Christian Bands

prinz

Does anybody know any good Christian bands. So far have been listening to Casting Crowns and Jeremy Camp.Any one know others of that kind?

PDN

I'm biased here, as I have personal links to both these bands, but check out The Saturn Project http://www.myspace.com/thesaturnproject and Julian Drive http://www.myspace.com/juliandrive.

The Saturn Project donate the proceeds from their album to humanitarian projects in the developing world. They are part of a church/ministry run by a friend of mine. As for Julian Drive, pause their stupid video of the week and scroll down to the music tracks. Jamie Nitz, the bassist, is a family friend.

Fanny Cradock

For a variety of reasons I'm not big into Christian music. However, I do so happen to listen to musicians who just so happen to be Christian. Belle and Sebastian (one half), Sufjan Stevens, Neko Case etc., etc. Though at any particular time it is debatable whether their songs are in anyway religious.

antiskeptic

prinz wrote: »

Does anybody know any good Christian bands. So far have been listening to Casting Crowns and Jeremy Camp.Any one know others of that kind?

U2 aren't half bad

Grace
She takes the blame
She covers the shame
Removes the stain
It could be her name

Grace
It's a name for a girl
It's also a thought that changed the world
And when she walks on the street
You can hear the strings
Grace finds goodness in everything

Grace, she's got the walk
Not on a ramp or on chalk
She's got the time to talk
She travels outside of karma
She travels outside of karma
When she goes to work
You can hear her strings
Grace finds beauty in everything

Grace, she carries a world on her hips
No champagne flute for her lips
No twirls or skips between her fingertips
She carries a pearl in perfect condition

What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark
No longer stings
Because grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things

Grace makes beauty out of ugly things

prinz

antiskeptic wrote: »

U2 aren't half bad

Some of their early stuff wasn't half bad, but these days I can't stand them.Musically or ideologically.They havent released anything I've liked in quite a while. They should go back to ballad type songs.


Where does he get off telling the Govt how to spend the few quid they take off me on the minimum wage, and at the same time move their operations offshore to a tax [EMAIL="haven.F*@king"]haven.F*@king[/EMAIL] hypocrite.

Adam Clayton is the only one of them to maintain his dignity so far.

Splendour

antiskeptic wrote: »

U2 aren't half bad

Their last CD was quite Christian though I've heard the latest release is their most Christian recording to date.(Birthday coming up so have dropped a few hints on that one...:D ) Really enjoyed them a couple of years back in concert-haven't gotten my hands on tickets for this years concert-yet!

I get a buzz when I hear Christain songs on mainstream radio. It's great when we hear the likes of Lenny Kravitz/Mary Mary/Kanye West on national airwaves.

As for Christian only bands I would recommend Jars of Clay/Matt Redmond/Delirious?/Chris Tomlin.

studiorat

Here's a local one.
http://www.myspace.com/moderngospelensemble

Not all Christians either!!

And the good Sister Rosetta Tharpe...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOmRm0-acJw
Not to be missed!

Christian Rock music is an abomination IMO.

prinz

studiorat wrote: »

Christian Rock music is an abomination IMO.

Any reason behind this? Many many mainstream groups have started out making 'christian' music and then pretty much sold out to gain more popularity/fame/money. Amy Lee of Evanescence being one of the bigger cases.

studiorat

Well I was half in jest. But since you mention it, I think the notion of defining yourself as a specifically Christian artist is limiting yourself in the first place.
While I may not know a lot of Christian rock music what I have heard is mostly derivative and unoriginal.

I have no issue with the likes of U2 and songs about Christian issues. Either do I have problems with Christian imagery in music. I do however feel the hair on my neck stand on end when I hear the evangelising of the likes of the dreadful "Worship Crew" or whatever they are called.

In short if an artist is Christian and they write for themselves and their audience it works, even hymns work for me, however if they choose to hijack their art to evangelise as some sort of religious outreach gig, it doesn't and sounds false and contrived.

Hence it's an abomination to music and their artistic integrity.

antiskeptic

prinz wrote: »

Some of their early stuff wasn't half bad, but these days I can't stand them.Musically or ideologically.They havent released anything I've liked in quite a while. They should go back to ballad type songs.


Where does he get off telling the Govt how to spend the few quid they take off me on the minimum wage, and at the same time move their operations offshore to a tax haven.F*@king hypocrite.

The instruction was to give to Caesar what Caesar is due - moving offshore is their due entitlement so I can't see any problem with that per se. Especially since they are a multi-national company who generate most of their earnings offshore.

Certainly the Irish Government nor the Irish people could have any qualms about that - given that much of the industry which relocated here during the Celtic Tiger years were doing so for the precisely the same reasons that U2 are doing the same now - moving their industry to a lower tax cost environment. We'd be the hypocrites if we suddenly turned on anyone for doing the same thing but in the outward bound direction.

Q -What do U2 do with the money they don't give the Irish government do you reckon?

Q - Do you reckon the Irish Government are the most efficient people to be giving your money to if a positive effect on 3rd world poverty (for instance) was the thing you were interested in achieving?

prinz

antiskeptic wrote: »

The instruction was to give to Caesar what Caesar is due - moving offshore is their due entitlement so I can't see any problem with that per se. Especially since they are a multi-national company who generate most of their earnings offshore.

Certainly the Irish Government nor the Irish people could have any qualms about that - given that much of the industry which relocated here during the Celtic Tiger years were doing so for the precisely the same reasons that U2 are doing the same now - moving their industry to a lower tax cost environment. We'd be the hypocrites if we suddenly turned on anyone for doing the same thing but in the outward bound direction.

Q -What do U2 do with the money they don't give the Irish government do you reckon?

Q - Do you reckon the Irish Government are the most efficient people to be giving your money to if a positive effect on 3rd world poverty (for instance) was the thing you were interested in achieving?

I really don't care if the Government were using it to buy giant green hands to slap each other on the back with. At the end of the day at the moment I'm earning less than 20k p.a., i pay taxes and i pay the 1% levy on top. The last thing I want to see is a tax dogding sanctimonious git telling the govt how they should and shouldnt be spending my money.Especially not a millionaire many times over, who gets off on presenting a particular image of himself. Likewise any other tax exile.

As for other companies relocating here, if I was an American citizen I'd be pretty miffed too, if the Directors of these companies were telling the US Govt how to spend tax revenues.


I don't think what Jesus meant was render nothing to Caesar but lecture him on how to use what he does get.
Reminds me of the joke: Whats the difference between God and Bono?

prinz

studiorat wrote: »

In short if an artist is Christian and they write for themselves and their audience it works, even hymns work for me, however if they choose to hijack their art to evangelise as some sort of religious outreach gig, it doesn't and sounds false and contrived.

Hence it's an abomination to music and their artistic integrity.

Agreed.A lot of it does sound formulaic and empty. However there are many artists who don't. They don't need to abandon their artistic integrity or hijack their art, the best art is that which flows from the inspiration of the artist, but for many that inspiration is God.

PDN

prinz wrote: »

Agreed.A lot of it does sound formulaic and empty. However there are many artists who don't. They don't need to abandon their artistic integrity or hijack their art, the best art is that which flows from the inspiration of the artist, but for many that inspiration is God.

Yes, good point, art is not God. It is a tool that can be used for many purposes. George Orwell's Animal Farm, for example, is good writing that was used to make an ideological point. Handel's Messiah was written for a specifically Christian purpose, but that does not lessen its artistic integrity.

antiskeptic

prinz wrote: »

I really don't care if the Government were using it to buy giant green hands to slap each other on the back with.

Perhaps U2 do?

At the end of the day at the moment I'm earning less than 20k p.a., i pay taxes and i pay the 1% levy on top. The last thing I want to see is a tax dogding sanctimonious git telling the govt how they should and shouldnt be spending my money. Especially not a millionaire many times over, who gets off on presenting a particular image of himself. Likewise any other tax exile.

It's not tax dodging for a multinational to set up in a country which has a less demanding tax regieme. You seem to be supposing U2 - the multinational - to be an Irish company for some reason or other. The vast quantity of their wealth isn't generated in Ireland so why should the Irish Government get their hands on it?

I'm sure U2 pay some taxes here anyway - which entitles them to comment on how the government spend taxes.

As for other companies relocating here, if I was an American citizen I'd be pretty miffed too, if the Directors of these companies were telling the US Govt how to spend tax revenues.

I'd imagine relocation doesn't mean no taxes are paid in the home country. Just some taxes. The question is what is being done with the taxes saved. You seem to be supposing U2 to be "lining their pockets" with it - when you could equally suppose them giving it to a "good cause"

If you don't know either way you could give them the benefit of the doubt?

Reminds me of the joke: Whats the difference between God and Bono?

Go on then..

FX Meister

antiskeptic wrote: »

Reminds me of the joke: Whats the difference between God and Bono?

Go on then..

One's a prick and the other doesn't exist

antiskeptic

FX Meister wrote: »

One's a prick and the other doesn't exist

Isn't that more of a worldview than a joke?

prinz

Well God doesn't think he's Bono but....

antiskeptic

prinz wrote: »

Well God doesn't think he's Bono but....

I'm sure the reality is that Bono just thinks he's a son of God...

prinz

antiskeptic wrote: »

I'm sure the reality is that Bono just thinks he's a son of God...

do ya really think he'd aim that low? nasty little hobbit.

I do admire him for his family life however. i think the missus keeps him on the ground. Although those pics a while back with some young wan
what was that about..

Phototoxin

The answer I heard was that 'one thinks he's the son of God, and the other is the son of God'

Aaaanyway. I abhor christian bands. Even when I was christian. The music is designed to be fawning, simplistic and manipulative.

robindch

Phototoxin wrote: »

The music is designed to be fawning, simplistic and manipulative.

Hard to disagree with that

Does anybody listen to Messiaen, or the religious output of Bach, or -- now that I think of it -- anything from before 1990?

studiorat

PDN wrote: »

Yes, good point, art is not God. It is a tool that can be used for many purposes. George Orwell's Animal Farm, for example, is good writing that was used to make an ideological point. Handel's Messiah was written for a specifically Christian purpose, but that does not lessen its artistic integrity.

The Messiah is to celebrate a story not to prove a point. When art is used as a tool in the way you refer to it ceases to be art and becomes advertising.

Fanny Cradock

Phototoxin wrote: »

The answer I heard was that 'one thinks he's the son of God, and the other is the son of God'

Aaaanyway. I abhor christian bands. Even when I was christian. The music is designed to be fawning, simplistic and manipulative.

Manipulative? I've noticed your language change in respect to Christianity over the last number of months, Phototoxin. Too much Hitchens I think

Anyway, even though such suggestions don't fit neatly into the thread question, what about some of the greats: Mozart, Beethoven or Bach? Mozart's Requiem Mass in D minor is a particular highlight and it's damn cheap in comparison to contemporary composers and musicians.

PDN

studiorat wrote:

The Messiah is to celebrate a story not to prove a point. When art is used as a tool in the way you refer to it ceases to be art and becomes advertising.

The story goes that after the first performance of Messiah, an enthusiastic member of the audience congratulated Handel for producing such a wonderful piece of "entertainment."

"Entertainment!" Handel replied, "My purpose was not to entertain, but to teach them something."

Nobody listens to Handel's Messiah in China anyway. Banned!

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/december/19.23.html?start=1

They seem to be getting stricter in the jolly atheist workers' paradise. Last week they made me sign an undertaking not to engage in any religious activities during my next trip!

Fanny Cradock

PDN wrote: »

The story goes that after the first performance of Messiah, an enthusiastic member of the audience congratulated Handel for producing such a wonderful piece of "entertainment."

"Entertainment!" Handel replied, "My purpose was not to entertain, but to teach them something."

Nobody listens to Handel's Messiah in China anyway. Banned!

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/december/19.23.html?start=1

They seem to be getting stricter in the jolly atheist workers' paradise. Last week they made me sign an undertaking not to engage in any religious activities during my next trip!

That's mad! I suppose you signed it, but willyou honour it? What are the consequences if you get caught breaking it?

studiorat

The Mozart Masses are fantastic Fanny, as is Gabriel Faure's Ave Maria. I seem to work with quite a lot of liturgical music oddly enough, about the only time you'll find me in a church;)

Here's a link or two to some contemporary Irish composers working with sacred music. Phil Carthy's Stations of the Cross. Also Eric Sweeney who's the Organist and choir master in Waterford Cathedral.

http://www.philipcarty.com/

http://www.ericsweeney.com/musicpopups/duo.html

Fanny Cradock

Cheers! I'll check 'em out.

*Adds to long list*

prinz

http://www.robinmark.com/index.php?section=1

Here's another. Man from Northern Ireland who tours all over the world but is basically anonymous at home. Some good songs. Some not so good.

On another note I find a lot of Linkin Park's songs to be appropriate when thinking about Christianity.

prinz

Phototoxin wrote: »

The music is designed to be fawning, simplistic and manipulative.

Ever try listening to the mainstream charts? You want simplistic and manipulative - you've got it in excess.

Phototoxin

Manipulative? I've noticed your language change in respect to Christianity over the last number of months, Phototoxin. Too much Hitchens I think

You may not belive me but I've *always* despised them for the same reasons. Just because I've gradually become an agnostic does not mean that my musical views magically change.

If you look at gregorian chant for example, it is specifically designed to make people feel a certain way. These feelings can be confused easily with 'religous sensation' ergo manipulation. Same wiht most chrisitain music its all feel good. I think 'She Sell Sanctuary' by The Cult is a feel good song yet it is secular but I like it as its not deceptive like I find christan music.

Also I've read *one* book by Hitchens, he's quite articulate. I find that religous apologetics are positively DIRE and have no real substancial argument. I actually think that the God Delusion is quite supportive of a Benovlent Deity but that was just my opinion. At the moment I'm reading philosophy and the chapter on God has for the most part cemented my agnosticism.

Also I know that my post is largely off topic but I have equal contept for idiotic athiests as I do for idiotic christians. Thankfully most christians and most atheists I know are not idiots!

Fanny Cradock

Phototoxin wrote: »

You may not belive me but I've *always* despised them for the same reasons. Just because I've gradually become an agnostic does not mean that my musical views magically change.

If you look at gregorian chant for example, it is specifically designed to make people feel a certain way. These feelings can be confused easily with 'religous sensation' ergo manipulation. Same wiht most chrisitain music its all feel good. I think 'She Sell Sanctuary' by The Cult is a feel good song yet it is secular but I like it as its not deceptive like I find christan music.

Also I've read *one* book by Hitchens, he's quite articulate. I find that religous apologetics are positively DIRE and have no real substancial argument. I actually think that the God Delusion is quite supportive of a Benovlent Deity but that was just my opinion. At the moment I'm reading philosophy and the chapter on God has for the most part cemented my agnosticism.

Also I know that my post is largely off topic but I have equal contept for idiotic athiests as I do for idiotic christians. Thankfully most christians and most atheists I know are not idiots!

Mine was an off the cuff remark! I apologise if it caused any resent. I'll take my reply to you off the airwaves

Phototoxin

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

Mine was an off the cuff remark! I apologise if it caused any resent. I'll take my reply to you off the airwaves

Oh not at all, I know *you* actually believe me but I thought to say it for posterity lest others don't. Such has been my unfortunate experience of many christians. 'Oh you're only agnostic because you are always reading those books' I've read lots of christian books too

I'll make you tea and we can listen to bach

studiorat

prinz wrote: »

http://www.robinmark.com/index.php?section=1

Here's another. Man from Northern Ireland who tours all over the world but is basically anonymous at home. Some good songs. Some not so good.

On another note I find a lot of Linkin Park's songs to be appropriate when thinking about Christianity.

Bit of an operator so! He runs a big acoustic consultancy in the Belfast, FR Mark.

prinz

studiorat wrote: »

Bit of an operator so! He runs a big acoustic consultancy in the Belfast, FR Mark.

And a lecturer in acoustics at Queen's. Not bad going for someone who believes in an 'imaginery friend and fictional book' :rolleyes:

MrPudding

prinz wrote: »

And a lecturer in acoustics at Queen's. Not bad going for someone who believes in an 'imaginery friend and fictional book' :rolleyes:

There are exceptions to every rule...

MrP

studiorat

Probably not smart, he probably just has a good memory.:pac:

PDN

One of my personal favourites - the blind blues player, Rev Gary Davis. Cited as a major influence by Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_90D1RzApts