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Let's have a chat about "Christian 'Rock'."

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Rock

quote:

Christian Rock (occasionally abbreviated CR) is a form of rock music played by bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the concept of the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands. Much Christian rock has ties to the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) scene, while other bands are independent.The Christian rock genre is most popular in the United States, although some Christian bands have worldwide popularity. Related subgenres of Christian music include Christian alternative rock, Christian metal, Christian industrial, Christian punk, and Christian ska

Basically this thread has arisen from me seeing 3 commercials for "Open the Eyes of my Heart" - a Christian rock compilation that just might have the most awful music I have ever heard in my life on it.

http://www.timelife.com/webapp/wcs/...roductId=211135

Now usually I'm pretty tolerant of all things religious, but for whatever reason I cannot move beyond my absolute hatred for all things Christian rock. I think what gets me the most is that the majority of these bands are pretty open about not being involved in music for the sake of making music itself, but rather solely because they think it's the best way to evangelize (or more simply, they do it to get people to join their team).

I just can't find any artistic merit in Christian rock what-so-ever - and in general, the people who listen to it and the people involved in making it sketch me out as much as the guy who you and all your friends keep in contact with just because he can sort out your shopping list for a fun night out reaching for the lasers.

/rant

Thoughts?

my dad was in a band with a guy who left to join a christian rock band
the whole concept is fucking ridiculous

I've never once met a person who was in a Christian Rock band (or even interested in Christian Rock) that didn't instantly sketch me the fuck out.

the same guy came 4th in the UK grand final of stars in their eyes impersonating Phil Collins. trufax.

I believe MxPx is considered a Christian punk/rock band. Their song Chick Magnet was a pretty good song when I was young, but their remaining 300 other songs are shit. I don't think they're really evangelical though since a decent amount of their songs do not deal with religion.

edit: Wow that last sentence I wrote really contradicts everything doesn't it? Oh well.

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...imageID=7637617

the concerts are a great way to pick up hottie virgins that have been sheltered by their parents.

quote:

Originally posted by denys envy the concerts are a great way to pick up hottie virgins that have been sheltered by their parents.

See, that's the thing - the vast majority of young Christian folk I've met who were big Christian rock/punkers were absolutely filthy. They'd go to their "youth groups" and talk about how they shouldn't drink or do drugs, and how they were saving themselves for marriage - then the same exact kids would be out utterly mashed and fucking/sucking whatever was there that evening.

I thought this thread would be about

Re: Let's have a chat about "Christian 'Rock'."

It's fallacious to judge a band as devoid of artistic merit just because you disagree with the band's ideology or religious beliefs, as a band's motivation for making music doesn't necessarily affect its members' skills as musicians and songwriters.

Look at bands like Atari Teenage Riot or Rage Against The Machine. Plenty of people acknowledge their artistic merit and musical talent, regardless of being in agreement with the radical views of Zack de la Rocha and Alec Empire or not.

As for Christian rock, I'm not a fan either, but that is mainly because the music itself recycles the same tired power pop/gospel cliches I've heard a million times already. However, this obviously won't apply to all people within the genre, such as Extol, whose early releases are solid handiwork within the metal genre. Even some of the guys from the black metal scene around here like them.

Christian Rock is everything Rock'n'Roll isn't supposed to be. I have no idea why they even call it Rock

Wuss music.

Re: Re: Let's have a chat about "Christian 'Rock'."

quote:

Originally posted by Sand Leaper It's fallacious to judge a band as devoid of artistic merit just because you disagree with the band's ideology or religious beliefs, as a band's motivation for making music doesn't necessarily affect its members' skills as musicians and songwriters. Look at bands like Atari Teenage Riot or Rage Against The Machine. Plenty of people acknowledge their artistic merit and musical talent, regardless of being in agreement with the radical views of Zack de la Rocha and Alec Empire or not.

I disagree completely - but not because I'm judging them as devoid of artist merit solely on my interpretation of what they're doing, but rather because many of them not only openly admit to not creating, or even viewing, music as anything more than a tool - something that should be self evident in the striking lack of original material in the genre (when compared to other genres). I'm quite convinced there are maybe only three or four dozen Christian rock songs that even exist, and the vast majority of Christian rock bands just "cover" them tirelessly.

And I'm not even going to get started on my opinion of Rage Against the Machine.

quote:

Originally posted by RJT See, that's the thing - the vast majority of young Christian folk I've met who were big Christian rock/punkers were absolutely filthy. They'd go to their "youth groups" and talk about how they shouldn't drink or do drugs, and how they were saving themselves for marriage - then the same exact kids would be out utterly mashed and fucking/sucking whatever was there that evening.

fucking right! how is that different from us?... well i guess we would always say we're going to get smashed and fuck/suck...

Re: Re: Re: Let's have a chat about "Christian 'Rock'."

quote:

Originally posted by RJT I disagree completely - but not because I'm judging them as devoid of artist merit solely on my interpretation of what they're doing, but rather because many of them not only openly admit to not creating, or even viewing, music as anything more than a tool - something that should be self evident in the striking lack of original material in the genre (when compared to other genres).

That doesn't change my point. The intent/motivation for making music and skill/talent for making music are not necessarily related. Therefore, it is fallacious to dismiss a band's artistic merit on the grounds of intent and motivation alone. A lot of christian rock bands being hypocritical and/or unoriginal doesn't change this.

Obligatory:

quote:

Cartman: Think about it! It's the easiest crappiest music in the world, right? If we just play songs about how much we love Jesus, all the Christians will buy our crap! Kyle: That's a retarded idea, Cartman! Cartman: It worked for Creed!

Re: Re: Re: Re: Let's have a chat about "Christian 'Rock'."

quote:

Originally posted by Sand Leaper That doesn't change my point. The intent/motivation for making music and skill/talent for making music are not necessarily related. Therefore, it is fallacious to dismiss a band's artistic merit on the grounds of intent and motivation alone. A lot of christian rock bands being hypocritical and/or unoriginal doesn't change this.

So content is now off limits when considering artistic merit and talent is our only measure of what is to be considered "good art"?



Sounds like a slippery slope to me.

rob i completely agree

i had to go to "national youth conference" the summer before my senior year of high school and i heard that song as well as a bunch of others a fucking million times with an entire stadium of jesus lovers singing along... dear god i cant believe i even went in hind sight(mandated though...)


it was fucking scary

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Let's have a chat about "Christian 'Rock'."

quote:

Originally posted by RJT So content is now off limits when considering artistic merit and talent is our only measure of what is to be considered "good art"?

People often dismiss music based on the intentions and beliefs of the people behind it. My argument is that this is fallacious, as the belief and the intentions of a musician doesn't necessarily affect his or her ability to create good music. It affects what the musician chooses to express with it.

Re: Let's have a chat about "Christian 'Rock'."

quote:

Originally posted by RJT I just can't find any artistic merit in Christian rock what-so-ever

What about Dylan's Christian rock period (Slow Train Coming, Saved, and Shot of Love)?

I've never heard any Christian rock that didn't suck.

And no, I'm not saying this because of its religious ideology. Lots of church music is really good, even if I don't agree with its messages. But Christian rock just isn't.

in any case

Gospel > Christian Rock

this lady at work listens softly to gospel music at her desk and i'll walk over sometimes and chill with her. the other day she gave me a ride to lunch (we went out as a group) and she played some powerful stuff in her car. made me wanna clap and sing along.

of course most of gospel is really vocal, but my god can some of those groups sing!

Just how many Christian Rock bands have you listened to, Rob, so that you can make such a wide generalization about the entire genre?

Hallolujah!!!

Anyway, I kinda like religious music for one simple reason: no matter how agnostic I am, I'm deeply moved by how passionate some people are when it comes to faith. I love "World Without End", by Five Iron Frenzy, a Christian Punk Ska band... even though I don't agree with what's being sung.

I feel like forming a Buddhist Punk Rock band for randomness' sake

quote:

Originally posted by Lira I feel like forming a Buddhist Punk Rock band for randomness' sake

I can't picture reconsiling the disiplin of Buddhism with the anarchy of punk.... it would be interesting.

quote:

Originally posted by Moral Hazard I can't picture reconsiling the disiplin of Buddhism with the anarchy of punk.... it would be interesting.

lol

wasn't there on the news about travelling Catholic monks with their own groupies and shit?

and IIRC, System of a Down's lead singer used to be a pastor of some sorts

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