Why Christian Rock Sucks
It doesn’t make sense. Rock and roll (mostly) doesn’t suck. Christianity (mostly) doesn’t suck. But when you put the two together, you get an abomination. Christian rock is stereotypically the kind of crap that offends music fans as well as the ultra-religious. Since I’ve been as guilty as anyone of prejudging “God Rock” (I also like the term “Life Metal”), here’s a mini-examination of this musical subculture.
As it happens, one of my favorite musicians, Superdrag frontman John Davis, recently “found God” and has decided to move away from making secular music. Here’s how he explained it to the fans on his message board.
Looks like I might end up doing a solo record of my own before too long. It’s all hypothetical at this point, but I’m in the process of trying to write some material that reflects where I’m at spiritually and philosophically these days. It’s quite a different place to be than what it used to be, and I want to make a record that puts that across in no uncertain terms. I’ve got a notion to try some things that are radically different than what Superdrag’s been doing, and I’m prepared to take full responsibility for it, for better or worse, so I’m only gonna put my name on it! Over all, it’ll probably be a little bit mellower than what you’re used to hearing from me, and I think that’s allright. I’ll let you know more as soon as I get it figured out.
As a jaded athiest who’s sensitive to people pushing their religious views, I wasn’t especially fond of this news, but was willing to give his new music the benefit of the doubt.
Well, it’s been a year and a half since John Davis’s “coming out”. With an album and EP on the way, here’s what I think of his current crop of music. (Click on the song titles for an MP3)
Have Mercy – This track has a great southern rock vibe that, like “Spirit in the Sky”, rocks enough to make you overlook the number of times he sings “Help me Jesus”. This would fit well his earlier work.
Me & My Girl - Wait a sec…is this one of those love songs that you don’t realize until later that he’s singing about Jesus? Probably not, so it’s at least nice that Davis isn’t one of those performers who find secular work to be blasphemy.
Jesus Gonna Build Me A Home – This is his most obviously religious song so far, but it’s got a great gospel sound. I especially like the George Harrison-esque slide guitar solo that ends this sample.
Salvation - This is an odd one since it actually predates Davis’ religious conversion. The demos of this song are a highlight of the Superdrag bootlegs I have, so it’s nice to see this one dusted off.
Too Far Gone – This song, like the others, is a great bit of indie rock….until the end. Then it hits you on the head with it’s message. This last bit reminds me of every Christian rock cliche and why I wrote off this whole subgenre in the first place.
The final few seconds of “Too Far Gone” pretty much sum up why I think so many people turn up their noses at religious music. I want to avoid the word “preachy” here, since it’s fraught with connotations of self-righteousness, so instead I’ll say that the problem here seems to be an overwhelming lack of subtlety.
Not that I’m saying that this lack of subtlety is exclusive to Christian music, either. In a similar vein, Paul McCartney’s cheeky “Silly Love Songs” rubs almost everyone the wrong way with it’s incessant refrain of “I love yoooouuuu…”. Perhaps even more egregious is Bob Dylan’s legendarily obnoxious “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35″ whose chorus of “Everybody must get stoned!” makes it one of the most unlistenable pieces of shit ever composed by a “musical genius”.
Back to John Davis, it seems that his music has mostly survived the transition into the religious realm. That being the case, it kinda leaves me with more questions than answers :
Could the tendency of religious rock to show “an overwhelming lack of subtlety” be the result of performers religious inspirations overwhelming their musical ones? Is John Davis’s music better than that of his Christian rock peers? If so, is it because he got his start in secular music? If not, what other good music am I missing out on because it only serves a religious audience?
This all leads me to other questions about the Christian music industry in general. Does the emphasis on “spreading the word” result in the success of musicians who normally wouldn’t make it in the mainstream music industry? By contrast, would a relative lack of emphasis on style and financial gain make it more likely that a talented musician could find success doing something that the soulless mainstream music industry would likely destroy?
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“Rainy Day Women #12 & 35″ is a piece of shit just because he says “get stoned?” I beg to differ–not only does that song have an amazing party/bluesy/rock sound, recorded I think in one take, but it’s not strictly an endorsement of smoking pot anymore than “Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds” is solely about taking acid.
Comment by dAnimal — December 3, 2004 @ 2:48 pm
I agree with you that “Lucy in the Sky” is just as obvious in its celebration of drug use, but at least its drug reference is an acronym and not a call to arms.
I think the song is a “piece of shit” because the chorus is “everybody must get stoned!”. I know I’m in the minorioty here, but I think it’s a pretty lame play on words that only exists as an excuse for Dylan and his audience to shout something about getting high. It’s a half-assed protest song at best that pales in comparison to the rest of his work from the same time period.
Like sermons that hide under a masquerade of rock, the cheesy lyrics of “Rainy Day Women” bore me to death.
Comment by greg — December 3, 2004 @ 3:29 pm
Another thing about Christian music (I’m expanding the topic to include all contemporary popular Christian music) is that it almost always manages to sound three years out of date. There have been a couple groups I’ve liked over the years, Dakota Motor Company (back in high school) comes to mind, but the rule is that Christian music always sounds like your parent using the “latest” slang.
I think that Christian music’s lack of subtlety most definitely is a result of the artist’s musical motivations being outweighed by their religious impetus. Consider Linkin Park. They were a rock group comprised of Christians who managed to make music that meshed with their lifestyle without sounding didactic or evangelizing. They didn’t feel a need to convert souls. This year, Mase, a rapper, released a mostly good album by not letting his conversion get the best of his music, though his Christian perspective did permeate most of the album.
I think you already know the answers to most of the questions you ask at the end of the post. Many Christian artists benefit disproportionately from “spreading the word” than they otherwise might have, but there are many talented people working in that genre who neither have nor want a place in the secular industry. There will always be standouts and crap-outs in both categories. I will tell you this, as an agnostic, I quickly tire of listening to Christian music, whether it’s quality or not. I don’t know that you want to dabble!
You know what’s most interesting to me is the infrastructure the Christian community built during the nineties for promoting and spreading Christian music. I scoffed the first time I heard about a Christian dance club, but I had no idea that was the tip of the iceberg.
Comment by E-Rock — December 3, 2004 @ 3:55 pm
I couldn’t understand a damned thing they were saying anyway, so the content didn’t matter much to me.
Whoa.
Turning into my mother just now felt sort of . . . I dunno . . . winsome?
Comment by pusillanimous wanker — December 3, 2004 @ 8:45 pm
I have to say I agree with you for, say, 99% of the stuff that’s out there. The exception to the rule was the first Jars of Clay album. It took me a couple of times through the cd to be convinced; I had no clue and wasn’t looking for it; when it dawned on me I felt a little betrayed (grew up surrounded by Christian hypocrites), but then relaxed and let it stand on it’s own. I think the reason I still listen to it is that it’s nonexistent cheese factor, which is so prevalent in most Christian rock.
Comment by Gregory — December 3, 2004 @ 9:14 pm
Christian rock sucks because rock is Satan’s music, and thank god for it. Strip rock of its subversive side, and it’s pretty much gonna suck.
Comment by Amanda — December 4, 2004 @ 8:48 am
Actually “Lucy in the Sky” refers to a childhood drawing of Lucy, one of Julian Lennon’s classmates, flying in a star filled sky. Julian told his father that it was Lucy in the sky with diamonds. The drawing was put on their refridgerator.
Comment by kamachanda — December 5, 2004 @ 8:57 am
everyone has a right to write about whatever they choose and to promote their own opinions… ‘christian rock’ can be seen as a pathetic attempt to convert we atheists and holders of other faiths, or you just sit back and laugh. take the song ‘godman’ by cadet…it is surfer punk christian rock and the hilarity of it makes up for the fact that the music is horrible. the chorus is ‘jesus is my superhero, once he died for meeeee…i’m his trusty sidekick, we will beat the enemieeEEEeeees…it’s Godman!’ it’s so cheesy, but i’m sure christians see it as a beacon of hope…you don’t have to agree with the lyrics or musical genre in order to rock out to the song. as long as this j.davis fellow doesn’t go back and insert psalms and christ-love into what he originally wrote as secular, then there’s no reason you can’t still enjoy it.
Comment by ally — December 5, 2004 @ 11:55 am
Lay off Macca and we’ll be cool.
SLS is a self-affacing (I’m sure I screwed that one up) celebration of that giddy “I’m in love” feeling. Like the first time you were really in love, and you thought, “Oh, Lionel Richie’s not so bad after all”. Thank God you grow out of it, but SLS is a bit of a reminder of that moment.
-Keith (Macca’s-the-man) Trollboy
Comment by Keith — December 5, 2004 @ 1:40 pm
I think the genre’s improved a lot in the past five years or so. Gotten to the point where I can’t tell right away.
But still it disappoints me, ultimately, and here’s why. A good rock song hooks into something you feel deeply, and I haven’t got that happy born again feeling.
Funny though, I can relate to Southern Gospel- as can, it seems, a lot of other unbelievers. I suppose it’s a different message. Less cheese, maybe?
Comment by Jeff — December 6, 2004 @ 12:10 pm
As a Christian who is also a metalhead, I find it disappointing to hear that there is still such a large bias against Christian rock. I come from a background of listening to Megadeth, Metallica, Judas Priest, and so on, so I think I know what good rock sounds like, and I am increasingly impressed with how the quality of Christian rock has kept increasing. If you like hard rock or rapcore, I would suggest trying out Pillar or Toby Mac or Thousand Foot Crutch. If you like Ska, I think you’ll find Orange County Supertones to be everything you could expect from an excellent rock band. There is a lot of excellent Christian rock out there, if you are willing to put your prejudices aside long enough to judge the music on its own merit, rather than on its genre. If it’s just the message that offends you, then maybe you need to be offended to realize that God is talking to you. For myself, I am more offended by bands that claim to be Christian and then sing about and do things that are not representative of God. If you are open-minded, you will realize that bad music can have a good message, and good music can be ruined by a bad message.
Comment by Ian — December 6, 2004 @ 12:38 pm
Four words….Rage Against The Machine.
Seriously though, if you’ve got some reccomendations for some good Christian indie-pop, lemme know.I hate 90% of mainstream music too, so I’m perfectly willing to accept that I might not be hearing the right stuff. That said, what I’ve heard on Christian music radio (“the Fish”) has made my ears bleed.
Comment by greg — December 6, 2004 @ 12:53 pm
Lately it’s gotten harder to think of a way in which Christianity doesn’t suck.
And if biblical Jesus isn’t considered subversive in today’s corporate-dominated world, it’s only because certain people and organizations think they can twist his teachings for their private benefit.
And if Christian rock sucks relatively more, and secular rock sucks relatively less, I haven’t seen or heard anything that would make the fact obvious to me.
And if I don’t shut up right now and stop beginning sentences with a conjunction, I’m gonna embarrass myself.
Comment by Mark — December 6, 2004 @ 1:11 pm
You know, Creed conveyed a spiritual message in a very subtle manner. This would be of relevance if Creed didn’t suck so hard.
Comment by Assamite — December 6, 2004 @ 5:54 pm
I tried listening to christian rock once it didn’t work, they constantly repeat the same shit over and over again, I mean come on, always jesus this and jesus that, jesus christ tell me how awsome your last trip with mary jane was or how you couldn’t stand to take a piss, I realize that rock ‘n’ roll is also quite redundant but rock ‘n’ roll has lyrics that speak on more than one subject ex; sex, drugs, alcohol, rock ‘n’ roll, good times, bad times, you know i’ve had my share.
Comment by diximetal1 — December 7, 2004 @ 8:20 am
I’m a pretty devout Christian but not a fanatic. I really can’t get into Christian rock either (with the exception of a few). I guess it’s mostly the cheese factor. The thing is, you atheists and agnostics can “sit back and laugh,” but to me, it’s taking something i believe in and sort of making a mockery out it.
Comment by stevo — December 8, 2004 @ 1:45 am
Ian, I so totally support you man. What is wrong with y’all? Fine, you can listen to any music you like, GOD PROBABLY WON’T EVEN CARE!! You act like it’s the difference between heaven and hell. Have you never listened to Relient K or Five Iron Frenzy? These guys aren’t always singing only “jesus loves you”, They are fun.
Most Christian punk and hardrock isn’t bad, in fact, most Christian bands sound exactly like secular ones. Not all Christian music is about happy lovey dovey stuff, but some is. Stop calling others hypocrites and start looking at yourselves, the ones criticizing those who simply have a different opinion and don’t like llistening to cursing, sexual references, and violence. I even like some bands who aren’t just horrible.
Before you diss any other music, try Christian punk and rock, and keep an open-mind. We are all hypocrites, but don’t make fun of us who are trying not to be.
Comment by Tex — December 8, 2004 @ 9:10 am
“Thousand Foot Crutch”? are you kidding me? there’s a band with that name? that’s hilarious… and it’s a perfect description of what christianity is.
that’s the worst name for a band i’ve heard since Russel Crowe’s bandname: 30 Odd Foot of Grunts
Comment by tom — December 8, 2004 @ 9:42 am
When I listened to a lot more pop-punk stuff, I was into a few of the bands on the Tooth & Nail label. Unless you were really paying attention, you’d be hard-pressed to find the religious messages in the work of bands like MXPX or the Huntingtons.
Since Tooth & Nail seems to be the Christian equivalent of Fat Wreck Chords, I wonder if there’s a Christian version of Sub Pop, Elephant 6, or Kindercore out there?
Comment by greg — December 8, 2004 @ 9:50 am
People who are serious about making Christian music tend to work in the “Praise and Worship” genre, which is an artful blend of a variety of religious styles (including, notably, Negro Gospel and Contemporary Christian) with elements of R&B, soul, jazz, and a dash of classical orchestration.
I’m a grumpy atheist myself and I find that genre imminently listenable. Sometimes “hauntingly” so. Don’t tell my wife…
The problem with Christian Rock is that too many of its musicians start out (and continue) are in it to push an agenda through a “popular” medium. Praise and Worship artists take the opposite approach: instead of trying to sneak a message into music, they are trying to sneak music into the message. Makes all the difference.
Comment by smijer — December 8, 2004 @ 2:48 pm