Explorations in Christian Pop-Culture: The Crossover Artist

It seems in recent years, the badge that Christian bands once wore proudly, is now hastily being swept under the rug. That is to say, your favorite Christian band doesn’t want to be your favorite “Christian” band… just favorite band in general. It’s only recently that the Christian music industry became savvy enough to stop marketing Jesus, and instead, start marketing values and morals. Thus, the popular idea of a Christian band (who only had a particular demographic) died and the even-more popular idea of “Christians who just so happen to be in a band” thrived (allowing a much broader audience). The situation is win-win for Christians and Capitalists alike. Bigger audience means more gospel sharing… and even more importantly, more money.

I attribute this awakening to a few particular “crossover” artists who represent very different approaches:

First, you have the “machismo” bands which has its roots in such bands as Creed, P.O.D., and other bands of the adrenaline-pumping, jock-loving like. Even though, in my opinion, these are some of the worst bands in the history of pop music, Machismo bands are still very much alive and kicking. Grant you, most of these bands are not Christian (Nickelback, Three Doors Down, Hinder) but some still are (Evanescence). Honestly, the start of this whole approach to music really roots back to Pearl Jam, but Creed added the Christian element and made it marketable.

Second, “Relevant Bands” are bands that appeal to the new, trendy, open-minded Christians. Here’s your demographic, Donald Miller! These band typically trade in obvious signals that may give away their faith, and instead focus on emotions and uplifting lyrics. Here you will find The Fray, Mute Math, Switchfoot, Reliant K, and any other band that sounds like Coldplay in some wayward form or another. Honestly, I thank these type of bands for keeping the Machismo bands alive. If this is the only type of music I could listen (and in the bible belt, this is so often to case) to then I would listen music meant for MEN WITH BALLS too. For the official rag of the “relevant movement” click here.

Thirdly, I’m not even sure if this is necessarily a brand of “crossover artist” but instead, a sign of the times. I call these the “I’m not even trying to pretend” crossover artist. In this category you will find Casting Crowns, Mercy Me and the random Christian artist who had their minute in the secular spotlight. Their songs are obviously (and some times painfully) about Jesus. No reason to cover it up because they really aren’t worried about reaching the mainstream demographic when the one they have is so prosperous already. Why do these bands become popular out of the Christian context? I really have no idea why that Mercy Me song “I can only imagine” ever became popular in the Adult Contemporary world. It’s really just more of a sign of how failing pop music is today.

Yet again, I know I’m being too negative here and anyone who actually likes any of these bands probably think I’m a pretentious asshole and deservingly so. I will say, that not all of these bands are horrible… but most of them are. There is one more brand of crossover artist though:

Ladies and Gents, this is Christian Indie! This is kind of a genre umbrella and actually encompasses a lot of different styles and approaches. You have the very successful Sufjan Stevens with his own particular style of acoustic/folk music. I’m surprised to see how popular he has become but at the same time I’m not. He’s good enough to please the music snobs, emotional enough to please the “relevant crowd” and ambiguous enough to please the gay Christians… yes, I said it. Danielson Famile and everything associated with them (Yes, Sufjan is in that category too) is also in this genre.

But with the good side of Christian indie, comes the hardcore/emo side too. I really don’t know if this exists outside of the bible belt… but inside the belt, nothing unites the secular and Christian world like a good moshing at a Norma Jean show. Honestly, even though it is not my cup of tea, I don’t know if this is bad music. I don’t personally find it enjoyable but I’ll take this over the “Relevant” movement or P.O.D. any day because it doesn’t seem to pander it’s audience… but I could be wrong. This is a genre my fellow Kerosene Bear, Ben, could answer better than I.

Consider this entry as a reference point to the rest of the “Explorations in Christian Pop-Culture” posts. These odd intersections where the secular world and Christian world meet, if not good music (and it usually isn’t), is at least a fascinating spectacle on pop-culture in general.

Explorations in Christian Pop-Culture: An Introduction

I was privileged (read: burdened) as a child to grow up in such a dominant subculture… one so powerful, there really wasn’t anything “sub” about it. I’m told there still are some parts of America untouched by the long hand of mega-churches, youth group extravaganzas and dare I say it, Contemporary Christian Music. I have a hard time believing that these places remain shielded from such an abrasive cultural group because even the most basic of cable televisions cannot hide from the most relentless of televangelists.

I’m not bitter. I’m ashamed.

Not because of my faith. I have grown up with Jesus and still pursue him every waking hour but the culture associated with my Lord and Savior has continuously been a source of embarrassment. I do not say this with contempt or notions of malice… but actual embarrassment similar to that of a adolescent and his goofy father. All of those times where Christianity has been accurately “mis”-represented in America sits as a testament of the many imperfections of my religion of choice.

Perhaps, I’m making this too heavy for a blog. I’m not trying to talk politics here, I’m just trying to reconcile where my culture and my subculture awkwardly collide in the most ugly of ways… and the most entertaining of ways to tackle such a subject is to look at the “happy-go-lucky” world of pop-culture.

I’m going to call it “Explorations in Christian Pop-Culture” in an attempt to explain, confess and understand my subcultures embarrassing, but sometimes triumphant, forays into making neighbors with secular culture and why most of the time, it just tries to pull down the blinds and hide.

I’ll look at everything from Michael W. Smith to Petra to Passion Worship Music to Skateboard Ministries. This isn’t theology, this isn’t politics, this is pop-culture… the only thing I feel qualified to write about.

Radio Magic with Kerosene Bears 8/23/07

Caribou – “Melody Day” and “Zoe” off the album Andorra

Formerly named Manitoba, Caribou is the brainchild of Dan Snaith. Snaith was forced to change the band name in 2004 after the Dictators’ frontman, Handsome Dick Manitoba, sued for trademark infringement. What a jerk! This album, Andorra, was just released this week on Merge records. The single “Melody Day” could easily be my favorite song of the year.

Spoon – “The Ghost of You Lingers”, “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb”, and “Finer Feelings” off the album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Austin, Texas band formed in 1994 by Britt Daniel and Jim Eno. Despite many changes in the line up of Spoon’s band members over the years, the core to their unique musical sound is defined by Daniel’s vocals and guitar and Eno’s solid and confident drumming. Rarely do drummers make or break the sound of a band, but without Eno’s killer drumming, spoon would be nothing. I first heard Spoon several years ago on the radio with the song “The Way We Get By.” I always enjoyed the song, but never really took the time to check out any more of them. In the past couple of years though, I’ve slowly been more and more exposed to them. This latest album, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, has some of the most melody and variety out of all the Spoon albums. They also experimented a lot more in the studio, especially with some well chosen reverb. Listen how solid of a song The Ghost of You Lingers is with such a simple and repetitive piano line. How did they pull that one off? And there’re no drums, either! Also, listen out for the c’mon’s in You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb. So good.

Graham Nash – “Military Madness” and “I Used To Be A King” off the album Songs for Beginners

British songwriter most famous for playing in the bands the Hollies, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. His first successful pop band, the Hollies, was one of the more important bands of the 1960’s British Invasion. In 1968, Nash left the Hollies to joined the American musicians David Crosby and Stephen Stills to form the band Crosby, Stills, & Nash. Neil Young joined the band a year later. In 1971, Graham Nash released his first solo album, Songs for Beginners where these songs are found. The centerpiece of the album is his song “I Used to Be a King.”

The Rosebuds – “Leaves Do Fall” and “Warm Where You Lay” off the album Birds Make Good Neighbors

The band’s founding members, Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp, met in Wilmington, North Carolina, while attending college there. They soon got married, and in 2001 decided to form a band together called The Rosebuds. They began releasing albums on North Carolina’s own Merge Records, starting with their album called Make Out. These songs are off of the 2005 album Birds Make Good Neighbors. I remember hearing about the Rosebud’s from my brother a couple of years ago when they played in Clemson, South Carolina or something, but it’s been just recently that I’ve been able to really listen to them.

The Curtains – “Go Lucky”, “Green Water”, and “Roscomore” off the album Calamity

Founded by former Deerhoof member Chris Cohen along with Trevor Shimizu and Jamie Peterson. Cohen released the first album with the Curtains in 2001 while still in Deerhoof. Shimizu and Peterson later left the band, and Greg Saunier (Deerhoof’s drummer) and Andrew Maxwell took their places. In 2006, the Curtain’s signed to Sufjan Steven’s record label, Asthmatic Kitty, and Cohen left the band Deerhoof to concentrate solely on The Curtains. October of that year, Cohen released the album Calamity. John Ringhofer of Half-Handed Cloud is featured on the album playing trombone. It’s a nice, quirky little album that doesn’t try to bite off too much.

Deerhunter – “Florescent Grey” and “Like New” off the Florescent Grey EP

This band is from Atlanta. Their singer, Bradford Cox, is tall, skinny, and looks like he’s about to collapse. But don’t worry. He’s not anorexic or a heroin addict. He just has a disease called Marfan syndrome. Joey Ramone also had this disease, so it’s cool. They’re kind of all the rage in the underground music world, or at least Pitchfork thinks so. But despite Pitchfork’s opinions, I’ve grown to like them. And they’re from my hometown, so I have to support them. They put on a good live show, and this EP, Florescent Grey, is awesome. Don’t read their blog!

The Atlas Sound – “Child Support”, “Monochromatic”, and “These Years” mp3’s off the Deerhunter blog

The Atlas Sound is the side project of the aforementioned Deerhunter frontman, Bradford Cox. It doesn’t compare to Deerhunter, but Cox has put together some pretty good little songs. Overall, they’re a lot more ambient than Deerhunter and less hard hitting. I found these on that Deerhunter blog you should never read.

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A big thank you to Will for calling in to the radio show and his kind words. Be sure to go to the station’s website, wegl91.com, and take the music taste poll. This is your chance to let WEGL know what you want them to be playing. Thanks for listening this week, and tune in next week on Thursday nights starting at 11PM!

Ben’s WEGL Radio Show 8/16/07

I’ve got this little show on the Auburn University radio station, WEGL 91.1 FM. So if you’re in the listening area, check it out every Thursday starting at 11PM. Here’s the set list for my latest show, the first of the Fall ‘07 semester.

Chavez – “Peeled Out Too Late,” “Our Boys Will Shine Tonight,” and “Flight 96″ off the album Better Days Will Haunt You, released on Matador Records.

Early 90’s math rock-esque band led by singer and guitarist Matt Sweeney. Matt Sweeney later played with Guided By Voices and Zwan (Billy Corgan’s short-lived band which included David Pajo of Slint and Tortoise), and released the album Superwolf with Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Matador records rereleased Chavez’s two albums in 2006 in a double disc set.

I’m From Barcelona – “We’re From Barcelona” and “Treehouse” off of the 2006 album Let Me Introduce My Friends

29 member collective from Jonkoping, Sweden. “We’re From Barcelona” is a perfect introduction to the band. “Treehouse” is definitely one of my favorites on the record, partially because I’ve always been a huge fan of treehouses. The build up at the end is so good.

Thom Yorke – “Analyse,” “Atoms for Peace” (requested), and “Cymbal Rush” off the album 2006 The Eraser, released on XL Records.
First solo record from Radiohead frontman. Although I miss the musicianship of the rest of Radiohead (especially Johnny Greenwood’s guitars and the crisp drumming of Phil Selway), it’s a great album. It’s as good as I could expect from a Thom Yorke solo effort, if not better.

Robert Pollard – “Supernatural Car Lover,” “Boxing About”, and “Get a Faceful” off the 2006 album Normal Happiness released on Merge Records.

Former frontman of early 90’s college rock band Guided By Voices. Much like Guided By Voices, Robert Pollard’s solo work is chock full of roughly made pop songs that average around a measly 2 minutes long each. There’s not always much for me to really sink my teeth into with GBV and Pollard, but for their distinct short-but-sweet sound, they do it well.

Belle and Sebastian – “Seeing Other People” and “Get Me Away From Here, I’m Dying” off the album If You’re Feeling Sinister, released on Jeepster Records.

Glasgow, Scotland band formed in 1995 and have been consistently putting out records ever since. “If Your Feeling Sinister” is their second album, but their first to get any real acclaim. It still seems to be their most successful album. I just recently pulled this album out, and fell in love with it again. The album has a lovely simplicity and Stephen Murdoch’s lyrics are great, especially in these two songs. B&S’s can sometimes be a little hit or miss to me, but this album is solid all the way through.

Death Cab For Cutie – “We Laugh Indoors” and “Why You’d Want To Live Here” off the 2001 album The Photo Album, released on Barsuk Records.

Well everyone knows who these guys are now. Speaking of hit or miss, Death Cab’s songs definitely come across that way to me. But there good songs are not just good, but really good. Maybe they’ll come out with a consistently good album at some point. This album “The Photo Album,” has some of their most successful songs.

There you have it. Be sure to tune in next week! Yeah c’mon!