Third Day and other Christian Bands

adam42381

I'm not real big on Christian bands at all but I've always liked the studio albums that Third Day has released. They have a good southern rock kind of feel to them. I enjoyed Jesus Freak by DC Talk and Flood by Jars of Clay but other than that I'm not really big on Christian music. Anybody else?

pj_zombie

I'm a Christian myself but I really don't listen to Christian music. I guess you can say it's because I really haven't found anything my style yet. The lyrics are no problem, it's just that I'm heavy on guitars and I don't know any real good guitarists in those bands. I wish I did. The music I do listen to is fine for me so long as the lyrics don't bash my beliefs. Apart from a couple PJ songs I'm fine and can usually relate to the lyrics in a different way then they were probably intended.

Let me ask you this, do those bands you've mentioned have any strong guitarists?

gtbrown77

I've never been real big into it, but there is definitely some of it that I do like. Jars of Clay (at least the first two albums anyway). Five Iron Frenzy is pretty cool. There's a band called Demon Hunter which is a Christian metal band. And of course there's P.O.D.

Then there's the old school Stryper. They were awesome. And Bride - the GNR of the Christian rock scene at the time. They even played Knockin' On Heaven's Door at concerts a la GNR.

Chevelle also initially signed to a Christian music label, but I don't think they ever professed to be a Christian rock band.

How ironic that as I type this, my iTunes shuffled to an old school Christian rock song by a band called The Brave.....def. glam rock from the late 80's / early 90's, with a Christian edge.

Eddie_Vedder_83

i am not much for christian music but when i heard 16 Horsepower's Secret South it absolutely blew my mind. Vocally, Musically and Lyricaly (eventhough i cant identify with much of the words) this band is amazing. they broke up and the main guy (David Eugene Edwards) went on and started this band called Woven Hand which i actually like as well, where as the other guys started an instrumental project called Lilium. The guy is a little too much lord this and lord that (preacher type) for my liking but he is an amazing talent.

adam42381

pj_zombie wrote:

I'm a Christian myself but I really don't listen to Christian music. I guess you can say it's because I really haven't found anything my style yet. The lyrics are no problem, it's just that I'm heavy on guitars and I don't know any real good guitarists in those bands. I wish I did. The music I do listen to is fine for me so long as the lyrics don't bash my beliefs. Apart from a couple PJ songs I'm fine and can usually relate to the lyrics in a different way then they were probably intended.

Let me ask you this, do those bands you've mentioned have any strong guitarists?

I don't know of any Christian bands with top-notch guitar work.

adam42381

gtbrown77 wrote:

Chevelle also initially signed to a Christian music label, but I don't think they ever professed to be a Christian rock band.

Yeah, I actually bought Chevelle - Wonder What's Next at the bookstore at Liberty University which only sells Christian music. I don't think that they ever claimed to be a Christian band although the band members are Christians. They don't use profanity in their songs so Christian radio put their songs in heavy rotation which doesn't make it Christian music.

Leatherman®

I actually discovered Third Day on this board.

I really like Christian music for many reasons. There is a lot of good stuff out there depending on what you're looking for. If you want strictly good worship music you can find that. If you want good music with spirtual based lyrics you can find that too.

Here are a few I recommend:

Switchfoot
The Afters
David Crowder* Band
Jars of Clay
Jeremy Camp
Plumb
Hawk Nelson
Shawn McDonald
The Swift
Ten Shekel Shirt

If you're looking for more worship oriented stuff, start with Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman.

GreenMonkey

my Christian music is quite in depth, kinda like my secular library as well. In my Christian collection I have lots of Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, Poor old Lou, The Prayer Chain, Petra, Matt Redman ... etc.

I agree with some of the previous posts, it's harder to find a Christian band that is labelled as Christian that you can only purchase at the local Christian bookstore that you like.

Other Christian bands that have secular labels Bon Jovi & Collective Soul. Does anyone know of some others? That haven't already been called out.

rhinomagic

David Crowder*Band is AWESOME. Love their live show!

I listen to a lot of the Passion / Six Steps artists (Charlie Hall, Chris Tomlin, Tim Hughes, Matt Redman, etc.)

Also got turned on to Anberlin and Relient K a little by listening to christian music.

As for outstanding guitarists, there are really good ones but none that would make a huge splash on the rock scene, in my opinion. I think that's part of why these musicians have limited success in the music world.

adam42381

GreenMonkey wrote:

my Christian music is quite in depth, kinda like my secular library as well. In my Christian collection I have lots of Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, Poor old Lou, The Prayer Chain, Petra, Matt Redman ... etc.

I agree with some of the previous posts, it's harder to find a Christian band that is labelled as Christian that you can only purchase at the local Christian bookstore that you like.

Other Christian bands that have secular labels Bon Jovi & Collective Soul. Does anyone know of some others? That haven't already been called out.

Are you saying that Bon Jovi and Collective Soul are Christian bands?


http://www.popmatters.com/music/interviews/collective-soul-050224.shtml

Echoes

Extol.

Christian Death Metal

gtbrown77

Echoes wrote:

Extol.

Christian Death Metal

Awesome. I'll have to check this out.

Seriously.

Clifwith1f

I don't like most Christian music simply because there is so little creativity. So much Christian music that makes the radio imitates pop, which is already unoriginal. But I do like Third Day and a select few other artists such as Phil Keaggy (who is an AWESOME guitarist). Mac Powell (lead singer of 3D) has an awesome rock voice, and the songs they write are often innovative. That's what I'm looking for in music.

Clifwith1f

GreenMonkey wrote:

Other Christian bands that have secular labels Bon Jovi & Collective Soul. Does anyone know of some others? That haven't already been called out.

Um...those aren't Christian bands. Sorry.

pj_zombie

Echoes wrote:

Extol.

Christian Death Metal

Is that even possible? Heh, seems to me those two are opposites.

Leatherman, do you know any Christian bands that have some good guitar work? You seem to know quite a few bands.

gtbrown77

Clifwith1f wrote:

Um...those aren't Christian bands. Sorry.

Not sure about Bon Jovi, but I think a case could be made for CS. If you listen to their first album, it seems to very much be a mainstream Christian rock album. But, I don't think that they go around touting themselves as a Christian band. Just a group of guys that are seemingly Christian and it shows in some of their music.

Clifwith1f

gtbrown77 wrote:

Not sure about Bon Jovi, but I think a case could be made for CS. If you listen to their first album, it seems to very much be a mainstream Christian rock album. But, I don't think that they go around touting themselves as a Christian band. Just a group of guys that are seemingly Christian and it shows in some of their music.

Yeah I guess I don't know that much about CS, but I'm pretty sure Bon Jovi isn't.

I guess CS could be, especially if you listen to "Shine."

Same with U2 and like 50 of their songs.

adam42381

Clifwith1f wrote:

and a select few other artists such as Phil Keaggy (who is an AWESOME guitarist).

I saw Phil Keaggy when I went to College for a Weekend at Liberty University in February 1999 and he was amazing. I'm not really familiar with much of his work and didn't particularly care for some of the songs but his guitar work was top notch.

iluvcats

adam42381 wrote:

I'm not real big on Christian bands at all but I've always liked the studio albums that Third Day has released. They have a good southern rock kind of feel to them. I enjoyed Jesus Freak by DC Talk and Flood by Jars of Clay but other than that I'm not really big on Christian music. Anybody else?

I'm love jeremy camp's music. He is amazing. My sister has been sending me his cd's.

I've been nearly in tears (driving to work), so stressed out over what could happen, and his music lifts me up! I love "revive me."

iluvcats

pj_zombie wrote:

Let me ask you this, do those bands you've mentioned have any strong guitarists?

listen to jeremy camp!
"carried me. the worship project" is my favorite

Leatherman®

pj_zombie wrote:

Leatherman, do you know any Christian bands that have some good guitar work? You seem to know quite a few bands.

I will be very honest and tell you I can't determine between good and great guitar work because I can't play the guitar and anybody who can do a decent lick sounds like a genius to me.

Sorry that wasn't helpful. I'd give a quick listen to the bands I listed earlier and see if any of those sound good to you.

Leatherman®

rhinomagic wrote:

David Crowder*Band is AWESOME. Love their live show!

I listen to a lot of the Passion / Six Steps artists (Charlie Hall, Chris Tomlin, Tim Hughes, Matt Redman, etc.)

Also got turned on to Anberlin and Relient K a little by listening to christian music.

As for outstanding guitarists, there are really good ones but none that would make a huge splash on the rock scene, in my opinion. I think that's part of why these musicians have limited success in the music world.

I just saw David Crowder on tour w/ Third Day a couple months ago. GREAT SHOW!

The newest Passion album is great.

Echoes

pj_zombie wrote:

Is that even possible? Heh, seems to me those two are opposites.

Well Death Metal is really a style in and of itself, and is not predetermined by content. You have your smatterings of bands singing about brains and guts and all that, but you can also have political DM bands like Rotting Christ (I think), and bands like Bolt Thrower who usually sing exclusively about history.

gusturtle

adam42381 wrote:

I'm not real big on Christian bands at all but I've always liked the studio albums that Third Day has released. They have a good southern rock kind of feel to them. I enjoyed Jesus Freak by DC Talk and Flood by Jars of Clay but other than that I'm not really big on Christian music. Anybody else?

i own all of Third Day's cd's, so, yeah, I really like their albums.

ItsEvolutionBaby74

pj_zombie wrote:

Is that even possible? Heh, seems to me those two are opposites.

Not at all, not every Death Metal band is about brutally decapitating babies, praising Satan, and how seniors can be a mean meatball hero,that my friend is Black Metal. Living Sacrafice is a Christian Death Metal band. And I've also seen some Christian Grindcore(or Goregrind, whichever name you prefer) Bands, although I cannot remember their names right now. Oh, and just to clarify, this is completely un-related but the other day I saw some teenagers saying that Slipknot is a heavy Death Metal Band and they are NOT,they are a heavier form on Nu-Metal and even though their first album was passable(I would grade it a 57%, which is actually still an F) Their 2nd album was a 4%(one song was okay) and their most recent album a 0% , thats right not one song was worth jack-shxt! Anyway whatever I'm rambling and Slipknot is NOT Christian they have a song which repeats "If you're 555 than I'm 666" Thats All Folks!

pj_zombie

Echoes wrote:

Well Death Metal is really a style in and of itself, and is not predetermined by content. You have your smatterings of bands singing about brains and guts and all that, but you can also have political DM bands like Rotting Christ (I think), and bands like Bolt Thrower who usually sing exclusively about history.

I'll chalk that up to me not knowing much of anything about Death Metal. That's kind of interesting.

I'll look into that Jeremy Camp someone suggested. I guess what I'm really looking for is Christian bands that have a classic rock vibe. Hopefully someday someone will come along.

Clifwith1f

adam42381 wrote:

I saw Phil Keaggy when I went to College for a Weekend at Liberty University in February 1999 and he was amazing. I'm not really familiar with much of his work and didn't particularly care for some of the songs but his guitar work was top notch.

Yeah...his live show is way better than any studio recording of his. I see him whenever he's in town.

iluvcats

pj_zombie wrote:

I'll chalk that up to me not knowing much of anything about Death Metal. That's kind of interesting.

I'll look into that Jeremy Camp someone suggested. I guess what I'm really looking for is Christian bands that have a classic rock vibe. Hopefully someday someone will come along.

jeremy camp isn't classic rock sounding.

jb13letters

Starflyer 59 are pretty good. Started out sort of shoegazer-ish, evolved to a more pop style, and their newer stuff sounds like a mix of the two.

Jeremy Enigck from Sunny Day Real Estate is a Christian, though I'm not sure SDRE or his solo album would be considered Christian rock.

circles down

Dude, I'm an old school Third Day fan. Got into their stuff in college, seen them in small churches and big arenas. Their last two albums have started to sound like most other adult-contemporary Christian music, 99% of which I think is lame, but they have some really really good stuff. I wouldn't say they have strong guitarists, but they can rock out and lay down some cool riffs. The lead guy can fake it with some wah pedal and distortion, but he's not a true gunslinger. I once read an interview with Mac Powell, the singer, and he said Ten was one of his all time favorite albums. He's got stage presence. He will preach his ass off too, pretty moving stuff, he'll stop down for 4-5 minutes between a couple of songs and say something that will really hit you. If you've never listened to 3D, I'd recommend getting Conspiracy #5, their second album, pretty "alterno" sounding, but good. The mellowed out a little and matured on their next album "Time" which is probably considered their best. Get it too.

It's nice that nobody's gotten on here and started basing us yet for this discussion.

darthvedder88

I'll be honest with you, I thought Creed's first album had some strong spiritual messages in it, bc at the time they actually were a Christian band, but then Stapp blew it to hell and they sucked...

I more so listen to music that is spiritual, such as Live and Collective Soul.