List Dominated Society
Point #1 - We live in a list dominated society. Maybe I've mentioned it before, but I can't remember, and since I'm short on material, I'll either visit it for the first time, or re-visit it.
Point #2 - We live in a list dominated society. See above. Every one of the websites that I read on a regular basis has a top ten list. Sports, especially, is drifting towards this format. Don't believe me? Just read CNNsi.com for any amount of time. They're not capable of putting new material on the site without putting it in a list. 10 greatest left-handed pitcher of all time? 20 most notorious athletes of the last 25 years? Top 15 lists posted on CNNsi.com? As a friend of mine used to say, "Easy, Cheesy!"
Sports isn't the only genre dominated by the list. Music is pretty much defined by it. Ever heard of the Billboard Top 100? Essentially any album released is a list of top 15 or so songs that a band or artist was tinkering with at the time. Music channels like VH1 are constantly having specials and shows dedicated to lists.
Since I'm not one to be original, I'll continue with the trend. In a continuing effort to post on Pluckytown on a more regular basis, when I don't have anything particular to rant about, I'll just come up with a list. So here you have it:
Top 3 Christian Rock/Alternative Albums of All-Time
3. Newsboys - Going Public - In my mind, this is a very under-rated album. While Take Me To Your Leader has probably gotten a bit more attention, and much of their later work has gotten more air time as they've become more popular, this is still my favorite Newsboys album. It's got one of my favorite songs in "Shine", as well as my personal Newsboys favorite, "Spirit Thing". Also, it has a very good song as it's last track that most people don't know about. "Elle G." is very solid, and if you haven't listened to it lately, do so.
2. Jars of Clay - Jars of Clay - I've seen "Jars" play live more than any other band. It's been a huge disappointment to me that they peaked with their first ever album, but then you think about what great quality it really was, and wonder how they'd ever top it. They haven't yet, but that's probably not to their discredit. This album is loaded with great songs from top to bottom, with personal favorites being "Worlds Apart" and "Love Song For a Savior". Also, the hidden track at the end contains an excellent little ditty.
1. dc Talk - Jesus Freak - Really, what can you say about this album? It's (for me, anyway) the standard to compare all other albums to. It's excellent from the first note to the last, and every song stands on it's own as something that is terrific. My absolute favorite song "In The Light" is found on track 10. You have "Jesus Freak" which may be the most popular Christian release ever (aside from hymns of course). I could literally say something good about every song, but don't want to get redundant. If you haven't listened to this album, or if you haven't listened in a while, make some time for it. You won't be disappointed.
Now it's your job, Reader. Discuss, disagree, fill in the final 7 spots of the top ten.
9 comments:
Hey...I will be giving a detalied argumnet/agreement of your assessment when I have time...just thought I'd give you a heads up that it's coming.
Okay..here we go:
*Disclaimer: While some of this could be subject to my opionion, I'm trying really hard to be objective and list albums that I know have significantly influenced the Christian rock world*
Okay, firstly we really need to talk about genre before we go any further. If you had said that these three you listed were the top CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) albums of all time, I might agree with you (except I would have to say Take Me to Your Leader instead of Going Public for the Newsobys.) But since you said Christian rock/alternative...here's the nine I could narrow it down to. (And good grief..how in the world can we narrow down this entire genre to ten albums?? Yikes!)
Anyway, I'll go in descending chronological order, since I believe they should be in that order anyway.
#9 Switchfoot - New Way to Be Human - 1999
Switchfoot's sophomore album really defined the rest of their career. Their style shifted slightly from "The Legend of Chin" into a much more refined alternative rock style that has led them to nothing but success ever since. The lyrics on this album are deeply amazing. The melodies on this album are haunting and beautiful, and the influence that Switchfoot has had ever since this album is undeniable.
#8 Delirious - Cutting Edge Double Disc - 1998
Up until this album, Christian praise and worship music was limited to cheesy (yet well-written) songs like "Lord I lift Your Name on High," "Change my heart, oh God," and others like it. This album not only introduced the British rock sound that is heard in much of today's modern worship music, but gave us such worship songs as "Shout to the North," "Did you feel the Mountains Tremble," "I could Sing of Your Love forever," "Lord, You Have My Heart," and "The Happy Song." I truly believe that this album paved the way for so much of the modern worship music that we are hearing in churches today.
#7 - Thid Day - Third Day - 1996
Third Day is obviously a staple of Christian rock music today. While this might not be their best album, it is definitely remembered and introduced the world to one of the only Christian bands with this particular sound. This album brought us "Love Song," "Consuming Fire," and "Thief."
#6 - Poor Old Lu - Sin - 1994
This is the one album in this list that I will definitely admit is a personal favorite. However, I honestly believe that many would agree it is one of Christian rock's best albums of all time. Poor Old Lu was a breath of fresh air in the midst of the likes of DC Talk, Newsboys, and Audio Adrenaline, when people who wanted Christian rock that was actually rock found something they could love. The album is one of those that you can stick in your stereo and crank and enjoy every single song. It also introduced Aaron Sprinkle on vocals. Aaron Sprinkle has now gone on to produce many of today's Christian albums. Just go here and scroll down to his producer credits to see his extensive influence on today's Christian music. He also plays all the instruments that are on each of his solo albums. Pretty impressive.
#5 - Audio Adrenaline - Don't Censor Me - 1993
This is a tricky one. Much like the Newsboys, Audio A is mainly a CCM band, but there a few songs that crossover into the alternative rock realm and that are huge influences on Christian music. Again, this album came during a dry time of Christian rock music (about the only things around were Sandi Patty, Southern Gospel, and cheesy old Petra and Michael W. Smith stuff) and was a breath of fresh air that encouraged some definite rocking. The song "We're a band." is great. This album also gave us "Big House" which yes, has become extremely annoying today, but it is no doubt Audio A's biggest hit.
#4 - The Choir - Circle Slide - 1990
In this period of time, you had to know the underground Christian rock scene to know of anything like these guys. As I mentioned before, Christian rock, for those outside of the underground, was a pretty shunned thing, myself included. The music was cliche, cheesy, and really nothing that would appeal to non-Christians in order to get the message of Jesus out. But the Choir was a force to be reckoned with. Their music was so new and creative, so deeply beautiful (if you've never heard Derri Daugherty sing, stop reading and find something that he sings on...haunting.), yet had such an underground rock style that was not cheesy at all. This album is included in their career of 10 studio albums (one brand new in 2005) and led them to a fantastic partnership with Marc Byrd (of Common Children) to be able to become influential producers in Christian music. They were the first band ever to play at Cornerstone Music Festival. Steve Hindalong (the Choir's drummer) produced the City on a Hill series of recordings which brought all sorts of Christian artists together to record. Steve and Marc Byrd wrote God of Wonders, a huge modern worship staple.
#3 - Stryper - To Hell with the Devil - 1986
Yes, I know that Styper's music was pretty cheesy, and their outfits were horrible, but this album screams classic all over it. Stryper paved the way for modern Christian rock and metal (Tourniquet is definitely influenced by their melodic guitar riffs) and was one of the earliest Christian rock groups on the scene.
#2 - U2 - October - 1981
I know this one seems out of place, because U2 is a secular band, right? Well, even from their first album "Boy" they have been writing songs that glorify God and pioneering causes that glorify God as well (yes, pioneering some that are not so glorifying, but I digress.) Many people consider this album to be a weaker album, but in the scheme of "Christian" music (I hate the term, but here I'm using it as "music that glorifies God"), this has some of the greatest songs on it. U2's next album, "War." would launch them into worldwide success, and one can possibly argue that U2 is the greatest rock/alternative band of all time. Period.
#1 - Anything by Keith Green
Keith Green's music and life are in a class of their own. Oen of the first champions and pioneers of Christian rock music in the 70's, this guy was not afraid to tell it like it is and play it like it is. His music was radical and his message was unapologetic. I truly believe that he was instrumental in where every single piece of Christian music now is today.
Couple of things to mention.
First of all, Ryan, let me know the next time you want to go in-depth and you can have a guest post on the site. I have no problem with it, and I know the other guys don't either.
Secondly, there's some albums that you guys forgot that I have to add in the mix if for nothing else, then for the impact they had on me.
Pokinatcha by MxPx - My introduction to Christian punk music. This album hit fast and didn't stop to take a breath.
Christian Songs by Joy Electric - Not very well-known, I realize, but it's impossible for me to listen to this album and not find myself smiling and being happy. It's not necessarily rock, but I would definitely say it fits as the alternative qualifier.
Snappy by Hokus Pick - Again, not a huge commercial impact. You won't hear any of the songs on the radio, but this album proves that a Christian rock/alternative group can make great music and have incredibly solid lyrics. You just have to hear the first song to know that since the lyrics are almost directly lifted from I Corintians 13. It also has possibly the greatest hidden track of all time. ("Don't worry about me. Where's our rhythm section?!")
All of these albums pass a very important test for me: I want to listen to these albums all the way through without skipping to another song. From track one to the very end, great songs.
I suppose I could have asked to put my rebuttal as a main post, but since Gudy invited comments here, I thought I'd sieze the opportunity. I would enjoy doing a guest post sometime, though!
Nice additions, by the way. All great selections. Did you know that Aaron Sprinkle was actually directly responsible for MxPx becoming a Tooth & Nail band?
Well, considering I left myself wide open for criticism because I didn't list my criteria, this has gone very well.
Basically I was going by influence and distribution levels, as well as the quality of music.
Switchfoot and Delirious were actually on the short list that just missed the cut, as I tried to keep it at three...mostly because my posts tend to get long anyway. I admit Third Day probably should have been up there, but since I don't like Third Day, I didn't consider them...
Also, I refuse to accept that Take Me To Your Leader is better than Going Public. TMTYL is the album that kept me from liking the Newsboys for a time, because it's so annoying, and a number of the songs sound almost exactly alike. I still can't listen to the title track very often.
As for the other albums that Ryan listed, I can't vouch for their musical quality, because I have spent very little time listening to some of the bands (Poor Old Lu, The Choir, Stryper, Keith Green). On musical quality alone, you're probably right. But, I consider myself a fairly average music listener, and none of their stuff has influenced me, thus, they were excluded from the list.
Aha...good to know the criteria.
As far as personal tastes go, I have to agree with you that Going Public is much better than Take Me To Your Leader. But as far as Newsboys "hits" go, more songs are played off of Take Me To Your Leader than probably any other Newsboys CD.
However, Take Me To Your Leader has, "Lost the Plot." What an incredible song.
As far as you not putting on Third Day, I suppose that's acceptable because you don't like them. :-) But, think Audio A's "Don't Censor Me" isn't really that great of a CD per se, but it was one that helped get some more "rocking" music into the Christian mainstream.
However, as I mentioned, it's REALLY hard to narrow all of this music down to less than ten CD's. There should be like a collective post of our 100 favorite (instead of best, so this can be totally subjective) Christian rock CD's.
I would be down with a "Top 100" list...that would be really fun to put together. One rule - NO JEREMY CAMP.
:o)
Otherwise, I'm cool with that. I need a place to give Grammatrain some props, as I've been listening to Flying a lot lately, and I just love that album.
Ha! Lol...Camp's first album could be on there, but nothing after that, I agree with you 100%. His music has gotten very annoying lately, and he has no grammar!
Anyway, a favorite albums list would be sweet.
I've been kicking myself all day for forgetting to add Flying to my list. Whatever the word for the exact opposite of a sophomore slump happens to be is exemplified in Flying. Great album.
Also, I forgot to mention that Sin is one of my favorite albums of all time, and despite whatever Ryan says, "Cannon Fire Orange" is my favorite song on the album ;-). Gudy, you need to check it out along with Poor Old Lu's other albums. Underrated work by some very good musicians.
I agree that putting together a favorite albums list would be fun.
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