What's your favorite Christian Artist/Group?

[Grave Blossom]

Here's a following list for mine:

Fred Hammon
Divine Hope
Commissioned
Margaret Becker
Shekinah Glory
Israel and New Breed
Smokie Norful
CeCe Winans
Donnie McClurkin
Gotta Have Gospel! Series
WOW Gospel! Series

[dyzzispell]

CeCe Winans and Margaret Becker are still around? Shocking.
Seriously though, I used to love Petra and WhiteHeart, Michael W. Smith and Carman, as well as many others. But I think outside of Steven Curtis Chapman, the last Christian CD I bought was several years ago. There's so little creativity out there, ever since "worship" became a genre and the latest fad...

[kryptech]

My top favs:
O.C. Supertones (ska with rock-solid lyrics)
Relient K
Kutless
Pillar

And I've got CDs from KJ-52, Bleach, Barlow Girl, Demon Hunter, etc.

[GrubbTheFragger]

There's so little creativity out there, ever since "worship" became a genre and the latest fad...

Take a listen to David Crowder material. He is probably one of my favirote along with like demon Hunter,Andy Hunter,and several others

[Stephen]

As far as pound for pound fav Christian band....I would say Skillet.

[dyzzispell]

Take a listen to David Crowder material. He is probably one of my favirote along with like demon Hunter,Andy Hunter,and several others

Blech... can't stand David Crowder. Can't stand the vocals. Just my own opinion.

[Radical Dreamer]

From the top of my head...

Anberlin
House of Heroes
Mae
Watashi Wa


And that's pretty much all I can think of now. XD Granted, those bands aren't contemp. Christian or anything...Just Christian guys with pointedly Christian lyrics in some songs.

[Grave Blossom]

Ah dyzzi praise worship will never become old, especially if it's devoted to God(no matter how the world tries to present it). =) There's still alot of inspiring songs out there especially the ones with a powerful statement(Shekinah Glory is one of them), but I do understand what you are saying.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Watashi Wa

wtfreak O.o lol

anyway for me I guess it would be david crowder

[Grave Blossom]

Does anyone know about some old hymns btw?

[Radical Dreamer]

wtfreak O.o lol

anyway for me I guess it would be david crowder

XD Yep! Though I don't think they're Japanese...Well, they very well may be Japanese Americans, but they don't sing Japanese music. They're really good, though.

[dyzzispell]

Ah dyzzi praise worship will never become old, especially if it's devoted to God(no matter how the world tries to present it). =) There's still alot of inspiring songs out there especially the ones with a powerful statement(Shekinah Glory is one of them), but I do understand what you are saying.

I didn't mean to sound like I can't stand any music with lyrics devoted to God. Far from it! XD What I meant to say was that when worship became a genre, and a fad, that was when it went downhill. I mean most of the bigger names back in the 80s/90s, even the heavy metal, many of their songs were so worshipful in lyrics. But they were never "labeled" worship music. That was the difference. Steven Curtis Chapman is another. His songs are SOOO worshipful, but he is not really considered to be a part of the worship "genre". He didn't start releasing albums with the name "worship" in the title, like many others did. He didn't get caught up in the latest fad - he just continued doing what he's always done.
The problem comes, in the stuff called "worship" today, when there is like 1 verse and then a chorus, and it's very catchy and easy to remember, but it really says nothing of any real value. And then to make things worse, everyone and their mother has to re-do their own version of that one song, instead of singing a NEW song from their own hearts. THAT is where I think it became substandard. There are a few good songs out there, but many of today's worship music is bland, lyric-wise. So many of the old hymns are so, SO much deeper than that, they put much of today's church music to shame.
That's all I was trying to say. XD

And on a side note, it doesn't look to me like any of the members of Watashi Wa are Japanese. XD

[RobinSena]

My top 5 would be 1. Underoath 2. Haste The Day 3. As I Lay Dying 4. Project 86 5. Demon Hunter..

[Grave Blossom]

I didn't mean to sound like I can't stand any music with lyrics devoted to God. Far from it! XD What I meant to say was that when worship became a genre, and a fad, that was when it went downhill. I mean most of the bigger names back in the 80s/90s, even the heavy metal, many of their songs were so worshipful in lyrics. But they were never "labeled" worship music. That was the difference. Steven Curtis Chapman is another. His songs are SOOO worshipful, but he is not really considered to be a part of the worship "genre". He didn't start releasing albums with the name "worship" in the title, like many others did. He didn't get caught up in the latest fad - he just continued doing what he's always done.
The problem comes, in the stuff called "worship" today, when there is like 1 verse and then a chorus, and it's very catchy and easy to remember, but it really says nothing of any real value. And then to make things worse, everyone and their mother has to re-do their own version of that one song, instead of singing a NEW song from their own hearts. THAT is where I think it became substandard. There are a few good songs out there, but many of today's worship music is bland, lyric-wise. So many of the old hymns are so, SO much deeper than that, they put much of today's church music to shame.
That's all I was trying to say. XD

And on a side note, it doesn't look to me like any of the members of Watashi Wa are Japanese. XD

Lol, hey it's cool I understand what your saying, and I do love songs that put actually meaning into the lyrics =)

[GrubbTheFragger]

Does anyone know about some old hymns btw?

Well if you want look up the Passion: hymns cd. Its a great cd. Its got Chris Tomlin,Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, David Crowder all doing hymns. Its really cool

[mssthang_1]

i like the following:

dc talk and toby mac's solo albums
commisioned is allright at times
virtue
p.o.d.
andy hunter is kewl
and i like the old audio adreniline

[That Dude]

I wholeheartedly agree with you on the worship music genre issue Dizzyspell. Anyway I love christian hardcore and punk. Tooth and Nail forever!

[Yojimbo]

Thousand Foot Krutch
Anberlin
Five Iron Frenzy
Project 86
Mute Math
Mae
Falling Up
POD
Switchfoot
Skillet
Pillar
Demon Hunter
Afterimage
Kids in the Way
Chris Tomlin
Jeremy Camp
David Crowder Band
Matt Redman

[Kokhiri Sojourn]

I didn't mean to sound like I can't stand any music with lyrics devoted to God. Far from it! XD What I meant to say was that when worship became a genre, and a fad, that was when it went downhill. I mean most of the bigger names back in the 80s/90s, even the heavy metal, many of their songs were so worshipful in lyrics. But they were never "labeled" worship music. That was the difference. Steven Curtis Chapman is another. His songs are SOOO worshipful, but he is not really considered to be a part of the worship "genre". He didn't start releasing albums with the name "worship" in the title, like many others did. He didn't get caught up in the latest fad - he just continued doing what he's always done.
The problem comes, in the stuff called "worship" today, when there is like 1 verse and then a chorus, and it's very catchy and easy to remember, but it really says nothing of any real value. And then to make things worse, everyone and their mother has to re-do their own version of that one song, instead of singing a NEW song from their own hearts. THAT is where I think it became substandard. There are a few good songs out there, but many of today's worship music is bland, lyric-wise. So many of the old hymns are so, SO much deeper than that, they put much of today's church music to shame.
That's all I was trying to say. XD

I totally agree. I have a hard time thinking that Rich Mullins wasn't Praise or Worship music. I think that if we are worshipping the Creator of the universe, we should give our best, musically as well as lyrically, as well as our hearts. Why should we sacrifice the quality of our praise to the great God of all?

Does anyone know about some old hymns btw?

Look up Selah (especially their first and second cds, "Be Still, My Soul," and "Press On") as well as Fernando Ortega. Ortega has been doing hymns long before they were cool to do (kinda like Rich) and really gets down to the essence of the hymns in his performances. Just look on the track lists - almost every album has a few hymns on it - just pick the ones you like best - all his albums are good. My favorite of his is "Night of Your Return."


Oh, and my favorite Christian artist is Andrew Peterson. He is unparalleled in his songwriting quality, both lyrically as well as a combination of the music and lyrics - the total message. "Love and Thunder" is my favorite cd.

[aitak]

hmm...lots of different stuff, according to what mood im in..

zao, king's x (let's not get into a debate over whether they are really christian), chris tomlin, jennifer knapp, derek webb, rez band, keith green, p.o.d., supertones, five iron frenzy, insyderz, no longer music, the passion stuff ( i second that about their hymns album, it's great), rivertribe, adrian ross, iona...

that'll do.

[aitak]

oh woops i cant believe i left out my favourite of all favourites (this month anyway)...100 portraits and waterdeep- as well as ben pasley's solo stuff.

[Mave]

I must be behind in regards to Christian music since my fav. groups are still Jars of Clay, 4Him, Dctalk and delirious? (^__^);;

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

DCTalk, Jars of Clay, P.O.D, Evanescence - stuff like that. Toby Mac is also pretty good, and some Skillet.

[Raiden no Kishi]

[quote="Mave"]I must be behind in regards to Christian music since my fav. groups are still Jars of Clay, 4Him, Dctalk and delirious? (^__^)]

Feh. I still remember when delerious? was the new kid on the block. Dang kids! Git offa my lawn! ^_~

I don't listen to as much Christian music as I used to, because frankly, I found more interesting music. However, I do like dcTalk, the Newsboys, Carman, Evanescence [if you want to call them Christian ~ that's a debate I haven't the knowledge to get into, but they were mentioned by someone else and that is why they're in this list], and I want to look into Showbread. I bought "Dead by Dawn" from iTunes and it's pretty cool, so I may just take the plunge and buy No Sir, Nihilism is Not Practical [when I get another iTunes card that is . . . heh]

.rai//

[Kkun]

Feh. I still remember when delerious? was the new kid on the block. Dang kids! Git offa my lawn! ^_~

I don't listen to as much Christian music as I used to, because frankly, I found more interesting music. However, I do like dcTalk, the Newsboys, Carman, Evanescence [if you want to call them Christian ~ that's a debate I haven't the knowledge to get into, but they were mentioned by someone else and that is why they're in this list], and I want to look into Showbread. I bought "Dead by Dawn" from iTunes and it's pretty cool, so I may just take the plunge and buy No Sir, Nihilism is Not Practical [when I get another iTunes card that is . . . heh]

.rai//

No Sir, Nihilism is Not Practical is pretty much perfect from start to finish. A++++, 40 thumbs up, etc. etc.

I'm not saying my favorite Christian bands 'cause this thread has been made a bajillion times.

[fairyprincess90]

i like ...
as i lay dying
underoath(both old and new stuff)
relient k
hawk nelson
emery
sanctus real
anberlin
falling up
barlow girl
krystal meyers
and...
much more.

[Mushishi]

I am in complete love with relatively mellow, acoustic christian stuff. Enter The Worship Circle (100 portraits and Waterdeep) is probably my favorite right now. (So much so that I've begun to imitate their djembe techniques)

Aside from Enter the Worship Circle,

Jars of Clay.
Sara Groves.
Demon Hunter, when he's not screaming at you (hehe)
Caedmon's Call.
Sufjan Stevens.
Sixpence None the Richer. (Classic)


(As a side note, I want everyone to listen to "The 11th Hour" by Jars of Clay and "Dance Dance" "I love You" by ETWC....The Hammered Dulcimer in worship music is absolutely beautiful)

[Radical Dreamer]

Sufjan Stevens.

Sufjan Stevens is considered Christian? Wow, I didn't know that.

[Mushishi]

Oh, definately...but not considered 'Christian' in the overt musical sense.

I just found it out in the August edition of Relevant Magazine. He's a very driven guy. Although he tries to stray away from the blatant praise genre, it's fairly apparent in:

'Abraham', 'Seven Swans', 'To Be Alone With You', 'He Woke Me Up Again', 'We Won't Need Legs To Stand' and 'The Transfiguration' and maybe even 'Chicago'

It mostly comes from the album Seven Swans. (highly recommended)

[aitak]

mushishi i like the same stuff you like. 100 portraits and waterdeep are my abslolute favourites. have you got any of ben pasley's solo stuff? its good.

also do you like derek webb as a solo artist? (of caedmon's call)...you can download his latest album, mockingbird, for free at "freederekwebb.com". i got it. its a really good album.