Being forced to listen to Christian music....

Skel · #1 06-21-2006, 12:17 PM

My wife is a born again Christian. I don't know if any of you guys can relate, but the first few years of this are pretty rough when you don't "get it" but the house is suddenly full of "God TV", "God radio", "The bible rewritten by this guy, that guy, church, scriptures on your refrigerator, etc.

One thing I have learned through this, is that there are some excellent musicians in contemporary Christian music (also some very bad ones). An artist named "Chris Tomlin" is one I hear a lot of and I've really learned a lot listening to his bass player, who is one of the best I've heard in any genre of modern music.

As a side note; I view the whole "God" thing like one of those optical illusions where there is a picture of a young girl but if you look at it a certain way, you see an old lady. Metaphorically, I just don't see the old lady yet.

SoulPatch · #2 06-21-2006, 12:24 PM

Chris Tomlin's bass player is Jesse Reeves, who also helps him in songwriting. You're right in your comment that there are some "good" and "not so good" players out there (no different than any other genre of music though).

I also like a guy named Nathan Cochran (from MercyMe) and the guy who plays bass for Todd Agnew (whose name escapes me right now ...). They both have pretty good chops.

blipndub · #3 06-21-2006, 12:25 PM

My girlfriend is a Christian and I am totally not, it creates some weird moments and some cultural differences, one of which is about music. She listens to Christian rock radio (but doesn't do the whole CBN thing fortunately). She stopped going to her church because they condemed unwed couples (like us) and I was kind of like, yup. So she feels like she gets her worship and connection through the music. Usually it's not any problem although someimes after she drives my car I have to change it back from "the spirit" to my NPR station. Frankly, I thought it would be harder than it's turned out so long as everyone keeps an open mind we seem to do okay most of the time. It's a weird thing tho. So fundemental, it's like a belief in God or not would really predicate a successful relationship but I guess it doesn't ineherently.

to be honest I've yet to hear anything that interests me, although I know there are many worship players here who get their groove on every week. so that's cool. maybe some of those cats could chip in with some cool bass christian music suggestions that I could share too.

Grueber · #4 06-21-2006, 12:38 PM

Adam Nitti plays for Steven Curtis Chapman

Philbiker · #5 06-21-2006, 01:20 PM

You have to discover Phil Keaggy. Bad to horrible lyrics, but if you can get past them the songwriting is very good, and the musiciansip is absolutely the best you'll ever hear.

FretFree · #6 06-21-2006, 01:24 PM

I totally have to reccomend David Crowder Band.

Lyrics are great... music is awesome. Mike D is the bassist. Solid. Nothing flashy.

NJL · #7 06-21-2006, 01:24 PM

I don't listen to Christian music, but I loooooooooove Gospel music.... especially with Andrew Gouche playing some grooves....

guy n. cognito · #8 06-21-2006, 01:26 PM

Have you guys into Christian music heard of Tree63? Their lead singer lives in the house behind me. According to my christian-music-listnening neighbor, they are very good.

Fawkes007 · #9 06-21-2006, 01:30 PM

My first gig playing bass was in a Catholic folk group. We used to play at 10am mass every Sunday. This was 30 years ago. Last I knew it was still going with one of the founding members. I haven't been to church voluntarily in years.

There are certain things I can tolerate in a relationship, others I cannot. As things in this country have gotten so polarized with regard to who believes in what, I find it difficult to be in a relationship with someone whom I do not share a philosophical foundation. I had a very charming girlfriend a year ago who seemingly had it all - until she claimed that Hurricane Katrina was God's wrath on New Orleans because of all the prostitution and gay people there. And she lives in Los Angeles.

Everyone has a right to their beliefs. What they don't have a right to is self righteous behavior or inflicting their way of life on others who don't share their views. Sorta like trying to bring democracy to the Middle East by force.

God of Rapture · #10 06-21-2006, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fawkes007

I had a very charming girlfriend a year ago who seemingly had it all - until she claimed that Hurricane Katrina was God's wrath on New Orleans because of all the prostitution and gay people there.

hahahahahahahahaha Christians are hilarious.

malicous · #11 06-21-2006, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blipndub

maybe some of those cats could chip in with some cool bass christian music suggestions that I could share too.

Some christians bands with bassists that I like are:

Robert Randolph and the family band
www.robertrandolph.net

Salvador
http://www.myspace.com/salvadorofficial

Ron Kenoly (with Abe Laboriel)
http://www.worshipmusic.com/33802.html

Jennifer Knap
http://www.grassrootsmusic.com/artist/knapp/knapp7

Todd Agnew
http://www.toddagnew.com/index.html

Some Christian bassists who have done solo projects that I like:

Norm Stockton
http://www.towerrecords.com/product....=Norm+Stockton

John Patitucci
http://www.johnpatitucci.com/flash/

Dominique Dipiazza
http://www.dominiquedipiazza.com/

Abraham Laborial
http://www.angelfire.com/music/world...110/audio.html

robd · #12 06-21-2006, 02:27 PM

Some Christian bands that rock.

http://www.radialangel.com

http://www.kentamplin.com

http://www.bridepub.com

http://www.gretchenland.com

Basshole · #13 06-21-2006, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skel

As a side note; I view the whole "God" thing like one of those optical illusions where there is a picture of a young girl but if you look at it a certain way, you see an old lady. Metaphorically, I just don't see the old lady yet.

Here...maybe this helps:

Skel · #14 06-21-2006, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basshole

Here...maybe this helps:

You are KILLING ME!!! Now there's a blessing from God....Beer!!

stew · #15 06-21-2006, 03:40 PM

Third Day is the best christian band out there. In my eyes. They rock

Trevorus · #16 06-21-2006, 04:04 PM

I really don't get into a whole lot of the praise bands too much. I don't like listening to a recording of it, but I like to experience and play it. As far as original Christian based music, there is a lot of good stuff out there in a lot of genres.

Skillet is one good band that I really like.

Crockettnj · #17 06-21-2006, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blipndub

my NPR station...

Admitting there is a problem is the first step.

Bassic83 · #18 06-21-2006, 04:50 PM

I really like Solomon's Wish. One of the few Christian bands that I can listen to. Most of the rest of the genre that I've heard sound very contrived. SW's vocals are killer, especially like the song "Learning to Fly". Someone on these boards plays with them, too, and we correspond some. So that helps, too.

Actually, that song was kind of my "theme song" for a while when my mom died and I was just starting my flying lessons. One of the first things they tell you when you start to fly is to neve start when you're going through a stressful situation. Mom's passing was definitely stressful, as was my job loss, and my divorce (all happened within a month or so!)

agreatheight · #19 06-21-2006, 04:54 PM

IMO, there seems to be a fine but distinct line between christian music and music made by christian artists. I don't generally care for christian music but I do enjoy music made by christian artists, especially King's X, Galactic Cowboys, Jar of Clay, Nural, etc. I'm not sure why, I suspect it's because christian bands put the message before the music and bands with christian artists put the music before the message.

srxplayer · #20 06-21-2006, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agreatheight

IMO, there seems to be a fine but distinct line between christian music and music made by christian artists. I don't generally care for christian music but I do enjoy music made by christian artists, especially King's X, Galactic Cowboys, Jar of Clay, Nural, etc. I'm not sure why, I suspect it's because christian bands put the message before the music and bands with christian artists put the music before the message.

I think you have a good point there.

I'm a Christian and listen to a lot of Christian music as well as play it. But the point that sometimes the message comes beofre the music I think is absolutely true. As most Christian artists tend to view what they do as ministry and not so much as entertainment or art. This has led to a lot of really bad songs and very "corny" stuff in my opinion. I hate playing some of it.

A case in point would be Rich Mullens. This guy was one of the people who ushered in the "rock" seen in Christian music. I think his stuff is some of the worst stuff out there. I'm almost embarrased when we have to play that stuff in church. But I have to look at it as being written for a pupose other than entertainment...I still don't like it.

15 years ago I think the talent pool was pretty shallow in Christian music. I think the talent pool is much deeper now.

A few of the Christian bands that I like:

Fono
Jars of Clay(older releases)
RelientK
Disciple
Telecast