Spiritual Music
 

So.

I was in Boulder, CO a week or so ago. Usually when I pick up my rental car I synch my phone to it and just play my own music for the week.

Radio sucks, after all.

This time, however, the station was set to a local contemporary christian station, unlike the usual pop or crappy local hip hop that most rental car attendants leave it on. I'd been in a low point lately, so I figured maybe someone was trying to tell me something. So for the whole week I left it there, waiting for God to talk to me.

...and waited.

...and waited.

The only thing that really struck me is that the contemporary christian music that station played really, really sucked. There were copycat bands; bands that were trying to sound just like Mumford & Sons, Muse, and even one that tried to sound like ICP (even down to the 'ha-ha-ha-ha' crap they do). The artists that weren't blatantly ripping off 'secular' bands were just boring and vanilla, over-produced auto-tuned souless nothings. Most songs were either of the 'oh-Lord-you-are-SO-BIG, we're-all-very-impressed-down-here' or the 'I-was-wretched-now-I'm-lifted-up' variety. None of that is bad in and of itself, but it all seemed... fake. Plastic.

There was nothing to it. It felt as packaged as Frosted Flakes.

So I'm asking you, those that might know more about that genre than I do...

Is there anything to it? Are there decent songwriters and artists amongst all that?

Anything that can match stuff like this?





This is serious. Please don't post Creed.

Re: Spiritual Music
 

I don't know how to post videos from my phone but I enjoy listening to Kari Jobe, Casting Crowns ans Stephen Curtis Chapman. Their music, to me, is somewhat different than most of the stuff on the radio.

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Most of the "spiritual" music I know is traditional hymns in a typical southern baptist church service, then whatever is on The Gaithers episode mom happens to be watching.

Aside from that, all I know is "Christian Rock". Skillet, Red, Demon Hunter, Thousand Foot Krutch, etc. Not sure if it's up your alley or not... but I'm a rock/metal fan, so I love it.

Re: Spiritual Music
 

Go get Sunny Day Real Estate's "How It Feels To Be Something On", and blast it very loudly. I mean just crank it really, really loud and play it straight through from beginning to end.

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Hillsong United for the win!

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I see you already posted King's X. I love Gretchen Goes to Nebraska. I'm not a religious person (in the theistic sense), but I do look to music for a certain "religious feeling," if that makes any sense. And, in the right hands, religiosity in music can be pretty powerful. Sufjan Stevens' Seven Swans album is one of the better examples I can think of. It is haunting stuff. In a beautiful way.

Re: Spiritual Music
 

Awesome album!

Re: Spiritual Music
 

I think there is something going on here that isn't the straight up idiocy of a lot of the 'Spiritual' genre...even if it isn't your cup of tea...so to speak.

Re: Spiritual Music
 

And even though this may not be very 'spiritual' I find the thought process here fairly entertaining.

Re: Spiritual Music
 

Actually, on second thought, this is more like it.

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Also not really my deal but I heard this several months back only because I saw a clip of Marc Ford from the Black Crowes giving some kind of testimonial and Marc has always been one of my favorite guitarists...still pretty cool for 'Church Music'...I guess...

Re: Spiritual Music
 

Howzabout this :thumbsup:



I can hear a signal from the center of my soul
Ignite the impulse of life
Make a change of patterns in the
Landscape of the inner man

Obtaining a new perspective on life
Discovering a new dimension of Freedom

Renewal

A penetrating power claims dominion in my being
Leaving the old man to die
The presence of a spirit is reflected
By the wave of change

Recharging power / Receiving strength
Renewal of mind and soul

I have established contact
With a higher form of intelligence
Giving me wisdom and insight
A complete restoration of my spirit

A revelation of the truth
Effects the way I'm thinking
I am part of Your plan
I will let Your Spirit move inside me
Like a Breath of Life

I send out a message to the souls who still are searching
Invite the Maker of Life
Let Him be the guidance to
Complete your life in every way

Re: Spiritual Music
 

Acock,

If you tell me more of a specific genre, i can make some good suggestions. I see today whistler is in there (for you blade fans), but what type of music store you in to when you want to listen to that?

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So wait, people actually listen to Christian rock / music?

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I used to listen to tons of different genre of Christian music. I mostly listen to just praise and worship now.

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I know why this thread is here. So I did a little thinking last night.

This is "spiritual" in the musical sense, the lyrics are fragments, not anything more. But this album is very powerful and uplifting stuff. It's not as somber as it seems.

There are only six songs on the album. You already heard some of it before. It's something you'll have to turn your phone off for.

(1991)

Re: Spiritual Music
 

Mark Kozelek turns tragedies into monuments. I'll put this here before LBC does:




And this is their new one, which came out last week. It's the only song on this subject you'll ever need to listen to.