I listen to a lot of classical Music and Handel’s Messiah is my favourite concert. You just have to ignore the lyrics. Their pretty propagana-y Best rendition of it IMHO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR0cEOTpYSk&t=0
Most older gospel is wonderful. Here’s a song by an artist you’ve probably never heard of, because she only released this one single. She had a gorgeous, rich gospel voice, and the record company was all set to promote her as the next Janice Joplin. But she feared the music business would corrupt her soul, so pop music lost a brilliant voice. She’s dead now. I like to imagine her cranking out great albums in heaven.
There’s always Calibretto 13 (I copied the name hence the large font). A Christian punk band. I’ve only heard a couple songs.
I just know of them because at least some of the members (including the guitarist/singer/songwriter aka the frontman) made another band:
Harley Poe
Pretty much the opposite of a Christian band, and I love it (used to be religious long ago). But it’s pretty much peak folk/horror punk. Really great music. But like I said…the opposite of Christian music.
Would recommend (their version of) “the hearse song” or “transvestites can be cannibals too” (same album) or "Music for teenagers.
Doom 2016
Learned about the band Jars of Clay when they were on MTV as a kid and thought they were pretty neat. Bought a couple albums ad a student. Still listen to them sometimes
I like Flood (more rock), Sad Clown (more chill), and Boy on a String (in between)
August burns red
The devil wears prada
Underoath
Silent planet
Texas in july
Wolves at the gate
Memphis may fire (some lyrics are cringey though)Lift to Experience, and meWithoutYou. I don’t think either is really evangelizing but they’re heavy on the biblical imagery and allusions. And they’re both certified hood classics
Bach. Anything after that’s pretty cheesy…
Addendum: https://youtu.be/KSTFKJqy9AQ
Bach rules.
I like many of the above, but I’ll add a couple more
Project 86 The wedding Switchfoot
I’m a former Christian, if that counts.
DC Talk - the album Jesus Freak is peak Christian Rock, but the earlier, hokey rap stuff was fun, too.
Five Iron Frenzy - ska band that I absolutely adored as a teen. Saw them live at a reunion tour a few years ago (as an atheist) and had a great time.
Audio Adrenaline - more Christian Rock, just a good all around band.
Relient K - really fun and melodic punk/alternative. Went more rock than punk over time, but always solid quality. They made one of the better Christmas albums on offer, too.
And just for fun, try singing Amazing Grace to the tune of Gilligan’s Island!
Five Iron Frenzy is awesome. Just about everything I’ve ever heard from them is great.
You just described my teens. Also Jars of Clay (I went to one of their concerts once), The News Boys, and some more obscure ones like Pillar and Paul Ruben. I also loved P.O.D… It’s really weird to hear them on secular radio these days.
Now-a-days, all of that is only for when I’m wallowing in self pity. There have been times in my life when casually mentioning a secular song around my family would make the shit hit the fan.
My first concert was Newsboys and Supertones (Newsboys was the opener, it was pretty early for them). Saw FIF a year or two later. Saw Insyderz at a smaller event a few years after that. To this day I get to say I’ve seen the three “big” Christian ska bands live.
What a wild time. Jars is still on a regular rotation for me (Flood and Liquid are both bangers, and their Christmas album is one of my favorite holiday albums).
Insyderz and Supertones were great, but FIF was on another level.
OC Supertones and the Insyderz??? I didn’t even bother mentioning those, but hell yeah those were my absolute jam!
This also describes my teen years 😂 My first road trip after getting my license was driving to Orange County to see the OC Supertones.
I did not know P.O.D. was a Christian band. I saw one of their music videos at a Hard Rock Cafe.
Right?
I remember the local contemporary Christian station would sometimes play P.O.D., but only late at night. It was too “hard” or something for during the day when I guess kids might be listening or whatever. The DJ even chastised listeners once for requesting P.O.D. during the day.
Oh shit, I forgot about DC talk! I was a big fan in early middle school.
Jesus Freak is a true banger, coming from a life-long atheist.
That is amazing about Gilligan’s Island. How did you learn that?
Amazing Grace is one of those songs that uses a particular meter that allows for these kinds of tune changes. You can sing it to the tune of House of the Rising Sun as well (among others). One of my supervising/mentoring priests (Episcopal) from when I was in seminary did a Lent study on Amazing Grace and had people listen to all these different versions.
Just one of those things kids learn at church, at least in the areas I grew up in. Kinda like the “cool S” but not quite as universally iconic.
Miserere mei, Deus is one of the most beautiful vocal pieces I’ve ever heard. That descant soprano part is insane.
Quite a lot of folk hymnals absolutely slap.
Check the soundtrack for O Brother Where Art Thou?
Five Iron Frenzy. Christian ska band.
What other band is going to write a song about Different Strokes? FIF is still part of my regular rotation.
Also, basing a love song on a reference to Gauntlet.
“Spirit In The Sky” -by Norman Greenbaum (himself Jewish)
