whose cds I had, and still have, I would be embarrassed by now (dcTalk, Newsboys) while others bands I still listen to on nearly a daily basis (MxPx, Ghoti Hook). I love to go to the used music store and search out old cds and saying "Hey, I remember hearing about this band in 7ball!"

I do think a lot of what is out there in the Christian music world today is a lot less Christian than in the 90s. And I hate using those terms, because Christian isn't a style of music, etc. But why, like when I turn on Radio U, do I not hear hardly a single thing from artists about God, Jesus, or faith? It seems every band covers it up, if it's there, because they want to reach those that wouldn't listen otherwise. Now, don't get me wrong, I still like some of these bands and I'm fine with "Christians in a band," but sometimes I just want some good, unapologetic praise and worship or preaching from a rock band. Bring back Calibretto and FIF!

Hopefully, bands that claim to have a message really do and aren't just using the industry because it's easier than the mainstream. See Katy Hudson/Katy Perry.

Just my two cents.

Some of the newer Christian rock I listen to includes: The Almost, And Then There Were None, Secret & Whisper, Capital Lights, Children 18:3, Dreampilots, Flatfoot 56, mewithoutYou, MuteMath, The Rocket Summer

On a side note, I was finally able to find the Thee Pirates cd "Nasty Brutish and Short." I was looking for that one forever!

i agree dude. i honestly got rid of all my music to begin with. and i can agree with the OP also. when i listen to some christian rock it would lead me back to secular rock because i wasn't getting any sense of praise and worship from it. they didn't mention anything about god or jesus christ or salvation at all.

and sometimes i feel bad because some songs on some albums of artists do reach out to the spirit and praise jesus christ but that's probably one track out of all the rest of the tracks, so that's why i think i will be purchasing a ipod pretty soon and just roam on itunes and look for various songs that reach out to the spirit. so many christian bands today are trying to reach the lost and there isn't nothing wrong with that. but the existing spirit led christians need music that brings the holy spirit up, so we can praise the lord also.

and not many christian rock bands do that.

i use to have 2 hillsong cds, a pillar cd and tobymac tonight cd. hillsong by far reaches out to jesus christ more so than pillar or tobymac, they try mainstream reaching. like christian rock/secular also. like reilent k and many others.

i want PRAISE WORTHY MUSIC FOR JESUS CHRIST! music that pleases the spirit not the flesh. i don't want to have music where i'm dancing and moving my body like a secular song would do. i want my spirit to be fed and i want to sing praises to the lord, jesus christ

 

[holyrokker]

i agree dude. i honestly got rid of all my music to begin with. and i can agree with the OP also. when i listen to some christian rock it would lead me back to secular rock because i wasn't getting any sense of praise and worship from it. they didn't mention anything about god or jesus christ or salvation at all.

and sometimes i feel bad because some songs on some albums of artists do reach out to the spirit and praise jesus christ but that's probably one track out of all the rest of the tracks, so that's why i think i will be purchasing a ipod pretty soon and just roam on itunes and look for various songs that reach out to the spirit. so many christian bands today are trying to reach the lost and there isn't nothing wrong with that. but the existing spirit led christians need music that brings the holy spirit up, so we can praise the lord also.

and not many christian rock bands do that.

i use to have 2 hillsong cds, a pillar cd and tobymac tonight cd. hillsong by far reaches out to jesus christ more so than pillar or tobymac, they try mainstream reaching. like christian rock/secular also. like reilent k and many others.

i want PRAISE WORTHY MUSIC FOR JESUS CHRIST! music that pleases the spirit not the flesh. i don't want to have music where i'm dancing and moving my body like a secular song would do. i want my spirit to be fed and i want to sing praises to the lord, jesus christ

Check out Disciple: Especially their CDs My Daddy Can Whip Your Daddy, This Might Sting A Little, By God, and Back Again.

I like to refer to their music as "full-volume worship".

YouTube - Disciple - By God


YouTube - Disciple - Before You