Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music 1565636791, 2002008473

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ENCYCLOPEDIA of CONTEMPORARY

CHRISTIAN

ENCYCLOPEDIA

of CONTEMPORARY

CHRISTIAN

Mark Allan Powell

^ HENDRICKSON

rfcl

1

^

I

1

I'.

I

I

s

II

I

R

©

2002 by Mark Allan Powell Hendnckson Publishers, Inc. P.

0. Box 3473

Peabody, Massachusetts 01961-3473

ISBN 1-56563-679-1 All rights reserved.

No

portion of this book

may

be reproduced in any form or by any process or technique without

the written consent of the publisher, except for brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Printed in the United States of America

First Printing

— August 2002

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Powell,

Mark Allan, 1953-

Encyclopedia of contemporary Christian music p.

/

by Mark Allan Powell.

cm.

Includes bibliographical references

(p.

ISBN 1-56563-679-1 (alk. paper) 1. Contemporary Christian musicians ML102.C66 P68 2002

).

—Biography—Dictionaries.

782.25—dc21 2002008473

I.

Title.

For Melissa

"Preach the gospel. Use words only as necessary." Francis of Assisi

St.

"That which

too

is

silly

to say can always be sung."

Voltaire

"Why

should the devil have

the good music?"

all

Martin Luther

"The purpose of

all

music

J.

S.

"The medium Marshall

"Make something

religious,

is

to glorify God."

Bach

is

the message."

McLuhan

and you make

it

irrelevant."

Bob Dylan

"I

learned

more from

a three-minute record

than

I

ever did in school."

Bruce Springsteen

"We weren't

really sure

what

to do, but

to stop cussing in our songs

we

figured

it

would be good

and to sing about God."

Daniel Davison (of the hardcore band Luti-Knss, after the entire

"1

group got saved

an Assemblies of Cod church meeting)

we do isn't going to hit huge. That's and we don't want to change it."

understand that the kind of music This

is

what we

like,

Myk

"It's

at

not

like

these albums are

meant

Porter (of Six Feet Deep)

to be theological treatises. They're

Michael Roe

"Rock and

(of

The Seventy Sevens)

roll is ridiculous, if

Tony

"Just

gimmie

okay.

you think about

it."

Palacios (of Guardian)

a guitar, three chords,

Bono

(of

U2)

and the truth."

meant

to be fun."

Preface I

thought about being a rock

and

cess: 1) looks;

2) talent.

star.

figure

I

a less exotic career as a professor.

something

get

In fact, at

if

I

had

So one could say that

pay

me

to

I

see this

could have

sit

book

as

a

Lacking both,

a professor

and Laban deal

started as a bit of a scam,

listen to rock

making

it.

is

that

I

went

you

me and

suc-

into theology and landed

slave for six years

in the Bible, except

they don't

let

and then

you

sleep

a year off to pursue a special research project.

whole thing

this

around and

made

The one good thing about being

and

have to write the thing. Or one could view but

I

special called a sabbatical. It's like the Jacob

with two women. Instead, they give you

to

one point there were only two things standing between

either

it

roll for a year.

by which

Yeah, and

it

I

figured out

how

as a legitimate research project. Perhaps I'm just

worthy contribution

in

two

I

my school

could get

worked, too! Except that, eventually.

buying

areas: a) the history of popular music;

my own

and

I

did

hype,

b) the history

of Christianity.

My school whole than

probably has

little

interest in the first, but

enterprise, not just Christian rock) has

done

a lot

I

have. Let's face

more

for the

the theologians on the planet. This music has brought so

all

challenging, stimulating, involving, and inspiring

music was the second best of rock and

roll is a

all

God's

beautiful thing, and

sideration of the square pegs

contnbutions than

is

gifts,

it is

and misfits

them

behind theology

—rock and

roll

joy into so

(and by that

I

mean

the

in the last thirty-plus years

many

people's lives, while also

and remarkable ways. Martin Luther thought

— but then he'd never heard the Beatles. All I'm saying

my contention that who

much

in undefinable

it

good of humanity

is.

the history of rock cannot be understood without con-

They have made far more significant made some really, really fine music.

inhabit the pages of this book.

generally acknowledged. And, at times, they have

book as a work of church history. I doubt it will ever get catalogued The whole phenomenon that has given birth to an identifiable Christian music subculture/industry/empire is noteworthy. I think it is one of the more intriguing aspects of late-twentiethcentury American Christianity, and yet it remains largely unexamined. About five years ago, I wandered into a large Christian bookstore and was struck by the fact that almost a quarter of the floor space was given to music (cassettes CDs/etc). Intrigued, I asked the manager where their books on contemporary Christian music were. Books? thought there would be a section, or a shelf. No. Not a single volume. My professional instincts as a scholar were aroused if this stuff is so big, why isn't anyone writing about it? Of course, there are testimony type books sometimes written by the artists themselves, but why aren't the church's theological leaders more invested in what seems

As

for the second point,

in that section of

any

I

actually do view this

library,

but

it

should.

I

—

to have captured the attention of its people?

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC

8 »

Ah,

now we hit upon what really draws me to this subject, more so even than the points above. think what it for me was a letter from the head of one of this country's largest theological publishing companies. had I

clinched

I

phenomenon of contemporary Christian music summary and outline of what such a volume could entail. In

suggested a book on the

submitted a

of theological time and talent, and said. "Frankly

and Andrae Crouch are so important when

I

I

do not understand

(not necessarily to be written his reply, he indicated this

how you

can think that people

have never even heard of them." Well, here's

by me) and

seemed like

a

waste

Amy Grant

my response to that:

first, it

somewhat shocking that a major religious publishing house can be run by someone so out of touch as to have never even heard the names of two such prominent religious figures. But, second, it is simply astonishing that such a person would assume something cannot possibly be important if she or he does not know about it. I hate that kind of elitism. I regard the persons in this book as amateur theologians whose perspectives and insights on life and faith are every bit as valid as those of any Harvard professor or Rhodes scholar. That, I hope they realize, is why I approach their work in a critical vein. It is because take them seriously These are real people, attempting to is

I

articulate their experiences in the ceal.

They offer no

church and in the world, often with a vulnerability that scholars are trained to con-

no

feigned neutrality,

And

illusion of dispassionate inquiry.

it

lack the proper nuances of reflection or expression taught within the guild. Jesus

man. Only Paul was I

and he

a scholar,

generally the

is

most boring of the

in this book.

I

am

was

me

a carpenter,

that these poets

and

Peter, a fisher-

three.

write as an outsider, with whatever benefits and deficits that brings.

mentioned

does not bother

I

don't actually

know any

of the people

not part of the contemporary Christian music academy in any explicit way.

proached the book as a theologically-informed researcher and reporter

—as a journalist,

The

really.

folks at

I've ap-

CCA1 and

HM magazines were kind enough to open their libraries to me and to allow me access to a wealth of materials. Erick Nelson and Doug Van all,

Hendnckson

who got

one

read portions of the manuscript and offered valuable corrections and

and the commitment to see

project like this really the

Pelt

the job done. She

is

it

my

port and even encourage

me

in line

Why write sometimes,

a

book

when

my tribute

unconventional instincts

who

just

seems to be

granted

like this?

to

Because

when

faith that

who God

do

I

in fact sup-

will ultimately

people do splendid things, their deeds ought to be remembered. And,

and there

some people it

I

is

The

don't

better than

Hmmm.

.

.

.

Well,

know who have made I,

no doubt

one worthy of the inscription. This

volume

but

I

did the best

I

life

more meaningful and more pleasant

could and here

it is.

it

was what they suspect, but

Jesus, dear:

volume

isn't quite that,

to the

I

still

I

Everyone

will get

regard

it

I

for

know thinks

mu-

me.

this

A lot of

was some

back to doing something respectas the

most important person

but I'm getting older and

I

figure

in

most important thing

my life, hoping I'd

it's

my wife, Melissa, for whom my love and devotion is overwhelming, with all my heart, and all my soul, and all my mind — forever. to

categories are not

plenty of the splendid and the ridiculous in the pages that follow. So, this book

ever done. I've waited sixteen books to dedicate a

you and

the sabbatical and

—apparently out of a strong

kind of fluke or midlife prove-you're-still-hip project for me. and they hope

dedicate this

is

good person. Oh, and of course

people do ridiculous things, those things should be remembered as well.

people could have done

able soon.

me

a

and bring something useful out of the odd meandenngs.

tually exclusive, of course, is

of

through. To personify that acknowledgment, Shirley Decker-Lucke

an excellent editor and

should thank the good people at Trinity Lutheran Seminary

keep

comments. Most

Publishers deserves the praise of both church and society for having the insight to believe in a costly

the best if

I'll

I've

produce

ever do. So

not idolatrous.

I

It's just

Introduction This book provides alphabetical listings of artists associated with contemporary Christian music. For the time anywhere, an attempt

is

being

made

to present such data as personnel lists

and discographies

along with essays that provide biographical information and critical summaries of their work. haustive in

its

all

phenomenon

itself.

all

and greedy exploitation. You can trace the early gospel influences on some of rock and

now regarded

impressive

number

sionally brilliant Rolling Stone

that

we

and the

here in their earthly and spiritual glory. You'll read about miracles and scandals, about incredible

You can

explore the (sometimes temporary) midcareer detours of spiritual converts. of folk

fairly ex-

is

here: the saints, the pilgrims, the pious, the outcasts, the hypocrites, the prophets, the heretics,

martyrs: they're sacrifices

The book

treatment of performers associated with contemporary Christian music and, as such, provides a com-

prehensive treatment of the

They're

first

for these artists,

world at

as has-beens in the

of never-weres, folk

body

large,

find out

biggest stars or

roll's

what happened

to a lot

and you can also read about the incredible productivity of an

who have labored in obscurity for decades,

producing an impressive and occa-

of little-known material.

magazine

refers to

contemporary Christian music

are talking about a distinct

as "a parallel universe."

world analogous to the realm of popular music

Christian music encompasses a wide variety of styles and genres. There country. Christian folk, Christian

new wave,

is

That

in general.

label rightly indicates

Thus, contemporary

Christian rock, but there

also Christian

is

Christian punk, Christian death metal, Christian gangsta rap, and

everything else imaginable. But one should not think that these styles simply mirror the general market or that the Christian artists are just creating Christian versions of whatever

music world has an integrity of eties

its

own. Some

tend to develop in a manner that

stances (a capella groups, third

is

wave

artists are

more parallel

more

is

hot in the world at

creative

large. In general,

and original than others, but the

to the general market than simply reflective of

the Christian stylistic vari-

it.

few

In a

knowledgeable general market performers copping from them. Rolling Stone agrees: "The top Christian-pop aren't If

any more derivative than,

there

is

understandable, but

in general

is

30

artists

randomly

selected

from

Billboard's

one great misconception regarding contemporary Christian music

to a particular style or is

say,

is it

necessarily derivative

is

it

may

be that the music

is

Top 100

in a given

—aside from the idea that definitively religious.

artists

week." it is

limited

The perception

does not hold true: the divide between what gets called Christian music and popular music

not drawn with regard to what

rary Christian music

—

in-

have even been in the forefront, with

ska, rapcore) the Christian artists

is

religious

and what

completely secular and, of course, a

fair

is

secular.

amount

As

it

turns out, a great deal of contempo-

of general market popular music

is

at least

a

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC

I

)

tangentially religious. Christian music artists do not just sing about also write

and sing songs about romance and the day

God and church and

dog died and

their

how cool

their

car

is.

In quite a

stances (perhaps about 25%), the material labeled contemporary Christian and that labeled general market indistinguishable

—

if

the tapes got mixed

up or sent

ence. This, of course, begs the question as to

What

radio stations,

in-

would be

no one would ever know the

should be a parallel universe in the

Movie

Briggs (America's self-proclaimed Drive-In

"bad songs written about

God by white

which can be understood only

Critic)

differ-

first place.

once defined contemporary Christian music

people." We're going to adopt a

phenomenon's

in light of the

Contemporary Christian music came

historical

somewhat broader

development.

Andrae Crouch and the

movement

critically,

it is

and of

revival of

Disciples, Phil Keaggy,

Love Song, Barry McGuire, Larry Norman, and 2nd Chapter of Acts began singing songs about flected the character of that revival

as

definition in this book,

into existence as a recognizable entity during the Jesus

the late '60s and early 70s. Artists like Children of the Day,

and,

few

Contemporary Christian Music?

Is

Bob

Joe

wrong

to the

why there

They

Jesus and the Bible.

new

Jesus that

re-

own transformed lives. The music was called Jesus music back then now than at the time. The simplicity and, indeed, naivete of the songs

their

probably more appreciated

is inspiring. One would be hard-pressed to find another much about what they were doing as these young Jesus

can be charming, and the zeal with which they are delivered instance in popular music in which the performers cared as freaks.

Of course,

to be desired,

.

.

.

the production standards were terrible and the native talent of the artists sometimes

left

something

but these people really did believe their records were going to change the world, and that

thing difficult to capture in a studio. And, for hundreds of thousands of people, their records did change the fact

seldom noticed

most

oped out of rock and

then, did not develop out of traditional or southern gospel.

part completely ignorant of those forms (Crouch

roll,

as

young musicians who were

musical idiom available to them. But

popular music industry?

I

why

hundreds of Jesus music bands.

A

ists

had

all

If,

played very

many of them

ment want

revival

had

a

dark

to sign contracts

how

It

there were simply too

This

it is

racist,

with unbelievers,

(and of

spirit that

lest

much contemporary Christian music its

target audience,

it

"into" Jesus, the Christian music

weren't,

By

it

just doesn't

do the

failed to

from

it

devel-

own network, separate from the many of them. The revival produced

is

way

into the

Top

Forty, but

DJs were prepared

understandable apart from any prejudice against

to be black,

2) For all its joy

and

the Jesus move-

festivity,

encouraged isolationism and mistrust. The Jesus people didn't

they find themselves in the employ of the Antichrist.

to follow)

garner

this period

art-

mainstream radio stations would not have

but because in the general market, songs that celebrate the

music lacked widespread appeal apart from appreciation of so well with

their

subgroup are by definition exceptional.

an apocalyptic

Jesus music pio-

Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud,'' hundreds of African American

wonderful

— not because they were

side,

1)

full control.

it

following James Brown's "Say

special interests of a particular

The

an obvious exception). Rather,

excited about Christ began writing faith songs in the only

few token Jesus songs made

begun recording songs about

is

did these Jesus music stars form their

can think of three reasons:

only to sample the onslaught, not to give Christianity

some-

in either musical or ecclesiastical histories.

Contemporary Christian music, neers were for the

is

world—

was

much

its

3)

Most

of the

ideology. In this regard, the strength of Jesus music

also its weakness. Precisely because the

music connected

appreciation from those on the outside. For those

remains some of the greatest music of

all

who were who

time; but for those

trick.

spawned had developed into a multimillion-dollar Contemporary Christian music had its own magazines, radio stations, and award shows. The Jesus movement revival was over: some say it morphed into the Religious Right; others (including this author) contend that it the '80s, the special-interest network that Jesus music had

industry.

was devoured

(destroyed)

by that

aggressor. In

any

budgets and high production standards came into

case, the

play,

and

world of Christian music was

artists like

DeGarmo and

now less

Key,

beleaguered. Big

Amy Grant, Petra, and

INTRODUCTION

Stryper came to define Christian music

in radically different terms.

The whole

point, now,

from any particular

system. Often, these claims were true, and yet the music

belief

play within the general market.

I

seemed to be that the

music was just as good as anything the world could churn out and, indeed, could be appreciated on apart

I

still

its

own

did not get

merits

much

air-

Why not? The constant contention of the Christian artists was that this was due to a

censorship born of ideological bigotry: Christian artists were persecuted for their faith by being blacklisted from gen-

Many artists

market radio stations and record racks.

eral

recorded completely nonreligious songs (Grant

by "any

against playing music

The

policy

known

artist

reply: "Christianity

cool. It's as

some

off the record) that

is

not cool.

found they could not get past

still

they

I

still

have) unofficial policies

asked one such programmer the rationale for such a

people hear a Christian singer on our station, they will think we're not

way toward

simple as that." Such an attitude goes a long

temporary Christian music as a

when

impasse even

does) occur. Music industry personnel and station pro-

radio stations had (and sometimes

to be a Christian."

If

this

an obvious exception).

sometimes did (and

certain that such censorship

It is

grammers confirm (always

is

parallel universe, as

explaining the continued existence of con-

an entity that needs to

exist to grant a

forum

for artists

who are

otherwise denied participation in the music business for reasons having nothing to do with the quality of their work.

But there

is

more

to this censorship thing,

more

Christianity per se but, lot

of Christian music

is

and

legitimately, against

perceived this

It is

but also by the great majority of music fans (to

moment

for a

that the

think

(probably most) of the time, the bias

whom

way

is

not against

to co-opt the music field for promotional purposes.

A

—as an attempt by a special interest group to

not only by radio station programmers and music

critics

the programmers and critics are accountable). Let us imagine

Goodrubber Tire Company were

to put together a rock

band to promote

their products

—and

us assume that the band turned out to be one of the tightest, most competent, and indeed creative groups on the

My guess

scene.

airplay

But what

well.

is

on most

that

if

they

made

radio stations, even

if

a

whole album of songs

if

would be

there

a critical

if

they would get very

tires,

its

own

labels,

had been radicals and rebels

at the

very end?

tire

salesmen that would overshadow any ap-

more complicated. With the growth

of alternative rock

and the

viability of

marketing

many Christian artists rebelled against the stereotypes of their industry. Of course, there all along (T Bone Burnett, The Choir, Daniel Amos, LSU, the Seventy Sevens), but

these increased exponentially until

band

—we're not a Christian band.

"

it

became commonplace

What they usually meant was

umverse of the Christian music subculture it

song

tire

terms.

now

more

little

they were played exceptionally

— but probably not. Once news about the band got around,

and commercial backlash against the sneaky

on

In the '90s, things got a lot

through independent

far

Goodrubber

they made an album of secular party songs and love ballads, with only one

preciation of the music

work, but in

glorifying

the songs were very good songs and even

Wouldn't their non-tire songs get some airplay? Maybe

lel

much

perceived (rightly or wrongly) as propaganda

gain free advertising for their cause.

let

I

any attempt

didn't,

{ox ghetto as

it

was

"We are just Christians in a want to be confined to the paral-

to hear a group say,

that they did not

increasingly called). In a

few cases

this

seemed

to

and the we're-not-a-Chnstian-band groups ended up with few fans outside the Chris-

was often made between Christian performers who is of course arbitrary and flawed (the two need not be mutually exclusive), but discussion of the labels and categories helped some Christian music stars grapple with their identity crisis. Quite a few artists in this book make it clear that they view music as a means to an end. They view themselves primarily as ministers who merely use music as a medium for conveying evangelistic or edifytian

music scene. By the turn of the millennium,

pursue their music as ministry and those

ing messages to the world.

They are

Many

are simply artists creating

most true It is

who

as art.

The

distinction

others, however, insist that they

music that

is

true to

who

they

do not

are, but,

set

out to create Christian music at

all.

because they are Christians, the songs that

they are sometimes do end up revealing the faith that informs their

lives.

usually with regard to the latter artists that the whole parallel universe scheme comes off as unnecessary and

somewhat do not

to

a distinction

who view it

tragic. Artists like

at all

fit

the

tire

Adam Again, Mark Heard,

the Lost Dogs, Starflyer 59, and the Vigilantes of

Love

salesmen paradigm described above, but they have often suffered from a sort of guilt by associ-

ation that stereotypes of Christian music foist

upon them. Indeed, when someone does manage

to gain a foothold in

I

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC

2

»

each world, he or she often gets pegged as a crossover

Richer Soul

as Christian artists

are considered to be general

would be

overlap

fans

viewed

are

on both

a better

Bob

artist:

Jars of Clay,

MxPx,

P.O.D., and Sixpence

None

the

have crossed over into the general market, while Creed and Collective

artists

crossover.

who

Some

have crossed over into the Christian realm. But in either

artists

case,

simply have a broad enough appeal to earn and maintain

sides of the artificial divide.

"who

Seger)

First, as for

tian rock

market

word than

So matters of definition are to

who

to leave

word

the

music back

to the supposedly

in,

difficult

and confused.

in putting together this book,

contemporary: the term contemporary Christian music

in the

days

when many

term

I

had to decide (with apologies

for

was coined

as a

euphemism

for Chris-

Christians could not bring themselves to admit that they were listening

demonic sounds of rock and

(the politically correct

Still,

who to leave out." Which artists qualify as performers of contemporary Christian music?

roll.

what most people

one could (and probably should) be developed

Thus, by definition, the genre

still call

is

distinct

from traditional gospel

black gospel) and southern gospel. Books the size of this

for those genres as well, but only a smattering of traditional or south-

ern gospel artists appear here (cited mainly for their role as influences). Likewise, there

is

no discussion of Charlotte

Church's operatic renditions or of Paul Manz's organ fugues, though these would certainly have to be considered ex-

amples of contemporary Christian music in any

literal

sense of the phrase. We're talking about Christian pop music,

loosely defined.

The harder question is how one considers whether the music is Christian. The problem has vexed the Christian for some time as it grapples with such questions as "what records should be sold in Christian bookstores?"; "what songs should be eligible for Christian Dove awards?"; and so on. Two approaches to this problem have been proposed, neither of which works. I follow a third proposal (my own), which does. The first proposal is that Christian music be defined in terms of content, as music that deals in an obvious way music industry

with matters tion,

which

explicitly related to Christianity. This

in the late '90s

upon

stantially based

historically

God

expression of worship of

it

pretty

much

fit

song about a

orthodox Christian truth contained

much

the grade:

woman

who

one

is.

Why,

field. It

a definition

song about a

wanting her husband to

kiss her

woman

am

does not? Worst of

But one of the central claims of Christianity

by the notion that only the overtly

a Christian

is

lyric is sub-

Bible;

and/or an

God through Christ; and/

fraught with difficulties. For one

who

when

wasn't more the Son of

I

life, is

as a

a content definition (this

all,

compartmentalized

that the faith

actually believe

the cross than

when

is

holistic,

what

and

all

or

when

a

one or any

religious or spiritual as-

transforming the entire

Christianity teaches will claim

who they are as Christians and,

religious songs reflect this.

sleep or enjoy a bath, pull faces, eat dinner,

God when he was on

what might

regretting an abortion qualify as Christian

that everything they do (including every song they write or sing) reflects

"I

from the Holy

further encourages endless theological disputation as to

exactly, does a

being and affecting every thought and action. Christians

will be insulted

"music in any style whose

in or derived

eliminates the possibility of there being such a thing as Christian instrumental music, wiping

other) necessarily presents Christianity as merely a facet of one's

pect of

the official position of the Gospel Music Associa-

for gospel music:

or praise for his works; and/or testimony of relationship with

out a rather large subgenre of the

might not

pretty

prompted and informed by a Christian worldview." Such

or obviously thing,

is

adopted the following definition

As rock

critic

accordingly,

Steve Turner puts

it,

humans do. Jesus friends. He didn't have

the other things that

he ate and drank with his

Of course, many pundits would also note that the Gospel Music Association has never actually followed any standard similar to that which their stated definition was intended to describe. The Doobie Brothers and the Rolling Stones were never nominated for Dove awards for stellar material that would have met the criteria; other artists were presented with awards for songs that probably didn't (e.g., Michael W. Smith's A Place in This World"). A second suggestion is artist- or author-defined and holds simply that Christian music is music made by Christians. Of course, this would broaden things considerably, since a great many artists in the general market who are in thirty years of a secular

life

and then turn into someone

spiritual."

no way associated with the Christian music scene may actually be Christians. And a problem immediately arises as to whether it is the faith of the performer or of the composer that is to be determinative. If Michael McDonald, who is

INTRODUCTION

13 (

I

known to be a

Me" and Carly Simon

Christian, writes a nonreligious song like "You Belong to

sings

it. is

her version of

—

now to be considered an example of Christian music apart from any knowledge of her own faith stance? In any case, such a potentially broad definition may also run aground over quibbles as to just what qualifies an artist (or composer) as Christian. Anyone who has been baptized and who hasn't formally renounced the faith? Or only those who go to church regularly, or who show evidence of a vibrant relationship with Christ, or who espouse orthodox doctrine? And just who gets to make those determinations? Quite a few fundamentalists claim that Roman Catholics the song

book on contemporary Christian music that excludes John Michael Talbot

are not Christians, but a

And

thinkable.

then Harold Bloom, in his history of religion in America, claims that

all

is

pretty un-

the fundamentalists (including

Southern Baptists and Pentecostals) have actually separated themselves from historic Christianity and should be viewed as adherents of

another (gnostic)

religion. Personally,

I

What propose I

Such

is

that

we define contemporary Christian music

writing a book on

punk

rock,

I

would

punk rock fans

told

me

what people who

find out

among such

There would no doubt be squabbles

the band itself

call

music,

I

way we

define

themselves fans of punk rock

I

wouldn't

label,

but

someone

else

deserve the

really care

all

other genres.

if

if

If

I

were

like to listen fo.

large

numbers of

—even members of

— insisted that they weren't. The thing with labels we never get to choose them for ourselves. And —they only indicate some aspect of what some people is,

see.

is

had been hired by the Gospel Music Association to come up with

I

written or performed by Christians."

exactly the same

who did or didn't

fans as to

they considered a group to be punk,

such labels never describe everything that a person or group If

is

always audience-driven and are based unapologetically on perception, not content or intent.

labels are

show

think such distinctions are ludicrous, but they just go to

the problematic character of ever defining Christian music as "any music that

contemporary Christian

a definition for

would have proposed the following:

Contemporary Christian music

is

music that appeals to

self-identified fans of

contemporary Christian music on

account of a perceived connection to what they regard as Christianity.

So

that agency hasn't employed

far,

my services.

contemporary Christian music whatever sider to artist or

in the

seem to think that material by Christian

when

the genre even

music by

artists

and

whose personal

artists

ample of The

who

seem

itself.

of inclusion."

New Rolling

has to

I

said,

I

artists like

to deal

claim that they don't

qualify as legitimate rock

That

I

include in

my consideration

of

contemporary Christian music con-

know of no instance where at least one of those two facmay be. But most self-identified contemporary Christian music

music

faith convictions

times get put into the mix regardless.

leases.

purposes of this book,

self-identified fans of

I

Bruce Cockburn

or Cliff

the lyrics to the songs are not overtly religious or spiritual.

the songs themselves consistently cases,

for the

the genre. In actual fact, such perceptions seem to be based either on professions of Christian faith by the

on perceived Christian content

not present, and in the majority of cases, both

tors is

fans

fit

But

numbers of

large

On

and

submit that

roll acts.

it is

to be

known

borderline cases,

Stone Encyclopedia of Rock

Those

qualifies as belonging to

to put into the genre

remain unknown (Sounds of Blackness, Simple Minds)

with faith-oriented

want

Richard

They also tend

and

Roll,

There

as Christian

are, of course,

which faced

in the nature of Christianity to all

"it is

many

when

questionable

bands (Collective Soul, Creed) some-

where I'm not sure what

editors decided that

space limitations prevent consideration of

topics.

a similar

to do,

dilemma

in the nature of rock

I

have followed the ex-

in deciding

and

roll

which

to err

artists

on the

but a smattering of minor artists and independent

have tried to include enough of these to provide a representative sampling of what the Christian music

offer,

but for the most part only those

artists

who

side

do the same.

have received considerable media exposure receive

re-

field

listings.

How This Book Was Written This volume

which

I

is

the result of about seven years of research, including a year and a half of full-time

took a sabbatical from

my

regular job

and employed

a

number

of student assistants.

The

first

work during thing

we

did

1

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC

4

>

was gather an enormous data bank of material from media associated with Christian music. Every article, review, or news reference from all issues of the following periodicals was copied and filed by artist name: •

•

CCM (formerly Contemporary Christian Music), began publishing The CCM Update, began publishing 1987.

1978.

began publishing 1971.

•

Cornerstone,

•

Harmony, began publishing 1975; ceased 1977.

•

HM (formerly Heaven's Metal), began publishing 1985.

•

Release,

began publishing 1990.

•

7b all, began publishing 1995.

•

Shout,

•

True Tunes

•

Visions of Gray,

began publishing 1995; ceased 1996. News, began publishing 1989; switched to electronic format 1995.

began publishing 1996; ceased 2001.

Other periodicals and underground newspapers (including The Activist, Cutting Edge, Harvest Rock Free Paper, Notebored, Renaissance, Right On!,

The

and The

Truth)

Syndicate, Hollywood

were accessed to the extent that copies could be obtained.

archives of the following electronic publications were also plundered mercilessly, with every page of the on-

line materials

being printed and added to the

No

files:

•

Bandoppler (www.bandoppler.com).

•

Christian Music (www.christianmusic.com)

•

Christian

Music at about.com (http://christianmusic.about.com)

•

Christian

Music Review Headauarters (www.christianmusic.org)

•

CMCentral (www.cmcentral.com)

•

Gospel City (www.gospelcity.com)

•

Gospel Flava (www.gospelflava.com)

longer active.

•

Jesus Freak Hideout (www.jesusfreakhideout.com)

•

Jesus Music (www.one-way.org/jesusmusic)

•

The Lighthouse Electronic Magazine (www.tlem.org).

•

Musicforce (www.musicforce.com)

•

The Phantom Tollbooth (www.tollbooth.org)

•

Real Magazine (www.realmagazine.com)

•

Solid Rock Radio (www.solidrockradio.com)

•

True Tunes

•

TSRocks (www.tsrocks.com)

entries for the

volume

are based largely

longer active.

artist or label websites.

on material drawn from these

vided in the packaging of the recordings themselves

companies and

No

(www.truetunes.com)

To these were added printouts from individual

The

interview,

artist

management

firms

(e.g.,

(e.g., liner

press releases),

notes,

and

in

album

some

sources, in addition to information procovers), information provided

by record

cases information provided through direct

contact with the artists or with persons close to them. Information for the discographies and personnel

lists

was

typi-

INTRODUCTION

15 1

i

cally obtained the old-fashioned

data

on an item-by-item

basis.

way, by sifting through enormous

Both

pose. Information for the critical essays tended to be

tant to note that

Some

I

and CDs and copying the

piles of records, tapes,

HM and CCM magazines made their music libraries available to me for this purdrawn from the

files

though

of periodical literature,

it is

impor-

have personally listened to about eighty-five percent of the albums discussed in this book.

more

of these sources, of course, are

Where

conflicting reports.

significant information

is

I

have erred,

lacking.

While

reliable

would

I

it is

I

have had to make judgment

calls

with regard to

my sources

have

failed

be corrected. At times,

all

of

embarrassing to admit to such ignorance,

complete entries than to omit completely those

would appreciate hearing from readers who

than others.

like to

artists for

are able to

fill

whom my

knowledge

it

me. and

seems better to include than

is less

in-

satisfying. Again,

I

such gaps.

Key to the Entries The

•

listings

may include

the following elements, in order:

Name two types: soloists and groups. Soloists are alphabetized by the first letter of their last name (Geoff Moore under M). Groups are alphabetized by the first letter of the first key word in their name (The Waiting under W). When the name of an individual and a group are combined, the listing is usually found under the last name of the individual (Andrae Crouch and the Disciples under C). Numerals are treated as though they were

Artists are of

Him

spelled out (4

•

under F-O-U-R).

Personnel For groups, a

of personnel

list

is

offered, indicating

will indicate additional contributors bgv.

names

of

members and

who are not named. The

—background vocals; DJ—disc jockey; —dulcimer; —mandolin; — percussion; — trombone; trump. — trumpet; voc—

prog.

perc.

thesizers; tromb. lease)

is

given

followed by a double slash

(//).

original lineup of the

which personnel perform

projects (ignoring compilations of previously released material

bums

in 1983, 1984,

not read is

•

(- 1

no longer

983)

and 1985 and one member

group (on their

first re-

1984)

N.B.: departure

first

album was

—the date of the

first

and addition

group members on which

and other such anomalies).

1983 after the

(-

(-).

as official

If

a

group released

al-

released, the notation will

release

on which the person

member.

Discography

A relatively complete listed

tive

discography of the

artist's significant

recordings usually follows.

products were released can be assumed to remain the same until a

who are known

•

left in

—the actual date of departure—but

listed as a

al.

ace.

After the double slash, changes in personnel are noted in

chronological order. Parenthetical dates indicate additions (+) and departures dates are geared to the discography, indicating

roles in the band. Et

—accordion; —electronics; gfr.—guitar; harm. — harmonica; — programming; sax.— saxophone; f their

"a really

on the

fulfilling

and rob people

dreams. Burnett himself would describe "The '60s" as

good song about the

'80s":

part of a generation that

the bad" and "destroy

all

it

explores the loss of ideals

somehow managed

the good."

to "keep

all

CCM selected Proof through

T Bone

24

the

Burnett

Night as one of

placing

its

"Ten Best Christian Albums of 1983."

Number Three behind works by U2 and Donna

at

it

Summer (?!). The self-titled follow-up album is comparatively scaled back, displaying Burnett's penchant for heartfelt country-folk songs.

Outstanding tracks include

Tom

a cover of

Wait's "Time" and the opening song, "River of Love"; the

tune seems to

frain of the latter

two songs

the

tie

"There's a river of love that runs through

Daughter"

watch over the

artist's child

while he

he would marry in 1990. But

The Talking Animals

(a

first

"Sam"

Phillips,

own

he released his

year after The Turning and the same year

Wow). The album

as Phillips' The Indescribable

and

time"). "Little

away. Around this time

is

Burnett produced The Turning for Leslie

whom

all

together:

on God's angels to

a touching lullaby that calls

is

re-

is

more

literary

personal than previous projects. "The Wild Truth"

less

Roman

quotes almost verbatim from

Thomas Merton. "The with Tonio K.)

is

a

Catholic theologian

Strange Case of Frank Cash" (cowritten

postmodern experiment

in poetry in

which

who has U2 (who

the character in the song rebels against the songwriter created him. "Purple Heart"

cowrote

it)

sung with Bono of

is

and deals with the whole irony of persons reveling

what were supposed Commercially Burnett's work

in acclaim for

successful than his

own

to have been sacrificial acts. as a producer

recording projects.

He

was

far

more

himself has de-

scribed Proof through the Night and 1988's The Talking Animals as

Sam

"calculated and pretentious." His wife

comes to foot."

his

own

work, he

For The Criminal under

Grammy nomination). and created

says,

"When

it

prone to shooting himself in the

is

My

Hat (which received

a

Burnett used Neuwirth as a coproducer

a spartan, intimate

sound that connected with au-

love and faith but not sickening, mindless religion."

The words

"The power

of love can

to

"The Power of Love" exemplify

make weak

a gangster cry /

Make

/

hero afraid

News song by

/

Make

else

/

coward brave

/

live."

all

Most

know

T

of

that he

is

a Christian

life

make doubters out

without worrying about a wider

"Humans from

perhaps the album's theme.

mark quirky

lyrics, as

a sad song about dealing

long time

till

run through

I'm over you"). "I

Can

is

Earth" offers trade-

the titular characters are portrayed as

real-estate kingpins seeking to is

sales market.

song displays winsome self-incrimination, which

buy up the

universe. "Over You"

with heartbreak ("Going to be Political

a

and philosophical views

CCM

"my

ministry

mation

at age eleven as a

late 70s,

profound

spiritual experience. In the

The Alpha Band, he experelationship with God. He is usually

about the time he formed

rienced a deepening of his

credited with having an influence

on Dylan's adoption cf evan-

gelical Christianity in 1979. Spiritual

matters are often ad-

dressed in Burnett's songs, though he relies points of universal in

ways

human

on broad entry

experience to speak of such things

that will not alienate his mostly secular audience.

one mainstream reporter put

it.

the songs are

"full

As

of hope and

his

is

to

world

at

of unbelievers."

Comfortable being

a Christian let loose in the

Burnett has always seemed to be

less

than comfortable

with the contemporary Christian music subculture (and especially its

attendant industry). In the early '80s he wrote a series

CCM

of guest editorials for

magazine, but his connections

with the Christian music industry faded over time. As early 1983. he allowed that he "personally dislikes

much

as

of today's

Christian music" and complained about the attempts to turn spirituality into

Jesus don't to hear

it

an industry. "People

want

to hear

it

on the

from someone they

sonal thing.

I

know and

don't think the radio

has been similarly

critical of

who want

to

radio," he said.

is

know

about

"They want

trust. It's a

very per-

the proper medium."

He

narrowly-defined, experiential

born-again Christianity, which he describes as becoming "kind of like a cult," upholding instead the

more

historic traditions of less af-

by the American personalization of the gospel: "The

Episcopal Church, they give you the whole gospel every time

you go

in.

You hear

it all

every Sunday."

In 1980, Burnett told

the world, there are

LA.

two kinds

Weekly, "If Jesus

of songs

you can

is

the Light of

write.

You can

write songs about the Light, or you can write songs about

what you can see from the Light." This partially perceptive statement would become one of the most quoted comments in the contemporary Christian music

Explain Everything" and "Primitives."

Burnett was raised an Episcopalian and speaks of his confir-

this

and they allow him

fected

title

see /

within the framework of

The album almost seems The

a

Ever so

Bone's fans probably don't think

churches that weren't born in America and have been

cult following,

a

Is

diences better than anything since Truth Decay and Trap Door). to have been released for his devoted

is

Make

man

a skeptic believe."

experience. Burnett once told

large,

a

Make a dead man

Make

(even expect him) to speak of

own

the same name, but there

miser give

to his knees /

Christian music?

but they

man

from the Huey

can the power of love do? "Make a blind

man

Bring a

a

different

a strong

imagery and gospel promises are introduced.

gently, biblical

so,

Not too

"The power of love can make

twist:

Make

a loser try /

a bigot meek."

Lewis and the

What

Make

this:

field.

Eventually Burnett

(and his wife) would realize that one can even write songs

about what they

still

can't see, even

case Burnett has rarely

drawn on

with the

Light.

But in any

his Christian faith to

com-

pose songs that are explicitly about Christ or God; instead he has sought to focus on in this

world.

would expect

Some to find

how he

(as a Christian) experiences life

of his songs, at least, are not

on an album

"Pretty Girls" from Truth Decay states his preciation for Texas

what one

sold at Christian bookstores.

women. "Having

a

somewhat

lustful ap-

Wonderful Time, Wish

You Were Her" (written with U2's Bono)

offers a splendid par-

—

—

"

— Bushbaby

ody on country western tian artists

would

titles

articulate.

— but again not one most Chris-

"I

think

it is

dehumanizing to be

operates Mike Burris Ministries (and also

"A lot of 'Christian artists'

make

seem

it

as

though

all

they do

is

They give the impression that game or play with the dog. That's

they never go to a baseball

Wendel Burton 1978— Wendel (Lamb and 1985

Closer,

demeaning." Burnett has described himself as "a

in

song

"I

Can

which he despairs of

ploring his listeners to

Explain Everything" (on Criminal),

politicians

"throw

all

and media preachers, im-

of these liars off television."

In 1997 Burnett wrote the music for a called Tooth cf

It

was reported by

play

Rolling

2001 that he was planning to release a soundtrack

in

album

Crime (Second Dance).

Sam Shepard

for this play, in addition to

Grammy Awards:

— Sh/nm' through

Inspirational singer Wendell Burton

Oklahoma, then moved

Sonoma

the Rain;

1983—

raised in Texas

and

where he attended

State and San Francisco State College. His talent for

Cood Man,

Oh Dad,

Charlie Brown) landed

male lead opposite Liza Minnelli Cuckoo. She

won

film Fortune

him

Dad and

Poor

memorable

a

You're a

role as the

1969 movie The

in the

an Academy award and

Sterile

his part as "a naive

He

also highly acclaimed.

triumph by starring

cal

was

California

to

musical theater (lead roles in

young man" was

another solo album.

2001 Producer of the Year.

1979

Lion);

Heart of Eternity.

angry

less

Bruce Cockburn." Occasionally the modifier becomes unneceshis

of Bro-

ken Arrow. Oklahoma.

read the Bible and go to church.

on

CDs) out

25

Burnett once told The Door magazine.

called a Christian artist."

sary, as

sells

1

followed this

criti-

in the universally deplored exploitation

and Man's

man who

about a naive young

Eyes,

goes to prison and becomes the sexual slave of a convict to

Kim 1

994

Burrell Try

Me Again

avoid being gang raped by everyone

(Pearl);

1

998— Everlasting

tife

(Tommy

was

Boy).

took him to India,

www.kimburrell.com

his first

Husky-voiced singer traditional gospel

Kim

Burrell bears well the legacy of

from which she comes, but she has invigo-

rated that tradition

with jazz fusions that hearken back to

Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald.

composes most of her

also

released

on

a small

own

A proficient

material.

songwriter, she first

album was

Texas label and did not see widespread

tribution, but Everlasting Life

became

dis-

a national hit in the gos-

T Come to You More Than Give" is a song about and the human propensity to come to God most often

pel market.

prayer

Her

I

when one wants

to ask for something. Gospel flava

magazine

says Burrell possesses "one of the preeminent voices in gospel

today" and predicts that her

make her

"the

first

umque

gospel diva of the

"jazz gospel"

new

sound

will

millennium."

else.

Burton had embarked on

released.

By the time the

film

a spiritual quest that

song "Guru" from

a trek referenced in the

album. After sampling what various religions have to

he settled on just believing in Jesus Christ as his personal

offer,

Lord and Savior. Pat Boone's fect outlet for his

Lamb and

with the easy listening formula country tunes

Lion label

was the

per-

Boone-ish Christian recordings. Closer breaks

("Just Like You."

slightly to offer a couple of

"Only Be Strong") and the

jazz-

tinged "Spreading All Over the World." Heart cf Eternity offers

"Lonely Boy in Kansas," a compelling autobiographical ber,

and "Benediction."

num-

haunting praise song. In 1980. Burton

a

TV

returned to acting for a

remake of the film East of Eden which is rich in biblical im-

(based on the John Steinbeck novel,

Other acting

agery).

movie

credits include

Badge of Courage, Co Ask

TV appearances on Dr.

Alice,

roles in The

Red

and Jcumev from Darkness, and

Kildare, Love

American

Style,

The Rookies,

and Medical Center

Mike Burris

—

1996

It's

Christian radio

(# 22

About Time (Fisherman's Blues).

Is"

New

1

(#40

hits;

"Brand

New

980); "Spreading All in

Life" (# 14 in

1978); "It's

Over the World" (# 9 1

in

1

Your Love"

984);

"Who He

1984).

England balladeer Mike Burris has released one inde-

pendent album that attracted the attention of The Lighthouse electronic magazine.

A

mont. Burns makes his

1994 graduate of the University of Ver-

home

in that state

and sings

at colleges

and coffeehouses around the country. His music consists of acoustic

in

midtempo songs with an emphasis on

may appeal

to fans of

David Wilcox

or

John Gorka. The song "Mrs. Wisdom" was written in appreciation of his

mother and demonstrates

his ability to "use

and humor to convey the profound." Apparently Burris bears

candor

this

no relationship to the evangelist of that name

Mike

who

gtr.;

Man

Sims, voc. bass. 1999

Medicine (Massive Groove).

Bushbaby, a melodic metal band from the United Kingdom,

storytelling.

The Lighthouse describes his voice as a "gruff but pleasing tenor

and suggests his music

Bushbaby Kev. Bonnet, drums; Ben James, voc,

was formerly known pler

as

magazine to thank

Gethsemane Rose. They have Bandop-

of American audiences (and ing

it

CD to the attention M8 Distribution to thank for mak-

for bringing their

available to them).

The album

is

billed as

being by a

"heavy groove band" similar to Creed or Days of the New. Bandoppler thinks the group

is

better than that, an

immaculate

I

26

Chuck Butler

)

Euro-pop band that performs songs with "shimmering hooks.

and smart

jubilant melodies,

pop songs have and then lections

in

a

lyrics."

grunge/metal undercurrent that erupts

moments

now

of uncontrolled distortion. Favorite se-

"Candlestick Cradle,"

include

gy the Tree

Admittedly, the basically

"Coffee,"

Aaron Blanton, drums; Chuck Dennie, voc,

^ br± 200

"Heaven,"

"Monsters," "Space Corps 2000," and "Scotland Yard."

,nvode

'

By the

Tree

is

gtr.;

Kevin Rhoads, voc,

gtr.,

M Y Soul (Fervent).

a Christian

modern rock band from

Nashville

that labored in indie obscurity for a time before producing a successful label release in 2001.

The group has been

stereo-

typed as a praise and worship band due to the vertical orienta-

Chlick Butler

t'

on °^ tne

'

r

ly r ' cs

>

but they have a sound comparable to

general market acts like Train and Tonic. Invade

oun

ry

ai .

My Soul placed

songs on Christian radio and found an audience despite the fact that

it

was generally ignored and unreviewed by the ChrisChuck Dennie says, "I want to defeat the

tian media. Singer

Barry

Bynum

See Liberation Suite.

idea that Christian bands are inferior to Christian radio

hits:

"Reveal" (# 18

in

2001).

mainstream bands."

—

—

Patty Cabrera 1991

—

target the Hispanic market. In 1996 Cabrera

Potty Cabrera (DaySpring);

1996

People

Always and Forever (Curb).

magazine

World." She Latin pop singer Patty Cabrera sic's

A

answer to Gloria Estefan.

Seventh-day Adventist and made her

California

still

(cf.

is

Christian

first-generation

a

first

album

mu-

American

and Cuban descent, Cabrera was

of Puerto-Rican

music while

1968)

(b.

raised a

of Christian

student at La Sierra University in Northern

Big Face Grace). She was discovered by

a

Word

is

was

featured in

one of the "50 Most Beautiful People

as

who was

married to Haley Barbour,

in the

once the

Chairman of the Republican National Committee. In 1996 she was invited to sing the national anthem at the Republican National Convention.

For trivia buffs:

A

successful basketball player, Cabrera

on the courts

sufficiently gifted

is

to have once been considered

on the women's United States Olympic team.

for a spot

executive while singing in chapel and recorded a self-titled

debut album that includes several pop ballads ("Until along with the salsa-dance

number "Get on Back

the traditional gospel-influenced later

say that she had

deed, she

River."

to

do with her debut album's prothe requested vocal tracks. In-

would maintain that she did not

close relationship

with God

much more

really

come

into a

until 1994, during the period be-

tween her two contemporary Christian

releases.

She was

involved in the making of her second album,

much former member

rewriting six of the ten tracks and giving the project a

more Hispanic

feel stylistically.

Jon Secada, a

Miami Sound Machine, contributed the song "I Hear Love." and the entire album of mostly danceable pop tunes is augmented by that group's rhythm section and by Michael Jackson's horns. The song "Family" is notable for its inclusion of a Latin rap interlude. "Take It Away" is a heartfelt ballad presenting Jesus as one who takes away loneliness, pain,

of Estefan's

and

despair.

A

remixed, extra-spicy version of Always and For-

ever titled Siempre y Para Siempre

was

Child" (#

1

9

in

Forever" (#21

hits: 1

99

in

1

"Until );

Now"

(# 7

in

1991);

"Get on Back to Love" (#

"Way 1

2

in

I

for the

Wayward

992); "Always and

1996).

Cabrera would

down

little

duction besides laying

"The

Now")

to Love" and

Christian radio

also released

by Curb to

Cade Jody Cade, voc; Jonna Cade, voc. 1999

The two

sisters

Cade produced

Cade

who make up

(Lajolla).

the San Diego rock group

a self-titled independent project that their press

release describes as "highly melodic,

sometimes edgy" Jesus

Freak Hideout thinks the group strives for the middle ground

between Point of Grace and Rachel Rachel. Avoiding the sweetness of the former

act.

they strive to emphasize the latter

half of the pop-rock label under

which

Standout tracks include "Haven't

I

their

album

is

marketed.

Seen You" and "Drowning."

Cadet Chad Basom, drums; Jason Kennedy, Cadet (BEC).

bass;

Ryan Smith, voc,

gtr.

2001

—

— Caedmon's

128

Cadet

is

Call

pop group that came together

a Christian

gon State University, where Ryan Smith was for the local chapter of

a

Campus Crusade

album has

at Ore-

worship leader

The

for Christ.

based in Houston, Caedmon's Call was formed at Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, Texas, in 1992.

A

good part of

sound derives from creative uses of percussion

their distinctive

sound similar to that of

and from the employment of three different vocalists (two of

the general market band Weezer, with certain songs betraying

whom eventually married). Aaron Tate serves as their principal

group's self-titled debut

a

strong influences of Teenage Fanclub ("The Girl," "Dream"). As

songwriter and

with those groups. Cadet seeks to play modern rock with

group's

retro

on "Precious One"; the Beach Boys on

references (the Beatles

"God-Man"). They even perform a punk version of Neil Dia-

mond's "I'm

a Believer" that bears little resemblance to the

made famous by The Monkees (or to the 2001 remake by Smash Mouth). Cadet has a penchant for naive lyrics that toe the line between quirky and dumb: "Jesus Is my Super

something of an unofficial member. The

is

from an old church tradition about

derives

monk named Caedmon who was

seventh-century

writer of religious poetry.

Caedmon loved

a

a prolific

and according

to sing,

to one story, he heard God's voice one day calling for a song.

rendition

Hero," Smith sings on "God-Man." But "Beyond" and "Land of

name

The group's eponymous album mixes some from

hits

of the greatest

new

independent releases with a handful of

their

songs. Early breakout tunes like "Look of Love," "Bus Driver,"

and "Stupid Kid" (with an R.E.M.-inspired

the Living" are worship-oriented with a more serious stance. In instant favorites, while

many

electric vibe)

were

of the other songs are ones that

2001 the band recorded an entire album of praise and worship songs that It

BEC mismarketed under the name Any Given Day. s "The Happy Song," some

includes a cover of Delirious?

Vineyard

classics ("I Will Lift

and a handful of even more praise series ("Father

"He Reigns,"

I

up

My Eyes,"

"Father of Lights"),

tunes from Maranatha's

classic

Adore You/More Precious Than

Silver,"

"As the Deer").

grow on

take a bit longer to

"Center Aisle" explores

listeners.

the sadness and confusion that follows a teenage suicide. "This

World" seems to discuss the paradox of living as "strangers and aliens" in a non-Christian

environment (though notably Tate

about "the world" of contemporary Christian

says he wrote

it

music and

attendant subculture): "This world has nothing

its

me / And this world has everything / All that could want / And nothing that need." The album also features a cover of Rich Mullins "Hope to Carry On." An enhanced CD-Rom for

Caedmon's Todd

Call

Bragg, drums; Garett Buell, perc; Cliff Young, voc, gtr.; Danielle

Glenn Young, voc; Derek Webb, voc,

Aric Nitzberg, bass (-2000)

gtr.;

Randy Holsapple, kybrd. (+ 1999, -2000);

//

bass (+ 2000); Josh

Jeff Miller,

Moore, kybrd. (+ 2000). 1995—just Don't Want Coffee (independent);

1996— My Calmly our

Storm;

Acres (Essential); 2000

— Long

gels:

A

1

997—Caedmon's

Call

Line of Leavers; 2001

(Warner); In

the

1

999 —40

called Intimate Portrait

from

self-titled

The next major

album by Caedmon's

memory. The group had already

Call's

was one

of

sold 25,000 copies of their pri-

vately distributed independent albums.

campus

college

They had become

by Warner

as a spin-off

songs, three alternative

label release,

40

Acres, presents a

more

live

The

record

met

all

expectations

(with more than a quarter of a million

generally well received by critics

much-hyped bands).

Like

sales)

(who often

like

Shawn new songs.

On"

Colvin's "Climb

and offer ten wholly original

"There You Go" kicks

things off with a delightful sound borrowed from '60s-era Brit-

pop and with

lyrics extolling the surprising grace of

"There you go, working good from

a fa-

and Musician Magazine

circuit,

making robes from

my

rags."

my

The next

bad

God:

There you go

/

song, "Thankful," con-

(a

had voted them one of America's Best Un-

signed Bands in 1996. cially

new

concerts. This time they cover

ish

secular publication)

released

takes (a banjo version of "Bus Driver"), plus interviews and

Christian music's most-anticipated debut releases in recent

on the

was

album, featuring two

sound, similar to that which the group had created in their

www.caedmons-call.com

vorite

this

videos.

Company of An-

Call to Worship.

The 1997

I

I

commerand was to trash

Burlap to Cashmere (whose debut

tinues in the accessible vein with a catchy guitar-driven melody. But again, a

number

require close, careful, rified

of the songs

on 40 Acres

and probably repeated

are ones that

listening. "Pet-

Heart" takes the biblical imagery of the Levite's concu-

bine being cut for the twelve tribes of Israel (Judges 19) and

body being broken. "Shifting Sand"

with Squint both suffered and benefitted from similar propa-

applies

ganda). Caedmon's Call has a truly alternative eclectic sound

presses the difficulty of maintaining faith.

that leaves reviewers scrambling for comparisons. All of the

song, Tate says,

following acts have been referenced in analogies: America;

woke up every morning believing in him completely but when we're writing, we have to tell the truth." The song

Crosby,

Stills

and Nash; the Grateful Dead;

Purple Sage; and, of course. Burlap to

magazine touted them

as a

New Riders

of the

Cashmere. Campus

Life

humorless Barenaked Ladies (the

"humorless" part was intended as a compliment).

Though

that

it

to Christ's

wish that

I

found believing

in

God

"Where

ex-

to the

easy and

I

.

I

Began" deals with inability to escape God, with

cal references to

lost

"I

With regard

sheep (Luke

Jonah and to the parables of the 15).

lost coin

.

.

lyri-

and

— 129

Shirley Caesar

Without straying too

from

far

new

its

out a few

tries

more reminiscent of groups

tricks

My Life"

horn section, and "Mistake of

is

an alterna-pop song

like Everclear

than anything the

group had done before. The album also includes

a cover of

John Michael Talbot's "Prepare Ye the Way," one of Cliff Young's favorite songs from his youth group days. Most impressive, perhaps,

Danielle

Young

"Masquerade." a jazz-infused tune that

is

sings in a

new-found smoky voice

'40s torch ballad. Critics also singled

which Webb adopts emotional

raw vocal

a

lyrics that recall the

style,

Is

Bob Dylan's

Different"

is

of San Francisco"

Caedmon: happy

definitive

were

if it

a

appropriate for caustic

country shuffle and "Dance" is

as

out "What You Want." on

sentiment of

Me. Babe." Otherwise. "Love

Ain't

is

"It

a bit of a

jazz/country hybrid. "Ballad

a

or sappy,

funky

and fun. complete with whistling. In 2001 the group released

a

worship album, mixing original songs with traditional hymns

by

Isaac

Watts

("I

Boast

More," "Laden With Guilt"). The

Company

highlights of In the

Kemper Crabb

No

classics

two

of Angels are the revival of

("The Danse," "Warrior"). The group

Rich Mullins song ("Oh

also offers a previously unreleased

Widely known as "the

trademark sound. Caed-

on Long Line of Leavers: the bouncy, opening song ("The Only One") is sustained by a

mon's Call

Lord Your Love").

is

than with the contemporary Christian

variety,

and distinctive contributions earn her

at least a

book dedicated

1958 became lead singer

Call resisted

their peace

identification

with being (in

—which

is

where the future of Christian

who

ing for one

absent.

is

And

"Bus Driver"

about ending

man

about a

is

a

long-

drives a bus.

"Coming Home" (# in "There You Go" (# for 2 weeks in in

1

997);

I

1

I

"Where Began" I

Me Wrong"

(# 18

(# 10

in

in

in

997); "This

"Who You

to Carry

World" (# 2

1999); "Thankful" (# 4

2000); "The Only

2001);

"Hope

1997);

One"

Are" (# 8

(# 17 in

in

in in

1

On" 998);

1999);

2001); "Prove

male gospel singer to win version of Ocean's 1971

and

in

group The Caravans

1966 and became one of

a

hit,

Grammy award Hand

"Put Your

black

first

fe-

1972 for her

(in

in the

Hand"), and

she has been instrumental in bringing the traditional gospel

sound to broader,

A

interracial audiences.

Washington Post once said, "Shirley Caesar

reviewer for The

one of the greatest

is

singers of our time. She can twist, compress,

and enhance

a

dozen ways without abandoning her central message of

lyric a

affirmation

"

Caesar

especially noted for her vocal style, ac-

is

cording to which she often shouts lyrics in order to emphasize particular aspects of a song's message. Caesar graduated

Shaw

from

University in 1984 with a degree in Business Adminis-

and has since become the pastor of

tration

a

church

in

Caesar's Rejoice album features a rendition of

— The

called

"I

Love You,

an especially

ment

of

Momma. "Jesus,

most

critics)

I

Christmas/ng (Word); 1988

Live in

Chicago (Re-

Mama (Word); 1993— Stand St/I/ (Word); 995— He Will Come (Word); 996—/ust a Word (Sony); 997—A Miracle in Harlem (Word); 2000— You Can Make (Myrrh); 2001— Hymns. 1989—/ Remember

1

Love Callin' Your

move away from

ward adult pop-R&B sounds.

traditional gospel to-

continues in that vein

Sailin'

with more success. Alongside the Leon Huff/Kenny Gamble ballad

"The Peace of God," Caesar

the Morning" and offers a

"Martin"

(a

title

Leon

Patillo

>

"Star of

Camp

s

and Russ Taff

s

Steve

Celebration features

track.

tribute to

sings

memorable duet with Al Green on

Martin Luther King

Jr.)

moved back into the traditional gospel market where she has continued to make her biggest mark. A Miracle in Harlem was recorded live and in"We

Will Stand." After Celebration, Caesar

acle."

own

You Can

composition. "You're Next in Line for a Mir-

Make

(her thirty-fifth

It

album) features the

Jesus, Reign."

Caesar performed on Broadway, was featured on the Whit-

1977—first Lody (Hob); 1981—Go (Word); 1980— Rejoice (Myrrh); 1982—jesus, Love Calling Your Name; 1984— Sailin' (Myrrh); 1985—Cele-

—

I

songs that (to the disappoint-

slick collection of

ney Houston soundtrack

Very Best of Shirley Caesar and the Caravans (Savoy);

1986

Bob Dylan's

"Gotta Serve Somebody" and a tune in honor of her mother

cludes her Call).

Shirley Caesar

joice);

at the age of ten

for the gospel

a solo career in

booming anthem "Reign,

bration (Rejoice);

in a

North Carolina. Caesar

in

America's premier gospel singers. Caesar was the

2001).

Dove Awards: 1998 Modern Rock/Alternative Album (Caedmon's

Selected: 1966

prolific

mention

(from which Albertina Walker and James Cleveland also sprang).

She embarked on

the album's

Christian radio hits: "Lead of Love" (# 12

(# 2

is

"Somewhere North" expresses the

difficult relationship.

to

and culture

Nitzberg's words) "to share songs

Thus. "Daring Daylight Escape"

lies."

contemporary

a

They would eventually seem

about everyday things

who

as

a part of that industry

but would continue

music

but her

North Carolina.

Christian group for a time.

make

Born

to the latter.

began singing gospel professionally

Because of their early success in the college music scene,

Caedmon's

Lady of gospel." Shirley Caesar

First

prominently identified with traditional gospel music rather

1

in the

Hollywood

Berry).

With

film

for The Preacher

Why Do

a voice that

s

Wife

Fools Fall in

and had

a role

Love' (with Halle

can be either gruff or mellow, she con-

sistently sings songs that

emphasize encouragement. Often

boisterous and energetic, she views her music as a tool of to encourage people suffering

God

from the hardships or doldrums

1

of

life.

She has published an autobiography

titled

The Lady, the

It

Melodv and www.shirleycaesar.com

the

Word (Thomas Nelson. 1998). "Everything

has a spiritual purpose to

it."

she claims. "The

Gramnv

I

do

— 130

.

.

.

they are

vehicles to touch

all

Tooth and Nail censored

people, change hearts and lead people to the Lord and motivate

"used words

them

would

up

to take

Dove Awards: ditional

1981 Inspirational Black Gospel

Gospel Album

Album

(Rejoice);

Album

Gospel Album (He

Will

Working

Come:

1

982 Tra-

(Sailin');

1986

1987 Traditional Gospel Album

(Celebration);

My

1989 Traditional Gospel Song ("Hold

(Chhstmasing);

Live);

Out

It

Mule");

1995

for You"); 1996 Tradi-

1998 Traditional Gospel Album

1999 Traditional Gospel Album (Christmas with

(A Miracle in Harlem);

Grammy

Album

1985 Traditional Gospel

(Go);

Traditional Gospel Song ("He's

ley Caesar);

one another."

responsibilities to care for

Traditional Gospel

in

2001 Traditional Gospel Album (You Can Make

Shir-

like crap

for You);

1

but with .

.

hey

.

lyrics like

little

"Hey

Album

(Shirley

Caesar

1996 Best Gospel Album by a Choir or Chorus

Live ...

He

1

995

Will Come);

A Word); 1999 Best

(just

Traditional Soul Gospel

Album

(Christmas with Shirley Caesar);

Traditional Soul Gospel

Album

(You Can

Make

Still);

"Uncle Sam,"

a predictable

It).

also apply to

how America

"We claim

and succeeded only

more attention

We come

In

first

which ones) were "written when

fourteen or fifteen. ...

in re-

in Civics class:

and we're not."

to be a Christian nation

has

tried to ex-

2002

album

was,

I

like,

across as immature, because

the songs were written by an immature kid. We'd take a different approach

if

we wrote them

now."

The Calicoes

The Calicoes representative of the Jesus a

and more

of the Jesus music genre

Comes

in the

move-

Randy Matthews-style

album that incorporates both acoustic

folk rock songs typical

electric

songs that defy

its

Morning" and "Eyes of the

Lord" evince enough of a psychedelic style to have Jesus Music their

sound to Glass Harp. "Rock of Ages"

likewise "boasts a crude electric blues

The album

vibe and lengthy leads."

"Down by

party version of

condescend-

Whiteford acknowledged that some songs on the

Rodney Demeglio, drums;

ment. He released 1000 copies of

magazine compare

would

fundie-rant about

plain the latter song to Bandoppler

again

like girls

at least

Erich Jackson, gtr., voc; Josh Yeats.

2000

Custom Acceleration (Velvet Blue).

was an Ohio

conventions. "Joy

it is

no values or morals. An unidentified band member

DaySpring (Morning Star).

Patric Calfee

sin."

2000 Best

Patric Calfee 1974

not a gay-bashing song!"

is

gay man, you can

ing and uninformed. Those adjectives

(he didn't say

Best Traditional Soul Gospel

little

gay man, drop that

1985 Best Soul Gospel Performance

993 Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album (Stand

One song that made the cut Gay Man" ends with

'

the group explicitly saying, "This

("Martin"); 1992 Best Traditional Soul Gospel Performance (He's Working

Out

whore.

get the group into trouble. "Little

vealing that he should have paid

Awards: 1971 Best Soul Gospel Performance ("Put Your Hand

(Sailin');

their material, disallowing songs that

and

It).

the Hand"); 1980 Best Soul Gospel Performance (Rejoice); 1984 Best

Soul Gospel Performance

It

—

Patric Calfee

albums, the videos, the book

tional

—

—

—

riff

closes

with raw basement

with

a hand-clapping,

the Riverside."

Ft.

are a hyperactive rockabilly

The Reverend Horton Heat and The Stray

like

coin words

like

recorded

its first

album with the

Again and Dennis Danell

aid of

roll.

The Deluxtone Rockets, Value some rambunctious Burner

Erich Jackson says, "The

Adam

were composed by Eugene and

whom died before the album was

Thrill." "Rice

The group

Gene Eugene of

of the general market band Social

Distortion. Five of the songs

Dannell, both of

mic

artists

Cats. Critics

"punkabilly" and "psychobilly" to describe the

blend of punk, country, and old time rock and

cludes

Calibretto 13

band from Dallas/

Worth. Texas, whose sound betrays the influence of

Pac).

finished

The album

(cf.

also in-

Ventures-style instrumentals ("Cos-

#

2"). In

terms of theme, lead singer

whole message that God has put on

my heart is really the same message that he gave Keith Green, Thomas, 2002

voc,

Whiteford,

Joseph

drums, voc.

—Adventures

in

Calibretto 13 scribes their

gtr.;

—

2000

Aaron Richardson,

Tokyo.

a

is

sound

Femmes. The band the

like

"High

lyric, "I

it's

when

it

most

comes

in

critics

the Violent

especially,

sticks to novelty

an undeniably fun tune that includes kinda funny that we're

all

bunch of

a

Another highlight of the debut album, Enter

nerds." Brigade, Blitz."

at its strongest

Five,"

think

the

Danger

an enjoyable cover of Sweet's "Ballroom

Other songs appear to be finger-wagging

someone who returns from

serious. "Fall

youth missions

Away" trip: "When he got back home he had such a fire / But just a month later he lost his desire." The band has complained that describes

is

for the Christian

community

just to

wake-up and

light."

group from Kokomo, Indiana, that de-

as "alternative folk-punk";

is

and that

not be so complacent, asleep in the

notice similarities to Weezer and,

songs

voc; Chris

bass,

Enter the Danger Brigade (Tooth and Nail);

a

The

Call

Michael Been, voc,

gtr.,

bass;

Tom

Ferrier, gtr.; Scott Musick,

Greg Freeman, bass (-1984) //Jim Goodwin, kybrd. Call

(Mercury);

1983

Modern Romans; 1984

(+ 1984).

drums;

1982— The

Scene beyond Dreams;

1987—Into the Woods; 1989— Let the Day Begin (MCA); 1990— Red Moon; 1991— The Walls Came Down: The Mercury Years (Mercury); 1997— The Best of The Call (Warner); 1998— To 1

986— Reconciled

(Elektra);

Heaven and Back (Cadence); 2000

Live

under the Red

Moon

(Conspiracy).

Rick Clark describes The Call in the All Music Guide as corporating the

The Band

fire

of

The Clash and

"in-

the organic earthy soul of

to deliver spiritually rooted, socially aware themes."

The

The group's sound and spirit has been defined by the passionate singing and songwnting of Michael Been. Been grew up in

Oklahoma

(as recalled in a

song on Reconciled named

for that

but formed the group with his friend Scott Musick in

state)

Bay

the California

of Clay, The Call

area. Like Jars

an

is

Reconciled

more

a

is

introspective project, with almost

the songs written in the

magazine

grips

man who and

a life-changing force

is

has unquestionably

overtly Christian group that has enjoyed widespread success in

ticularly evident in the

the mainstream rock market. Unlike the former act, however.

to the perseverance of faith in the face of pain, grief,

The

Call

not regarded as a crossover group

is

somehow got

that

Christian act

(a

the attention of the secular market). Rather,

John Wesley, they have always viewed the world

like

(as

op-

come

struggling to

with the alternative future available to him." This

The

wars.

song

song was

latter

a Christian radio hit for

1986 and then again for Russ Taff

in 1989; a version of the

Other noteworthy songs on Recon-

tion picture The Lost Boys. ciled

distinctive Christian subculture. In fact, the late '90s revealed

Robertson of The Band plays guitar on "The Morning."

something of

what

fans of

them

gets labeled "Christian music"

The

for the first time.

world of rock and

Bruce Cockburn, and as "the future of

Call

came

to discover

generally respected in the

is

counting as their fans Bono

roll,

many

a reverse crossover act, as

Peter Gabriel,

U2),

(of

who once described them

American music." More recent

Counting Crows and The Wallflowers

list

artists

them

as

such as

an impor-

tant influence. Rolling Stone has referred to Been as "one of the

field,

on the other hand, Been and

his

include "Oklahoma" and "Everywhere

Woods explored more of the

Don't Wanna," a song that

do

("tell

Into the

opening with

side,

the things he

is

"I

reluctant to

when you speak," etc.). Then Day Begin. The title song, a ju-

feel," "listen

I

Go." Robbie

I

most played

college radio's

songs and ensured The Call a permanent spot on any roster of alternative rock stars (the song

on

Billboard's

Rock brand

garded with suspicion. Been's perspectives and priorities do

lists all

became one of

bilant blessing,

contemporary Christian re-

you how

dark

artist's

the group scored big with Let the

group have often been

best lyricists in rock today." In the

and

Call in

song by Tim Cappello appears on the soundtrack to the mo-

sought to make music for society at large rather than for some

Call to be

to

par-

lies,

The

posed to the church) as their parish and from the outset have

The

is

testimony

Believe." a bold

"I Still

all

CCM

what

person, revealing

first

called "the story of a

encountered

131

Call

chart).

new

pop chart but

From

its

world") to

opening

line ("Here's to the babies in a

its titular

hope previously absent

to Number Fifty-one Number One on their Album

went only

hit

chorus, the song shines with a

in Been's angst-ridden lyrics. Certainly

not always match the approved politics or pieties of those

who

one of Christian rock's best songs, " Let the Day Begin" remains

many Christian

sing-

the group's masterpiece and an almost quintessential state-

would control access he

ers,

ety of

to that market. Like

divorced, and, like many, he writes songs about a vari-

is

life

experiences without trying to incorporate blatant

messages into every song. Beyond

spiritual

to the Christian

band was asked to play there

nevertheless been critical of

what he

may

problem, perhaps,

real

an outsider

market (he had never heard of the Cornerstone

festival before his

The

this, as

in 1997),

formers in the Christian industry, leading

m language that

strikes

some

him

many

per-

to express his

as unnecessarily

nuanced

The

Call's first three

albums

on CD. The debut

tures Garth

Dreams

is

Hudson

of

is

for

Mercury have never been

notable primarily because

The Band on

five tracks. Scene

it

fea-

beyond

the group's least remarkable project, but Modern

Romans delves into

politics

with an underlying theme of im-

pending judgment. The album also spawned the group's

first

well-known song, "The Walls Came Down," which Been says he was inspired to write give

way

what Christian musicians have for all

to

more

when

he saw the idealism of the '60s

and

materialistic

militaristic

mindsets.

humanity life

can change a

man

in the

wisdom

there ain't

Playing with tanks."

"I

no Yanks

/

don't think there are any Just corporate criminals /

live this

"It

way'."

The

Call chose to release the very different Red

Moon. Eschewing anthemic or bombastic sounds, the band

"With

tried for a rootsier style.

album we wanted

plained. "But

with

this

came and

up

your

set

in

living

it

The song "What's Happened

with

to the faithfulness of God,

Though not

like

just for

we

you."

than consum-

critics

whose

life

has

"You Were There" offers testimony

better.

and on the album's

sings (apparently to God), "I'd follow earth."

to

to You?" recounts the pleas-

ant surprise of an old friend beholding someone

been changed for the

sound

to

room and played

Predictably, the record scored bigger ers.

we wanted

Let the Diiv Begin,

that sounded like a live concert." Been ex-

title

track Been

you to the ends of the

released until 2000. the

album

Live under

Red Moon presents a concert taped ten years before, during

the group's tour to support the Red

And

Day

Rather than continue in the vein of their one and only commercial success,

Been

/

the

"The truth

life.

of his days," Been sings.

whispers soft but constantly, 'You cannot

tire

sets lyrics like the following:

the "blessings from

renewed. Other songs on Let

Against a chorus recalling the biblical destruction of Jericho,

Russians

to offer the world: a

know

to

Begin also display gospel-informed lessons for

make an album

or complex.

released

of

above" and the joy of

just be that Been's theological

understandings are more advanced than those of

beliefs

he has

sees (and hears) there.

ment

wish or prayer

The

many

Moon album.

Moon leading was permanently disbanded. The

Call took an extended break after Red

to believe the group

—

— 132

Michael

Cameron

compilation album released in 1997 was truly a career retrospective, including songs

from Been's solo project On

of a Nervous Breakthrough,

two new

of

Mark

Heard's "We

denly returned with songs that Phantom

the Verge

songs, and a

dynamic cover

Know Too Much." Then

the group sud-

Heaven and Back, a

To

riveting."

What do you

collection of

The song Think

"What do you

asks the big questions:

new

"thought provoking, faith

Tollhooth called

and emotionally

inspiring,

It

Over"

What would What are you made

live for? /

you

die for? /

of?"

A

couple of songs (''Confession," "Compromise") seem to

mourn

a broken relationship. Others ("Soaring Bird," "Love Is

stand for? /

Everywhere") express the same hope that made "Let the Begin" so appealing. Notably the album be released on a Christian ica"

and the U2-like

from the

"All

was the group's

label. It also reprises

You Hold

On

To." the

Day

first

to

"Become Amer-

two new

tracks

Best of The Call compilation.

Been seems to

relish his role as a Christian

who is

musician

sound of

familiar acoustic

actuality, his in-

volvements have been greater than he sometimes 7ba.ll

magazine that

Phantom

Christian music

was when he heard

to cover

Believe" in 1988.

"I Still

The

He

Call.

Russ Taff was going But Been was involved with that

played bass guitar on

movement long 2nd Chapter of

Acts' classic debut album, With Footnotes, and toured with that

group as part of

He

also played

their original backing

on Jamie

Owens

band (The Node Gang).

(Collins)

s

album Laughter in

Deacon

reviewer compared the

Tollbooth

Blue.

Cameron

For trivia buffs: Michael Been played the role of John the

Christ.

novel,

in

Martin Scorcese's 1988 film The Last Temptation of

The movie, based on Nikos Kazantzakis's inspirational was widely denounced by many conservative Christians

(who perhaps did not understand its symbolism), and apparently Been was put on some sort of unofficial enemies list. As late as 1997, six of the nation's Top 10 Christian radio stations were

still

refusing to play

any songs by The

Been's prior involvement with

Call because of

what they considered

to be a

good, but

("Name

Believe" (# 2

in

— Saym'

Man; 1983

and

Ice

1985— Shake Me

God's

Own

Cost;

Doing

Heart;

My

Best, Vol. 2;

By

Mercy

1999

Favorites;

ways

up controversy

on One;

1

993

to

Cod

singer/songwriters.

is

He

United Kingdom and

is

one of

on Your Heels;

1998—

Ireland's foremost Christian

has a fairly large following in the

noted for performing songs that

good and bad times

alike.

The

Camp

Every

a Dying

1987—After

99 —Consider 1

the

— Taking Heaven by The Steve

had become best

in the Christian

and distinguished tenure

Camp

raised in

tian

Wheaton,

music

at

Illinois,

Camp was

third

He developed

born (1955) and in Chris-

while in

The Campus

Life Singers in

with Larry Nor-

a close friendship

1977 projects by Petra

his talents to

Brown

(Come and Join Us) and Scott Wesley

(I'm

Not

Reli-

"a

pop-

gious, I Just Love the Lord).

Camp

once described his early musical style as

Jamaican type of rock with ued,

"I

pop.

I

alike."

a reggae

kind of

feel."

He

contin-

make my songs middle-of-the-road, easy listening my music to appeal to the young and the very old

try to

want

A

reviewer for The Lighthouse indicated that Camp's

trademark

sound was "an up-tempo driving beat usually

'80s

Camp

as

if

he were a

It

with Love,

was

licks

man

and by vocals that

possessed."

inspired in part

Camp's

first

by the death of

an event that affected him deeply and moved him to reflective of his

own

comes through

Be Troubled" and "Song for

inner feelings. This strong

Not Your Heart

"Let

in

Mom." Larry Norman wrote

cowrote another tune with

Camp

("If

Were

I

reviewers noted similarities between the

reflect

Camp being either praised as a Norman

album

a

Norman clone. Norman also cowrote

("Under His Love"), but

Booley House gave Cameron

own

makeover. The

in

Camp's long

own band

an early age. He started his

and contributed

for

where he became involved

the sixth grade, then sang with

man

known

music industry

as a Christian singer prior to such

frenzies should not be forgotten.

garnered attention in America, as producer Peter Wilson of a bit of a musical

It's

(Ministry)

the song "Strong Love, Strange Peace, with

Michael Cameron

1

that could leave an unfortunate legacy, but

compose songs

(New Dawn); 1997— Hard

—

the Wilderness; 1995

in

—Abandoned

the year 2002 Steve

stirring

album, Savin'

Fragile.

his experience of

Compact

1986).

Cameron Love

Woke Me; 1986—One

to

1

Collection (Sparrow);

1981— For

Believm';

(Sparrow); Only the Very Best; 1984

989—Justice; 990— Doing My Best;

1

personal element

1995—Healing

1980— Start

with Love (Myrrh);

It

Fire

his father,

Michael

intentions are

and anger against hypocrisy

Camp

1978

pour out of hits: "I Still

and Ameri-

Irish accent.

of the Father").

Steve

World;

Me How" ("My

can't follow through")

I

A

to that of

such themes as the inability to make a

"Don't Ask

in

coupled with some incredible piano

blasphemous movie. Christian radio

new sound

sings in a high tenor voice,

Lyrically, Fragile explores

commitment

high school.

Your Soul.

Apostle

rejuve-

lets on. In

Christian music in the early days of the Jesus before

was

releases

can audiences are often charmed by his strong

encounter with

his first

two

his first

nated through the incorporation of strings and electronics.

Storm (Warner); 1994

an outsider to the Christian music scene. In

1997 he told

—

Diamonds" and a Singer").

two

artists,

Many with

protege or dismissed as a

Camp would

song for establish

Start Believin'

more

of his

persona on the sophomore album, which features a bigger

Camp

Steve

production and allows him to rock out in

Man

hvery

down

he strips

own

stand on their

merits, less

"Run

with new appreciation

For

multitude of

a

Camp's

to be

big-

can face

for the opposition Christians

who became

that included persons Jesus:

upset

when

'They would throw things

CCM

stage in derision." he told

"I

came back

much as me on the

and

would be the

Ice

or cowrote every song

first

Camp wrote

The

(sung as a

a Feeling"

title

track parodies Pat

Benatar with a song similar to her hit that insists on the

two phenomena

compatibility of the

("fire"

and

"ice")

in-

and

whatever they are held to symbolize. "Where Are the Heroes?" is

rock version of Hebrews 11 and "Squeeze"

a

Camp

edgy sound of

less

is

a

Norman-

mold" (Romans

rock and

number

roll

called

— including "Light

2001 True Tunes would

a

chose

it

as the only

Ninety-six)

on

Right"

many

offers a break

still call

Mylon

from the

Camp's own composi-

of

this

album the

album it

seeks, as

it title

implies, to address social issues.

ism and extolling compassion for AIDS victims, but

and

to be both challenging

of

God"

late as

artist's all-time

A

to

Wake

Ale, piles the

"Lazy Jane." "Bad

condemna-

News

The

first

Mod-

of these

mean

a

she (or he) participates in such activities as street

witnessing and regular Bible reading.

moments come with

The album's few good

the invitational "Surrender Your Heart"

and the encouraging "Help righteousness

for

Is

on the Way." Camp's concern

would continue

his theology got better.

to be evident

for

on One on One, but

A centerpiece of that album is the song

"Cheap Grace." inspired by the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and cowntten by

Camp with Margaret Becker

deira. "Foolish Things" deals

with the

and Phil

Ma-

foibles of televangelists.

takes an effective confessional and empathetic approach

to such scandals: "It hurts me.

we

do."

The

it

ballad

around the

them

track to Justice

is

/ Till

a

Tell

chilling re-

you're ready

pounding guitar-

some more choice words for exploitative The album also includes a cover of Larry Nor-

driven rocker with televangelists.

man's

politically

charged "The Great American Novel."

continues to reveal the

er the Cost

artist's

(

growing theological

depth with an album that focuses on "the gospel according to Jesus."

The

title

song

piano ballad very similar to some of

a

is

Keith Green's work, with

Every Time"

actually suggests that a Christian's faith "doesn't tiling" unless

title

in Chris-

like

The piano ballad "Don't built

is

for Christians social

system but also being

a

that Jesus loves

The

"The 100 Greatest Albums

career nadir. Shake Ale

things that

"

almost entirely

lyrics that derive is

generally true of "Follow

Me"

(written as a tribute to Green) and "Guard the Trust." "For

ness that

Me"

is

God

and

Christians have made: child of

God

sucked the

Rob

Frazier proclaiming the forgive-

offers for every sin, denial,

a particularly

is

song cowritten with Steven

a lushly melodic

Chapman

Curtis

on thick with songs

it

them

too.

to be included (at

ern Man." and "Stranger to Holiness."

but

tell

them

his cross.

from Scripture. The same

sponsored by

tian Music."

tion

"Don't

to love

rac-

manages

mem-

Them"

Jesus Loves

As such

Hands

theme that

states the overall

it

Be-

compelling and

means not only confronting

action

frain,

"I

"Living Dangerously in the

accessible,

The very Hornsby-ish

orable.

'80s

latter

such as decrying abortion and

sticks to such safe topics

CCAf Number

poll of critics

Camp album

their list of

a par-

is

Candle" from this project. As

and that same year a

best,

A tight,

direct project.

Know What's

DeGarmo and Key)

preachy tone that affects tions

"You

and "You Comfort Me" (written by

ticular highlight,

LeFevre and

a Dying World

12:2). It's

with the Barratt Band while over-

and remains Camp's most raw and

seas

more

You" and "Playing Marbles with Diamonds." The

lieve in

Them That

will tease you. seize you, squeeze you,

virtually live

a

Thorn Granger to compare

critic

Browne and Bruce Hornsby. The Browne

to Jackson

conformed to Christ and

until you're into its

The album's

contemporary tune. Justice has

toward conformity:

was recorded

Start Believin'.

"Whatever You Ask," pledges faithfulness to God

hit,

esque tune that warns against the world's inherent tendency "it

moments.

Heart retreats stylistically to the more in-

sound that caused veteran

on which

record

Pillar).

and

spirational

only big

finest musical

Own

After God's

to a formulaic adult

— including the confrontational "Living

mellow duet with Michele

One on One's

comparisons are especially evident on the standout songs

and homiletical "Love's Not

in Laodicea"

of

on

A duet with Becker on the title track provides one

"Lazy Jane."

at

bloody, battered,

like

a penitent rebuttal of the perspective previously extolled

he so

bewildered, perplexed, and broken." Fire

God's mercy, and "He's All That You Need" almost sounds

Camp wrote the song

to the Battle."

Europe where he played to secular audiences

after a tour of

mentioned

encumbered by

The album produced what was

instruments.

gest hit. the militant

On

full dress.

the sound to allow the songs to

33

I

moving account "I

was

So when the

/

life

and

failing.

"Carry

many

of a discovery

told that trouble couldn't touch a

trials

came

furiously /

They

nearly

out of me."

Taking Heaven by Storm initiates a stylistic departure for

Camp,

as he slows

exception of the

down

the

title track)

tempo

of his songs and (with the

adopts a

softer, adult

contempo-

rary sound. Thematically the songs continue to exemplify his

commitments

Committed

to

God

("I'm

Not Ashamed") and toothers

"There's not really a 'beat 'em up' song on this album." told

CCM,

("I'm

to You," specifically written for his spouse).

joking over his reputation for

with messages of rebuke. Mercy

in the

Camp

coming on strong

Wilderness presents an

hurts you / All of the foolish

even more radical departure from the old angst-ndden. gut-

"He Covers Me"

tural

testifies to

Camp,

offering

what

is

essentially a

worship album

t

I

34

Steve

Camp

complete with high choir backups.

It

was

at this

Camp also published a well-written article titled in

time that

'Kiss the Son"

CCM magazine (March 1995). The piece presented a biblical

perspective on praise and worship and demonstrated a capac-

beyond what can be conveyed

ity for theological reflection

through the media of songs. The

would continue on Abandoned

new worship

orientation

God, an album of mellow,

to

choir-girded devotional music. In 2000

Camp was

serves as an official representative of the organization Food for

regard as a serious misstep by distributing 107 theses (on Ref-

ormation Day)

points that

all

would regard

but

music:

1)

in to the writings of C. H. Spurgeon.

and Christ-centered

Community Church

Sun

in

Valley. California,

and

the au-

is

thor of numerous works on various topics. As indicated, he has

always been

a strong

advocate of overt, uncompromising

lyrics

that confront church and world alike with Scripture's promise of redemption

and

call

to repentance. His unquestionable role

model has been Keith Green, whose "Asleep

T

My Head

Pledge

Me

and Abandoned

run the constant

and

Me to Wake Green, Camp has

Heaven" he covers on Shake

to to

in the Light"

Cod, respectively. Like

risk of

coming

off as self-righteous

and judg-

majority of his songs of God.

He

high standards. But

(as

with Green's)

Me

"Living in Laodicea." "Shake

A

is

the grace and mercy

has often been quick to offer rebukes, but he has

judgment

also frequently pointed the finger of

Grace)."

when

more accurate

to

critique of

at himself

(cf.

Wake Me." and "Cheap Camp's oeuvre would be

that his relentless emphasis on separation from the world has utilized only

one of several

biblical

models

for

church and

Camp

to a degree that

and

ing"

sage for those in

to other positions. Writing for

Thorn Granger commented that Camp's

1989,

"rap has

stayed the same: an emphasis on holy living balanced with the prevenient grace of God. What's missing?

A discussion

of the

day-to-day issues of living in a fallen world and a cry for justice in

an unjust

Camp would

society." In the

decade following that review.

do more to address the

latter

omission than the

Always the

(who organized in Africa)

the

took a cue from Bob Geldof

Band Aid benefit

and organized

sicians called

Camp

activist,

CAUSE

a

project for famine relief

one-time gathering of Christian mu-

(Christian Artists United to Save the

Earth) for a similar purpose. Three years

ACCT

later,

in

1988, he

Crisis

and Christians Today) with Tony

Campolo. His song "Do You

Feel Their Pain?" (on Justice) en-

founded

(AIDS

AIDS sufferers in a manner similar to Marsha Stevens' "The Body of Christ Has AIDS." Camp also courages empathy with

companies (which he dismissed

Most

adultery").

"spiritual

as "unequal yok-

scholars and

biblical

would regard Camp's arguments on

scnptural. At the heart of

At

all

concerns

all

an obvious personal

is

what Camp has discerned

must be representative

a deeper level, the objections are

and Calvin,

for instance, believed that

world and

active in

port, edify, a

is

Camp

songwriter

CAUSE

and through the

and even correct

grounded

Rob

God

rules the entire

(secular)

world to sup-

believers.

Carman

("Revive Us,

Him

("Do Something Now"), 4

Lord"),

("The Nature of

Frazier ("He's All You Need." "This Town,"

My Heart"),

and Connie Scott ("D.O.A.").

For trivia buffs: Steve

music historians

ments"

in a gnostic-

many whom Camp

has written or cowntten Christian

performed by

radio hits

tian

his

Christian musi-

all

support of his arguments would have rejected. Luther

cites in

As

on

as God's call

of God's will for

inspired, anti-incarnational theology that

Camp is

cite as

CCM

in the history of

associated with

what

Chris-

one of the "most memorable momagazine. In the November

1986 issue of that magazine he actually used the word bulls"

and

CCM printed

it

(without asterisks), precipitating a flurry

of mail and a consequent change in editorial policy (the

word

was removed when

CCM

had started out as while set

former.

("a

mar-

4) the signing of Christian artists to general

conviction that

mes-

CCM

their vocation

cover songs, by

3)

four of these points as certainly sectarian and probably un-

"Break

who adhere

artists

Christian theologians

Love").

his

and

truth");

ket recording

A student of

sometimes truncates the relevance of

who view

remake songs by secular performers

has favored puritanical, theocratic Calvinism

ety one intended for times of abject persecution. theology,

soci-

lyrics; 2) artists

spiritual, scriptural,

song written by an unsaved person does not espouse sanctified

cians.

own

taken as a whole, the dominant focus of the

modern Christian

also attacked several trends in

it

songs that do not have explicitly

which Christian

who

is

(debunking commercial-

as valid

than as ministers;

life

don't measure up to his

Contem-

as entertainers rather

mental, spewing out songs that offer harangues against sinners

Camp's work

in the

ization and the use of the adjective Christian as a marketing label),

Camp is an ordained minister who serves as pastor of Grace

Reformation

titled "A Call for

porary Christian Music Industry." The document made some

be working on an album that was based on the Psalms and tied

reported to

what most would

the Hungry. In 1998, however, he took

its

the interview

was

reprinted in 1991).

a Christian version of Billboard

sights

on being

The Camp interview and

its

aftermath marks a turning point

toward the magazine's becoming more of of Entertainment Weekly instead.

was

a response to the

but then for a

a Christian version of Rolling Stone.

a Christian version

The context

of

Camp's remark

notion that some Christian artists might

be called to provide entertainment rather than ministry. Christian radio

Love" (# 18 "Love's

Not

in

hits:

"Gather

1978);

a Feeling" [with

Laodicea" (# 13

in

in

His

"Run to the

Name"

(# 9

Battle" (#

Michele

I

in

1978); "Sayin'

for 16

Pillar] (# 4

1984); "Lazy Jane" (# 10

in

1985);

in

weeks

in

It

with

1981);

1984); "Living in

"On

the Edge" (# 6

—

—

—

—

1

135

Glen Campbell

in

1

Your Heart" (# 4

986); "Surrender

"Whatever You Ask" (# "After God's

Own

in

1

1986); "Foolish Things" (#

4

in

1

986);

"Come

3 in 1987);

Heart" (# 9

I

"He Covers Me" (#

"One on One"

1987);

in

in

1987);

to the Lord" (# 3

in

1988);

"The Church

988);

3 in

(# 10

is

All

of You" (#

(# 3

Me" (# 6

1991); "Follow

in

(new version)" (# 5

Battle

in

Storm" (#

1993); "I'm

3 in

mitted to You" (#

1992); "Taking

in

Not Ashamed"

weeks

for 5

I

in

1

1990); "For Every

in

Time"

"Guard the Trust" (# 8

1991);

"Shade for the Children" (# 22

1992);

in

(# 18

994); "Give

in

in

Heaven by

1993); "I'm

Me Some Time"

has starred in the films, True Grit (of which he once

bell

was

Com-

(# 23

in

Oscar"),

it

voice of Chanticleer the Rooster in 1992's Rock-a-Doodle-Doo.

Since 1992, he has been headlining

Campbell Goodtime Theater

shows

published an autobiography, Rhinestone Cowboy (Word, 1994),

torrid

and abusive

affair

with Tanya Tucker, and ultimately

woman who

conversion and (fourth) marriage to a

Glen Campbell 1991

the Sun (Liberty);

Haven); 1

994

(New

1992— Wings

The Boy

erally saved his

Night (Word);

in

989— Favorite

1

Unconditional Love;

of

Victory;

Me (New

1993

Haven);

1

Hymns; 1990— Wolkin'

Me

Show

Somebody

Your

Like

That (Liberty);

and Me: The

996—Jesus

Collection

Haven).

for

1969 hit "Try a

that matter,

Campbell was singing about Jesus long before

his official entry

contemporary Christian music. Born

into the guild of

Campbell was raised

in 1936,

and rose to fame

in Delight, Arkansas,

in

his lit-

Campbell has deep roots

in gospel music.

His

Kindness" was regarded as a folk-rock

Little

gospel song at the time and became a staple of youth group

music at church summer camps.

Happy

Johnny Rivers and B. J. Thomas Bob Dylan), country-pop icon Glen

Like Christian singers

he says

life.

indicated,

a country version of the

www.glencampbellshow.com

(or,

As

in

Way (New

regularly at the Glen

Branson, Missouri. In 1994 he

in

that recounts his abuse of cocaine and alcohol in the '70s, his

1994).

1985— No More

said, "I

made John Wayne look good enough to get an Norwich, and Strange Homecoming. He also did the

so bad

in

I

"Run to the

the very best (Frank Sinatra,

Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley). In addition to recording, Camp-

1

in 1989); "Living Dangerously in 1988); "Do You Feel Their Pain?" (# the Hands of God" (# 3 in 1989); "The Great American Novel" (#21

1990);

who could obviously afford

artists

A year later Campbell

Edwin Hawkins

Day." In 1973 he had

a hit

released

Singers' hit "O

with the song

"I

Knew Jesus

He Was a Superstar)." Thus it may have surprised some Christians when Campbell announced in 1981 that he had (Before

been baptized. Despite the divorces and rumors of

(just)

Campbell was often counted

lane living,

straying and struggling

— was basically within the

fast-

who

as a sheep fold.

At any

permanent guest on the popular Smothers

rate, his

Brothers variety

show and then as the host of his own Glen He scored hits with the Jimmy Webb compositions "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" (# 26 in 1967),

scene increased dramatically at this time. Even musically, his

Campbell Goodtime Hour.

No More

"Wichita Lineman" (# 3 in 1968), and "Galveston" (# 4 in

had come to play second

the late '60s as a

1969). In

all,

Campbell

hit the

Top 40 twenty-one times

tween 1967 and 1977, including two Number One "Rhinestone the

Cowboy" and "Southern

more remarkable because he was

when

Nights." His success

basically a

be-

hits in 1975,

was

country singer

much off-limits to country stars who were not named Johnny Cash. He is thus rightly attributed with having paved the way for such later in the

days

Garth Brooks. In 1967 Campbell made history by being the first

in I

singer ever to

win the Grammy "Song

both country ("Gentle on

of the Year"

award

My Mind") and pop ("By the Time

Get to Phoenix") categories. Campbell's happy-go-lucky

tude and commercial sheen did not always

but with the passage of time he has

come

sit

well with

atti-

critics,

to be regarded as a

legendary talent and especially as a remarkable guitarist. His facility

with that instrument, demonstrated

mances of Mason Williams'

"Classical Gas"

theme from Tchaikovsky's 1812 description "a hillbilly

in concert perfor-

and of the main

Overture, earned

him

the apt

Hendnx." Indeed, Campbell had been

a

well established and highly regarded studio musician years before

he decided to sing, picking and strumming on records by

was

Night album

welcome

a

fiddle to

All of

bluegrass-tinged

the

title

track

in

duet

a

God" and

announce Campbell's convictions unambigu-

Campbell's albums with

songwriter

number

God's Singers Get Home," and includes

with Johnny Cash ("Suffer the Children"). "Trust

ously.

which he

(a rut in

Kenny Rogers anyway).

The album opens with an up-tempo

"When

from the main-

release

stream country ballad rut he had fallen into

the pop charts were pretty

crossover country artists as John Denver, Willie Nelson, and

involvement with the distinctively Christian music

New Haven

Jimmy Webb on some

reunite

him with

tunes, as well as featuring

songs by established Christian composers

like

Bob Bennett

and Phil Driscoll. Likewise, these albums feature duets not only with country stars

like

Anne Murray

(on

"Show

Me Your

Way"), but also ones with Russ Taff ("The Greatest Gift of All")

and First Call. The Boy

songs by Geoff

in

Thurman and

Me

is

a collection of Christian

Lowell Alexander, plus an affec-

tionate rendition of "Amazing Grace."

tured prominently on

Harlem on Wings

A

church choir

is

fea-

Show Me Your Way, and the Boys Choir

of Victory.

The Jesus and Me

from

cases Campbell's songs

collection

this period nicely.

The

of

show-

title

track

(by Driscoll and Lari Goss) seems to present his personal

testi-

mony:

"Taj

thought

song

/

I'd

Mahal done

to

it all,

making music

Paris,

then

I

Galveston to Hollywood

met you

for Jesus

/

/

I

Now I'm singin' a new

my king."

— Kate Campbell

136

was once a member of the combo The Champs, which also featured James and Dash Crofts (later. Seals and Crofts), though none of

For trivia buffs: Glen Campbell

instrumental Seals

those three played on the group's only big

weeks

for 5

Hondells,

in 1958).

Campbell was

hit.

also a

Tequila" (#

member

Chuck Girard

Beach Boys), and

(of

(of the

Love Song). The band

smash with Wilson's song, 'Little Honda." on which Girard sang lead. With Usher, Campbell was also a member of Sagittarius, which had a couple of minor hits in the scored a Top 10

'60s.

He was even a touring member of the Beach Boys as was Toni Tenielle of the Captain and Tenielle.

while

hits:

"The Greatest

Dove awards: 1985 Album

Gift of All" (#

22

(A Glen

in

2000 Country

1967 Best Vocal Performance. Male ("By the Time

Get to Phoenix"); 1967 Best Country and Western Solo Vocal mance, Male ("Gentle on

Recording ("Gentle on Get

My

My

by a sign she saw

inspired

Mind"); 1967 Best Country and

Mind"); 1968

Album

I

Perfor-

Western

of the Year (By the Timet

to Phoenix).

Memphis blues song called "When PanRoamed in Arkansas." which features Al Perkins on dobro. Emmylou Harris appears as a guest vocalist on Visions of includes an interesting thers

Wandering Strange features backing from the Muscle

Plenty.

Shoals musicians (sans horns). Campbell favors songs that

whose experiences

people

differ."

On Visions of Plenty, On

mostly black school in Nashville.

Pray for Junior?"

Maria Grotto"

is

the Levee (Large River): 1997

1998— Visions

of

Plenty:

1

Rosaryville,

about

"Who

Will

a

man who

builds

backyard: "Rosa's Coronas" celebrates the dedication and pride a

Cuban woman

feels in

work

her daily

—Moonpie Dreams (Com-

999—Rosoryville; 2000— Wondering

making

of

cigars

— she

prays silently for the Pope's visits around the world while she

My Mother's House" is autobiographical reflec-

them. "In

rolls

on Campbell's own upbringing and on how mother/

struggling to love the South in spite of

Kate Campbell pass);

"Bus 109"

the tale of a mother about to leave her

tells

child an orphan; "Ave

tion

— Songs from

tell

have universal themes that connect with

stories, since "stories

daughter roles reverse in time: "Look

1994

like

at a roadside market,

miniature versions of the world's architectural wonders in his

Campbell Christmas).

Grammy Awards:

was

and Tomatoes Coming Soon." Musically, Campbell's

"Jesus

a

1991).

Fall");

about tomatoes that miraculously appear to look

is It

recounts her positive experience of being bused as a teenager to

by a Secular Artist (No More Night); 1992

Southern Gospel Song ("Where Shadows Never

Album

for a

—

Christian radio

Jesus.

songs take in a variety of southern influences. Moonpie Dreams

1

The

of

which included Gary Usher. Brian Wilson

Plenty)

lence

("It's

finds her

still

history of racial vio-

and slow surrender, retreating from the

a long

past"). Wandering Strange

Strange

album, featuring

Away" its

is

Campbell's most overtly gospel

hymns (from

six

the 1956 Baptist

Hymnal)

(Large River).

and only four www.katecampbell.com

original songs, plus a cover of

"The House You Live

Southern singer/songwriter Kate Campbell creates Americana music with a strong blend of country and folk and

intelli-

with

box

a tackle

History from Auburn

cludes, "Before

University and taught for a time at Belmont and Middle Ten-

like to share a

gent

lyrics.

Campbell holds

a

Masters

nessee State Universities. She

in

was born

raised first in the Mississippi Delta,

in

New

and then

Orleans and

In."

Lures," paints a picture in

I

full

end

One

Gordon

Lightfoot's

of the original tunes, "10,000

which the

devil

is

fishing for souls

of tricks to catch them, but then con-

this song, before the music's

through

/ I'd

or two: there's 10,000 angels watching

word

over you."

in Tennessee, as

the daughter of a socially progressive (white) Southern Baptist

minister

who

opposed segregation and opened

his

church to

the Freedom Riders. Her memories of the civil rights move-

ment remain formative influences on her songwnting,

as

do

Canaan Bob

Fraser. voc; et

al.

1974

—Canaan

(Dovetail); 1976

Out of the Wil-

derness (Myrrh).

the writings of Flannery O'Connor. Campbell sought to pursue a career in Christian music early on but

George King

(later

was encouraged by

head of Reunion Records) to aim for the

country market instead, as the Christian market was ready for her yet. That advice proved

reliable,

and her

albums would gain acclaim among country-folk Called "one of the most

by

touches of

humor

into her work.

sion of the Eagles" sound that so

first

few

cluding Daniel

fans,

who

Campbell also incorporates

The song

"Galaxie 500'' from

Moonpie Dreams has been featured on the popular radio show "Car Talk."

A

country rock group that featured Bob Fraser on

Canaan brought an English twist

not

innovative and fresh writers

Billboard magazine,

British

just

sometimes likened her to Mary Chapin Carpenter.

around''

A

vocals,

tune called "Jesus and Tomatoes" (from Visions of

Amos

to the "Christian ver-

many mid 70s

artists (in-

and Bethlehem) sought to capture.

According to Jesus Music magazine, the group had cookin'

"

guitars:

on the

Man' both have loud

first

album,

"

"really

'Follow Me' and 'Lonely

acid guitar, while 'Mr. Jones' and 'Jesus

Revolution' heavily utilize the reverb effect."

The second

re-

cord inspired comparisons to Jonathan Edwards (the singer,

not the philosopher/preacher) and to Poco: the country,

sunny day

stuff."

"reflective,

out in

—

—

—

——

—

— —

—

—

Michael Card

137 (

Candle Personnel

chine (Sparrow); 1979

1979—On

Grubleu

(Birdwing);

1971

Force:

the

Chief Musician

the Chief Musician, Chapter 2; 1977

The Music Ma-

—

Sir Oliver's

Song (Birdwing); 1978

1983— The

Street (Sparrow);

the

Nathaniel the

Music Machine 2

The Birthday Party (Sparrow). As Agape

unknown

date

Michael Card

— To

1976

As Candle:

unavailable.

1977— To

(Birdwmg);

Agape Force)

(a.k.a.

list

1974

Unchoir (Candle); Potpourri;

—

Favorites;

Agapeland;

Within the Gate (Birdwing); Bullfrogs and Butterfiys (=Agapeland).

1978

1981

The

ity;

1

Life;

985— Scandalon; 987— The 1

989

1

—

Sleep Sound

1991— The

Wisdom;

994

1

joy

name

the

company? The same

of a group or a

people released several albums in the 70s, typically (but not

on the Candle

label,

were released on some other

label. Basically.

an evangelistic ministry located

was the

eventually in Lindale. Texas. Candle

Department" of the bit

Agape Force was

California and then

first in

"Arts

and Music

To make matters

larger enterprise.

more complicated. Silverwind was

a

still

a little

music

different

ministry under Agape Force, and Bulgarian refugee Georgian Banov.

who

headed up Silverwind, sometimes worked with

Candle as well.

Albums produced by Candle types. First there ful

Maranatha

Agape Force were of two

or

were worship albums similar to the success-

Praise series.

most representative of

The Early Years; Brother

Can

like

the type

background of

Agape Force

sold

a Bible

released ex-

The Music Machine and Bullfrogs and

Barry McGuire on the

more than three million

copies,

most successful Christian albums of

See;

1

997—Unveiled

Hope;

1

www.michaelcard.com

Born

1957

in

Madison. Tennessee. Card

in

doctor and grandson of a Baptist minister

He

"For FEB." from Poiema).

masters degrees in versity

from Western Kentucky Uni-

their Distinguished

WKU,

1997. While a student at

accompany the sermons

Alumni Award

of his professor William L. Lane, a re-

nowned biblical scholar. Card was a childhood friend of banjo player Randy Scruggs (son of the great Earl Scruggs), who encouraged him to record his music and produced his first album. That

record,

which

features Card's

The next

Fogelberg clone.

and showcases

more

a

and

—

far

Dan

artist as

Fogelberg,

original

new friend Leon

and developed sound. In the

would become very much

from being considered imitative

his

others. Card's musical style favors meditative, simple acoustic

time.

all

The

success

result

a

is

was

package with enor-

Deasy

actually a reproduction

is

of the earlier Agapeland album:

it

by Mike

strives to teach a vari-

ety of lessons regarding the importance of prayer, the value of friendship,

and the need

what the

stresses

titular

for perseverance.

metamorphed

mon: "they've both been born the Ten

Commandments and

The

hit title track

species have in

exalting Chnst's

fosters

Partv

is

"a

warns against

command

to "love

Christmas album for

com-

again." Sir Oliver's Song teaches

an

ideal of inclusivity

by sampling the music and languages of different xnael the Cruhlet

all

person

to be re-

garded as an adult contemporary exemplar often imitated by

crossover appeal, yet one that offers a gentle and appeal-

Butterflvs

own

—came

each

title track)

and humorous anecdotes and fun songs that transcend

and

some

Patillo

making them among the

arrangements (piano,

guitar,

some orchestration) such

stealing

and

cultures.

pride,

while

one another." The Birthday

year round" built around the

idea that Christ can be born in the believer's heart each day.

a clear

as

is

as-

dominant,

is

impetus toward worship or edification rather than

entertainment. As years went by. the

artist

would

also incor-

porate more diverse international sounds, drawing especially

on

his

own

One

ing introduction to certain aspects of the Christian message. Bullfrogs

and

no more than a

record, however, incorporates

piano tricks Card had learned from his

years to come. Card

Have Decided."

first hit. "I

with

mous

in

Card began writing songs to

tues (the biblical fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23) with

dogma. The

he extols in

has earned undergraduate and

biblical studies

which gave him

the son of a

is

(whom

sociated with traditional church music. Poetry

specifics of Christian

996

998— Storkindler,

well deserved. Music Machine teaches children about basic vir-

colorful

1

2000—Soul Anchor.

some reviewers dismissed the new

in the

The

Brother [with John Michael Talbot] (Myrrh):

ar-

tremely successful children's albums that were the 70s equiva-

Butterflvs (featuring

to

soothing choral

bookstore." Second, Candle a.k.a.

of Veggie Tales.

The Ancient

evinces a sound very similar to Card's hero

music that would be played

lent

to the Cradle;

are

rangements that Harmony magazine said "sound of

Christ's Birth;

990

1

the journey: Ten Years of Greatest Hits; Poiema;

in

Real-

Way of 1992— The

The Beginning;

1

the Scars

1988—Present

Word;

The two Chief Musician albums

this genre, featuring

Known by

Legacy;

al-

when the albums were and "Candle" when the albums

ways) calling themselves 'Agape Force" released

—

Final

A Celebration of 993 Come

Promise:

Close Your Eyes So You

Was Candle

Jesus;

in

Word: Recapturing the Imagination; Faith;

1983

(Milk and Honey);

First Light

(Sparrow);

major a

Celtic heritage.

of Card's early compositions. "El Shaddai."

hit

on Christian radio

Dove award

upon God's

for

for

Amy Grant and

Songwriter of the

faithfulness

Year.

became

a

nabbed Card

The song

reflects

from an Old Testament perspective,

referencing, for instance, the compelling experience of Hagar:

"To the outcast on her knees (Genesis

16:13).

included on a

In 2001

list

/

You are a God

who

reali\

Grant's version of the song

of "the 365

most

was

significant songs of the

twentieth-century" prepared by the Recording Industry Association of

America

(it

was

326, right behind Elton John's

"Candle in the Wind"). Card would include his "El

own

version of

Shaddai" on his sophomore project. Legacy which also fea-

tures the stellar "Love Crucified Arose."

138

on

Michael Card

'

Card's albums have frequently provided musical reflections

Card

is

known

themes and have sometimes been accompanied

than

is

often found in contemporary Christian music, his best

scriptural

by books that explore those themes

more detail. Legacy presHebrew Scriptures. Known

in

ents Christ as the fulfillment of the

by the Scars, Scandalon, and The Final Word present a trilogy on the

of Christ, told in reverse order.

life

Known by

the Scars deals

with the events of the Passion Narrative: the entry to Jerusa-

ministry of Jesus,

focusing on the biblical idea that God's coming to humanity in

weakness Final

scandalous or offensive to

is

Word

a

is

human

Incarnation and birth of Christ;

later

The tery of

The

includes "Joy in the Jour-

it

ney" and the anthemic "Emmanuel.'' The

would

sensibilities.

more upbeat and joyous record dealing with the

be repackaged as The

Present Reality

knowing God

album

albums

life.

moment. Card then em-

trilogy, this

time based on the

story of Israel in the Old Testament. The Beginning presents

songs based on references in the Pentateuch (the

books of the

Bible), all of

pretations: "A Face

Moses and

'Lift

which

the Suffering Symbol," with the healing

tion of debts

draws

its

on the emancipation of

built

is

five

are given christological inter-

serpent staff elevated in the wilderness. "Jubilee"

first

That Shone" deals with the unveiled face of

Up

announced

actually a collection of lullabies for children

is

in Jesus, also

followed by Come

to the

accompanied by

This was

a book).

which has been marketed

Cradle,

other children's album though Card says he wrote

The standout song and cancella-

slaves

in Leviticus 25:10. The

Way

of

Wisdom

by

Job. The

Word: Recapturing the Imagination tackles the difficult prophetic

"for

Card has authored or coauthored nine books, and

All told.

he has sold more than four million albums. In 1987 he

"The truth

is

make

will

but

in a

way

popular

Christianity attractive to everyone.

would

I

some

said,

too radical and foolish for the world to accept,

and yet the church today presents Christ

It

that

sounds crazy,

present Jesus so accurately that ultimately

like to

people, just as they did in Jesus'

own time, would

say no

when

he

got started in Christian music, industry types offered to

first

him "how to dress" and advised him not to "sing about much" in order to help him become a star. Dis-

teach

the cross too

gusted with the Christian music business, he was advised by

Lane

(his professor), "Let the excellence of

mandate he would always

protest," a

Card authored a book

in

memory

your work be your

try to follow. In 2001

of Lane recalling

many

such

conversations he had with his mentor from his early days as a

seminarian through the time of the latter 's heart-wrenching death (The Walk:

Thomas of

a four-song suite inspired

as anit

parents."

songs from Ecclesiastes. Proverbs, Psalms, and the

Song of Solomon, with

songs with greater theological depth

to him." Several years later, in 1995, he recalled how,

with the theological mys-

deals

in the present

barked on another ambitious

latter three

Sound

{Sleep

lem, the cleansing of the temple, the Last Supper, and the crucifixion. Scandalon interprets the three-year

album

selling

for writing

all

A Moment

Time When Two Lives

in

would

Nelson). Ultimately Card

Intersect,

describe the purpose

of his books, concerts, and recordings as being "to focus in

on and worship Christ" and "to

making

assist in

Jesus Christ

beautiful and believable to the world."

material, setting oracles to musically diverse tunes. "Valley of

Dry Bones" has an

Irish flavor,

and

"Why Will You Not

Different compilations of Card's songs are available, the Listen" best of

is

sung by

a gospel quartet (featuring Steve

other guests).

Green and two

The album's masterwork, however,

is

"I

for all

who

this latter trilogy

is Joy in

the Journey.

Sparrow's mistitled The Early

Will

Bring You Home," a song for exiles that takes on universal

meaning

which

Years offers a meager ten songs from Scandalon and The Final

Word, ignoring Card's Brother

is

three projects altogether. Brother

first

to

an innovative collection of songs by both Card and

long for heaven. Again, the three parts of

were eventually packed together

as The

An-

John Michael Talbot, with each material.

artist interpreting

The album was heralded

as

the other's

an ecumenical

effort,

cient Faith.

The Promise

is less

original meditations

a Christmas

album than

a collection of

on the events of Christ's

birth.

These

estant

characters (Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the magi). Poiema

New

Testament Greek word

for "masterpiece" or

Christian radio

(# 16

God's creation. Unveiled Hope sets to music songs taken from or

(# 5

forms

by the book of Revelation.

Irish

On

Starkindler,

Card

per-

songs of faith from the seventeenth, eighteenth,

music into

his sound. Soul Anchor

draws on the

letter to the

He-

in

in

hits: "I

1983);

"Known by

in

the Scars" (# 14

Word"

(#

1

1

in

in

"Know You

Now"

the

in

1

1982); "Fan the Flame"

1983); "Tell the

Must Be the Lamb" (# 14

(# 6

1991);

Long" (# 14

in

in

in

What

Faith

1991);

"The

"We

1986);

in in

Way

Will Find

of

in

Jesus

1984);

in

"The

1987);

Must Be" (# 14

1988); "Jubilee" (# 7 1990);

Arose"

World That

985); "Scandalon" (# 3

1988); "That's

standout song "By Faith" (based on Hebrews

"How

in

in

1982); "Love Crucified

in

1987); "Celebrate the Child" (# 14

the Mystery" (# 10 in

(# 8

1983); "This

the Suffering Symbol" (# 23

Although

Me"

"Abba Father" (# 4

brews and features Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay on the 11).

left-handed and, like Paul

is

Have Decided" (# 8

1982); "Jesus Loves

Loves You" (# 32

Final

and nineteenth centuries, incorporating Renaissance and Celtic

long admired each other's work.

McCartney, plays the guitar upside down.

"poem") examines the theme of humanity as the crown of

inspired

who had

Catholic and a conservative Prot-

For trivia buffs: Michael Card

events are considered from the perspectives of different biblical

(from the

Roman

bringing together a

in

"To

1988);

1990); "Lift

Wisdom"

Him" (#

16

(# 15

in

Up in

1992).

—

— Bob

Dove Awards: 1983 Songwriter Album fThe

of the

Year 1988

Praise and

Worship

1994 Children's Music Album (Come

Word):

Final

the

to

Cradki.

139

Carlisle

The song "Butterfly Kisses" was written by Carlisle and Thomas for Carlisle's daughter Brooke on her sixteenth birthday.

recounts the blessings of having been her father amidst

It

memories of touching moments from her childhood

Bob

1993—8ob

(Sparrow);

Carlisle

Kisses [a.k.a.

I

1994— The Hope

of a Man;

Shades of Grace] (Diadem); 1997

(Word);

Ballads of Bob Carlisle

Voi

pony

Carlisle

1

1

Collection

998— Butterfly

Kisses

(Benson); Butterfly Kisses and Bedtime Prayers,

997—butterfly

(Sparrow); The

Vol. 2; Stories

proclaims. "With

something right

all

/

that I've

To deserve

a

hug every mormng

terfly kisses at night."

The song came

from the

Oprah Winfrey, among

others,

Day

Nothing But the Truth.

special.

umn as

www.bobcarhsle.com

"the

who

featured

The Wall Street Journal praised first

tune in recent

always be remembered for his

Carlisle will probably

sentimental 1997

hit.

contemporary charts;

"Butterfly Kisses" (#

#

1

it

many non-Butterfly-related

an annoying extent but

memory to use

sic

in

1956 in Santa Ana. California, he joined the

Jesus music group

Good News was

when

150. and then he and fellow Psalm 150 alum

formed the Allies.

He and Thomas

Like That?"

which became

Dolly Farton. As a solo

Randy Thomas

Come

in

Here Lookin'

Number One country

a

he was

developed as a songwriting

team and penned the song, "Why'd You

artist. Carlisle

hit for

has carved out a niche in

the soulful subset of the adult contemporary market, singing ballads that express his

most

heartfelt emotions. His voice

and

compared

vocal stylings (on his solo projects) are often

to

those of Michael Bolton. Favorite themes are family and devo-

debut solo album features several songs

that emphasize his willingness to be used as a servant of Christ

('Use Me." "Giving You the Rest of

My

"Mind, Body.

Life."

powerful pop song

Heart, and Soul"). "Getting Stronger"

is

with a strong hook and anti-machismo

lyrics: "If

my knees, you

see

it's

me

start to cry. you'll

The album

a

weak / I'm

not because I'm

ting stronger."

know

closes

you

see

me on

getting stronger

the reason

why /

/ If

I'm get-

with a touching remake of

Erick Nelson's "Going Home." The Hope of a Man, featuring four songs written with Carlisle's

it, I

cry." Carlisle

private

had intended the

poem and only

the urging of his wife.

Rick

Elias,

popularity as

women

A

effective.

Chicago

but every time

was geared toward

Promise Keepers audience, seeking to redefine mascu-

at

of

the song's becoming a public odd. he notes, to hear

it on the album wonder at the irony

reluctantly included to

phenomenon.

sung by another

it

especially

is

(It

He handled

artist.)

bearing up under the predictable goody two-shoes jokes that

had been Pat Boone's

lot to

at the height of their bly,

won

the song

endure two decades

TV what

being asked on national

popularity— if he were

Carlisle

earlier (e.g.,

he'd say to the Spice Girls

and Thomas

a

their father).

Nota-

Grammy Award

which songs that smack

ity are usually relegated).

of Christian-

Incidentally, a "butterfly kiss"

across your cheek."

The album Butterfly Kisses

(Shades of Grace)

went platinum

and became one of the best-selling Christian records of

Sparrow understandably rushed out Carlisle's first

all

time.

a collection of songs

from

two albums, and Word put together

tion of Carlisle ballads.

a

compila-

Two volumes of children's songs came moment of fame. A vanety of books

out to capitalize on the

were

issued. Carlisle's next

featured a

new sentimental

album.

Stories from the Heart

ways. too. the

stirrmg ballads such as

album was onginally Butterfly Kisses

is

"When

titled

offered along the a

Grown Man

Cries." His next

Shades of Grace but

and repackaged

way through was renamed

for distribution to the

main-

also featured

on the soundtrack of the Eimjack latter

values buttons with

album seems programmed

what CCVJ magazine

re-

was

Frc

hungry

for a

banquet

with their dancin'

fit

And

/

the ones

speak started to sing." Likewise, the album's

who

ogies

join

him

Jimmy

with

"When my

A

with Kaiser

tilizer.

.

.

.

be

I'll

flesh

some

"Rolling

Home."

a

.

.

.

coffin

I'll

sing

filler.

.

.

up when

more

HM

die!"

I

with Bud and I'll

.

be playin' fer-

in-

"Celtic rockabilly"),

called

traditional song reminiscent of the

Keaggy on scorching

which features

guest guitar. Julie Miller

Your Head" on her

ered Horner's "Back of sings

hang out

Other highlights

group's earlier style, and the concluding "Face," Phil

I'll

Glenn Kaiser) cause I'm more than

(i.e.,

livin' it

"Hey Paddy" (which

clude

and bones decay,

Jimmy Abegg)

(i.e.,

Julie Miller, I'm not just

blues

trots out a series of

regarding the musician friends he expects will

lyrics

there:

Horner

believe.

(who

Invisible Girl

cov-

album)

on "Come Back Down."

mid

For better or worse

'80s.

— the record sounds

after

he

Kansas,

left

like

i.e.,

the love and

mercy of God. The

to Foreigner's

"What

If

power

and "This

ballad,

Our World"

without love and getic

Me

"Hold

in

the prodigal son. cally

of Heaven (Word);

Want

"I

1

997—Corridors

(Pamplin);

1999—

was

native John Elefante

lead singer for the gen-

market band Kansas from 1981 to 1985. As such, he

whose

placed original vocalist Steve Walsh, the band's biggest hits ("Carry

is

On My Wayward

Kerry Livgren and David Hope were bringing

With the addition of

a Christian

successful

group

albums

disgruntled

on the minor

with

Game

"Play the Fire"

says deals

and Drastic Measures

hit singles

He wrote

with "standing up left

releasing the moderately

for

the latter song (which he

your

Kansas in 1985

faith")

when

lyrics.

with

record

began pressuring the band to tone

utives

content of their

from those pro-

Tonight" (# 17 in 1982) and "Fight Fire

(# 58 in 1983).

Dino. Elefante

members

to the group's

Elefante, Kansas essentially be-

two years,

Vinyl Confessions (1982)

(1983). Elefante sang jects,

for

re-

heard on

Son," "Dust

when he became

the band

left

voice

over the strong Christian influence that founding

projects.

his brother

company

down

exec-

the spiritual

At about the same time, he produced and

performed a song ("Young and Innocent") for the soundtrack to the

motion picture

Elefante

He

ous voice that lends

more

St.

Elmo's

formed Mastedon with

three solo albums.

power

Is

to

ballads "That's

What Love Is" (a reply Know What Love Is").

"What

if

The

the things that really matter?"

all

Your Arms"

is

"No One's Ever Died

My Good

eminently Beatlesque

asking for God's leadership

Me

for

Friend"

is

Before"

is lyri-

innovative, ad-

my good

The

since I've gone?"

latter

(or at least Wings-ish).

same

"down

The song "Not

ener-

based on the biblical story of

what have you been doing

is

in

our world was

with the

vein,

Any Other Day"

Just

song

title

me

the corridor that leads

to

reflects poi-

gnantly on the historical significance of Christ's crucifixion:

www.johnelefante.com

came

testify boldly to

reexamination of priorities

calls for a

powerful and "Hello,

the cross."

Wind"). Walsh

Without apology, he

track could be a Genesis

title

the midst of routine daily hassles:

track

Defying Gravity.

in the

earlier.

outtake. Standout songs include the

Why God Made the Moon"

in

opinions var-

critical

could have been recorded the day

it

ten years

Corridors continues in the

eral

— and

dressing people from the perspective of Jesus: "Hello,

John Elefante

New York

between McCart-

up ten power-pop arena-anthems that

serves

friend,

1995— Windows

McCartney and

to Paul

Windows of Heaven reveals Elefante to be solidly locked

ied

who

drawn

to be

in large part to strong similarities

ney's and Elefante's natural voices and practiced stylings.

couldn't

an energetic, almost raucous foretaste of the great party in the

title

would probably have

Wings, due

the

humorous

:

the

track offers

sky that awaits those

1

And

The lame kept me awake

for kings /

night long

all

/

dent on Elefante's albums, but the closest general market anal-

is

it

After leaving Kansas,

and also recorded

blessed with a powerful and melodi-

itself to

effectively than

Fire.

his brother

the power-pop of his solo

work

did to Kansas art-rock. Musical refer-

ences to supergroups like Kansas and Supertramp remain evi-

"The people of the town began

their ordinary lives /

Unsus-

pecting of a world about to change." Another song, "Where

Does Our Love Go?" presents the thoughts for direction in their relationship,

"Where Do

We Go

Heaven" encourages to

know

all

from Here?" The song "Treasures of

trust in

God and

"Do we

On

the song "Eyes of

much

like

Phil Keaggy,

do the McCartney thing.

to

asks,

the answers?"

Elefante sounds very

how

of a couple looking

along the lines of Chicago's

really

My

want

Heart,"

who also knows Know You're There" show-

"I

cases Elefante's soaring vocals on a powerful melodic line cele-

brating the presence of

God

that

is

recognizable in nature.

Elefante's next album, Defying Gravity, explores the

of absolute surrender and devotion to God.

track

is

fective

the album's low point musically, but

metaphor

to things that

theme

The

is

for resisting the "pull of the

would separate

believers

it

theme

repetitive title

employs an

ef-

world" with regard

from Christ. The same

brought out in the closing song, "Give

It

All

Away."

Musically, Elefante strives to broaden his repertoire of sounds

on Defying

Gravity, trying a bit of

Flame" (about continuing the Eagles on

country swing on "Pass the

in a tradition of faith)

"Home with

a View."

and emulating

The song "Don't Leave

the Band" revisits Chicago again, with affecting do-do-do

harmonies. "The Stream" has classical influences, with a orchestra accompanying the band.

The

full

best received songs.

—

— 296

Element

101

however, remain the more typical pop-rock numbers. "The

Way that You

Truth, the Life" and "The

Keaggy

ter song, Elefante perfects his Phil

point that

it is

many

unlikely very

two

the

tell

song that

relates the tale of a

when

Jesus and salvation

The

he

On the lat-

imitation to the

fans of either artist

apart. "Exit 39"

be able to

Loved Me."

is

man on

a road trip

church

visits a

would

an interesting story-

who

freeway

at a

finds

later

The Sound Kitchen in Nashville, which has been used by numerous mainstream acts as well as Chrisa studio called

Manilow, and

tian ones. Julio Iglesias. Allison Krauss. Barry

Wynonna Judd are among their regular clients, in addition to Gary Chapman and Point of Grace. When John learned that Jill

Sobule had recorded her poignant hit

studio,

embarrassingly homophobic response was pub-

his

lished in

CCM magazine: "Had

song

our studio,

at

When

she

As

Kissed a Girl" at his

"I

known

I

was recording

she

that

probably would have thrown her out.

I

was recording

it

though,

producer, Elefante has helped to turn out classic

a

albums by such

artists

Aurora, Barren Cross,

as

released their debut

first

punk

The

The

title

of the debut

Christian radio hits performed by

Guardian

Kim Boyce

latter

band would

Troy Johnson

Long ("Think about

Jesus,"

("I'll

"What

Be There for You") Greg .

"Love the Lord"),

a Friend,"

Petra ("Thankful Heart." "King's Ransom,"

It

"First Love."

"Hand

Go"), and Scott Springer ("Anytime." "Hello Forever."

Cross, Leonti,

I

My Knees,"

"Heaven

("He's There,"

Would

Is

"Promises"), and

or

Name," "What

Calling Your

numerous songs

Say?"), in addition to

Two

for

Barren

The Brave, Rick Cua, Lisa Daggs, Fear Not, Nikki Timothy James Meaney, Nouveaux, and Sweet

Christian radio

hits:

What Love

(# 2

weeks

Is" in

Your Arms" (#

My

"Helpless" [with

Kim Boyce] (#6

1987); "This

in

Is

"No One's Ever Died for Me Before" (# in 1996); "Hold Me in 1995); "What If Our World" (# 3 in 996); "Hello My Good Friend" (# in 996); "Eyes in

guities also

outfit,

with

a focus

:

a strong '80s Bangles-

on

in

Such ambi-

divinity.

run through the bouncy ditty "Today and Always"

and the more droning "Twenty Years

from the stage or

tell

we

are

in the

Making." Verhagen

We

be a ministry band.

people

how

we

Christians,

all

don't

re-

don't preach

il

to live."

Elevator Division James Hoskins, voc,

Paul Buzan, bass;

Samuel Hoskins, drums;

gtr.;

seph Hoskins. voc, kybrd. (-2001). 1999 2001

Jo-

imaginary Days (Ashland);

Movement (independent).

www.elevatordivision.com

The Kansas City group known

|

1

995);

lyrics

with dark

tar.

Their minimalist sound has been likened to Mercury-en

Prayer Chain.

Lyrically, the

condition, or in the

group tunes

words of Bandoppler,

in

with the human

"exploits every corner

of our insecurity, loneliness, obsession, devotion, and tendency

mans. Thus

likes to

reshape songs of

God's feeling of being forsaken by hu-

"Away" (from Imaginary Davs), Hoskins

in

I

1

in

1

in 1

1997); "Corridors" (# 12

998);

"Home

with a View" (#

1

wistfully about "those times

when

I

held you in

My

sings

arms,

1

5 in

when you knew

101

Nick Acocella, drums;

(a.k.a.

1

"Not

Just

An-

you seen

my

Son?

you return?"

999).

Crissie Verhagen, voc.

200 1— Stereo

Girt

Element)

Sal Ciaravino;

2000

—

Chris Mizzone,

that

you were Mine," before

asking,

"Have

1

1997);

in

In

Danny

Papa,

Future Plans Undecided (Tooth and

oughly turgical

.

.

Have you seen

.

.

contemporary Christian music

is

.

When circles

get dismissed by critics

at least as old as

will this

(who

lyrics"),

Hosea and, thus,

thor-

Imaginary Days also offers a nicely reworked

in the messianic,

Joseph Hoskins

my love?

the "God-is-my-girlfriend approach to

it

biblical.

song

.

theme tends to

but the imagery gtr.;

I

musical tones that are often built around a single, echoing gui-

cynically label

Element

as Elevator Division creates

ambient mood rock that couples introspective

tried but true

Nail);

the

I

Heart" (# 14

other Day" (# 7

gtr.;

.

'

what

Edge of Night" describes a breakthrough moment, possibly

lost love as expressing

of

film

Future

meets-The Cars sound. The standout track "Standing on the

towards escapism." The group also

Comfort Band.

for 2

MxPx,

Heart,"

"Behold the Lamb," "On

More

•

critics.

call "life in general." Stereo Girl reveals a

more polished and practiced

"We Hold Out Our Hearts to You," "Enter In." "We Need Jesus"), Mark Pogue ("Love Is Just a Prayer Away," "Let

it" as-

("Helpless"),

Found Love." "Never Say Goodbye"): Halo

("I

"Secret to Love"):

My

,

("Never Live without Your Love." "Tomorrow"),

("Saved within Grace," "Jacob's Dream." "Eye of the Storm,"

on

from

reactions

Plans Undecided offers catchy pop-punk songs about

ally consider ourselves to

The Brave

or hate

it

album was taken from the 1999

Greg Long, Nouveaux,

Springer. As a songwriter. Elefante has written or cowritten

"love

Nail.

band with pop

Can't Hardly Wait. Produced by Mike Herrera of

told Bandoppler, "Although

Jonathan Pierce, and Scott

The

,

Element on Burnt

"a rock-n-roll

which provokes divergent

nasal voice,

as

on Tooth and

it

sound seems to be Verhagen's sweet but

s

Brave, Bride, Brighton, Carman, Lisa Daggs, Guardian. Petra,

album

influences and female vocals."

pect of Element 101

romantic perception but with

didn't get gay vibes."

I

the group

Toast Vinyl, but have since reissued

Verhagen describes the group as

exit.

Pakaderm Records and

Elefante brothers founded

opened

Composed of five Italian Americans from New Jersey. Ele101 was originally known as simply Element but had to change their name due to one of those pesky trademark disputes. Formed by Crissie Verhagen and Danny Papa in 1997, ment

left

li-

Hebraic "Chnste Yeshue." After

the band, his brother James took over as

>

— 297

Linda Elias

'

more pop scribes

other 1

The

lead singer.

.

.

trying to

.

make

feel to

a

James Hoskins de-

it.

progress, often at the expense of

and personal

relationships

Standout songs include

integrity."

"Mute." "Alone." "Burning Bright." and

"Tempo

of Three."

The

remorseful reflection on the announced theme:

latter offers

"Business— it makes us -

Movement has

as a three-piece

gloomy pop)

"about people trying to get from one point to an-

as

it

album

first

(albeit

forget

all

why

we're even here, and

who with."

without works

faith

dead. "Letters"

is

more

gritty expres-

Too" closes the album with

somber reminder that God shares

a

we

in the pain of 'all that

"God Weeps

in desperation.

go through." Second Hand Clothing

(produced by David Zaffiro) offers another collection of songs written from an unusually mature perspective. The

title

track deals with the notion of inherited tendencies, as Eli re-

on the dysfunctions bequeathed to him by his

flects bitterly

they look

from the

Hand

me

dancing with his demons

him with me

constantly comparing

See Industry Eleven.

a

God

ther: "I've spent a lifetime

Eleven

is

sion of a person turning to

in the eyes /

And

They

/

their lies as

tell

same

fa-

They're

say 'The apple doesn't

Yet another song with the

tree'."

/

title

fall far

("Second

Clothing, part 2") celebrates the individuality of a

young

woman who eschews fashion-conscious materialism to shop at

Paul Falzone)

Eli (a.k.a.

1995—Paul

As Paul Falzone:

Prayed For (ForeFront);

1

too

thrift stores; this

As

Falzone (Rugged).

999— Second Hand Clothing;

200

1

visited

1998— Things

Eli:

upon

their

allegorical,

is

not of parents' sins being

young, but of God's grace that makes old

I

—Now the News.

things new. Grace the artist relates

is

which

also the subject of "Unqualified," in

some

of the seamier aspects of his autobiogra-

www.forefrontrecordscom phy, and "Brother," in

Los Angeles native voice, stylings,

Christian music's Cat Stevens. His

Eli is

and songs are

all

reminiscent of the blue-collar

On

folk-pop music created by that singer in the early 70s. first

album

as

he even recorded his

Eli,

own

his

version of the An-

hymn "Morning Has Broken," which Stevens also covNumber Six hit back in 1972. Born Paul Falzone, the singer who would come to be known as Eli came to faith hard, and his songs resonate with the honesty of one who maintains

invites

an ostracized sinner to

place."

The songs

his marriage, the

and

"Valleys"

the brokenness that

Eli

"I'll

encountered

Stay Right Here" express break-up of

in facing the

death of his grandmother, and the loss of a

glican

good friend to cancer. Against that background, the song

ered as a

"Stand" (based on Ephesians 6)

that faith

without pretense. He turned to drugs

homeless on the streets of LA.

living

seventeen and three years later of his church

who

told

him

He found

was given

that

deed, he took to the instrument as

a guitar

God had if

It

was not

until

salvation at

plan for him. In-

a

knows how

his

it all

common

Eli

wonder

if

time

this will be the

his

that

thoughts

to put into words. For example,

song "Captain. " he addresses Christ with unveiled

in his

life.

album under

adopting the pseudonym

Falzone began crafting songs expressing that not everyone

young age,

by a member

he had played

In 1995. he released a soon-to-be-forgotten

given name.

at a

when

fear:

T

you're not going to be

there." In defense of that lyric. Eli told Release, 'Biblical or not.

that's

how

it

is

to be a Christian.

don't go though that

is

Anybody who liar." By

either deity or a

says they

the same

token. Eli definitely views his singing as a ministry of

my

sort: "It is

desire to be

may serve as

some

especially

song, a simultaneously poignant

how

If

I

don't see lives

noteworthy

and

Rain

by newspaper clippings

The musical selections are interspersed from "news room conversations" and spoken-

biblical narratives.

with snippets

word introductions

that enhance the album's effectiveness as a

concept-piece. "Beggars" takes

its

theme from

Jesus'

odd advice

Luke 14:12-14, and "Master's Feet" derives from Luke

in

7:36-50. "Never

Knew You

Looked Like That" seems to take

its

inspiration from Christ's prediction that he will go unrecog-

nized in "the least of these"

(Matthew

Said" addresses the apathy of

25:40).

"Do What You

American Christians

of global poverty ("Take off your stupid bracelet

hand-clapping song that anticipates a time life

will be

when

in the face

Unless you

/

do what Jesus would"). "Better Days" closes the

set

the

with

ills

a

of this

no more.

(# 4

offers a similarly

for its title

in

hits:

1998); "Life

1999);

"Things

I

Prayed For" (# 5

on the Edge" (#

"God Weeps Too"

ond Hand Clothing" (#

(# 17

3 in 1998): in

when

humorous look

at the

theme that

Linda Elias 1991

1998): "King of the Hill"

"The Lumber Song" (# 24

1999); "Stand" (# 2

he was a

"The Lumber Song" by

in

19 in 2000); "Unqualified" (# 14

and humorous reflection on

the artist's prayers have changed from

child to the present. His rendition of

Ceili

my father

tried to fight

1

I

collection of original songs inspired

in

is

where

man / When all had to do was stand." Now the News continues stylistically in the same vein with a

being touched. I'm outta here. man. I'm gone."

Praved For

is

someone who puts an album out

that people will relate to. like I'm a friend.

I

the more powerful and

my teacher skipped

the part

and be a

Christian radio

Things

is

is all

theme song: "This

the album's

tripped / This

and eventually wound up

reacting against his parents' divorce,

•

which he

return to the table where "our Father's been saving you your

The Meaning of Love (Wonderland).

in

in

1999); "Sec-

2000).

— 298

Rick Elias

Linda Elias

is

best

known as a member of Tuesday's

Child,

the group she formed in 1995 with Lesley Glassford. She has also

composed songs with and

Margaret Becker.

husband Rick Elias and

for her

of songs that she had written with her husband. prise of

many, the album evinces

a generally

music of Frente

on

(e.g.,

The

of groups like

track

title

how

about

is

I

which Rick was

Can Do"

The Go-Go's,

Bangles,

Your Love Away" has

as a

'80s

style

or Wilson Phillips.

buoyant sugar-pop with humorous

subdued

is

sung

ballad

summon

a '60s

lyrics

mundane

exis-

sound while

new-wave. "Yours and Mine"

"All

a

is

duet with husband Rick. Linda later col-

opening of "Someday"),

was even

Elias

images of Zuma-eia Neil Young. "Without

able to

a

Word"

and "Stripped" are somber Nebraska-like meditations on

soul-

searching and relationships, respectively. His second album features the standout songs

"When You

and

lops along to

Lose

"I

Wouldn't Need You (Like

Someone You

Love."

an infectious tune, while

and "Only Your Love"

"Miracle"), but layered background

on The Meaning of Love into the

finding true love can transform a

tence. "Don't Take

pop

sur-

at the time. Linda's childlike voice often recalls the

vocals cast several songs

The

To the

sunny disposition

in contrast to the painfully honest songs for

noted

album

In 1991, Linda Elias recorded a solo

lute best (the

The song

"My

Own

Very

Do)"

I

"Steps" gal-

Hero"

are especially Pettyesque.

Transcending a past fraught with physical and sexual abuse

and having fought diction, Elias

was

thenticity. "John

his

way

back from life-threatening drug ad-

with

able to relate story-songs

Doe" (from

Ten Stories) offers

cycles of abuse that breed violence in society.

the tough streets of San Diego, Elias

came

a ring of au-

commentary on

No

stranger to

to Christ only after a

Rome" and

suicide attempt in 1985. Songs like "Streets of

"Stones" (both from his debut) deal with self-destructive be-

laborated with Rick and with Scott Rogness to write the hit

havior. All the characters in his songs, he told Brian

song "That Thing You Do," which served as the

Newcomb

in 1991. share "a completely clueless aspect about

their life,"

an

title

track for

Tom Hanks made about a one-hit-wonder '60s band The Wonders). In real life, the supposedly Number One song made it to Number Forty-one on Billboard's pop charts in the movie (called

a version

performed by the

band (composed of studio

fictitious

musicians, including Rick Elias on guitar).

nominated

for

Christian radio

The song was

also

both Golden Globe and Academy Awards.

hits:

"The Meaning of Love" (#

"how

inability to figure out

they are to the better place they dream

The

with

and the

Choir, neither of

artist all

Elias's

to get

from where

But despite a tour

of."

two albums

sold very well,

but disappeared from the main stage of con-

temporary Christian music. He continued to compose songs

and

for other artists, however,

1996 cowrote

in

(with Scott Rogness and Linda Elias) for the

3 in 1992).

Quincy

Tom

five songs

Hanks' film

The title track was a minor hit for a fictiThe Wonders (# 41 in 1996) and was nominated for both Golden Globe and Academy Awards. Elias played guitar on the soundtrack album and had a cameo role in That Thing You Do. tious

Rick Elias 1990— Rick Elias

and the Confessions (Alarma);

Elias

Blink (Pamplin);

2000

1991— Ten

Confessions of a Ragamuffin

Stories;

Man: The

1997—

Best of Rick

(KMG).

from Tennessee, but he

Elias hails

paid his dues for a decade on the Southern California club circuit before gaining critical acclaim in the early '90s with

cut from the same cloth

as

works by Tom

camp, and Bruce Springsteen. Fans of that

were drawn to

Iball called "his autobiographical songs of faith, his rag-

and soulfully played said that his voice

and kerosene

Thompson the

Confessions,

John

guitar."

sounded

"as

if

J.

Thompson

it

called

it

as

"a

and

gut-level expression of real-life faith

CCM went all-out

"one of the best debut recordings ever by a Chris-

Number

Fifty-eight

Albums

of All Time.

on

their

list

would

Is

place

it

at

of the 100 Greatest Christian

The songs "Confessions

and Miles," and "The Word riffs,

rich."

also described the debut album, Rick Elias

tian artist"; ten years later, in 2000, they

tar

of True Tunes

was melodically

amidst the wreckage of the western world."

and

lyrics

he had been gargling chipped

for ten years, yet

Love" are

all

of Love," "Miles

built

which first

on strong

cementing the Springsteen connections. At

called

He also resurfaced in the Christian market in the late member of Rich Mullins A Ragamuffin Band,

inspired

KMG

Man: The

from

to release a collection of songs

two albums under

amuffin

the misleading

title

his

Confessions of a Rag-

Best of Rick Elias.

Ignored in the just-mentioned retrospective

John Mellen-

Petty,

style

two albums

ged rasp of a voice, and his fresh combination of poetic

glass

the film. '90s as a

Roots rock singer Rick

what

band

is

a

1997 solo

project called Blink. Elias described the latter project as "just a collection of demos," as personal,

didn't

seem

right for

somewhat edgy songs

any of the Christian

performed his material. Less gritty than the Blink also departs

that

who

typically

earlier

albums,

artists

from the trademark story-song format

to

provide fare more typical of the contemporary Christian music

market. Songs such as "Hole in plain trite like

("I

need

a hole in

My

my heart

come

off as just

hole in

my head"),

Heart" like a

something The Wonders might have done. "God,

however, puts a bouncy melody at the service of

lampooning Christian businesses that for the masses. "Streets of

song from

Elias's first

Rome"

album.

is

Elias has

set

Inc.,"

satirical lyrics

out to market Christ

actually an update of a

never sounded more

like

gui-

Springsteen than on the moving ballads "Prayers of the Saints,"

his abso-

which acknowledges the support of Christian community, and

— 299

The Elms

if You Believed." sung from the perspective of Christ. "Blink"

on the

reflects

fleeting nature of

life,

and "The More Things

Change" offers an elegant affirmation of God's steadfastness, backdrop of piano and

set against a

sions

conces-

its

potential that endeared

the sober evaluation of Christian

many

fans to Elias's early work.

'the Christian .

Despite

cello.

toward adult contemporary expectations. Blink retains

walk' and

never had a walk.

At

6'4".

is

who

one

the poor /

his

•

His weakness

in

sat beside the

which

is

/

The next

basketball-player

He

whore." Such poignancy is typical

certainly better than average musically

married to

is

voc. (-2001)

albums. In addition to his

(+ 2001).

Owen Thomas,

Thorn Daugherty,

//

2000— The

gtr.,

gtr. (+

2001— The

Elms [EP] (Sparrow);

Steve Marsh, bass, voc.

Bob

Carlisle.

A modern pop band from Seymour.

—

some

trio in search of a bass player. For

Owen Thomas

had

led

1996); Glen Teeple,

(d.

Things Break (Reunion); Let

gtr..

They added James Thompson

was a progressive Canadian pop rock band that two albums and toured North America as the opening Michael W. Smith in 1986. The group was composed

two brothers Glen and Ross Teeple and

their cousin, Steve

name from Elim Hall, a church built by The band made two albums, which both

Marsh. They took their their grandfathers.

came out on Reunion

in the

same

though

year,

sion of Things Break,

produced by Gary

available previously.

The

custom

a

ver-

Chapman, had been

track to the latter

title

worship

album

meditation on mortality: "Let's Play 'Science Says'

is

but most of

Marsh and Glen Teeple would

died of liver cancer the

day that

it

was

is

an

join

was too good

all

a

group with

Grows Where

#

sample revealed a group

guitars,

at least five

and big rock

vocals,

good songs

in their

compared The Elms to

'90s

named but

Rose.

it

like

The

Flying Machine

5 in 1969), Edison Lighthouse

My Rosemary Goes." # 5 in 1970) or Pilot

even allow the catchiest of girl

#

5 in 1975). Like the

The

all

first

two

of those bands, they

about

their catchy songs to be

exact point of "Goodnight. Rosa"

is

a

un-

seems to present the concluding words of a guy

who has witnessed

B

little

warm

("Smile a Little Smile for Me."

clear,

released.

worked. The

ogy would be to one-hit wonders

in-

Marsh

in

to keep

superstars like Oasis and the Foo Fighters, but the better anal-

a

One Hundred

Feels Like Lcve.

It

to his date

a goodnight's sleep until she

and

now hopes

she will not have

makes the choice he thinks she

needs to make. Ample "la-da-dee-dah's" give the song a '70s

Kenneth Eriksson,

Per Hedtjarn, drums; Lasse Olsson,

bass;

Nilsson Wihk, voc;

Robert Wirensjo, kybrd.

1989

gtr.;

Prince

Lasse

of Peace

(Alarma).

Ellen

in-

Visiting).

1997 and became The Elms

in

repertoire. Official press materials

("Love

"

out.

with memorable melodies,

("Magic,"

Ellen

at their father's

under wraps and wanted to generate buzz before the main

album came

dictment against the idolatrous equation of scientific fact with

one of that group's albums.

a

kybrd.; Ross Teeple,

Thrive.

It

Elim Hall

for

still

years prior to this,

dependent albums under that name (Gardenshew;Just

recorded

truth. Steve

The Elms were

church under the name Just Visiting, and they recorded two

drums

1986

Indiana.

introduced by Sparrow on a five-song EP while they were

1999. Sparrow seemed to think the group

bubblegum feel appropriate to The rest of the short album has critic

B was not

a female rapper but a Scandinavian power-

No

pop band with

a

tion regarding

them remains available, but what appears to was released on Terry Taylor's

sound similar to that of Petra.

informa-

have been their only album

Alarma Records, and the group thanks Charlie Norman (brother

Larry Norman)

tions.

Big Surprise.

www.theelms.net

Chris and

of

voc; James Thompson,

2001); Keith Miller, bass

as a producer for

Elim Hall

Days

with

care of

The Elms

tall.

Christian radio hits: "Blink" (# 10 in 1998).

of

word / Took

kept His

as well.

has played keyboards and sung backup vo-

Steps of Faith" for

act for

song, "Real

of popular culture

T

7ball.

a crawl."

own recordings, he has Randy Stonehill, Chris Taylor, Tuesday's Child, Split Level, The Wayside, and other artists. He also cowrote the Christian radio hit "Walkin' Up the on

worked

And

of the project,

gtr.,

cals

'wept

Chris Thomas, drums, voc;

who

begin.

hear people talking about

have to laugh." he once told

always been

It's

Rick Ehas

Linda Elias,

I

T

new day

the distractions of a

Man," juxtaposes the macho images

The opening

thoughts of one

in their liner notes for help track.

who

transla-

"Don't End the Night." presents the

tosses

night, trying to sort out

with

and turns throughout a

some

sleepless

basic questions of truth before

described as Jars of

the superficiality of a similarly retro

theme.

its

sound that one

Clay singing Newsboys

"Lifeboat" (not a Steve Taylor cover)

is

songs.

a radio-friendly

wor-

ship song addressed to Christ. "You're Glowing" sounds almost like a children's song, ("If

sky.

you're I'll

down

with

the tracks.

fly a plane").

lyrics inspired I'll

by Runaway Bunny

ride the train / If you're in the

Horns add an

Beatlesque flourish. "You Think You

"All

You Need

Know a Guy"

rious Everclear-type ballad of unfulfilled needs.

Cry " (not the Lost Dogs song) as the ultimate role

model

is

a

is

a

Is

"Real

moving description

for true masculinity

Love"

more

se-

Men

of Jesus

300

Eloi

After the debut

EP, a

at the core

rather different band with the

Thomas

produced the full-length album The Big

brothers

still

Surprise.

Owen Thomas announced. "We abandoned the acous-

sound

tic

time."

and made the

(of the EP)

No one

else agreed

with

disc for rock 'n' roll fans this

this assessment. Rather. The Big

from the debut and seven more

Surprise contains three songs

gamut from 70s power-pop

equally sugary tunes that run the

The Bay City Rollers, with obvious influences from "Mickey" The songs "Here's My Hand" and "You Get Me Every Time" are more lush, softer tunes. "The Buzzing

listeners of

Tom

though sometimes

in unex-

pectedly poetic ways. Dylanesque biblical imagery plays

on the unjust and righteous

"It rains

truth

is

louder than hell

/

a role:

The sound of the Samaritan passes away/

as well /

A forgetful

His friends and his family have nothing to say." Proceeds from the sale of Exquisite Whisper were donated to "Feed the Children." an

Oklahoma-based

charity.

many

bubblegum. The opening "Hey, Hey" reminded

to '60s

forthrightly with issues of faith,

Embodyment

Basil's

Andrew Goodwin, Lanigan, gtr.;

Won't Stop"

is

Christian radio

sung

hits:

in a soaring falsetto that recalls '60s pop.

"Lifeboat" (# 13

Hey" (#5

2000); "Hey,

in

in

McCaddon,

voc.

(- 2000)

1998— Embrace the Eternal (Solid 2001—Hold Your Breath.

(+ 2000).

2001).

Mark Garza, drums; Kevin Donnini,

gtr.;

Kris

//

bass; James

Sean Corbray, voc.

State);

2000— The

Narrow

Scope of Things;

www.embodymentcore.com

Eloi Jeff

Gothard, drums; Bryan

bass.

1997— Degrees

Hilliard, gtr.;

Seth Poor, voc; Stephen Smiley,

of Freedom (Hot Trax);

1

999—Mold (Cross

Rhythms).

cross between Metallica and Ugly Kid

Described as "a

the hard rock band Eloi offers a basic metal groove with

Phantom

Tollbooth calls "just

enough grunge

The group comes out

teresting."

Joe."

what

to keep things in-

of Dallas. Texas,

and takes

its

name from Jesus' cry of dereliction on the cross (Mark 15:34). The basic sound has been likened to Tool, Helmet, and Korn. Eloi's independent release Degrees of Freedom earned them the honor of being named HM Magazine's "favorite unsigned band" for 1997. That status was remedied for Mold with a resultant rise in production values. The title song to the album calls listeners to let go of their lives and let God change them. "Looking Christian"

movement

revisits

in /

theme from the

early Jesus

man in a know Jesus takes

contrasting the outward appearance of a

three-piece suit to a long-hair

me

a

with tattoos

("I

The Christian metal band from Arlington, Texas, called Embodyment has made two albums that sound like the work of two completely different bands. The group formed as early as 1993 as a straight death metal

Crimson Thorn. By ever,

major

first

release,

like

how-

they had leavened that sound with generous doses of

punk

hardcore. Embrace the Eternal

is

a very hard, rhythmic

metal album with some similarity to the work of Living Sacrifice.

The most

distinctive element

McCaddon, who somehow at the

same time. This

pulsating

rhythm

learned

is

the vocal style of Kris

how

and scream

to growl

excessively ugly sound

set against a

is

section with virtually no relief in the form of

guitar solos or anything else. for their technical quality,

The band was

songs as such; rather, the

universally praised

while most reviews noted that

the songs sounded alike and none of

them

really

whole album had the

all

sounded

like

what

The

feel of

Lighthouse called "a collection of licks with vocals." Lyrics are

not understandable, but

To him I'm looking Christian").

band akin to groups

the time of their

nying

liner notes reveal

when

accessed through the accompa-

engagement with such

issues as gossip

("20 Tongues"), lust ("Blinded"), and conscience ("Carnival

Elysian Skies

Chair") from a distinctly Christian perspective and often in

Ben Busch, kybrd.; John Feighey, drums; John Wahurmund,

gtr.;

Keith Giles, voc;

—

1998

Bill

Schmid,

quite perceptive ways.

The song "Breed"

offers

an

mony to faith without apology: "Call me what you want / The Falling to truth remains the same / am branded Christian

an alternative modern rock band from

my knees / A servant unto Christ / In this world of disease." As

bass.

Exquisite

Angel).

I

Elysian Skies

is

Southern California remarkable for the big-name support they

Doug Van

managed

larly

to pull in for their debut album.

Adam Again

ecutive producer

Wayne

Everett and

Gene Eugene

Andy

of

the beating of Jesus described in Luke 22:63-64.

Plasencio (of

Plumb and Sixpence None

sound that Phantom

with fewer guitar tic

frills."

sound down

strumming.

Tollbooth said "suggests

Elysian Skies has the pat.

The Waiting

modern rock

but supplements

it

swirling

with folksy acous-

Giles' high pitched vocals also give the

distinctive edge.

The nine songs on

their

is

debut album

band all

a

deal

Two

years

.

HM noted, the band's assault style

served as engineers and mixers to help ex-

J. J.

.

is

on the song "Prophesy," where the

effective

shouted repeatedly over a pounding double bass

the Richer) craft the band's sound in the studio. The result a

Pelt of

.

Pnckett of

as well as

The Prayer Chain

explicit testi-

Whisper (Baby

gtr.,

riff

particutitle

is

that recalls

came back with an album closer The Deftones or Stavesacre than to death metal genre. McCaddon was gone (later

later,

the band

to the emo-core sounds of

anything to turn

in the

up

in

Society's Finest), and the

dies,

and guitars

Critics loved

it,

new

singer actually

The songs had melocould be heard above the pummeling beat.

sang, often in a soft

and beautiful

voice.

though die-hard death metal fans

who

still

End Time Warriors

com-

consider Embrace the Eternal to be a Christian classic plained noisily that the ;

name

if

band should

they were going to reinvent themselves so drastically

Point taken.

Still,

The Narrow Scope of Things remains the

The new

Sean Corbray does his share of

vocalist.

screaming and. as Bandoppler assured

make your

"will

work

band with deep metal

of a metal band, or at least of a hard rock roots.

have changed their

at least

ears bleed, even

if

there

is

some singing

.

in

new

and the word "poetic" was often used to describe

his

The song "Assembly Line Humans" continues to reveal Embodyment's bone-crunching potential and "Like Cigarettes" comes close to recalling the Embodyment of yore. Still, "One Less Addiction" approach ("Naked trees are clawing for

is

That

actually offered as a ballad.

Me

Me" (which

stellar

Sunday" expresses disappointment that the easy seems to have slipped away over the

explains (or doesn't explain) their

statement: "emit ridge

name with

a clever

song and

'"Killing

the

on the

Hold Your

third album,

first

Breath,

album

lin;

the music

rock,

is

hard

Still

completely melodic with no screaming

whatsoever. Treble Bandoppler (writing for

HM)

indicated that

concerts had revealed Corbray really wasn't a screamer but agreed that

on Hold Your

Breath,

he had found his niche: soul-

powerful singing to accompany a heavy, brooding mass of

ful,

undertones. Standout songs include "Heaven "Belly Up."

and "Yours Truly." With bands

Is

like

a Letter

Bomb,"

Tool selling out

amphitheaters and with Creed's records in chart-stratosphere, the radio-accessibility of melodic hard rock all-time high.

Embodyment

willing for a general

to

seemed to be

at

an

indicated that they were ready and

market crossover.

1996— Five

Closer Nearer.

Emmaus nity

Church

the outreach ministry of the

is

Emmaus Commu-

They have a Delirious? The group has a about eight members and

in Dublin, Ireland.

MTV

gerated ways. Although

history similar to shifting led

is

what appear

reported that "band

it is

member-

by Ronan

England. Press reports

in

often tout the group's ecumenicity in

to be exag-

members

island,"

all

of the

members (regardless of members of the

their

background or

charismatic, nonde-

upbringing) appear to be

nominational (and therefore Protestant) church that gives the

group

its

name. The

two Emmaus albums consist simply by members of the comalbums followed, which are no longer

first

of praise and worship choruses sung

Two more

munity.

lost

With the EPs

listed in their discographies.

Five

and

All Over the

they came into their own, shaping up as an actual pop

World,

band with

a definitive

rock/folk/country sound. Weight finally

album's worth of material, compiling

full

from the past projects along with some songs

not previously available.

The

live

album

revisits

many

of these

tracks again, albeit with a harder edge. Closer Nearer, the Doerksen,

Lilley, gtr.;

gtr.:

Marty Gast. kybrd., bass; Derek Iddison, drums; Rob

Mark Weise,

voc.

1

995— Discretion

(Ridgerian);

1997— Undi-

in-

clude both Protestants and Catholics from both parts of the

favorite songs

Erik

[EP];

Temple bar Theatre Dub-

—

2000

brought together a

emit ridge

into Grace;

Live at the

www.emmauscommunity.com/band/body.htm

"Rojo" Johnston, a writer for

as well.

merely completed the

transformation evident on Narrow Scope of Things.

Me; 1991— Walk

1989—Come

Over the World [EP]; Weight;

ship of usually

The

meaning."

1997—All

air").

and more melodic styles) express the ongoing quest for holiness that surfaced frequently

the following

Emmaus

that of Britain's

alternates internally

name with

had

The group

not a person, a place, a disease, or a

is

Selected:

between the very hard

in

faith he

years.

readers, the songs

its

them." Corbray also serves as lyricist for the group's songs,

he believes, for others through history. "Lazy

singer and,

as a child

301

album

of

all

new

first

material in years, represents a return to roots.

with the group performing contemporary hymns and worship

vided Soul (Light).

songs.

Toronto-based emit ridge (always lower case) emerged out

Canadian club scene

of the tian

band that sounded

The

latter description

in the

like a

mid

'90s as a

low-key Chris-

more pop version of

Pearl

Jam.

immediately compares them to At-

Third Day, an analogy that holds aurally but not lyriAlthough Gast says, "we really want people to see the

lanta's cally.

hope through our music." the band itly religious

off."

careful not to use explic-

language that would offend the secular audience

they court. As Weise puts culture truth

is

it,

and present

it

"you've got to be able to bring the to

them

before they switch

you

on

its

Emmaus

presents an alternative rock sound (es-

three 1997 albums) that

by American funk and soul land.

Phantom

as

Tollhooth singles

one encounters with Collective Soul. "Now"

is

ad-

dressed to a presence that has always "been there" for the

is

as heavily influenced

by the Celtic sounds of

lence" as especially impressive tracks (both

The

first

of these offers a spoken

bassline.

The

ing

"Give

lyric:

desert / Give

latter kicks in

on the

live

homeSi-

album).

word monologue over a funky

with distorted guitars and

a plead-

me a voice in the silence / Give me a river in the me some mercy with my justice / Give me love,

love, love."

End Time Warriors See E.T.W.

its

out "Peter" and "Voice in the

Thus, songs that deal with relationships ("Pieces": "She's

Beyond") mix with ones that present the sort of muted spirituality

Musically pecially

302

Priscilla

Georgia,

Engle

Priscilla 1

Engle

986—Pristi//o

1989—Age/ess

Engle (Frontline);

1990—

Love (Diadem);

where the couple now lived. Saved and

Spirit-filled, he

continued to play with Sea Level until 1980. then went solo

more opportunity

order to have

in

to share the message and en-

Learning to Love.

thusiasm of his faith in ways that sitting behind Christian pop singer and songwriter Pnscilla Engle is

from Muncie, Indiana. Her debut

Are Lookin' Up"

Chapman

and 'Add

Up

the Wonders" by

and Stormie Omartian; likewise

with songwriting on Ageless

Ray

Michael

Boltz would

assist

a collection of light rock

Love,

CCAI compared Engle's albums to contemporary works by Sheila Walsh and Jamie Owens-Collins. songs.

Christian radio

hits:

"To

Live

Christ" (# 20

Is

in

1986).

English's debut album. Lights in the World, features back-

ground vocals by Bonnie Bramlett and evinces a

As Joe

1980— Lights

English:

The the

in

World (Refuge);

1

ests in the Spirit-led life

1983— Press On (Myrrh); 1984— Live; 1985— The Best (Refuge); 1988— Bock to Basics: English 101. As The English

Band:

Come

1985—

singer in 1980 after a stellar career in main-

stream rock and a spectacular conversion to charismatic,

first

New

York,

began playing with the group Jam Factory at the

age of eighteen and for six years toured with the group, open-

Hendnx. Janis Joplin, and the Allman Jam Factory's 1970 album, Sitting in the Trap, was produced by Paul McCartney. For English, the years with Jam

ing for such acts as Jimi Brothers.

Factory were fraught with personal troubles, including a failed marriage. After he mer, playing

left

whom he

ber of

the group, he worked as a session drum-

on over twenty albums that went gold or

num. Then he was with

Wings

plati-

CCM

end times.

magazine

English's biggest

Matthew Ward."

more of

a

invited to join McCartney's band, Wings,

like "it

com-

later

was recorded

made with

project,

were

split

"My Strength

("Wake Up," "The Best the same vein.

Its title

Is

Is

between

in the Lord")

and

continues

track alludes to English's past

fortune and fame /

I

count

loss

it all

sound

a rockier

On

Yet to Come"). Press

("I

compared

albums were written by members of

his band, especially key-

board player John Rossasco. Critical complaints that the

bums were

too bland

may have prompted

tougher sound on What You Need, with

ment

that the record

was

a

group

effort.

official

The

acknowledg-

official

lineup for

"The English Band" included Paul Brannon on bass and George Cocchini on

guitar.

The

title

track to

What You Need

as well as

"Children of the Light" are hook-filled rockers, while

Will

"I

of a pop classic in the typical English tradition.

The album

commitment

to a relationship with a longtime

al-

English to go for the

at the

three years,

to

The song "Royal Priesthood" has a hymnlike, worshipful quality. Most of the songs on English's first three Jesus' name").

and Mars and Wings left after

in

walked

Camp)

He

to-

pop

light

Follow You" (written by Cocchini with Steve

the Wings over America live album.

in a

group that had toured

a

stylistically

mem-

for the band's Venus

hit,

— too clean and sanitized." Held Accountable was

band

away from

would

English

album sounded

played from 1974 to 1976. English was a

Speed of Sound albums, and for the legendary tour that yielded

partly out of

and

gether. Its songs ("First Love."

miracle-oriented faith. Born in 1949 in Rochester,

English

Camp

Account-

Yet to

Is

Joe English entered contemporary Christian

pop

as a

in the

"Shine On," to be one of their "ten best records of 1980."

hospital zone

(Myrrh).

Drummer music

and

would pick the album, which yielded

plain that the debut

982— Held

able;

What You Need

is

that of basic soft rock, and the lyrics emphasize English's inter-

Cornerstone described English's vocal style as "a cross between

Band

English

level of pro-

duction unusual for Christian music at the time. The sound

Steve

Joe English and

drum set did

a

not afford.

album includes

self-titled

several original songs in addition to 'Things

by Steve

1959)

(b.

cludes with "Through the Veil," a synthesized

seems out of place but

is

a treasure in its

own

more

hymn

right.

returns to the soul-flavored pop of Lights

sics

is

in the

Back

conthat

to

Ba-

World and

includes a rewritten Christianized version of

Marvin Gaye's

joined Sea Level, a group formed by three

"How Sweet

6).

Allman Brothers that

on that album

girlfriend, Dayle,

whom he would later marry. is

perhaps best

In 1977, English

members of the remembered for their

song "That's Your Secret" (# 50 in 1978). Shortly after

left her,

stant pain and dependent

In 1984, Joe English

on

a walker.

Although doctors had

home one

book because English's

album

night from a charismatic prayer group meeting claiming to be

Live

though

some time by an emptiness

fame, nor drugs had been able to to

God and

fill,

that neither money,

English gave himself over

joined a charismatic group in Indiana Springs

Better songs

Me Back"

(not

became is

a

member

accorded

role in the

a

of a band called

separate listing in this

band (on

their only studio

album) appears to have been limited to playing the drums. The

completely healed. Inspired by what he took to be a miracle, for

and "Take

an Andrae Crouch cover).

Forerunner. The group

a

Rivers, Take

are "Behold the Glory"

winding

predicted a six-month recovery time, she returned

and driven

Johnny

following hospitalization, in con-

Dayle crashed the couple's Porsche in an accident on road one night that

this,

It Is" (cf.

it

listed above,

however, was also by this group,

includes songs from English's previous albums

(in-

him on vocals. work as a session drummer on

cluding three from Lights) with English has continued to

number

of projects.

Mark Joseph

a

(author of The Rock and Roll

303

Michael English

,

Rebellion) credits

as the

him with "showing

drums could not be

that an instrument such

intrinsically evil, a

widespread mis-

One hopes

understanding in the Christian world."

that such a

misunderstanding has never been as widespread as Joseph implies.

Not many

in the Christian

but

to such a view,

was

it

and

character of rock

at large

prevalent for a while

who

fundamentalist Christians ,

world

songs

number

a

by Buffalo

cited

among

comeback against the Houston

liked to equate the

rhythmic

the inspiration to lead his

were always obvious and the perspective was never taken

English's debut project,

seri-

On"

Angel Choir" (# 4 1982); "First

You" (# 14

(#17

in

in

1

98

1

Love" (# 9 in

1986);

);

"One (#

weeks

for 8

I

"Dyin' " (#

1

7

in

1

98

1983); "Stop" (# 18

in

"The Master" (#

1

);

in

1986);

5 in

1981); "Midnight

in

Him" (#

"Praise

5

in

1983); "Will Follow

"What You Need"

1986).

And by

his strength alone,

CCM

temporary Christian music

3,

1993.

Though

blessed

I

The

could

beyond mea-

overcome." In a review of

I

Kathleen Ervin wrote.

album

mind when they

in

NFL

in a historic

glory /

I

critic

can't help but think that an

what people had

team

on January

won / For I've been

sure /

ously in responsible quarters.

Oilers

lyrics affirm, "In Christ alone will

pride myself in battles

its

named song was

last

quarterback Frank Reich as providing

Bills'

him with

certain

contemporary

"Mary Did You Know," and

standout track, "In Christ Alone." The

music from Africa. The racist connotations of such an idea

Christian radio hits: "Shine

of inspirational, adult

the Rock,"

like "Solid as

have ever held

with supposedly demonic jungle

roll

and featured

like

Michael English

originally

— an inspiring, rousing message

fused with the best that music had to offer in

is

thought of con-

its

day."

in-

Very few

agreed with that sentiment. Rather, as indicated above,

critics

was

English

typically regarded

with the

sort of disdain usually

reserved for Michael Bolton. Like Bolton, English produced a

Michael English 1991— Michael

English (Curb);

sort of easy listening variety of soul music, the contrived na-

1993—Hope; 995—Healing; 1996—Free-

1998—Gospel; 2000— Heaven

dom;

real

to Earth.

and

In terms of musical style

ability,

scandal-ridden gospel

Michael English has often been regarded as the Christian

star

equivalent of Michael Bolton. Frequently dismissed by critics,

he nevertheless managed to gain a loyal fan base and to achieve

almost unprecedented "industry success" before revelations

about his personal

life

what would become

in 1994 initiated

pattern of ups and downs,

marked by

English

star.

was

raised

in

a

North Carolina, where,

Wallace,

a

brief forays into the gen-

market and by various comebacks as

eral

a

chastened Christian

Pentecostal church in

strict

at the age of eight,

singing with his family in a gospel group called

he began

The Singing

with the notion of being

became is

a professional gospel singer.

a hairdresser,

he

His background, notably,

not in contemporary Christian music, but in the southern

gospel world of quartets and family groups.

with the Singing Americans (1980-1982,

He

has sung

1984-1985),

the

Happy Goodmans (1982-1983), the Couriers (1983-1984), and The Bill Gaither Trio/The Gaither Vocal Band (1985-present).

Throughout the

'80s,

English

was open with the

press

about the fact that he suffered from clinically diagnosed panic disorder,

which made him susceptible to severe and

ble panic attacks.

received

from

He

his faith,

wife, Lisa, in dealing to educate people

inexplica-

testified in public to the help that

he had

from therapy, and especially from

with the

disorder,

with regard to

its

and he

led a

oft-misunderstood nature

go solo and to His

more confident on

move

first, self-titled

ascribed

ment

more

stage. English decided to

into the contemporary Christian market.

album was produced by Brown Bannister

for

is

and to lovers of

nothing intrinsically wrong

new

audiences, and (as with

work must be

to difference in taste than to legitimate assess-

of execution.

No one thought that English performed his many (critics) simply did not like the performed. And those who appraise merit

brand of music poorly; brand of music he

more on commercial

potential than artistic integrity were ex-

tremely pleased. The Gospel Music Association "Best

New

been recording

Two the

named

years

for

almost twenty years.

later,

the follow-up album, Hope, continued in

same vein with English

delivering emotion-soaked adult

contemporary ballads and rhythmic pop songs with passion.

He

English

Artist of the Year" even though, technically, he'd

a soulful

He

pleads to be rescued in the breathy "Save Me."

belts out the hook-laden

chorus to "There

Is

a

Love" with con-

vincing bravado, sustained by a dynamic choir. Equally upbeat is

"Message of Mercy," while the theologically euphemistic

"Love Moves in Mysterious Ways"

rangement.

Lyrically, the

is

set to a

simple piano ar-

album's titular theme

is

expressed in

"Holding Out Hope" and "A Place Called Hope." The album

se-

MOR,

and

he headlined a national tour featuring First Call, Angelo

and

cured English's reputation as the king of Christian

Veronica, and

Mark Lowry.

In 1994, English received single evening, a at

new

one time by any

ptiblic

an incredible

artist.

with Marabeth Jordon, the

now

Dove awards

in a

Less than twenty-four hours later he

announce what would soon become

knowledge: he had engaged

and she was

six

record for the most awards ever received

called a press conference to

and consequences. In 1989, feeling

a sacrilege to rock purists

But, of course, there

Bolton) critically negative reactions to English's

his

campaign

R&B.

with creating new genres

Sa-

maritans. After graduating from high school and briefly pursuing barber college

which was

ture of

1

in

an extramarital

affair

(also married) singer for First Call,

pregnant with his child (she subsequently

— 304

Engrave

had oc-

Though

far

from a comeback to an industry he had never

curred during the aforementioned tour, which had served as

actually

left,

the record does serve up another feast for fans of

lost the

baby to a miscarriage). In

benefit fundraiser for

facing of his

unwanted

Mercy

crass irony, the affair

Ministries,

an outreach to

women

pregnancies. English voluntarily returned

Dove awards, though the Gospel Music Association

he would continue to be

Warner Alliance discontinued

ent. Less graciously,

promotion

books as the

listed in the record

all

said

recipi-

and

sales

both of his albums. English said he was retiring

for

from gospel music, but

he continued to record with the

in fact

inspirational adult contemporary.

'How

Grace

Knew"

are

Feels,"

The songs "To

powerful examples of the form.

all

giveness, faith,

Live On,"

Believe in You," and "If You Only

"I'll

and the overcoming of

Lyrically, for-

affliction are

and appropriate themes. "Finally Free" seems

prominent

like a potential

autobiographical signature song: "I'm free to play the

my

Give up

role /

need to have control ... I'm

lesser

finally free of

Gaither group and, indeed,

me." Unfortunately. English's troubles were not behind him.

song with them

No

won another Dove award for his Bowed on My Knees") the very next year. was divorced from his wife. He continued to ("I

In 1995, English

life

Tina Wilmurth charged him with assault and theft after an

illegally

which he locked her out of

down an

chased her guards.

Wilmurth

dropped the charges and told the

Our argument

'Every couple argues.

in-

apartment and then

he was restrained by security

alley until

later

their

who

greatly exaggerated because of

press.

happened to be

just

Michael

in the

is

music

same year that English swept the Dove awards

In 1994. the

and then returned

his trophies,

Wynonna

that

film, Silent Fall (starring

was

he recorded a duet with coun-

featured in the Bruce Beresford

Richard Dreyfuss). The success of that

seemed to open the door

for a possible career

mainstream music, leading English to

release a couple of

song, 'Healing," in

adult contemporary pop albums for the general market.

album Healing

is

actually a hasty compilation of

less-specifically Christian songs

some

The

of the

from Michael English and Hope

Wynonna. Freedom

plus the duet with

center for an admitted addiction to prescription drugs.

is

new

material and in-

Amazes Me," which enjoyed

cludes 'Your Love

new album from

his

Indianapolis'

on adult contemporary

radio. English

WXIR-FM

Heirloom The Imperials, .

considerable

never

left

Taff.

J.

Jeff

and Sheri Easter

(see

D. Sumner and the Stamps, and

Even while touring as

a

mainstream

artist,

by English with

such songs, traditional

his 'secular" band.

'John the Revelator."

of Theresa Ross of

was

it

the station's

any artists who "have gone through

policy not to play songs by

Gill's

hymns performed

"Gospel Ship." and

"Go Rest on That Mountain."

English's

much

WVFJ

said, 'If

I

left

but up.

I

I

ever have a

if I'll

don't feel like

God

believe

Christian radio

name

it

was

seven years."

It

CCM

to

Earth produced again by

would be doing the

I

has plans for me, but "Solid as the

hits:

Rock" (#

and other media inaccurately

for 2

weeks

Won't Leave You"

in

1992); "Holding

of Mercy" (# 9

the Year;

Hope

(# 4

in

in

1993);

"There

Is

God

if

Out Hope

a Love" (# 6

in

up."

1991);

"Mary

1992); "Love

in

to

in

gave

I

it

You" (#

14

in

1993); "Message

1994).

New

Artist of the Year; 1992 Male Vocalist; 1993 ("In

Christ Alone"); 1994 Artist of

1994 Male Vocalist; 1994 Inspirational Song ("Holding Out

to You"); 1994

Pop/Contemporary Album (Hope).

Engrave Nathan Morris, kybrd. 1997

Engrave thesizers

is

Polaris (Velvet

the solo project of

re-

the troubles started.

on

The album

to the product that

and there

would

are

for

The music

with the exception of occasional

samples. As with most ambient music, there

tion" as

syn-

Polaris includes four

a 1996 cassette called Benediction.

entirely instrumental,

listeners,

album he had

Empire).

Nathan Morris, who uses

and drum machines to create dark ambient music

tracks released is

was even announced all

will of

1991); "Start a Party" (# 7

Me" (#4

don't

"I

keep screwing

in

sic

intended to make in 1994," before

I

I

CCM,

told

in this business again,

Did You Know?" (# 28

English's "first recording of Christian music as 'the

He

myself

for

sinned,

was eventually sen-

to play." English

tenced to three years of probation.

know

who

pulled the song of every person

would be no one

there

the Christian electronic scene.

heralded return to contemporary Christian

Bannister.

ported that

s

a

higher standard." By contrast, Jerry Williams of Houston's

Standout songs include

Mylon LeFevre

music came with the album Heaven

in

said

he often

Surrender All") in his concerts. The album Gospel

'I

a collection of

Brown

from

the

included a smattering of traditional gospel songs ('Blessed As-

Vince

comment

who

radio,

Male Vocalist; 1993 Inspirational Song

producer on albums by such artists as

surance,"

against

first single

their playlists. Typical of the 'let's shoot

our wounded" approach was the

gospel scene completely, though, as he continued to serve as

was

A police

and the Christian music industry closed ranks

him, with several radio stations deleting the

Dove Awards: 1992

Russ

his

investigation ensued as to whether he had obtained the drugs

1993); "Save

success

and

has finally gotten

personal struggles" because the station "needs to hold to

business."

try star

who

in order," then English checked himself into a rehabilitation

make tabloid news as he grew his hair long, dated a stripper, and made disparaging public remarks about the gospel music industry. In 1996, a twenty-year-old live-in girlfriend named cident in

much hype

sooner had the album hit the shelves amid

publicity regarding "our old friend

identify

it

is

nothing

intrin-

as Christian for

no accompanying

most

"texts for medita-

with Ambient Theology. Engrave's instrumental

— 305

Erinfall

often have a sci-fi tone to as

them and

are consistently described

""moody" and "captivating."

collection of other songs

—

were designated Return of the Frog

Queen (Sub Pop). children

emo band

Jeremy Enigk was leader of the general market

Sunny Day Real rect result of

Estate.

The break-up

of that group

though he maintains there were other tensions that

was

a di-

During the group's

seemed to be derived from

some

track and

them

later respond, "I

in that the orchestra

and tone. None of the songs give

though

some

in

("Explain,"

who al-

"Shade and the Black Hat") there are pointers for those

know him

The

a Sgt. Pepper feel

not only accentuates but actually

overt expression to Enigk's faith,

to be a believer.

More

simply obscure. True Tunes challenged of lines like

its

often, the lyrics are

make

readers to

"moving through shallow water

sense

to spill there /

wave torn apart on its sail." Enigk continues to mainsomewhat tenuous relationship with the contemporary

crash a tain a

Christian music subculture. In 2000, he told

HM

magazine

that he does not necessarily see himself as a Christian in the

same sense that many people want to apply the term entry on

re-

had

a reason to sing it."

Kathie and Michie Epstein 1977—Friends

fairy tales.

numbers have

of the other

defines the song's structure

ready

bombing. Asked about her

a parent in the

Sunny Day Real

For trivia buffs: Jeremy Enigk also sang with the

He

left

Kathie and Michie (pronounced mish-ee) Epstein were a ter act that

career.

Two

remains of historical interest due to Kathie's

years after graduating from Oral Roberts Univer-

the latter recorded a solo

sity,

sis-

later

Records, which

was headed by

arranger, composer,

album The Quiet

Riot for Petra

the noted Christian producer,

and conductor Paul Johnson. That same

year (1976), Kathie and Paul were married. She retained her

maiden name

for the project

rational songs titled Friends,

the

title

with her

Celebration of His Love

The next year

an album of

inspi-

later re-released

under

sister,

which was

on Bread and Honey

(1978), she recorded Finders Keepers as

Lee Johnson. The Johnsons

later divorced

records.

Kathie

and Kathie married

former NFL star Frank Gifford. She became famous as talkshow host Kathie Lee Gifford, coanchoring the popular morning show Regis and Kathie Lee with Regis Philbin.

(see the

Estate)

Old Lu when the other members seventh grade.

(Petra).

hiatus,

twenty-one-piece orchestra backing his ethereal vocals on

surreal songs that

to

Support Fund on behalf of

for a Children's

who lost

markably passionate performance of the song, Enriquez would

however, Enigk surprised everyone with a solo album featuring

title

along with a

album, which

only

this

Sunny Day Real Estate would reand make albums that many Christian music fans con-

tinue to regard as Christian records.

a

it

This Little Light

Enigk embracing the Christian faith of his youth,

exacerbated. Eventually.

group

on the

was produced by Steve Siler, who cowrote "Not Too Far from Here" with Ty Lacy. Some of the proceeds from the project

Jeremy Enigk 1998

the bombing. Eventually, she agreed to record

band Poor

group were

of that

still

in

Erinfall Johann Fontamillas; Wilson

Peraltla.

1997

Breathe (Velocity).

before the band matured (literally and

mixes industrial rock with ambient techno music

Erinfall

musically).

to offer diversity that appeals to those in the electronic scene

who

Mikaila Enriquez

are not too obsessively

subgenre.

1996— This

Uttie Light (Unison).

when

ning

late,

was not

planted at the

there,

killed

Kim

from Here" from

Boyce's By Faith album as

was

News

fa-

a tribute to

featured on the McNeil-Lehrer

performed the song repeatedly,

Oklahoma City

At her

of the inspirational song

Good Morning America, and other

Festival, at the

killed.

began singing the song "Not Too Far

the victims of that terrorist act.

spread and Enriquez

169 people.

due to the simple fluke of run-

but three of his close friends were

ther's request, Enriquez

Hour,

Oklahoma Arthur P. Murrah

a native of

where her father worked

Federal Building

Enriquez' father

bomb

a

was

TV

News

programs. Enriquez

armed with

steel

committed

live in

On

an era

when

our

all,

of the album's tracks are

"No One's

Listening" breaks

point to allow a female voice to say "God

ing" (followed

by

cities are

some, including the opening. "We Live in a

World," the vocals are distorted.

down at one

one or the other

and concrete. Computers and electronics bar-

ricade our minds." Most, but not

instrumentals.

to

Breathe begins with a Twilight Zone voice

announcing the theme: "We

Nine-year-old Mikaila Enriquez

City in 1995

The album

a

is

speak-

reverberating electronic bass sound that ap-

parently conveys the sound of the Almighty 's voice). Erinfall

is

often likened to Mortal in sound and style, with their harder, industrial

numbers (including the

group's Wake album.

The more

title track)

recalling that

danceable, techno numbers

Walt Disney Children's

("land on Venus") are reminiscent of Prodigal Sons. Johann

1996 Super Bowl Celebrity Gala, and at an

Fontamillas and Wilson Peraltla have also recorded under the

benefit concert

at a

on the one-year anniversary of

names Jyradelix and Mindbender.

—

—

—

306

Craig Erickson

For trivia buffs: E-roc appears as a dancer/ninja warrior

Craig Erickson

the movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

— Two

Roadhouse Stomp! (Blues Bureau International); 1995

1993

of the Blues;

1

994

—

Retro Blues Express;

1

Sides

996— Force Majeure; 200 —Shine 1

Eschatos

(Grooveyard).

Craig Erickson

is

from Iowa. The son of

a blues guitarist

jazz guitarist and professional guitar teacher. Erickson

Personnel

grew up

Hendnx, Mike Bloomfield. Eric Clapton, and Carlos Santana.

Buddy

Later he delved into the roots of that music, discovering B. B. King,

and

Muddy Waters.

His

own

recordings con-

and vocal tracks and have sometimes

tain both instrumental

unavailable. 1974

list

Eschatos (Rain).

a

enamored of the blues rock tradition exemplified by Jimi

Guy,

in

II.

known of the progressive Jesus-rock group who made one album on a custom label. The

Little is

Eschatos

famous Explo

did perform at the

'71 festival (the "Christian

Woodstock") sponsored by Campus Crusade las.

called

group

for Christ in Dal-

Texas, in 1972. Jesus Music magazine describes their

as featuring unusually clean production

album

and songs with

cre-

been compared to the work of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Though he

ative compositional elements that are usually indicative of

does not try to use his music to promote Christianity in any

some formal musical

way

overt

Erickson

is

a believer

who

speaks and sometimes

HM,

sings openly of his faith. In 1995, he told

came when

point

—so

steady job trouble.

and

got married and

I

clear to

started

started going to church

me,

"A big turning

working

much freedom

didn't have quite as

And then we

became

it

I

I

to get into

more

happy person." Two

Blues displays different vibes reflective of Erickson's

— Hendrix on

more

regularly,

not something you can have one

it's

foot in each place and be a very

fluences

a

ZZ Top on

"Little Cafe,"

some guest harmonica

offers

Purple and

cool acid funk vibes and

Freedom"

more

is

"Nemo Whojew"

used in the

is

The

(Reunion);

1995—Jesus Smoke

(Pulse);

such as "the

Ian Eskelin:

first will

there,

known

won

he

as E-roc

was born

in Vahalla,

a

Point.

dance contest sponsored by

a

Dallas radio station that led eventually to his performance as a

dancer with M.C.

Hammer

and. then, with Vanilla

1990. after dancing with Ice on the American Music

Ice.

In

Awards

show, he says that he became aware of "something missing" in

and rededicated

his life

his life to Christ.

He began making

(a.k.a.

Ian Eskelin

(b.

circles as

work with

name was chosen

as

Christ. Critics regard Listen

and Jesus Smoke

as the artist's

an acronym

to the

Man

Walking" (with

tures guest performances

and numerous other

for Everett

G.O.D. as a

trial ef-

breakthrough project. The

Return includes "Step to This" (which samples

"Dead

Al Green) and

a '60s rock sound). Avalanche fea-

by Earthsuit, Sackcloth Fashion,

artists.

and the

memorable sayings

(Matthew

last first"

"Ear to the Tracks" and "Rockstars

(Rock on Remix)" have been mentioned as standout tracks.

Ian) Language (WAL). As

1994— Super-

Ian:

two

that highly successful group, he released

not-

so-successful electronic dance albums as a solo artist. Originally

from North Carolina, Eskelin

led a

group called Busi-

moved to Chicago, where He was briefly a member of

ness and Industry as a teenager, then

he attended Wheaton College.

Code of

Ethics, and he fronted the dance band Zero. Eskehn's

solo projects emulate the style of Scott Blackwell,

i.e.,

disco-

influenced, techno-pop music with Christian lyrics like "He's

debut album Brand

fort

it

1970) eventually achieved fame in Christian

gonna tame your heart

biggest seller in East Coast style Christian rap in the

On

for "last";

the leader of All Star United, but prior to his

Christian rap records the next year and, according to his label,

Relies

word

to describe "last things" such as

last,

1993— Brond New

was the

late '90s. His stage

be

solo.

typical ballads.

Dream Day (Reunion).

music

and earned an academic scholarship to West

While studying

more

19:30).

1998—

Avalanche (Grapetree).

East Coast rapper

New York,

are

the end times or the final judgment, and in

sonic

GOD.

has an echoey guitar

of Riverdogs.

E-roc to the

"Lorelei

the tradition of Jerry

derived from the Greek

is

New Testament

Ian Eskelin

1991—Listen

The song

guitar."

roll in

Lee Lewis. "Benjamin" and "Have You Seen" feature dissonant chords, and

As

The Return (Phat Boy); 1999

rock and

classic

The name Eschatos

in-

Me

jazz in-

described as featuring "some

is

wah-wah

myriad

"You Bring

playing. Shine includes a cover of

Rob Lamothe

"Rubber Crutch Man"

tracks.

"White Cane Park" and "Hallelujah"

Hendrix's Angel" and features vocals by Glenn Hughes of

Deep

The group incorporates

Sides of the

T Bone Burnett on "Begg or a King." Darrell Mansfield

Up,"

training.

fluences into their sound and uses horns on about half of their

New

in

time to change your mind." The

Language includes the standout track

"Destination Love" along with the radio-ready "Haven't You

Heard" and the very catchy "Love to Be Loved." The for Supersonic

Dream Day

set to arrive at a a

bouncy

artist

on

time

invitation

is

about the great

when no one expects. "Come from Christ against verses

acknowledges the vanity and

his

own. "To Be

stated horns. "Start

in

is

to

track

which

Me"

is

sets

which the

futility of trying to

Free" has a slight reggae beat

Moving"

title

last day,

make

it

with under-

a disco exhortation to spiritual

:

;

—

—

—

— The

I

not to be the weakest link in the body of Christ.

slackers

founded International Concert Evangelism (ICE)

Eskelin also

in

995);

1

with

all

viewer of a

Ministries.

You Heard" (#

Christian radio hits: "Haven't

(# 2

piece

a single song.

"To Be Free" (#

5 in

I

12

in

1994);

"Come

995); "Start Moving" (#

9

1

in

to 1

Me"

995).

to drift in

nine tracks flowing together into

The

"lost in space"

Eso-Charis Putnam, drums. 1998

'

.

.

hard rock band from

Matt

Ft.

Smith,

"grace within" in Greek. Lead

singer

Cory Putnam has drawn attention

varies

from intense high-pitched screaming to

for a vocal style that

some-

a clean,

times spoken style on particular tracks. Their self-titled alburn

was produced by Bruce Fitzhugh

of Living Sacrifice.

heavy music conveys urgency, as

ally i

,

gtr.;

Eso-Charis (independent).

a four-piece

whose name means

Arkansas,

Cory Putnam, voc,

gtr.;

with

a Future."

list

of

damned

winning more disciples

List" describes the

souls as the

diminution

two

songs,

"The Absolute

Left Empty."

The death

metal Christian magazine Dead Tine praised that record as like the

Putnam on developing cals to

sounding

a

debut album and complimented

new

style that offers "the closest vo-

Satan without being Satan" that they

like

have ever heard.

with me always,"

Drang

know

I'll

make

it

need" offer hope to

title

"Words That Cure, Parts 1 and 2" have Beach Boy-like harmonies, and "How Good Is

Good Enough" has touches

of Radiohead. Cornerstone describes

Ester Drang's concert performances (in Christian venues at least) as

having "an atmosphere of worship" that

by the vocals or tal

lyrics

than through the

feel of

is

created less

the instrumen-

soundscapes themselves.

P@rc

Estis

Jared Ostrander, 1

998— Sometimes

gtr.;

Tim

Stratton,

Magdely Waggoner, voc.

bass;

Not [EP] (Puddlegum);

1999—And

So

It

Begins.

The trio known as Estis P@rc comes from Axtell, Nebraska. They combine '40s lounge singing with "wall of guitar" shoegazer rock for a sound reminiscent of Starflyer 59 (or.

Bon Voyage).

festival's Best

New

After a

Band Show-

group tested the waters with an EP and then issued

a

produced by Jesse Sprinkle of Poor Old Lu.

McAllister, gtr., kybrd.; David Motter,

kybrd.; Sterling Williams,

drums; Kyle Winner,

He

Crown); 2001

Turns Us Golden (Red

"I

ally builds into a full-band effort.

full-length release

James

and then by

track begins with a lone piano, then adds drums, and eventu-

case, the

gtr.;

now

realm of their own. The opening

flyer imitations into a

debut at the 1998 Cornerstone

Ester

is all I

even more, of the Starflyer spin-off

Bryce Chambers, voc,

which the music seems

band and others continue

Nothing Day" and "Home

sounding nothing

almost

those who feel they are adrift among the stars. The Goldenwest album was produced by Chris Colbert of Breakfast with Amy and FIuffy/Duraluxe; it moves the band beyond Star-

for Christ. Eso-Charis also released a

seven-inch vinyl record featuring Progress of a

opening "Born

which has Putnam screaming T love you" over

and over again. "The Narrowing of Satan's

in the

The usu-

in

is

Tollbooth re-

feedback or static and interrupted by various electronic beeps.

through with you," and "your love

Arthur Green, bass; Jayson Holmes,

is

ambience

what

Phantom

a

from some place faraway, broken

Lyrical lines like "You're

Eso-Charis

sound reminds

overall

307

Eternal Chapter

bass.

1999

That

Is

When

Magdely Waggoner vocalizes old.

Goldenwest (Burnt Toast).

in the style of "torch singers" of

Bandoppler called her voice "wistful and haunting." Phan-

tom Tollbooth

was more

candid: "She sings with a sultry seduc-

www.esterdrang.com tiveness that Ester

Drang formed

in

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma,

in

1996 as

is

sexy in

its

execution." Nevetheless, the Tollbooth

reviewer continues, "Underneath the flirtatious trappings

lie

composed of Bryce Chambers, James McAllister, and Kyle Winner. The eventual addition of David Motter and Sterling

very serious encouragements to follow

Williams gave the group a fuller sound, and they would earn a

trodden." Another reviewer dismissed the band as "a bad im-

a trio

loyal following in the regional Tulsa.

album

The

music scene in and around

local reviewer for Tulsa World described their

as filled

with songs that

"bristle

debut

with an otherworldly

energy and seem held together by a physics more flexible than

our own." The group has earned a national audience

among

Christian music fans primarily through their regular appear-

ances at the Cornerstone festival in Bushnell, cate melodies,

group's sound

hushed is

vocals,

Illinois.

and walls of buzzing

With

deli-

guitars, the

twenty-three minutes, the album That is

barely

despite adversity

and concerns about ministering to the lonely and downpersonation of Starflyer 59 with a female vocalist." but the

aforementioned

lyrical

underpinnings would make for an obvi-

ous point of distinction between Estis P@rc and their mentors in the

modern lounge market. Whereas

seldom decipherable, the P(«

muted Christian

intent.

re's

Starflyer's lyrics are

songs have more obvious,

"While You're Away" appears at

to be simply a love song, but also

works

if

first

as a yearning for the

parousia.

obviously fashioned after that of Starflyer

59, but the addition of keyboards adds diverse elements. At

Golden

God

more than an

EP. It

Is

When He

Turns Us

appears to be a concept

The

Eternal Chapter

Thomas Woodrooffe, voc;

et

al.

1998

The Eternal Chapter (independent).

— 308

—

Eternal Decision

The Africa,

Eternal Chapter

a Christian

is

goth band from South

brought to the attention of American audiences by such

publications as True Tunes and distribution

with Flaming

more

preserves

made

Fish.

them through

available to

With

a

sound similar to that of

market band Bauhaus, The Eternal Chapter

late '70s general

of the morbidity of an original ''pure goth"

sound without the melodrama or shock appeal of like

—

onstrates unusual proficiency on his guitar, with classical

album

features the usual fast-tempo hard

metal with more poetic

'90s artists

see the glory /

Divine endless

"Through the Waters,"

track,

instrumental called "Temptress," but most of the cuts feature

your place." Such theological, even worshipful imagery cal of the project.

rhythm and

than one

critic as

Man"

a cover of a

is

regarded by more

is

Comes

the album's standout track. "Here

song originally done by

a

group

The

track "Subconcious"

E.T.W.

(a.k.a. [a.k.a.

Eternal Decision Torres,

El

1999

—Ghost

in

the

Tommy

1989

more rem-

iniscent of Seattle's Alice in Chains. Their self-titled label is

a thrash is

metal

suddenly got saved.

cision tries to be

ues to

draw on

what the

On

their

more than all

familiar to fans of

more than

some because the Metallica

so pat and the Christ-centered lyrics so blatant as

to provide a good idea it

classic for

just the

latter

band might sound

sophomore

just a sound-alike artist

and

heavy music. The Phantom group with

its

like

release. Eternal

of the trademark chugs

that are

completely

unchallenging and uncreative and as a result most Christian

metalheads should be happy with in the

it."

Lyrical

help

themes on Chost

Machine deal mostly with addiction and with the con-

stant struggle between spirit and flesh:

me with

"I

need you

("Through the

this pain inside"

Big Free], voc;

1997

Stay

now /

Pain").

To

Kirk

Campbell subsequently founded Godfather Records and pro-

compete

debut release focused

a

put-downs

a

come

of the culture and tended to

sloganeering. But

CCM

religious

most consciously danceable rap

a Christian label yet."

ments with house music ("This cover of big of

with

DeGarmo and

mainstream

which includes an

"Let's Stay Together."

charts,

went

market. In recognition of

this,

which

Psychotheosocioghetwpathic,

is

Man"

offer the

a record that allows

porary ways of thinking

"Momma's

tura, or

some

Mind" and

as truth for

sarcastic digs at

(as reflected in

the album's

Prayers" gets sentimental in a

way

tough

contem-

title)

and

that just might

touch the hearts of street-hardened urban youth. The standout

Ethereal Scourge

as

main-

a straight-up party song and

hope of the gospel

See Illustrator.

track,

Jared Murray, voc, perc; Glenn Reseigh, drums;

Greg

Judgement and Restoration (Rowe).

Ethereal Scourge

On

songs with spiritual themes mix

is

is

a

heavy metal quartet from

compared

to Pantera. Sepul-

Mortification. Vocals are of the growl variety, but not

dismal as death metal or gnndcore. Asoka Gare dem-

however,

"Ain't

is

clearly the rant against black-on-black crime,

Nobody Dyin' but

Us."

The

latter

song was subse-

quently chosen as the 1997 theme song for Mother's Against Violence,

and

E.TW

decided to use

compilation album two years Christian radio

(# 10

in

1991).

hits:

"This

Is

it

as the title

song

for a

later.

the Life" (# 29

,

:

j

audience in the general

they reined in their testifying on

times. Abstract Reality" takes

The band

to

BET video

considered to be their best.

Eternity Express

Adelaide, Australia, sometimes

hit

stream audiences to enjoy the music while sliding slowly into

"Be a

Smith, bass. 1997

experi-

The song broke through

new

with simply positive hip-hop on

:

col-

inspired remake

into heavy rotation on the

network, and earned the band a

the fourth project,

The album

I

the Life") and features a

Is

Key's "Destined to Win." E.T.W

their third outing,

AI Green's

and

off as judgmental

Jamie Lee Rake would describe

critic

Stop! The Wild Hype as "the

on

on

"She's the One," a love song, while "Elevate Your

gtr.;

Dyin'

in a local talent contest. Their

a bit too heavily

the message. "Yea Yea Yea"

duced Gears of Redemption's debut album.

Asoka Gare,

Together;

Nobody

Ain't

rap trio E.T.W originally formed at Oral Roberts Uni-

versity in 1985 to

lection released

but contin-

riffs

is

[a.k.a.

1993— Let's

(ForeFront);

if

De-

Tollbooth insulted

review: "This

Hill

Time Warriors (Graceland);

— Psychotheosodoghettopathic The Escape;

The

sound-alike group and then evolved to favor a sound

imitation

Wild Hype

The

— End

Eternal De-

Machine (Godfather).

Christian metal band Eternal Decision began as a Metallica

debut

1995

Mike

King], voc;

but Us.

Miles from Nowhere (independent); 1997

1993

gtr.

cision (Cling);

1991— Stop.'

Kirk Campbell, drums; Joe Chambless, bass;

in-

End Time Warriors)

MC

Johnny "Jam" Williams, voc.

gtr.;

typi-

is

an acoustic

strumental played against the backdrop of a waterfall.

Elroy Forbes

Boatright,

is

|

the

called

Boom Boom Room.

Cory

be-

in the light /

Woodrooffe's deep and mournful vocals. "Death in the Water" features an unusual dance

of

Of the Ancient of Days / In bliss to Of his awesome face / Drink the benediction / grace / Emmanuel enthroned / By his side take

"To dwell

Marilyn Manson. The record opens with an atmospheric

and heavy sounds

than are generally associated

lyrics

with that genre. The opening gins,

in-j

showing through. The band's debut

fluences (Mozart, Vivaldi)

in

1991); "Destined to

Win"

I

i

EvaO

goth band. Shadow

Darrell Evans 1998— You

Are

Am

I

1999—Freedom

(Integrity);

Project,

which also recorded

is

a

modern worship

who

leader

writes and

performs music in an uncluttered, guitar-driven style intended

members weaned on rock and

to appeal to congregations of ',

i

CCU says,

roll.

repetitive

without being

"his songs are simple

simplistic,

without being redundant, and emotional without

oughly immersed in

and her cohorts were thordeath and the occult.

a scene that glorified

Acclaimed by the goth subculture as 'the Queen of Darkness," she

was

a self-avowed Satanist.

drugs, and a

—

was

heavily involved with

own words — "hated humanity"

in her

She had

long-term relationship with Williams. The two of them

moved

My Sorrows." which features a joyous, affirmative chorus, and the more traditional "You Are My Por-

parently married. She also had a close relationship with Rich-

tion." nies.

in

song "Trading

which

relies

on acoustic

The album's centerpiece

and choral harmo-

guitar, piano, is

the almost eight-minute

Am

"I

Love with You." featuring an extended electric guitar solo by

Lincoln Brewster. Evans says. "Once

'

albums

becoming maudlin." His album Freedom offers the upbeat confessional

•

several

considered to be pioneering classics of the goth genre. Through(Vertical).

out this period (1977-1993), Eva Darrell Evans

309

ervations about 'appropriate' off.

We

might as well get

we get

to heaven,

methods of worship

a jump-start

all res-

drop

will

on that now, and

that

if

means being passionate about worship, or even being humili-

God

ated before

in front of people, so be

Eva

O

(a.k.a.

As Eva

(Cleopatra).

O

Eva

O

As Eva O: 1999

1

— Demons

994

website.

— Domnotion:

Ride the

The goth and death metal underground

an Angel Kiss

move

many as

the

many

(Dead Artists Syndrome, The Eternal Chapter, Midnight Orchestra, Saviour Machine, and Wedding Party) At times, such art-

ists

Christian goth bands

appear to followers of true goth as mere posers

who

have

adopted goth styles and fashions in some pitiful attempt to evangelize lost souls. Be that as

it

ever question the authenticity of

may, no one could or would

Eva 0.

the very invention of goth music at

matic conversion to Christ

(cf.

who

ground

participated in

level before her dra-

Tara VanFlower). In the

late

70s. Eva

played and sang in the LA. band Speed Queens,

which

time also included

for a

group functioned as a sort of

Jill

sister

Emery, later of Hole. The

band to Christian Death,

which was fronted by Rozz Williams, often playing the same venues together and trading members. Christian Death, which despite credited

its

name was

decidedly not a Christian band,

by rock historians

band. Eva

as being the first

is

often

American goth

often played with Christian Death in their club

shows, as well as on

many

of their albums, and

is

sometimes

member of the group. She herself says that she was not a member of the quintessential band but prefers to be thought of as 'a friend who was there when Rozz needed me.'

listed as a

After Speed

Queens broke

Super Heroines,

up. Eva

started a female trio called

who recorded several underground albums and

became a mainstay of the goth scene. Williams eventually Christian

Death and joined with Eva

in

left

forming another

my

in love

she has written at her

with Death and the Demonic world.

me away from Richard and it hurt to We still talked every day and still would see him when he moved to San Fran-

to pull

first

had the hope that

I

cisco to go to trial for the

I

murders he had committed Eva

in the early '90s,

there."

experienced a spiritual

re-

She told Cornerstone that while she was making an album for a Demon 's Kiss she read the Graham as research, to learn about God's opposition to the demons she favored. "I began to re-

she intended to

call

book Angels by

Billy

alize

life."

so far from Richard.

angels in

Madness (MCM). strikes

musical environment least likely for Christian habitation, but there are in fact

was

"I

Rozz was the

Sometime

Fall for

they were ap-

and was in love

thirteen rape/murders in the Los Angeles area,

with him. "Richard was

it."

Halo Experience)

Halo Experience:

for a while

ard Ramirez, the so-called Night Stalker later convicted of

birth.

Selected:

San Francisco together and

to

how

the book

I

Angels Fall

important

we

are to God," she said. "After reading

accepted the Lord."

The album was

an Angel's Kiss and was released by the

Fall for

name Eva

Halo Experience.

It

retitled artist

Demons

under the

ended up taking a very

differ-

ent tack than she (or her record company) had originally envisioned. critics

The songs

are explicitly Christian, to the point that

complained about them being preachy. Certain

tracks,

including "Unveil" and "Take a Jesus," are actually worship songs, while "Angel of Death" offers a no-holds-barred

warning

against the temptations that Satan sets before people to entice

them

into sin.

As the album

title

Earth," "Angel

sound ence,

to

is

on

Fire,"

the songs "Angel of

in

and "For the Angels." The album's

basically that of '80s goth rock

though Eva

domi-

implies, angels are a

nant theme, figuring prominently

with heavy punk

admits to having pursued

influ-

touch"

"a lighter

accompany the transformed theme than she had employed projects. Her next project, however, would be as

on previous

dark and heavy as anything she had ever produced. Damnation: Rule the Madness

second half to be

was

billed as Part

One

of a two-part set, the

Ready

titled Salvation: Are You

own. the Damnation album

offers a bleak

and

Die'

On

its

combines dark-

judgment and certain condemnation. Eva

wave ambient keyboards with world

to

eerie portrait of

beat percussion and

industrial metal guitars to support a voice that speaks authoritatively of harsh last track,

ing

is

and ugly things. Only

does she declare.

hidden,

it's all

"1

exposed

/

at the

stand before his

He endures

very end. on the light.

.

.

.

Noth-

the pain and carries

— 310

all

Everdown

the load / In his light

He

of Kings. ...

became broken.

I

will cleanse

many

phant conclusion, but

.

.

Jesus

is

sins." It

is

now has

website: "Warning! Damnation

is

what

explanation and a hint of

a notice

far,

posted at her

not for everyone!" with an

is still

to come.

Audio Paradox.

tures Josh Pyle of

The album was

Salvation in a profile for

In 2001. Eva

O

fea-

previewed

HM indicating that her theology was

improving even as she prepared the project:

own

sound. The Lighthouse described their music as "grunge with

Clayton of Saviour Machine and also

Eric

band with

into their

a trium-

performing the concept piece at the Christian

as she discovered

own

the King

lack the fortitude to get that

Cornerstone festival in 1999. She

produced by

.

you from your

T no longer believe

as a hard rock

telligible lyrics"; 7ball said

of

all

things loud

—

a

sissies." Lyrically,

about their faith on the

knack

and

think Soundgarden the group

was more

album, but demonstrated

first

without God

his destiny

(from "Shelter"); "This will

is

His shelter

/

sin"

is

My smile is desire / In the

gone/

God" (from "Sweet").

suffering love of

Leach

in-

poignant turn of phrase on both projects: "He

for the

seals his fate

unique

"certain to please fans

who

especially those

turned into a bunch of explicit

was

the band

their

Bureau and Ryan

Eric

the band soon after the release of Straining.

left

in the rapture," she said in reference to a nonbiblical doctrine

popular

found

among some

fundamentalists. "And with the story

in Salvation, there

pened, so

came

a point

where the rapture hap-

had to go through and change

I

a

few

things."

As one of Christian music's converts from "the other has defied some expectations by not cutting off

Eva

side."

ail

con-

with the culture from which she sprang. She continues to

tact

perform music of the goth/death metal variety and to dress

in

the black leather/negligee fashions associated with that scene.

She speaks kindly and even fondly of

with

whom

many

of the musicians

she has shared adventures in the past. She

Reznor of Nine Inch Nails as well

by Marilyn Manson

as

influence of idolatrous proportion." In 1998, Williams

same

ted suicide and, that

plugged

Shadow

Project

Eva

year,

album (From

memorial tribute to him. Eva

is

goth musician, Alan Clayton,

who

The Wounded and has (Gorgitatton of the

Pure-,

re-

who was named by Trent

mained friends with Rozz Williams,

as "an

commit-

released a final, un-

X) as a

the Heart, Triple

married to another Christian

released

plays with a band called

drums; Chris

group

is

1999

— Do/ek Boy (independent). band fronted by

a British Christian rock

in the British Christian

music scene. Evergreen shows

(-1996) //John Helmig,

a

gtr.;

gtr. (+

Chris Wible,

1996).

1995—

The ord,

dominant

Electric Revival that trace their

U2. Dalek Boy

is

Tollbooth

observes that most of the songs

informed by

a faith perspective rather than

though Phantom

speak of

as

life

evincing the addressed-to-God approach that a worship orientation usually implies.

The

title

of the

album

main character's mortal

a cyborg-like alien race that are the

enemies.

Tim Sovinec,

//

1

Huckins, voc. (+ 1999).

post-grunge metal band from

New HampBoston

+ 1999); Mark Stafford, bass

gtr. (- 1998;

Mike Day. drums (+ 1998); Corey Knapp, bass (+ 1998); Josh Blanken, gtr. (+ 998. - 999); Molly Jensen, voc. (+ 998, - 999); Wendy (-1998)

How

to

Groove; 1999

— Seized by

(Rugged);

that name.

They changed

their

name

to Crawl-

group by that name remains quite amused that there was

first

album

as

band that

tried to use their

Everdown impressed

the punk/metal blend (similar to "Shelter,"

"Two," and the

title

name). The group's

HM magazine, which liked The

Crucified) and chose

tune as standout tracks. The

group garnered much more attention with

Straining,

coming

998— Still

Know

—Out

of the Overflow: A Modern Worship Recording.

that

space for a while until trademark problems arose (the Califor-

1

the Power of a Great Affection; 2001

lege in Phoenix, Arizona. Their musical style

a limited distribution

1

1

1996— Everybodyduck

under the name Dry Bones and released

a Christian

derives from the

popular science fiction series Dr. Who, on which the Daleks are

area and went on to enjoy some success as a club band in the general market. They have played with such groups as Stompbox. Sick of It All, and Fugazi. The group began performing

once

style back to

described by Loader as a worship-oriented rec-

1

Straining.

shire that first established itself as a regional act in the

nia

fits

best into the British tradition of groups like Delirious? and

Darin McWatters, voc; Tim Brinkman, drums (-1998); Miranda Landers,

Allain, gtr.

demo under

Ali

previously led the band Infopop, a successful

the grunge influence of the American Seattle sound, but

voc. (- 1998);

Sicken (Tooth and Nail); 1996 is

who

al.

Everybodyduck

voc; Ryan Leach, bass; Nate Shumaker,

Everdown

Evergreen

Loader

et

independent solo albums

The Wounded).

Everdown Eric Bureau,

Evergreen AN Loader, voc;

Everybodyduck formed

1992 by

in

which

carried

charts in the early

and "Tie

a

is

a Christian

five

bubblegum group

Tony Orlando and Dawn 70s with

ditties like

Yellow Ribbon 'round the Old

the latter group

was no

first

As

7hall puts

illustrations rewritten to

feature "a

reminiscent of

Oak Tree." Of course,

It is

and that has been

hard to find a review

album that does not use words

"cornball." or "cheesy."

"sermon

is

to the top of the

"Knock Three Times"

favorite of critics,

the case with Everybodyduck as well. of their

miasma

initially

graduates of Southwestern Bible Col-

of cliches that

it,

the songs

like all

"trite,"

sound

like

make them rhyme"; they

youth pastors think

are cool

Every Day

land kids routinely ignore." self" tells

what happened

,much leash (get

The song "Shags Has Hung Himwhen he was given too

to lose

fails

is

about a

who

girl

tempt her from her

t

the foods that

Song" features these camp-counselor

:

and cool and green Still

to

Groove,

!

continues to do the same thing, though it.

market.

now they are

"8"

a story about a

is

eighth birthday with a party at

who

boy

i

.

;

trite

better at

I

can choose

have to be square groove."

/ I've

new

despised) genre

They

/ I've

for a

zombie

me

He's given

/

a Christian but

The song works because

if

that)

album and

I

know

still

deals

it

with

a

whom

is in-

The only problem, They miss

their

more

serious songs like

se: it is just

is

all

turn of the millennium.

with 311 and Rage Against

around Southern California as early as 1992, their first

Korn had even formed. Limp Bizkit

not age appropriate for children

would eventually go

the ingredients that Still, it

was EDL

(as their fans call

them

mentary on the Christian music

of innovation and does not offer

less contracts) to artists

who do

them)

who

first is

industry,

first

The

mixed

fact that

but a sad com-

which

much

not sound

displaying

into the rapcore

to full boil.

other bands recorded music of this type

wary

the Beastie Boys

fair,

New York for over a decade,

these together and brought

always

is

support (much

like

someone who

has already achieved success in the general market.

"Walk the Plank"

nothing wrong with

The group's lineup went through some changes during formative years, but Tedd Cookerly remained the front

and defining influence. Cookerly

is

down

quick to play

its

man the

band's historical significance, attributing the development of rapcore in various locations to the simultaneous evolution of

is

a collection of

wor-

ship songs, performed in an alternative-pop acoustic style. In addition to the classic

Melody Green's "There

hymn "My

Is

a

Jesus

I

Love Thee" and

Redeemer," the group performs

several original songs written or

cowntten by McWatters.

musical ideas. Development of the

seasoned rap vocals dustrial noise),

throwing

laid

down some

musical pioneers."

He

the radio at any given

making adult or college-oriented music when they choose to

The group followed with Out of the Overflow, essentially volume-two set of more worship songs. This time they so.

cover Delirious?

Zschech

s

s

"Lord You Have

My

Heart" and Darlene

"Shout to the Lord." as well as performing "You've

Got the Right Words." best known by Rich Young Ruler. standout original song. "You Are There,"

who

is

A

sung by Molly

appears to have returned after an absence.

Miranda Landers,

who

left

Everybodyduck

after their first

album, became Miranda Richardson and recorded a solo album as simply

Miranda. She and Tim Bnnkman would

Sparklepop.

also record

jams than

told Tball,

just

are indeed capable of

EDL sound

(angry,

punk-

over an intense metal bed of

freestyle

Highlights include "Great Affection" and "Because You Are."

McWatters and Everybodyduck

down

in-

he says, "had more to do with providence and

These are compelling, beautiful, and profound songs, proving

as

at the

Rage Against the Machine released

had been bashing about

stew.

every song.

a lesson in

Seized by the Power of a Great Affection

Jensen,

would

style that

it much more Day Life was performing rapcore (and

a year before

theme Every-

album.

a

should probably be

free

under twelve, the only people likely to be listening to the

do

Life

become the most popular (and

on the airwaves

don't

I

one assumes that the music

(presenting a die-to-self theme). There

that

(Fashionpop).

wasn't even in the oven yet, though, to be

become

penchant to have

the message per

it

can be cool to be a Chns-

it

music. Everybodyduck works quite well.

mark with

life

ignored.

tended for an adolescent or adult audience. As pre-teenybopper

the

Day

are quick to share that credit

broadly than that. Every

bodyduck's music appeals. Indeed, harsh criticisms of this

is its

Every

the Machine, but they don't have to share

escaped this world's snare, but

group's music hold only

then,

—

Life:

As EDL: 1999—

Standard.

with inventing rapcore. the musical

a year before

appropriate to the preadolescent audience to i

997—American

take over the world and briefly

all

how to

1

celebrates his

which he himself gets

way) that

want me

dan: "Jesus doesn't will so

drums, voc;

As Every Day

1999).

probably the album's highlight, affirming

is

an admittedly

(in

(Alarma);

of Clarity (KMG): 2001

credited

calling

"Sunday Shoes"

Eric Wilkins,

Jeff Elbel, bass, voc. (+

The Christian group Every Day

new group

tunes aimed squarely at the junior high school

The song

Moment

//

soft

is

Darin McWatters. the principal songwriter, serves up a

slate of silly

1996— Disgruntled

pretty keen."

is

an almost entirely

i

'

"The grass

lyrics:

think God's world

/ 1

Know How

"The Happy Smiley

fridge.

voc;

gtr.,

despite

weight because she doesn't remove

.

On

I

EDL)

(a.k.a.

Tedd Cookerly, voc; Carl Weaver, Oxx, bass (-1999)

good intentions

Life

I

to a poor dog

"Suzy's Diet"

it?).

Every Day

3

Life

"One

it

becoming

did with

of the ideas

I

had was to

kind of encompass everything that a person could hear on

time—you know,

pop, rap.

R&B,

hip-

hop, rock-n-roll, heavy metal, the whole thing.

We did

we

took a while to

could with the instruments

gel."

we

Cookerly also points to bands

had, but like

it

the best

Deprivation Chamber.

Head, and Downset as influential on EDL's sound. Disgruntled

was produced by Lanny Cordola. The songs "E and "Look" all enjoyed some crossover

Coli," "Perseverance,"

success

on

college radio stations in certain quarters. "Cry of the

Lame" and "Bystander" (about drive

and menacing groove that

system."

The

record,

divorce) also have a potent True Tunes

would say

which had unimaginative

"jolts

the

critics calling

the group "a Christian version of Rage Against the Machine."

caused a

bit of a stir in the

Christian music subculture.

Its

cover shows a picture of the American flag with the band's

— —— 3

Every Man's Hero

2

I

name

cut out of

it,

along with an aerial photo of the Reginald

Deaton beating that occurred during the 1993

album

were

to protest gov-

when

living in grinding poverty

Larry Norman's "The Great American Novel"). The

sentiments in these aspects of EDL's work had some

racial

was learned

it

that

four

all

was

members

The group came back with an even harder and heavier sound on American Standard, produced by Michael Knott. The track suggests that selflessness rather than materialism

ought to be the hallmark of

with

deals

"Ten

a free society.

Little Indians"

Americans

injustices perpetrated against Native

(often in the

name

tive nature of

of Christ). "Closure" addresses the destruc-

church

status of a society in

politics. "Electric Starter" reflects

which people

without

a greeting,

either of the first

really

say,

wanting

on the

"How Are You?" only as

a reply.

the

Moon"

by

a (black) guest rapper

uses the

word

word

"Nigga"; the

was deemed

"

re-

Whitey on

actually uttered

is

from Gospel Gangstaz. American

Standard was rejected because the song "Ten

Little Indians"

"unpatriotic."

Every Man's Hero

"Touched" deals

No One

Ever Said a

Word

Caleb Ralph, bass, voc. 2000

gtr.;

(Bettie Rocket).

Every Man's Hero

punk

a classic

is

punk with hardcore

school

rock.

On

trio that

their

melds

old-

debut album, they

deliver fifteen tracks played at a typical rapid-fire pace, inspir-

Ninety Pound Wuss.

ing comparison to Christian bands like

Lyrics are not understandable, but the songs deal

topics as racism, teenage runaways,

and dating.

with such

HM notes that

Caleb Ralph's abrasive shrieks and screams are effective on the

angry songs ("Badlife") but sometimes seem inappropriate

when

of the victim at his or her abuser. "Log Off" portrays an angry

with you").

who thoughtlessly tells her child, why don't you just kill yourself!"

was ostensibly

Disgruntled

jected out of noble racial sensitivity, since the song

with the subject of molestation or date rape, voicing the anger

parent

America) refused to stock

retailer in

two albums.

Mike Heck, drums; Dillon McKnight,

were white.

title

music

largest Christian

critics dis-

missing them as "angry black militants," a charge that easier to sustain before

The

"Whitey on

of tax dollars for space exploration

millions of (minority) citizens (cf.

70s

originally written in the early

ernment allocation

L.A. riots.

rendition of a song called

itself features a

Moon,"

the

—

you save me.

spitting out lyrics like "Jesus,

...

I'm in love

"Kill yourself, kill

yourself,

Evie

The album Moment of Clarity shows some evolution beyond some The band moves more toward hip-hop and

the traditional rapcore sound, to the disappointment of

and

critics

fans.

1974—Evie (Word); 1975— Evie

1976—Gentle Moments; 1977— A Little Song of joy for My Little Friends; 979— Never the Same; 1980— Evie Favorites, Vol. I; 1980— Teach Us four Way [with Pelle Karlsson]; 98 Unfailing Love; 1983— Hymns; Restoration [with Pelle Karlsson]; 1986 When All Is Said and Done;

Mirror;

Come On

Ring Those

Bells;

Again; 1

978

1

commercially accessible pop

HM and a

what had become

pop anthem

rap lines. But bers

worthy

feel

Moment

of the

a barrage of sound-alikes.

like

sandwiched between

player,

/ It

it

its

straight-up

trademark: the opening "Let

(offering Cookerly's personal account of

federate flag: "Let

"Time

an Audio Adrenaline song,

also contains several hard hitting

EDL

and "Represent" (written

ground

More. Nevertheless,

1

Change" actually sounds

with

No

7b all took the changes positively, as setting the band

apart from to

a la Faith

for those

burn down

some

to fly a

Ride"

Con-

down to the new bass

burn

doesn't represent me"). Jeff Elbel, the

had previously played with Farewell to Juliet, LSU,

and Sunny crossover

Day

album

Roses.

KMG

pushed Moment of Clarity as

for the general market,

and

it

rose to

a

Number

Sixteen on CMJ's college music chart.

A came

first

group

in Christian

Day

music to address

Life be-

political is-

sues in a responsible manner. In reviewing Disgruntled, True Tunes said "never before has

any Christian band

really

gone

for

the jugular, expressing intelligently and passionately any kind of dissatisfaction with the nation's political system." Predictably,

—

Christmas Memories;

990

1

—

Celebrate the Family [by Evie and the

1996—Our

Recollections

such contributions were not always appreciated. The

extremely pro-censorship Family Christian Bookstores (the

(Word); Songs

for His

Family [by Evie and the Karlssons] (label unknown).

The Norwegian

singer best

phenomenally popular

known as simply "Evie" was when the Christian adult

in the 70s,

contemporary market was admittedly

less

crowded. Indeed,

she deserves to be credited with starting or pioneering the dis-

subgenre of that style sometimes called "inspira-

tinctive

tional"

—and few have ever performed

numerous albums

it

better. Evie

tian fans an alternative to the Christian rock sically,

produced

of sweet, inspiring music that offered Chris-

movement. Mu-

her sound recalled that of such light pop singers as

Petula Clark or Peggy Lee. Jesus Music

couple of steps ahead of Crashdog, Every the

987

Karlssons] (White Field);

num-

past failings)

who still want / Let it

It

1

1

"definitely the

magazine says Evie was

sweetheart of easy listening contemporary

Christian music" for a decade. She sang at the White House,

played at venues

out

like

New

far bigger arenas

York City's Carnegie Hall, and sold

than almost any other Christian

could have managed in the 70s. that she

women

was widely regarded in the world,

and

many twenty-something

it is

as

It

artist

should perhaps be noted

one of the most beautiful

probably safe to assume that

Jesus freaks thought they were in

,

.

313

Extol

I

with

love

her. In 1979.

Swedish pastor '

;

his

own

she broke

Pelle Karlsson.

land. Karlsson

wrote

made

their

home

Born Evie Tornquist

became something of

a child star in

in

TV

re-

by age four-

week

next three years, she spent almost one

a

Scandinavia and then, at age seventeen, recorded her

rum

for

tremendous

American audiences. The

hit.

self-titled

featuring a range of songs from

brand's Vacation Bible School ditty 'Say.

Crouch's monumental

I

Do"

debut was a

Ray to

Hilde-

Andrae

"My Tribute." The album also includes

Crouch's hymn. "The Blood Will Never Lose

Its

Power" and

Larry Norman's "Sweet Sweet Song of Salvation."

My Lord"

she covers "Clean before

On

Evie

by Honeytree, pro-

viding

what many consider

to be the definitive version of that

song.

On

she turns Kurt Kaiser's campfire

song "Pass

Gentle

On"

It

offers "Give

Moments

was

"Shine" (# 17

in

1979).

Vocalist 1978 Female Vocalist

gtr.;

1998—Exeter

was

Exeter Flud hailed

Gabriel Howerton, drums: David Ott,

by some

album

cent of

voc, bass.

emo band

was

that

next Prayer Chain" before their un-

from Georgia, the group was fronted by

trio

who went on

single

a short-lived Christian

as "the

A

timely demise.

Ott

gtr..

Flud (BulletProof).

Dear Ephesus. The

to play guitar with

reveals a guitar-heavy

sound with vocals reminis-

Bloomsday and moody songs that recall Champion or The Violet Burning. Standout tracks in-

Birdwatchers

clude the songs "Passion and Hesitation" and "You Decide."

which The

was

Lighthouse described as "just plain beautiful." Ott

also the group's songwriter,

sive of abstract

and he favored

shadows always, always

/

lyrics expres-

me / Through

emotion: "Time pushing against

Time was nothing

to

you"

fail

("Darling D").

into a credible adult contemporary ballad and

Them All."

ble songs. It

Jacob Dabbs.

programs there on the

album and performing on national

teen. For the

hits:

Dove Awards: 1977 Female

Exeter Flud

1957) as the daughter of recent Nor-

frequent trips back and forth across the Atlantic,

cording an

Christian radio

number of songs for Evie, inSame Again." The family even-

her parents' native land. She sang in

month

been a pop star in

in Florida. (c.

n immigrants. Evie

s

by marrying

their hearts

a

eluding "Shine" and "Never the tually

all

who had once

one of her most beautiful and memorahowever, that would become the

Mirror,

mate Evie album, providing four out of eighteen songs

ulti-

The Exkursions See

Mike Johnson.

for her

eventual hits collection ("Mirror." "Born Again." "Praise You Just the

Same." "Just Because

Asked").

I

Evie's version of

"Come On. Ring Those

contemporary Christian music's

her biggest hit

Still,

ever turned out to be the title track to a

Christmas album.

would become

Bells"

major contribution to

first

a

Extol Ole Borud,

State);

burgeoning catalogue of popular holiday songs. Over twenty years later, at

it

was

still

receiving generous airplay every year

Christmas time and would remain the

Mesmerized

Extol

a

is

[EP];

Holm,

Eystein

1999— Bunol

2000—Undeceived; 200 \—Paralysis

bass: (Solid

(End Times).

Norwegian Christian death metal band with an

insanely loyal following. Extol fans

fill

up Internet

sites

with

ravings about the group as "surpassing every band in Christian

all.

Evie recorded

several featuring songs in

more than

thirty albums, including

death/black metal bands to ever grace the ears of mankind."

Scandinavian languages, two albums

with her husband, and two more featuring the whole family Kns. and Jenny). Teach Us Your

(Pelle.

concept albums, the

first

tained musical treatise

more intended

a

Way and

latter a sus-

on the unity of the church. Both seem

for meditation

and prayer than

both include

based on John 17 called "Jesus' Prayer." standards as "The Old Rugged Cross."

Name." and "How Great Thou

retired

Restoration are

worship project and the

listening or entertainment:

for casual

a Pelle Karlsson

Hvmns

"All

song

includes such

Hail the Power of Je-

Art." In 1981. Evie officially

from performing. She remembers her

fifteen years of

constant tounng with fondness and says she only hopes that the opening

'Oh.

gtr.;

music" and as being "one of the heaviest and most innovative

In

sus'

voc: Christer Espevoll.

best-known

artist's

song.

to be

gtr.. flute,

David Husvik. drums: Peter Espevoll. voc. (-2001).

I

words of the song "Live

wanna

be remembered

for Jesus Christ."

/

for Jesus" will

As the

girl

who

hold true:

sang her songs

Hyperbole,

split

and archaic sexisms

infinitives,

group does demonstrate unusual competence Their sound

drumming

tight,

is

all

aside,

the

in their craft.

with the fret-ripping guitars and

frantic

holding together at a breakneck pace, starting,

stopping, twisting, and turning as a single entity. Such technical skill

is

thusiastic

uncommon

in

metal music, and Extol's legion of en-

advocates have reason to be proud.

innovation, furthermore,

is

their

singers: Peter Espevoll handles

employment

what

The prime two lead

of

are called grinding vocals,

the morbid growls typical of death metal, while Ole Borud is

officially

charged with clean vocals, that

often melodic singing. Borud

Sthaliach. Tor

Magne

Glidje.

is.

normal and

was formerly with

who

fronts Lengsel,

the band is

some-

times listed as bass player for Extol. Emil Nikolaisen of Royal

was also a member of Extol

prior to the band's debut recording.

314

Extreme

Burial features three songs in Norwegian, but otherwise the

group performs

material in English, with moderate

all

of

its

is

he

who

success ("Blessed

has got his sins forgiven").

new

Mesmerized includes three

The EP

songs and three industnal

remixes of tracks from Burial, prepared by techno industrial

Sanctum and Raison

artists

of historical note,

The latter three tracks are fans (who do not tend toward

D'Etre.

though Extol

ecumenicity in their musical tastes) pretty Undeceived

much

moves more toward death metal, but

instrumental that are

hated them. features

two

and more melodic than

less aggressive

doubted. In interviews, Cherone talked openly about his

Son of God." while being

in Christ "as the

band

cate the rest of his

in a

way

issues of faith did

come

would

that

on account of him. As the group's to the fore.

belief

careful not to impli-

them

get

labeled

chief songwriter, however,

The

debut album

self-titled

Bye Bye") and, more

features an antiabortion song ("Rock a

to

the point, a song called "Watching, Waiting," which describes

The words

the crucifixion of Jesus.

are intentionally a bit ob-

with the meaning only becoming

scure,

The

the lyric sheet.

sounds

line that

clear

like

when one

reads

"I'm staring at the

the vocal tracks. Other tracks reveal classical and progressive

sun"

influences, such as the use of violins or brief neo-Renaissance

fashion, the hit song "Hole-Hearted" expresses a basic spiritual

heavy songs. "A Structure of Souls"

intros to ultimately

showcase newal"

wed melodic metal with shrill,

trast of extremes. tries to

The group

is

a

and both "Ember" and "Re-

for the electric guitars,

dark ambience for a con-

unabashedly Pentecostal, but

is

be ecumenical in their approach, extending their appeal

at least to non-Pentecostal fundamentalists. "All of us believe in angels

and demons and speaking

in a spiritual

in tongues,

and that we're

war where prayer is the most important weapon."

says Espevoll. "But our mission

is

to see people get saved and

On Paralysis,

receive Jesus in their hearts."

the band covers the

song "Shadow of Death," originally performed by Believer.

is

actually written "I'm staring at the Son." In a similar

message

in

somewhat

The song appears

veiled terms.

to be

based on the classic dictum of Pascal to the effect that every

human filled

being

born with

is

God-shaped hole" that must be

"a

before they can be complete. Yet the song

polyvalent.

Cherone once explained that

looking for

what he needs

peace. "It could be a

you what

he

it is,"

with

said,

"to me, I'm looking for God."

intentionally

is

about a person

is

make him happy,

to

could be God.

girl, it

it

I

him

to give

want

don't

to

tell

artistic reticence, before adding,

Other songs

are less ambiguous.

"Rise and Shine." from Three Sides, quotes the prophet Daniel

and Jesus outright, while "God's Not Dead"

offers a pretty ag-

gressive spiritual statement. Waiting for the Punchline features a

Extreme

(and

Pat Badger, bass;

Geary, drums. 1

992— Three

Nuno

Bettencourt,

song with the tantalizing

Gary Cherone. voc; Paul

music

— Extreme

heart / There

gtr.;

1989— Extreme (A&M); 1990

Sides to Every Story;

Extreme was not eral

Van Halen)

a

1

995— Waiting

//:

Pornograffitti;

by

led

devout Christian (Gary

a

"There

title.

no God" (Psalm

is

Is

from Scripture, "The

No

God."

fool

hath said

It

sets to in his

14:1 or 53:1).

Aside from specific songs, Cherone's faith shaped the basic

for the Punchline.

Christian band as such, but rather a gen-

market metal funk band

a line straight

concepts for at least two of Extreme's albums.

theme of the album

the underlying

He

has said that

Pornograffitti

the effect

is

on a young mind and the

Cherone). The group had nothing to do with the contempo-

that pornography can have

rary Christian music subculture and, though big in the world

produces later for issues related to morality, temptation, and

at large,

was

rarely noticed

by media devoted to covering con-

temporary Christian music. The two major exceptions to

would be the attention given

bellion.

The band formed

when Cherone and

Cherone and Extreme by H.M

to

magazine and by Mark Joseph

this

in his

book The Rock and Roll Re-

in Boston. Massachusetts, in 1985

Paul Geary, both of

whom had been

part of

The

sex.

album

is

it

character in the drama portrayed throughout that

named

that the tale

is

Frances, but

Cherone has openly admitted

autobiographical, "about

to go through."

The album

some things

Three Sides to Every Story,

tures ambitious stylings reminiscent of Queen, sault

struggle

on modern notions of

my side,

your

relativism.

The

is

I

had

which

fea-

that

a direct as-

titular three sides

and the truth, and the album

actually

Boston-based Dream, connected with Portugese-born guitarist

are

Nuno

divided into three suites of songs dealing with these matters.

Bettencourt.

The

latter

is

noted as one of rock music's

side,

premier hard rock guitarists and provided Extreme with the

Desire for change

metal edge their name implied.

are

became best known

for

"More Than Words" (# 1991).

1

two

Ironically,

of

in 1991)

its

ballads, the

10 hits, the second

went double platinum, and

umphantly with ZZ Top. Cherone was raised Roman a faith that

in

album

the band toured

tri-

you angry?

.

is .

.

expressed in

Am

I

ever

"Who Cares?":

"Tell

gonna change?" The

then, offers three songs (recorded at

Abbey Road

a seventy-piece orchestra) expressive of eternal truth. Rolling Stone, not normally

conceptualizing

reality,

me, Jesus,

final suite,

studios with

and ultimate

an advocate of such ways of

praised the

album

as

demonstrating

Extreme's "eclecticism and willingness to experiment,"

He left the church, Chuck Swindoll with re-

Catholic.

but would later credit radio preacher

awakening him to

memorable

and 'Hole Hearted" (# 4

On the basis of these two Top

Pornograffitti

however, the group

is

he says he had ignored but never

gling out "the final three songs" as

its

sin-

highlights.

Being a Christian in one of America's premier heavy metal

bands could not have been

easy,

and Cherone has been honest

315

Extreme

!

i

,

about expressing his successes and failures at toeing the

number that

of songs that he sang

would not

A

line.

with the group used vulgar words

typically be heard within the Christian market.

Asked about this by

HM magazine, he seemed surprised that

it

some of their songs were being written by a devout The partnership only lasted for a single album (the

perhaps,

Christian.

oddly

titled III) in 1998,

make

for peculiar

but two of the songs on that record

Van Halen

fare. "Fire in

the Hole" deals with

t

was even an

He acknowledged,

issue.

"It's just a

the

damage

de-

and

its lyrics

get

ship

which

lack of vocabu-

that

human

beings inflict through their speech,

i

.

.

lary.

which I can be guilty

fensively: it's

emotional

when

I

sing.

.

.

but then continued a

things that

,

knows? Maybe

it

a

compromise

will get better.

After Extreme broke up,

Sammy Hagar (who had singer of

Van Halen, one

time. Suddenly, in

history of rock

and

I

know

it

of

more

to replace

replaced David Lee Roth) as lead

of the

most popular metal bands

was fronted by

a

called

all

in the

is

seem drawn

straight

sets the course /

from the

Does not the

the forest set by a small flame

one can tame"

(cf.

/

Bible:

bit bridle

'Rudder of the horse /

Like a tongue

James 3:3-5). The song "Once"

on

fire

no

offers a state-

of the Christian doctrine of eternal security:

"Once

be-

Once shared can't ever be separate brand new day / With the power of Deity

lieved can't ever lose faith / / Like the I

can

feel

dawn it

from "Hot

of a

inside of

me / Can you

for Teacher,"

feel it?"

and Van Halen

This

is

fans, for the

a long

way

most

part,

first

were not impressed. All the same, Cherone thanked the

"Runnin' with

Christian author R. C. Sproul for inspiration in the album's

the hard rocking party band that

anthem

of

Great

ment

won't get worse."

one of the most bizarre turnabouts roll,

I

Who

my faith

Cherone was asked

broke into the airwaves with an the Devil"

bit

me. I'm honest.

a part of

There are probably more important

.

would consider

:

I

of,"

an emotion that's

devout Christian. More incredible,

liner notes.

Face Value Steve Dresser,

(-2000)

//

gtr.;

sound

Adam

Long, drums; Brad Nagle, voc; Pat Nagle, bass

Nate Clay (+ 2000); Josh Keilman (+ 2000).

(Bettie Rocket);

—

2000

1

999— Never

Stray

whelming and enduring character of God's

way

There's Always the Radio.

similar to that of such general market artists as

is

Babyface or Luther Vandross. The songs testify to the over-

you're guiding

The album

in "It's Alright."

Face Value

is

a

punk band from

Detroit. Michigan,

with a a

sound similar to that of MxPx, Slick Shoes, or early Ghoti

few songs

Fade's

Hook

(see also

Craig's Brother,

Dogwood, Hangnail, Nog-

me through my is

a

love.

"I

just love the

Fade sings to Christ

life,"

down-tempo

affair,

though on

Can't Be Stopped," "Dreams of a Better World")

("I

smooth vocals

by guest

artists

Fade

(group)

are

supplemented by rapped interludes

Smartz and Spokesman.

gin Toboggan, Shorthanded, Sick of Change, Twotimer,

The Undecided, and Value debut album. Never deals

with the

Pac;

it's

Stray, suffers

theme

overall

of

a

crowded market). Their

from poor production, but

"making one's

faith in

God

real

Personnel

and never straying from what one believes"

man

There's

cleaner, tighter sound. "Hatred" pays

opening

riffs

Always

homage

the

to

Radio has a

Stryper with

and presents an indictment of prejudice

within the church: "Hatred love should abound."

now

fills

the halls

A song called "2/14/00"

where God's

offers

some

typi-

punk whining about romantic troubles. "On Valentine's Day I was listening to a bunch of nerds dedicate songs to their

cal

girlfriends, so

I

just

wrote

this

song to outlet

says the girlfriend-less composer.

Adam

list

—

unavailable. 1998

quote front

Brad Nagle). The song "Habitual" emphasizes replacing

bad habits with positive ones.

its

(to

my frustrations,"

True Tunes

and Phantom

True Tunes praised the

ever hear

on the

Tollbooth pulls

out

all

the best independent

sound that

The

Fade ist

who

group

"calls to

the

released one

album of

band

as "the type of

you'll rarely

And

all

African American solo art-

The

CDs

|

ever recorded."

The duo produces a of The Autumns or

True Tunes) or that suggests "a perfect

lost

(Tollbooth).

and found

/ It

Faircloff (Pamplin).

"I

came up from under-

the gods of this world are dying even now."

Scott Faircloff 1998— Scott

if

difficult."

mind the dark elegance

Violet Burning"

/

a

Fade.

Their lyrics strive for haunting images steeped in ambiguity:

Long.

soulful ballads in 1997.

R&B solo artist

the stops and calls Angel-Thieves "one of

(Infiniti).

name adopted by an

magazines are aware of

as the

melding of recent Radiohead with meditative U2"

ground

is

name

simply because they're too

radio,

(solo artist)

1997— The Debut

Tollbooth

Christian duo with the same

found paradise in the

Fade

Angel- Thieves (North and South).

—

——

—

Family of Love

Born and raised started playing

Northwest. Scott Faircloff

in the Pacific

piano

when

he

was

six,

and studied the songwnting styles of such heroes as the

1

had numerous

project

dubbing

critics

's

Me

Faircloff displays

more

sound.

whimsy.

lyrical

may

The album's dominant theme

who experiences a

Me

Closer" focuses on the idea of

is

own

Tent

emerging

the spiritual journey of

personal relationship with God. "Pulling

God always drawing

us

"Under Your Wing" expresses peaceful confidence

in

being under God's protection. parts briefly

the

em-

other tunes,

style (Big

represent his

one

nearer:

On

American rock

of an

Revival, Jars of Clay) that

to

songs themselves are reminiscent

and

of Lennon's in structure

from the record's

humorous thoughts

princess willing to give

The song

"Frog's

Lament"

de-

spiritual orientation to present

of the fairy-tale frog

him

"Wrecking

who

can't find a

Chain" (# 19

in

1998).

Faith Massive

Drum and

DJ Seven]. 1998

[a.k.a.

is

mainstream electronic

may

His

artists as

features ethereal keyboards

1:1. It

saxophone on several tracks that

Rom

Size,

Wave-

recall

and generous doses

the slithering, sultry

(minus the vocals). Other cuts favor

more avant-garde electronic

The

style.

title

of the

a

album actu-

ally derives

from the technical

genre and

not meant to imply that the group consists only of

rhythm

section. Visions

is

a

label applied to this musical

concept piece based on Acts 2:17.

The infusion of jazz and even world music and. this time, a

few of the tracks feature

are present are overtly Christian

and often

times, though, the spiritual application listener, as

on

"Shelter."

mellow piano.

"I

when

it

is

to.

some

I

is

more pronounced

vocals.

What

evangelistic.

lyrics

Some-

must be made by the

maven June

April sings over

belong in the shelter of your

album "romantic

"the kind of stuff

coffeehouse listening cino and writing

jazz

really feel that

love." Musicforce calls the

says

known

album from 1992, however,

self-titled

for his

work

partici-

"Wake Up"

early Dire Straits.

Bo Diddley

classic

that reminded

some

of

Love?"

is

not a cover of the

God

album's standout attractions are "Ease the

redemption and

re-

and the wonderful "Jammin' with the Angels," which

of-

fers a pretty the

of a

Christian response to an

Pain." a description of everyone's quest for lease,

more

but a reflection on the choice between

mammon. The

and

mix

calls for

"Who Do You

ever-bleaker world.

reflected

incorporating elements of

acoustic rock, jazz, and blues into a

good preview of what

its title

describes.

A

Tree

by

Water also offers soulful ballads and bluesy rockers of the

listed

with James Taylor or Van Morrison. The other

above are worship oriented. For Dreamers Only

is

a project recorded in 1990.

Eli.

praise music." 'ball

you could picture someone

at a

kicked back while drinking a cappuc-

poetry."

Family of Love Personnel

be compared to

and Goldie. The debut album opens with a reading of

jazz sounds of Sade

a

leader, best

Bass for the

composed of two DJs who compose and

meditative to head-bobbing. Their music

is

worship

laid-back coffeehouse approach,

See

perform instrumental ambient music that varies in tone from

of

a

is

1999— Visions.

Masses (N'Soul);

Genesis

Quiet

Paul Falzone

Joey Davis, Jamey Wright

that of such

2000— The

an instrumental re-release of

Faith Massive

rider,

Only;

Worship with Chris Falson

Live

A Tree by the Water (Orchard);

pated in numerous stadium conference events with that group.

sort associated

that transforming kiss Ball

(Word); 1997

with the Maranatha Promise Keepers Band. He has

albums Christian radio hits:

Dreamers

Chris Falson

Closer,"

seem

vocal mannerisms and stylings

ulate that singer. Indeed, the

998— For

(Broken Again); 1995

Stories

Faircloff "the Christian

Cham." "When God Whispers," "Under Your

Wing"). Faircloff

Chris Falson

www.chnsfalson.com

John Lennon" because on certain songs ("Pulling xing Ball

7

The

debut album, produced by John and Dino Elefante.

his

—

and the Amazing

and Elton John. These influences show prominently in

Beatles

I

Chris Falson

picked up guitar a bit 1992

later,

3

list

Whether

unavailable. 1977

The

Bible:

A Rock Testament (Polydor).

or not Family of Love can be regarded as a Chris-

tian band would be a matter of controversy since the group was associated with the Children of God cult. The Children of God began as a countercultural parachurch group that was very much a part of the California Jesus movement but soon (long before 1977) grew into the definitive example of an ex-

tremist cult, accused of everything from heresy to brainwashing to prostitution (leader David Berg, a.k.a.

reported to have interpreted Jesus'

men"

as

meaning "hookers

command

for Jesus"

Moses David,

is

to be "fishers of

and so to have encour-

new known and has

aged female followers to use sex as a lure for attracting converts).

The

story of the

been recounted elsewhere

movement

is

well

(see bibliography in

Di Sabatino's

The Jesus People Movement). At any rate, Di Sabatino notes that this

album

first-rate."

'is

completely orthodox, as well as being musically

The group

rather ambitiously seeks to offer songs

that cover the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation (with an

emphasis on the Bible

that

latter).

Their penchant for finding sex in the

where others might not comes through on

Ruth

sings to

Boaz

after the

two

of

a love

song

them have supposedly

— 3

I

The Family Tree

8

consummated

on the

their relationship during their night

threshing floor

Ruth

(cf.

For further consideration of

3).

whether an unorthodox group can produce orthodox and even inspiring music,

compare the All Saved Freak Band. For more

music from the Children of God. see Jeremy Spencer.

band

roll

/

that hard,

more

wanna have

I

it's

from above?

.

.

.

(Lamb and

Fire!

Lion); If

The Family five

male

Tree

was

sort of a

Brothers,

albums

sions of Jesus music songs.

filled

The

with only three instead of with

more

I

their white-bread ver-

On

record,

first

the

Up

Fire! features

the Fire" and

Love

Opened Up the Door." Subsequent albums

accents that

If

We Abide. The

some American

bit

To receive blessings /

As

I

would

who

leader

closes

sometimes /

for all

Thanks

/

Adam

Again

and friend had an enor-

"Now I'm 27 and you were know bugged you You taught me so much

your time. ... me.

for loving

"I

Side," a

trying to find their place in

the curious world of Christian rock:

Thank you

the just-

is

with "The Other

Gene Eugene, the deceased

as a producer, musician,

mous impact on many musicians 38 /

however,

of the Backstreet Boys' song

That Way." The album

It

album, but the songs tend to

.

.

I

I

.

Who wilLI go to?"

Farewell to Juliet

sang with thick

trio

fans found charming in a Her-

man's Hermits way. Harmony magazine complained that the

John

Bretzlaff. gtr.. bass; Jeff Elbel, gtr.;

drums (-1998) (+ 1998).

group overused vocal harmonies rather than

not

It's

.

turns a

in-

original material, including Ian Truscott's "Stand-

Door" on

ing at the

harmony group,"

Want

first

An exception,

punk version

heartfelt tribute to

stripped-down Australian

cover versions of Parchment's "Light

Song's "Since

On

1975

Love (Milk and Honey).

singers. Billed as "Australia's top

outfit offered three

clude

Truscott, voc.

Phil

We Abide; 1979—Fine

Osmond

version of the

voc;

far /

.

.

Silletta

done things not the same

I've

sounds the same as the

for-fun sped-up Ian Truscott,

roll fans.

"Lame,"

gone too

I

be darker and more serious.

The Family Tree Smallwood, voc;

On

have three years ago." Fanmail Z000, despite the different musicians,

Ian

"Have

introspective:

and

lots of rock

not that hard."

one

just allowing

//

Chad Dunn, drums

1993— Echoes

Brant Hansen, voc;

Schmale,

Jeff

(+ 1998); Stacey Krejci, bass, kybrd.

of Laughter (independent);

1

998—Grace

and Dire

Circumstances (Marathon).

or another singer to take the lead.

www.netads.com/arts/music

Chicago-based Farewell to

Fanmail Scott

Silletta,

modern rock band with

voc; Chuck Cummings. drums (-2000); Nick Garrisi. gtr

(-2000); Erik Tokle. bass (-2000) //Jason Feldman. drums (+ 2000); Jason

Fleetwood, bass (+ 2000): Dale Yob,

gtr.

1999— Here Comes 2000— Fanmail 2000.

(+ 2000).

Fanmail [EP] (Tooth and Nail); The Latest Craze;

Fanmail was the second contemporary Christian outing for

who first earned renown as the original singer man for the very popular PlankEye. Silletta gath-

Scott Silletta,

and front ered a

bunch of his

friends

from other bands (Nick Garrisi from

a

Juliet

is

a critically acclaimed

unique sound that draws on a variety

The group's name is derived from the title of a nipoem by William Blount that, in Hansen's words,

of influences. hilistic

exposes "the bankruptcy of ter."

On

their first

life

without the promise of

a hereaf-

album, Echoes of Laughter, the group displays a

basic '80s prog-rock

sound reminiscent of Rush and the

Fixx, but

with considerably more acoustic elements integrated into the mix.

includes the song "Endless Sky," a meditation

It

sience

and transcendence that

True Tunes

would

on

tran-

call a "perfect

Quayle, Erik Tokle from Rich Young Ruler, Chuck Cum-

Christian alternative song." In addition, "Adam's Chain" ad-

mings from Aunt Bettys) to record some songs that he had

dresses the deceptive allure of things that bring bondage, while

written

— those featured on the debut EP and

album. He then had to assemble

first

a different lineup

peared that the group might have some

legs.

full-length

when

it

Silletta

ap-

told

was avoiding the Christian band label PlankEye to playing certain venues. The

"Mood Swing"

tian music, the

playing bars and clubs.

The EP Here Comes Fanmail "Every Breath You Take" by The scribed

includes a cover of the song

They

pop-punk, with catchy melodies throughout."

vocal

and

as "upbeat

The

specter of PlankEye's sound

the overall sound

was much

first

band. "True Brand

sil's

'80s hit "Mickey."

its

theme from the

The Latest Craze

Tollbooth as 'a near-perfect

was

closer to

New"

MxPx

than to

get upset

or

The Church.

In terms of Chris-

group sometimes comes across as

a

mixture of

don't

want

to very often, but

they do kick things into high

gear.

on

Grace's "Thermostat"

That song features

by Rob Dickinson of Catherine Wheel and

reflects

a guest

on

star-

Silletta's

dom in light of Kurt Cobain's suicide. Grace also includes a cover of The Choir's "Chase the Kangaroo," and a number of other

Tony

tracks that, to quote one

definitely present, but

rather strongly recalls

who

Grace and Dire Circumstances, the

The Choir and Jars of Clay, though when they want to, they can produce a much harder sound than either of those bands.

was desummer album"

by Phantom

Police.

On

Simple Minds

sociated with

that had relegated

MxPx,

humorously with people

prog-rock elements decrease in favor of sounds more closely as-

Bandoppler that Fanmail

group toured with

deals

over insignificant matters.

Ba-

The song "Rock and Roll Star" borrows old Byrds classic: "I wanna be in a rock and

critic,

provide "lots of those swirly

ments" that impressed college students Pearl"

even

recalls

the early

work

in the '80s.

of

mo-

"Browning's

Sixpence None the

— 319

Mark Farner

Richer. Jeff Elbel has developed a reputation

among

guitar afi-

cionados for his unconventional rhythm style, built around

sweeping power chords, atmosphenc

puts

"are balanced artfully

it.

solos,

and lush sounds.

as a

Farewell to Juliet presents songs that, as True Tunes

Lyrically.

between opaque, poetic

refer-

ences and obvious statements of faith." "Sorrow and Pride"

from Echoes

you ready?

asks. "Are

Could be the old you

line 7

Elbel describes this

cynical thing

found

I've

,

band

indicates that the

/ Is

Do you

/

in

dare to cross the

quite afraid to die."

dilemma:

'I've

found

in

And on

my

head a

my heart a hopeful thing." Hansen

generally oriented toward the club

is

scene rather than the specifically Christian market, but that is

very important that audience

members understand

He views

that

follow-up "Funny Face"

The back-to-back

"it

we

over pop success), but then tragedy struck

debilitated

own

come from." work with Farewell to

Bretzlaff has recorded the

this time,

his wife, releasing the

Juliet.

EP Songs from

Orange Couch by John and Kim (Marathon. 2000).

has played on a

number

of projects

by other

album Hope by Blackball and Dogfish

the

founded the indie band

Every Day

Jones

Life. In 2001,

he formed

a

band

Jeff Elbel

including

artists,

Sunny Day Roses, and

John

by LSU. He 1999 joined

in

called Ping

and

re-

album (No Outlet, Marathon) to benefit Humanity and a memorial fund for the late Gene

leased an acoustic

Habitat for

Eugene

(of

Adam

Again;. As a writer/critic, Elbel

contributor to True Tunes and

Tball, as

is

is

album contains

Thou

"Say

The

latter

980—Brotherly

by physical pam.

Art"),

the disease was in hymns ('Amazing

I

stations.

She also enjoyed

a

renewal that

she attributed to her struggles with multiple sclerosis. Fargo

member

lost

in 1949)

grew up

in

(b.

Mt. Airy. North Carolina,

of the local Baptist church, but has said that faith

most of

its

rules. In 1972.

meaning to her except

as a

system of moral

she rose to the top of the charts with a song she

had wntten called 'The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A."

ically progressive.

— the

MS

that afflicts her

thoughts and poetry

a

book of inspirational She also composed and

and written

recorded the gospel song 'Mighty Shield of Armor." which hit

Number One on

Christian country charts.

The Farm Beetles Terry Taylor et

The Farm

—Meat

1998

al.

Beetles

were

the

Farm

beetles (Stunt).

a joke project for

Terry Scott Tay-

anonymous cohorts— most The Swirling Eddies. The group

lor and a few of his

likely fellow

members

got together

of

my

hay

/

songs com-

hillbilly versions of classic Beatle

with animal noises and revamped /

lyrics ("Yesterday /

Now

I

Oh, what the hey"). The group

Life."

"Birthday." "Revolution

need a place to also slaughters

someone should have song.

The album was

later

The Swirling Eddies CD. The

most remembered, even though her

9."

Day

it's

not

them

is

like

—which

not technically a Beatles

combined with another joke

is

record.

and released on a

Cows would have made anyone

in the

"The End." and "Within

Swirling Mellow,

Eddies' Sacred

pairing, but

to

told

single

for a better

ever going to actually listen

any of the albums anyway.

Some Kind of Wonderful; 1992

the song for

#

You, Within You," as well as John Lennon's "Imagine"

Music Association's "Song of the Year " award. will always be

the

(Trust in Yourself).

Mark Farner

which she

is

which is systemat-

She has authored a collection of inspira-

tional greeting cards

The song was Number One for weeks on the country charts and was also a crossover hit. making it to Number Eleven on Billboard's pop charts. The album The Happiest Girl in the VChole U.SA. went platinum, and the song was awarded the Country It is

a hit

country hit with

Do." which opens the album. Fargo has continued to

attack/ remission variety as opposed to that

bale

Country-western singer Donna Fargo released one album of

a

"How

Grace."

"Helter Skelter." "Strawberry Fields Forever." "A

Yvonne Vaughn

at

The

remission.

"The Baptism of Jesse Taylor." which was

Love was such an easy game to play

Love (MCA/Songbird).

www.donnafargo com

after a spiritual

was

modern gospel songs ('Where You Lead." "I He Was a Superstar"), and a few original

record and to write, as able

plete

contemporary Christian music

It

a hospital chaplain,

Jesus Before

and performed

Donna Fargo 1

when

traditional

on some country

not devoted to Christian music, but Elbel makes

sure that certain Christian artists get the attention they deserve.

Selected:

diag-

a regular

well as to an influential

The Big Takeover (www.bigtakeover/ playhear.com).

was

that she determined to 'get serious about God." She recorded Brotherly Love at a time

Internet magazine devoted to covering the indie rock scene,

magazine

she

phone or cut her

disease, unable to dial a

through her conversations with

songs, including

these songs

with

by the

when

She was for some time completely

in 1979.

food, and constantly racked

Knew

them know where

MS

nosed with

Great

In addition to his

Female Country Artist of the Year (1972, 1973). Fargo

continued to have more country hits (with only minor cross-

the music as establishing "a

"let

bigger hit (# 5 in 1972).

country superstar, and she was twice acclaimed the Best

Selling

kind of friendly rapport with the listeners" but also wants to

are followers of Christ."

was an even

million-selling singles established her briefly

1988—just

Another

injustice (Frontline):

www markfarner.com

Closer to

1989— Wake Up Home.

.

1991-

320

Mark Farner

Mark

was

Farner

the lead singer, guitarist, and principal

songwriter for one of the 70s' biggest rock groups. Grand Funk

Grand Funk

He

racked up hit after

Number One

including the

hit,

singles

'We're an American Band" and 'Loco-motion" and the Top 10

experienced a dramatic

smashes. "Some Kind of Wonderful" and 'Bad Time." As an odd

conversion to Christ in 1983 and later recorded three evangeli-

quirk of rock history. Frank Zappa volunteered to produce their

(originally

cal

albums Farner

{Closer to

was born

Home

was

a 'best

when bad

of

compilation).

and

a rock

play-

professional

roll

expelled from high school during his senior year.

got a job playing with a group called Terry Knight and the

which scored

Pack,

T (Who Have

the song,

band

leader of that

and minor national

a big regional

retired

from performing

in favor of

Farner,

drummer Don Brewer

and

bassist

Mel Schacher

of the Pack),

hit

with

store.

and the Mysterians) together

(a

Grand Funk

as

man-

member former member of ? (also a

Railroad, a psy-

Cream

chedelic blues/rock

band fashioned

Hendrix Experience.

A mere two years later,

after

or the Jimi

the group had one

Then

Farner retired to a ranch in upper

his family

and opened an alternative energy

in 1976.

Michigan with

He made

No Frills in 1978, both on Atlantic) and even with Brewer to make a couple more Grand Funk al-

reunited

bums

but the glory days were clearly over and

in the early '80s.

these projects seemed

more

tention that living the

life

Thus, he was devastated left

in

Led Zeppelin, and

and Nash. In 1971, they broke the

Stills

Beatles' sup-

wandered into

church

a

come

for Christ to

Looking

his pain to be eased.

least,

ligned this

hit

('Closer to

by critics.

Rolling Stone

phenomenon,

crediting

would

later reflect historically

on

Grand Funk with discovering an

avenue to success that did not depend on radio airplay or favorable reviews: constant touring.

Sew

Rolling

Grand Funk became what The

Stone Encyclopedia of Rock

prototypical people's band."

It is

unclear

and

Roll

why critics

"the

calls

and radio

it

was

a pretty sure

he later averred, that the rather elderly preacher had never

heard of Grand Funk Railroad and would not have had a clue

who Mark Farner was if he had told them. says, when an altar call was given at the end bring

my

wife back to

Nevertheless, he of the service,

"I

God to forgive my sins and to me." Unbeknownst to him, on that

went forward and prayed

for

same morning some miles away,

his wife

church, responded to a similar altar

call,

had also attended

a

and accepted Christ as

her Savior at approximately the same time.

The two were

re-

united the next day and, recognizing that the miraculous

power and mercy

came passionate

of

God had taken hold

of their lives, they be-

in their faith, displaying evangelistic fervor.

should have been locked up for a year," Farner later

programmers hated them so much, except that the band

probably came on a

seemed to exude an arrogance that belied

called to 'give

their simplicity.

and

an unusual stranger amidst

bet,

22 in 1970) and was consistently ignored or ma-

life,

similar, he

Onaway, Michigan, one Sunday

in

morning. He was, to say the

The group got into unfortunate contract disputes with Knight, who sued them for sixty million dollars. They settled the case by buying him out. What is perhaps most amazing about Grand Funk Railroad's unparalleled success is that it came at a time when the

#

into his

something

for

the elderly congregation of sixteen, and

Home."

At

a child of nine.

that time, shortly after his father had died, he had heard Billy

posedly untouchable record for ticket sales at Shea Stadium.

band had produced only one minor Top 40

his wife Lesia

he remembered

faith,

something fhat had happened when he was

found

Crosby,

of a mega-rock star rarely affords.

August of 1983 when

hold and had no real foundation for

Graham on TV had prayed

artists as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones.

hobbies than passions.

him. Although he had not been raised in a religious house-

Funk was the

ahead of such

like

Farner had retired from the band to give his family the at-

gold and five platinum albums to their credit. In 1970. Grand best-selling musical act in America,

albums over the years (Mark

a couple of solo

Farner in 1977 and

Nothing)" (# 46 in 1966). In 1969, the

agement and put

album

final

He began

knees ended his prospects for

and he became

a football career

He

is

in Flint, Michigan, in 1948.

ing guitar at age fifteen

after he

Railroad).

little

too strong."

Initially,

he also

up music altogether" and put away

He and

T

said. "I felt

his guitar

Their bombastic stage shows were considered pretentious and

with no intention of ever playing

their covers of classic rock songs (like the Rolling Stones'

an Assemblies of God church where they spent two-and-a-half

"Gimmie

years being discipled by the pastor,

Shelter")

Spears doing

T

case, as ticket

were regarded

and album

and eventually some ken."

the

No

Can't Get

as sacrilege (akin to Britney

Satisfaction" in 2000). But in

sales continued, first

critics realized that

to vocalize admiration for the

Todd Rundgren.

who

programmers,

'the people had spo-

and Grand Funk acquired some grudging

first

any

respect.

One

of

band was rock legend

produced two of their albums: We're an

American Band (1973) and Shinm'

On

(1974).

group into the second phase of their denly, radio couldn't get

These brought the

illustrious career.

Sud-

enough of Grand Funk, and the band

again.

it

basic ideas of Christian doctrine.

i.e.,

Lesia joined

taught the Bible and

Only then

did Farner feel

comfortable performing on stage as a Christian. At

first

he did

not do so as a celebrity convert but quietly, as an almost unno-

member of Mylon LeFevre's band, Broken Heart. Once Farner did go back out on the road he played mostly clubs or "oldies shows." often with a band he called the God ticed

Rockers.

The group would do the old Grand Funk hits, with rethrown in as well. Concerts often included unex-

ligious songs

pected evangelistic appeals. For instance, at a 1991 outdoor

1

Mark Farner

Some Kind of Wonderful contains the jazzy "Love from

Miller Beer festival in Detroit. Farner sang his classic, "Closer to

Home" (unquestionably Grand

ceeded to witness to the crowd:

was crying what

"When

out. searching for something,

was looking

I

Funk's best song), then pro-

for

.

.

.

I

wrote that song,

and

now

I

I

testify to Jesus in his set

him

in Bible

lated to

study and prayer after the show.

CCM

the

numbers

thoroughly secular

this

the other bands. tizing got out.

of people

series of

shows

who

Super

him

shows 's

him

place a

to talk about cerreli-

and

Grand Funk,

Petra.

like

On

and

ma-

especially the band's lighter

album, Just Another

first

Farner delivers his testimony in the song,

which actually opens with

membered

song, "Jesus Loves

"Come

a version of the

Me, This

tianized version of the old

was an

girls

cry /

I

tried

Sunday school

Its

power

in

I

feels to give

him control /

down deep in my soul." That same album also

tures the hard rocking "Airborne Ranger" (with guitar

Keaggy) and the appropriately highlight, however,

is

my Savior's wraps

all

/

My heart

arms around

when my

Yeah,

/

down my

me

huggin'

his Iovin'

spine."

me /

Savior's

fills

with

me

liftin'

song

original

any Christian

that

new

like.

version,

"Ooh when

When he me out of my

desire /

'bout drives

It

re-

Chris-

run up and

/ Chills

Granted that the Bible does use sexual imag-

church (Ephesians 5:31-32), the personal and detailed

rate

application here

titled,

fea-

by Phil

"Judgment Day Blues."

the softer toned "Isn't

It

is

a bit odd. Worse, the

Amazing,"

mere implication that

Farner thought he had to salvage a song about romantic love by it

seems to typify the gnostic attitudes so preva-

American Christianity where

(Genesis 1:31; John 1:3)

— what

is

—

in defiance of Scripture

worldly

regarded as un-

is

unfortunate, because aside from this one

is

slip,

Farner does not seem to advocate such ideas and, in fact, has

been more thoroughly committed to integrating spirituality

with secularity than most Christian

Indeed, his deci-

artists.

sion to leave the Christian music subculture after the Some

a

spectacular tribute to God's grace by John Breland that affords

Farner the best of

The

hit.

monogamy

Farner sings the song about Jesus, with lyrics

to Jesus,"

many stories, made many money could buy. ... heard

know how it

I

Grand Funk

enthusiastic ode to

Injustice,

told

everything that

the voice of Jesus feel a revival

"I

Key's

new

track, a

title

its

could sing proudly without alteration. In the

lent in

Know." The song builds

I

in passion as Farner sings,

misstep of

for the

godly This

and

are rol-

DeGarmo and

the fashion of

peppier material. Unfortunately, the album will always be

spiritualizing

the

roll after

ery to describe the relationship between Christ and the corpo-

power-pop on the order of Christian

are

and "Not

and "Conflict"

essential. "Attitude of Gratitude"

is

licking rock

mind

many

for playing at bars, nightclubs,

in the first place.

The songs

terial.

prosely-

three albums display a musical style similar to that

associated with

groups

re-

— including members of

shows. At the same time,

tain matters during his

Farner

He proudly

some promoters and club owners would

gious groups criticized secular

to join

got saved through

As time went by and news of Farner 's

"gag order" in his contract, forbidding

a gorgeous worshipful ballad,

what

a

anyone interested

invite

is

on

Bachman Turner Overand The Guess Who, Farner would

and

"Without You"

rap.

Yet" a bluesy accounting of excuses people give for ignoring

Jesus Christ!" Likewise,

Hook. Rare Earth,

Above," which begins with a James Brown-style spoken-word

have found

Seventies Fest tour that also featured drive. Dr.

321

his postconversion performances. "Give

Kind of Wonderful album was motivated by an awareness that there was something not quite right about Christians having

own

their

music, apparently designed to keep

the rest of the world. the world." he told

We

them.

"I feel

CCM

compassion

in 1991. "cause

them

my

in

apart from

heart to go to

can identify with

I

can't just get in a church, close ourselves

in.

and

Me the Works" and "Only You" are also nice power ballads, and An Emotional Look at Love" is a melodic pop song about love

point a finger at 'em."

being "more than just a physical feeling." All told, Just Another

continued to work as a Christian in the general rock market. In

Injustice

rock,

would come

to be regarded as a classic of Christian

an album equal in quality to any of Grand Funk's secular

works and, thus, of remarkable notice Christian music. Wake

stadium rocker that

\]p>

calls

in the small

includes the anthemic

on people

pond of

title track,

to "hear Jesus knockin' at

the door" (Revelation 3:20) and respond appropriately.

more midtempo pop number his

testimony again,

to Me." he

this

"If It

ways

On

Wasn't for Grace" he

time to a Caribbean beat.

retells

assumes the point of view of Christ to address

before the hour

to be regarded as a tion and energy.

is

due." Eventually,

the

On "Come

audience with a traditional invitation: "Repent from sinful

a

all

his

your

Wake Up came

"sophomore slump" album, lacking

in direc-

Since recording his explicitly Christian albums. Farner has

Band and

in

He revealed commitment

at

1996, he toured as a part of Ringo Starr's All Starr

1997 took part that time that

in a

Grand Funk reunion

Mel Schacher had

also

tour.

"made

a

to

Christ" and. while keeping the concerts relatively free of testifying. Farner indicated that

"we

are accountable to

who we

we're not having to compromise

The

reunited band released a two-disc live recording of a bene-

concert for Bosnian orphans [Bosnia

fit

2002. Farner

Drug

1

(# 3

2

in

in

1

1

was

still

hits: "Isn't It

1

);

in in

As of

Rockers, doing

high schools.

Amazing?" (#

Man" (# 20 "Without You" (# 27

990); "Upright

99

for

Capitol. 1997).

The God

playing with

America programs

Free

Christian radio

(#

God, and

are as Christians."

3 in

1

988);

990);

1

1

99

1

);

"If It

Wasn't for Grace"

"Some Kind of Wonderful" "Not Yet" (# 8

in

1

992).

—— 322

—

and Farrell

Farrell

and

Farrell

—

You" was written by Jayne

Farrell

with Bannister

Farrell

in response

to the death of her father.

Bob 1

voc; Jayne

Farrell,

979

—

Portrait of

/\

World Know:

1992

(NewPax);

Farrell

mi—Let

Ready;

The Best of Farrell and

1986—

and

Farrell

1981—Make Me

Conclusions;

to

the Mighty;

1978

Farrell, voc. All;

1984

Live;

1985—jump Meek and

Us

Whole

the

Farrell;

Choices (StarSong);

1989

Superpower, The

Manifesto;

The Early Works (Benson).

After the group switched to StarSong, they developed an

that of

DeGarmo and

Mark Gershmehl

and

were

Farrell

a

husband and wife duo from Hous-

ton. Texas.

As musical pioneers involved

movement

revival,

in the original Jesus

they sang together as a duo in the early

Randy Matthews

70s, touring with such legendary artists as

and Love Song. period, but the

No

recordings of the

two Farrells were

nium, which did record Jayne year

Farrell cut a solo

later,

Bob

a self-titled

album

Farrell joined

duo

exist

from

titled

album

in 1973.

Cam

Jayne on

this early

group Millen-

also part of the

That

year,

A

Records.

Dove and performed on

their sec-

moved to Edmond. Oklahoma, and began working as a duo again. They worked through the '80s, producing a number of pop albums that sold remarkably ond album.

well (the

In 1976, the couple

first

four alone sold over 200,000 total units, remark-

able for Christian

well

known

artists like

albums

at that time).

as a songwriter,

Bob eventually became

penning tunes

for general

market

John Berry, Laura Branigan. Eric Clapton, Anne

Murray, and Diana Ross,

in addition to

many

artists in the

Christian market (see below).

According to

CCM,

Farrell

and

Farrell

"had one of the most

shows on the road with heavy

DeGarmo and

were produced

seemed to be

for

and the albums

performance on the road. The debut record

features the song "Lifesaver,"

Hope

their priority

which was

later recorded

by

of Glory and became one of their best-known songs.

"Earthmaker" exalts God as Creator; "Homesick Soldier" uses the metaphor in

its title

to describe Christians as longing to be

reunited with their Lord, while receiving love letters from

through Scripture. collection of songs

A

Portrait of

pilation. "Jailhouse

years,

with no fewer than

being favored for the Early Years com-

Rock"

is

not the song Elvis Presley

made

famous, but a clever reflection on the Apostle Paul's time in prison. "Boundless Love." "Fallen."

written with

Brown

Bannister,

quent collaborator with the

and

"All

You Need" were

who would become

Farrells.

Make Me Ready

a fre-

includes

Armor (of was coproduced by

Heart). Stan

Choices

standout song

may

be the very clever and

Key. Aside from that track, the record

with songs of praise

filled

what was

best-known songs, the

become one

to

of the group's

infectious "People in a Box," a

Conclusions features

Thomas Dolby-type

reflection

homes

I'm Loved by You."

The

first

on the loneliness that senior citizens

(similar in sentiment to the

of these

is

a

face in nursing

Simon and Garfunkel song

by the same name, coupled as it was with "Voices of Old People" on the album Bockends). "To Know That I'm Loved by

hit offering

humorous commentary on TV culture. Such synthesizerdriven new-wave pop had become the group's norm, though

Jump

to

"The Meek

Conclusions also includes a poignant ballad,

and the Mighty,"

church

as a tribute to the struggling

in East-

ern Europe (the duo had been allowed to tour Poland, without their band, in early 1984). Manifesto tity as a

sounding very much track. "People All

of

like a

what had been

solidify their iden-

"Launch Window"

hit

Crumbacher

Over the World."

"We Are

On Superpower,

The

song.

closing

offers prayerful recognition

a recent outpouring of

(such as the famous

ever,

would

techno-pop band with the

compassion songs

USA

the World" by the

for Africa

the group achieves their biggest sound

with the strongest cuts being the

"Eternity in

title track,

Their Hearts." and "Heart of the Homeless."

As

Bob

a songwriter.

Farrell

Own." "Mind. Body.

Bryan Duncan

("Lifesaver";.

won

a

Bob

Dove award.

writing Emmanuel:

which

also

road, but Jayne

The

won

of Glory

You

Are"),

Group

Celestial").

which

Saviour,

Celebration of the Life of Christ. In

a

Our Saviour

Dove award. Bob has

sometimes continues

album

.

.

retired

Emman-

.

from the

to perform, especially in

Europe. She also writes country and pop songs. She

hits:

My

("Sticks

In 1996, he joined with Greg Nelson in

A Musical

to have recorded an

Not

Pat Terry

produced the musical

1998, he coproduced a choral collection uel,

Hope

Who

("Because of

Velasquez ("Un Lugar

Farrell

Am

Whole World

("Let the

Be Around").

("I'll

("Restored"), and Jaci

("I

Code of Ethics

"A Heart Like Mine").

The Imperials

Michael W. Smith In 1996.

Carlisle

Heart, and Soul").

DeGarmo and Key

and Stones"). Sing").

has also written or cowritten

Bob

Christian hits performed by

Christian radio

Know That

"Ho-

to

is

reported

of Celtic music.

the instrumental "Sonata" and the tender songs "Old Friends"

and "To

essen-

is

like

sanna Gloria" and "He Reigns." Jump

Us All provides the strongest

from the NewPax

six of its eleven cuts later

him

Paris.

worship album,

tially a

keyboard and electronic effects driving the musical sound." Live performance

respects to

duo sometimes

latter

Beatlesque "Get Right or Get Left." cowritten by Farrell with

project).

sophisticated early techno-pop

its

White

(of

Dogwood) and Twila DeGarmo, and

Farrell

Key. Indeed, the

served as part of the group's backing band, along with such artists as

http://members.fortunecity.com/ncognto/farrell.html

many

increasingly sophisticated sound similar in

"Earthmaker" (# 2

in

1978);

"Heavensong" (# 23

in

You Need" (# 3 in 1980); Whole World Know" (# 25 in

1979); "Boundless Love" (# 13 in 1980); "All

"Make Me Ready" (# 7

in

1982); "Let the

1983);

"Hosanna Gloria" (# 10

1984);

"Get Right or Get

1985);

"American Man" (# 15

in

Left" (# in

1984); "Give

28

in

Me

the

1984); "People

1986); "Launch

Words" in a

Window"

(# 4

in

Box" (# 4

in

(# 13

in

1986);

—

—

"Manifesto" (# 9

of the

1987);

in

Their Hearts" (# 6

in

989);

1

Homeless" (#

II

"Superpower" (# "It's

1989); "Eternity

15 in

Gonna Take Love"

(# 8

in

1

in

989); "Heart

1990).

in

more reminiscent

cate acoustic ballad

of

Felix

Shawn

Colvin.

composes her songs with Scotty Hoaglan plays guitar

on her album. She

drummer

Nailed.

for

323

James

Fatow

of Nailed; he also

married to Chris Gaylon,

is

Fasedown Jim Chaffin, drums; John Hansen, bass; Mike Phillips, gtr.; Devin Schaeffer,

Fasedown

is

hard rock band from Long Beach, California,

a

due to the pedigree of some of

that first attracted attention

its

Drummer Jim Chaffin played with both The CruThe Blamed, bassist John Hansen was with the latgroup, and guitarist Mike Phillips was a member of

performers. cified ter

On

its

debut

Modern "Am any different from those concerts, Schaeffer proclaims, "We are

the song "Memoirs of a

Devin Schaeffer

who do

a groove on

HM describes as "bluntly and passionately numb-

album that writer

Love

(a.k.a.

not believe?" In

by

sinners saved

bass; Larry

gtr. (-

(+

1

993)

(+ 1993).

Not:

Michael Cutting,

//

As Love

1993—Fear

A was

different, other

than that

we

lives."

known

band noted

those acts. Cutting,

was

Holy

also in

music with

a

Whip

what Phantom

is

an electronic, industrial

Tollbooth calls

"spooky dance

who played with

bine with eerie melodies to chill your soul."

some

The anonymous

years, placing songs

EP of material that

is

mostly on

via

mp3.com.

True Tunes affirms

as providing "a positive alternative to the nihilistic

them

world of

Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson."

Deborah Fatow

is

the daughter of

Movement

former heroin addict

who

Hendnx

is

by

is

re-

often lacking in that duo's slick

rise It

above the crowded ranks of garagefeatures head-banging

anthems

End

of

My Days").

Lyrics are generally simple

the world

is

and

how good God

performing

how bad

The band was noted

is.

in con-

Hard

a roaring cover of the Beatles' "A

Day's Night." Larry Worley would

on an

later sing lead vocals

album by Robert Sweet; Chris Howell pined Red Sea. Another Christian band known Peace Lutheran

Church

in Poland,

folk-rock group best

as Fear

Not operates out of

Ohio, and has released a cus-

known

for the

no connection

song "Two Sets

to the

heavy metal

revival.

two

ministers converted

Her

father, a

Experience),

Fear of Faith

converted See Industry Eleven.

Her mother,

a

dated Noel Redding (of the Jimi

involved in prison ministry. Fatow's

James

Felix

album, Submerged, finds her in a basic Alanis Morissette

mode,

albeit

with

a

good deal of diversity

in style.

"My Wall"

1980— White

ness has on a relationship. "You Are All

with Fatow's vocals

(of Heart).

Calling"

"Make is

Me

recalling the

Stay"

set to a martial

is

I

Need"

sounds of

is

rock wor-

Ann Wilson

another strong rocker, and "He

drum

beat. "I'm

So Lost"

is

as

Snow

(Light).

is

hard track dealing with the harsh effect that a lack of forgive-

Is

hailed

band.

Jew, pastors a church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

ship,

was

(Rugged).

during the Jesus

a

Fear Not

and straightforward, dealing with the twin themes of

tom CD. A

Deborah Fatow

first

the band for a short time,

The album

noted that this time "the Elefantes add

of Footprints," they have

1998— Submerged

Jovi

along with a couple of classic power ballads ("Suicide Sun-

on compi-

debut album, and actually offering three more full-length

albums to dedicated fans

their first

of polish to the band's blues-rock swag-

helping the album to

cert for

lation discs, releasing a 1999

CCM

sounding metal groups.

shine," "Till the

for

and released

their place next to Christian giants

Soldier.

amount

creepy edge." Inspiring comparisons to general

market act Skinny Puppy, the group offers "icy beats that com-

band has been around

Life

sound reminiscent of Bon

HM as "a million times better than the Love Life album." Pro-

just the right

Constellation (Blacklight).

Fatal Blast

for

a

Bride and Guardian without ever achieving the success of

like

ger,"

San Diego's

Love

as

band took

or Poison, the

production jobs.

2000

unavailable.

list

gtr.

metal blues-rock band from Houston, Texas, Fear Not originally

duced by John and Dino Elefante, the record nevertheless

Whip

Fatal Blast

1

Lady jane (Blonde Vinyl). As Fear

Not (Pakaderm).

tains a gritty appeal that

Personnel

Worley, voc; Darin Eby,

993, - 993); Chris Howell,

1

1991—Goodbye

Life:

I

no

gtr.

album under that name. With

Judas," singer/song-

asks,

grace. We're

have the Lord in our

their

Life)

Gary Hansen, drums; Rod Romero,

and

Deliverance. The group pounds out

ing."

Fear Not

Fasedown (Rescue).

voc. 2001

a deli-

James

Felix recorded

tradition of Michael

duced by

Bill

one album of

McDonald

light

pop songs

in the

or Christopher Cross. Pro-

Maxwell, the record offered ten songs displaying

a strong influence of

positions, written

LA. studio

from

jazz.

Most were

original

com-

a first-person perspective expressive of

324

Fell

Venus

faith-inspired love

Really Love You"), surrender ("I've Been

("I

Runnin' Too Long"), and hope ("He

Is

Jeff

Fenholt

Coming Back Again"). 1

Fenhok jesus

SO's;

1993—Fenholt

Jeff Fenholt

Mr. Venus, voc.

@

1995—

(Via).

way band

Critically acclaimed industrial

who

project of an artist

who

Fell

Venus

the solo

is

himself simply Mr. Venus and

calls

employs various musicians to play under

get the sounds that he wants. Thus, unlike

music, more of the sounds are

his direction to

much

industrial

instruments played in the

live

studio by real people as opposed to merely synthesized sounds.

Thus the

record

something of an amalgamation between

is

modern rock and techno/dance: songs

like

'Nice Guy." "Bas-

and especially 'Hate Disease" are guitar-driven numbers

ket,"

with electronic elements submerged

Nine Inch

tracks reminiscent of

m the background:

ance"). In an interview

Nails. Mr.

1992— 1998—

I;

of Praise;

with The

with

a

more

as the creation of

in religion.

He

is

Lighthouse, he said that he

a Christian

an artwork than

means

soundtrack album from that production release star

from the better-known

album

MCA in

on

released

(this

was

a different

original cast Jesus Christ Super-

1970; Ian Gillan of

sang the role of Jesus on that record). As a

Deep Purple

result,

he appeared

on the cover of Time magazine the week of October

was not

Fenholt says, however, that he time.

He

lived the stereotypical

life

25, 1971.

a Christian at that

of a rock star and, indeed, a

sex symbol, being featured as a pin-up centerfold in both Cos-

mopolitan and Vogue magazines.

Sometime around

1980, he ex-

to

making

of representational statement that fans of Christian

According to

to Light.

this book,

Fenholt grew up in Ohio, a victim of child abuse and a frequent inhabitant of juvenile detention State University

is

in art design,

but views his album

as a

played the role of Jesus in the original broad-

production of Jesus Christ Superstar and sang on a 1971

autobiography, From Darkness

Venus often screams

from Vancouver. Canada, and that he has a degree

some kind

994— Best

"Shaped

sometimes with a Henry Rollins-type anger ("Pen-

minor

1

perienced' a dramatic conversion, later recounted in a 1994

within Fear" and "Tie" are more traditional industrial dance

his vocals,

Christmas;

Celtic Glory.

Venus

Fell

1990— Fenholt Hymns

Fenho/t Live (independent);

988—Jeff

a

woman named

on

facilities.

a voice scholarship

He attended Ohio

and eventually married

Reeni, a born-again Christian

who

persevered

in prayer for his soul despite his abusive behavior that

gelist

who is the

Nicky Cruz, the famous converted gang leader

book The Cross and

subject of David Wilkerson's

put her

with evan-

in the hospital. After his conversion, Fenholt toured

the Switch-

music might expect. Lyrically most of the songs seem to deal

Made. Fenholt has recorded several independent albums of con-

with human

temporary Christian music, working

life

as

("Let

it

Me

frailty,

giving expression to dissatisfaction with

("Hate Disease") and to a yearning for liberation

is

Go"). Guest musicians on the

Daugherty of Hoi Polloi on

The Choir on "for fans of

percussion.

Mortal and

guitar,

album include Troy

and Steve Hindalong of

Rad Rockers recommends the album

early

Nine Inch

of styles: Fenholt Live tional; Jesus '50s

is

hymns. He

is

lish

album,

a

said to be

Becky Fender

CCM began its review of Becky Fender's album If You

A

— not

a politically correct thing

to say. but for readers in 1980. the point soul." Fender has

made

was

"this

is

soul music.

a series of adult

contem-

porary albums that offer a mixture of up-tempo funk-rock

songs and laid-back ballads. She

tional

was

Christian at the time, he

is

an occasional composer but

drawn on stalwart songwriters

market such

as

in the inspira-

Stephanie Booshada. Her album

You Jesus features three songs written by Reba

Dony McGuire.

/

He

Star. All his

album before

its release.

saw the opportunity

of singing

cut from that

as a

chance to be

later admitted, "It didn't

"a light in

work."

Need

her picture wasn't on the cover, you'd

she wasn't black"

has more often

Ozzy He toured with

1984-1985, Fenholt replaced

In

as the lead singer of Black Sabbath.

material, however,

darkness."

even authentic

southern gospel

contemporary rock album, and

with the supposedly satanic group

Bring on the Joy.

know

a

the group and recorded songs for the album Seventh

1979— Becky Fender (Rainbow Sound); 1980— If You Need a Touch; 1982— Heaven's City Limns; 1984—1 Give You jesus (Good News); 1990—

never

a

old Irish and Eng-

is

working on

variety

I is tradi-

a jazz/blues project.

Nails."

For trivia buffs:

"if

way through a

rockabilly; Celtic Glory

heavy metal record,

Osbourne

a Touch by saying,

his

contemporary pop; Hymns

is

Give

Rambo and

Few

Left Standing

Jason Lancaster, (Takehold);

gtr.;

Chris Stafford, voc; et

al.

—

2000

Regeneration of Self

2001— Wormwood.

Few Left Standing is phis. Tennessee.

a

Christian hard rock band from

Mem-

Their sound bears the definite influence of

Living Sacrifice with comparisons also being drawn to

NIV

and Embodyment. Bruce Fitzhugh of Living Sacrifice produced the group's

first

album, Regeneration of Self, which has a to it. Wormwood takes its title not

somewhat unpracticed sound

2

325

Fred Field

from the famous C.

Lewis character (from The Screwtape

S.

Let-

but directly from the book of Revelation (which, of

ters)

course, also inspired Lewis).

The album

is

more progressive

than the debut, with the songs "Give Credit

Where Credit

Is

My

You Are," "Be

and Then"). The

Move, or Move Me"

away / And

million miles

feel a

Now

Glory," "Every

atively titled "Lord,

I

know what

don't

you hear me anyway?" This time

cre-

offers this prayer: "I

Can

to say /

out, Jennifer takes over the

Due" and "No Apology" seeking to expand the group's reper-

lead

somewhat beyond the hardcore genre. Leader Chris Stafford says. T see a trend where bands say, 'We're not a

most compelling

Christian band, we're Christians in a band,' but whatever

continues in the same general vein, but moves the group into

toire

you

call us.

we're just out to raise some eyebrows about Jesus and

spread

what we know about

Jesus to those

who

have an ear

microphone

which tend

for three songs,

to be album's

dusky quality

cuts. Musicforce says, "There's a

to her voice that

Have

quite compelling."

is

Ever Told You

I

the adult contemporary territory of vocal acts like Avalon.

The album opens with "Watching Over Me." which with

features a

to hear."

Beatles-cum-PFR tune.

FFH

himself the execution deserved by others ("Those were

My

"On

From Home)

Far

(a.k.a.

nails

Jeromy

Deibler. voc.

1998—1 Wont /

.

.

.

my

Jennifer Deibler, voc; Brian Smith, voc, bass;

(-2000)

gtr.

Michael Boggs, voc,

//

Be Like You (Essential);

to

2000—Found

thorns

—

between

don't

ics like "I

an a capella group but even-

(One of 1

and toured regularly

These Davs. Called a Christian)

for six-and-

major

label

was Four For Harmony (when they quartet). They later shortened this to FFH,

name

a capella

at first

Home

then expanded the acronym to Far From

in reference

both to their constant touring and to the distance that they, as

from

Christians, feel

their heavenly

home. But,

Deibler says, 'some group that had a lawyer that name, so

now we're

Deibler are siblings. try.

Jeromy

says.

FFH

just

The group

"Our goal

is

is

again."

as

Jeromy and Jennifer

committed

solidly

Jeromy

was already using

many

to reach as

to minis-

people as

we

/

Want

the indie projects.

and the album's

to

Be Like You

"One

title

of

was

a reissue of

These Days," "Take

track are

all classic

songs from

Me

As

I

Am,"

folk-pop songs featur-

ing trade-off vocals in the tradition of groups like Crosby, Stills

and Nash. "Big Fish"

Caedmon's

who

resist

story: "Are

is

a clever

Call; lyrically

God's

you

call,

and bouncy song reminiscent of describes the

it

with reference to

in the big fish? /

a

with a funky

beat.

a

a

Kenny

a laid-back, slightly

Found a Place continues the in style or

The opening track, "When I Praise," is a catchy radiopop number enhanced by Jennifer's whispered offbeat background vocals. The jubilant song seems to establish a theme for the album, as several more songs also deal with the

hits:

Is

1

976

—

is

Me," "Because of

Who

/

But

I

lyr-

know

Me As Am" I

1

1

in

in

1

(#

1999);

in

1

4

in

1

998); "Big Fish" (#

in

1

Want to Be Like You" (# "When Praise" (# 4 in 2000);

999);

"I

1

I

2000); "Because of

Who

You Are" (#

16

in

the Pete Best or Stu Sutcliffe of contemporary

Christian music.

He was an original member of the pioneering Love Song but, in a manner analogous to

Jesus music group

those former Beatles,

would

that

left

the group before they released the

establish

band of

tian rock

all

them

as the

Girard)

time. Field had a lasting contribution

Our

five of their songs: "Since

New

Brand

I

Opened Up

and Girard also wrote the Closer," featured

Country Church."

classic praise

on the world's

first

chorus "Bring

My

modern worship

(The Praise Album, Maranatha, 1974).

Born

in 1946 in

Hollywood, California,

Los Angeles suburb of Downey. at a very

phony

Chuck

the Door." "A

Song," "Joyous Lament," "Jesus Puts the Song in

Hearts," and the quintessential "Little

album

al-

most important Chris-

to the group's music, however, for he cowrote (with

young age and was

He began

Field

grew up

in the

taking violin lessons

able to join the

Downey sym-

as a child prodigy at the age of seven. After graduating

months

Life to

heavens with

in the

about astronauts

in re-

Fred Field and Friends (Maranatha).

Fred Field

from high school,

Is

"Take

His Love" (# 5

a Place" (#

friendly

worship ("Your Love

song "Astronaut," which

Fred Field

Body

Bible

— the

know that much

sound.

of

Alle-

2001).

well-known

and true formula with no recognizable change

theme

more worship songs ("We Sing

of These Days" (# 3

1999); "So

"Found

Field

Are you sitting in the belly of

Loggins cover) features Jennifer 's vocals on

tried

in

dilemma of those

world gone mad?" The song "I'm Alright" (not

rockabilly song

"One

998);

bums

can for Jesus as quickly as possible."

The album

are

my my

on

that Jesus cares a lot." Christian radio

indie records

a-half years before finally getting a contract for a

my shame, my blame

you took

.

brand of vocal-based acoustic pop similar to

Smalltown Poets. The group recorded

were an

.

on the greatness of God revealed

flects

debut. Their

.

the tradition of "Big Fish"

in the early '90s as

upon

"You Write the Words") and another quirky fun song

luia,"

www.ffh.net

FFH formed

a heart-tugging ballad

(+ 2000).

gtr.

a Place; 2001

Ever Told You.

tually developed a

closes

Cross," expressing the notion that Christ took

cross"). In

Steve Croyle, voc,

Have

gtr.;

It

in

Field

went

into the

army and

spent eighteen

Vietnam. After his discharge, he became part of a

"successful Salt Lake City rock

band

called Spirit of Creation, of

which future Love Songers Jay Truax and John Mehler were also a part. He then joined an early version of Wing and a

—

326

Paul Field

Prayer with

up

—

living in

Tommy Coomes

and

Chuck

He ended

Butler.

Laguna Beach with Coomes and Girard and was

Love Song member

tually the first

book given to him by

after reading a

to

a

become

woman

ac-

a Christian,

friend

from the

Salt

Lake City days. Field played in Love Song for about a year

and

a half

and then

left to

form

a

group

northern California

in

Fighter

was

a Christian

power-pop band cut from the same

White Heart, though they

cloth as Petra and

never achieved

the same success as those arena rockers. Based in Iowa, the

group was

led

The

writer.

Amy had

by

Amy Wolter, who was also its principal song-

bass player, Jim Wolter,

was her husband. Jim and

previously played together in a band called Sapphire,

Noah (with Mehler for a time). Noah went to Europe for Munich Olympics and spent two years in Europe, based in Amsterdam and Tel Aviv. They often played at United States

Wolter (who has been likened to Pat Benatar or to Patty Smyth

military bases at the request of military chaplains and in sup-

of Scandal) and male singer Sean

port of drug prevention programs.

style of the

called

which recorded an album

the

element

would record

Eventually. Field

his solo

album with

friends

from Love Song and other Maranatha bands helping out. His violin

—

ment, and Life"

in this case, fiddle

or.

Field played

and "He

Witnesses, a

song

Field's

it

latter

the featured instru-

on tunes

to great effect

The

Lives."

— became

like

'Country

My

song was used in the film

documentary about the 1972 Munich Olympics.

'When That Morning

best, looking

Finally

Comes"

beyond death. As of the year 2000,

Field

is

one of

his

For trivia buffs: Field does not play

It

is

album (The

is

to Learn."

The

they recorded the version of classic

"Little

compi-

\usic Concert).

/.

That

generally considered to be better than the

version that appears on Love Song, and Field's guitar solo

is

often thought to be the highlight of the record.

the

Drum

their lives don't

a bit of

Me

pop

and

gritty

crunch guitar on "Try"

two

latter

songs, as well as the

some

"Where Can Love Be Found"

be.

The

as "a touch-

runaway"

Amy

Wolter would release a solo

A

Heart (WAL, 1994).

in the

even

slack,

measure up to what they should

After Fighter disbanded.

album. Hit

Me To," some

offers

to follow Jesus' example of cutting people

ing and effective song about a

He was

likened the

with issues of legalism, encouraging Christians

deal

title track,

not quite accurate to say that Fred

Everlastin'

version of the song

Much

Lighthouse described

Country Church" that appears on Maranatha's lation

Bang

on "Avalanche" and

blues rock

and "So

a doc-

recordings.

CCM

Murphy.

"Do What You Want

title track,

was pursuing

on any of Love Song's

when

part of the group

female vocals (the

especially "Radio Man").

when

toral degree in linguistics.

distinctive

arena-rockers Journey, though they preferred the songs with

world

life

The

debut full-length album The Waiting to that of

in a

forward to the consummation of

titled Crystal Clear.

sound was the trade-off vocals between

in Fighter's

little

more on the

the project features a couple of rocking anthems

side,

("There Won't Be a Next Time," "Be That Child") alongside

dance pop ("The Promise," "Blue Skies") and

("We

a beautiful ballad

All Need"). hits: "Star One" (# 7 in 1991); "Radio Man" (# 26 in "Do What You Want Me To" (# 18 in 1992); "Alone with You"

Christian radio 1991);

(#8

in

1993).

Paul Field 1

983

—

Rest/ess Heart (Myrrh);

1984—Building

Filet of

Bridges.

two albums in the sound of well-crafted 70s rock. He

Singer/songwriter Paul Field released early '80s that

had the basic

alternated between simple ballads reminiscent of James Taylor

and power ballads

Heart

was

title

around

built

Duran Duran.

to rival

a saying of St.

Restless

Augustine (reflected

in

cut and in "Stranger in Your Eyes") to the effect that

the heart will be forever restless until

it

finds

its rest in

Christ.

Building Bridges scored

with two powerful songs. "Return to

New

Song" and with the traditional gospel-

Love" and "Sing

a

inspired "Keep Your Eyes

member

on

Jesus." Field

was previously

a

of the British folk group Nutshell.

Soul

Beadles,

voc,

sax.;

Greg Beadles,

Cornelius Freeman, drums. 1998

gtr.;

Randy Chester,

bass;

Incommunicado (Shank).

www.filetofsoul.com

those of Journey, with occasional forays

more energetic material

into

the

like

Adam

Soul

Filet of gia,

is

a

funky folk-rock band from Athens, Geor-

that has been likened to the

Dave Matthews Band

or, in

the words of Phantom Tollbooth, to a cross between Sly and the

Family Stone and Toad the Wet Sprocket, lhall chose the group as

one of America's top twenty-five indie bands

in 1999.

Their

debut album includes songs that are variously melancholy

("Lower Me") and upbeat ("Copperpot"), but

pop appeal. Their Christian perspective plicitly in

my life,

oh

"Broken Mirror," where

my God, make me

Adam

in the

is

all

with apparent

expressed most ex-

Beadle sings, "Here's

image of your Son."

Fighter Billy Heller, gtr.;

Sean Murphy, voc, drums; Mark Pence, kybrd.;

Wolter. voc: Jim Wolter, bass.

Waning (Wonderland);

1

1987—Fighter

992— Bong

the Drum.

[EP] (custom);

Amy

1991— The

Final Destiny Ronnie Evans, bass; Scott Hallman, Scercy, drums. 1996

gtr.,

kybrd.; Jeff Pope, voc; Kelly

North of Hell (Stepping Stone).

—

Destiny

Final

Bon

Boston,

a classic

is

Jovi, or Kiss.

hard rock band on the order of

Their album. North cfHell, includes a

hard rock version of the worship song their

"I

Surrender All." All of

songs are explicitly evangelical in the grand tradition of

Petra or

White Heart. Phantom

Tollbocth especially liked "Just

Walk Away." which conveys the same message as "Just

Another Day

in Paradise." albeit to a

Phil Collins'

Fireworks

327

want

to prove

and the values portrayed through their songs. that the

life

of a true Christian

to encourage people to

hostility

Me

and to

throw

I

pure and true

is

want

I

baggage and hate and

off their

know Jesus." The

and

joy.

band's 2002 album You Make

Hate Music would be produced by Jason Martin (Ronnie's

brother) of Starflyer 59.

very different tune.

Fireworks

Judgement

Final

Jon Bodhan,

Marty McCall, voc, kybrd.; Lance Avery, bass (- 1981); Chris Harris,

Derek Varner. drums;

gtr.;

et

al.

1994

Desolation Sacrilege

(Anastasia).

Despite the British spelling of their name, the boys from

Judgement came from Atlanta. Georgia. They were

Final solid

drums (-1979); Gary

metal band reminiscent at times of White Zombie.

(-1979); Cindy Lipford, voc. (-1979)

Pigg, voc.

Bob Sinkovic

Jerry Gaston (+ 1979);

1979, - 1981);

(+

bass (+ 1981); David Johnson, bass (+ 1981, -1982); Richard Cann,

gtr.,

(+ 1982); Louie

gtr.

Weaver, drums

(+ 1982).

1

a

HM

1979— Shatter 1

//

Dave Curfman,

982

—

the

1980— Live

Darkness;

977—fireworks

(Myrrh);

(MCA); 1981— Up;

Fireworks

Sightseeing or Night

praised the group for its well-written lyrics while noting

that they tend to be a bit preachy. "Prelife Vivisection"

is

a

rant against abortion; "Habitual Sacrifice" accosts churchgoers

whose

relationship with

Fireworks was performing contemporary Christian music

God does not extend beyond Sunday

morning. Jon Bodhan later formed Edge of Forever and released

two albums through the Internet (members.aol.com/jonedge).

early

enough

troversial in

for their rather tame style to be regarded as consome churches. Marty McCall, a Southern Bap-

with formal education

tist

and sacred musical worlds

would have kept the two

Fine China

trio of

Joshua Block, kybrd.; Greg Markov, bass, kybrd.; Thorn Walsh, drums;

Rob Withem, voc,

2000— When

the

gtr.,

1998— Riako

kybrd.

World Sings (Tooth and

Bridge [EP] (Velvet Blue);

Nail):

2002— You Make Me

Hate Music

a

is

moody

alternative

band from Phoenix.

zona, that sounds like Psychedelic Furs or vocals.

The

singer.

alto voice floats fragility that

Rob Withem,

Luxury with female

actually male but his soft

above the keyboards and synthesizers with

would

shield his gender identity

missing the liner notes. for Velvet

is

The group recorded

from anyone

Blue in 1998 and then released their debut full-length later.

Joy Electric) produced both

and the influence of

is

a

a four-track single

album on Tooth and Nail two years music

Ari-

strong.

When

projects,

Ronnie Martin

World Sings opens with

the

Harder Than You Ever Knew."

words from the Beatitudes

(of

'80s

"We Rock

medieval and renaissance music,

at a

time

under the direction of Chris

and

J.

Thomas s Heme

rhythm

section, they

became

a band.

be part of the group First Call,

would be the only member the group. Louie Weaver

McCall,

was

later

went on

to play

drums with

Petra.

As personnel changed throughout the years, so did the works sound. Their debut album was

in the vein of the

Chapter clone the company had requested, though

and with

of the original lineup to stay

its

Fire-

2nd

piano-

driven mellow pop numbers pale in comparison to that group's better works.

The

single "Don't

Look Back" did get the group

showed remarkable improvement,

as a neo-hippie invitation to join

with Fireworks developing

a bigger sound. Jesus

On "They

"McCall's highly emotive vocals are perfectly suited to slow

Us

for

tense rockers like 'Change

Will Love

MCA.

My World'

and the

on

China has played primarily the indie scene within the general

want people

says,

the

sound of

known within

Music

(who know

Some

the Christian scene.

to see the love of Christ in

way that we act and the songs that we sing. Music right now is at an all time low as far as the morality of the artists. the

who would

clearly the leader

Bandoppler, publisher of Bandcppler electronic magazine. Fine

says. "I

Be-

by Word to become another 2nd Chapter of Acts, and

new-wave phenomenon

Withem

I

with Cindy Lipford replacing Moore and with the addition of a

influenced by the

Still,

Where

Amy Grant's self-titled debut album. The trio was so-

Our Instruments." Withem sings in a lower register that makes Fme China sound a lot like the Pennsylvania band The Ocean Blue. The song "Give Us Treble" is possibly a tribute to Treble

not well

church

origin in a

noticed. Shatter the Darkness

gentleness and hope of the Lord).

is

its

catchy pop song that recasts

a

the meek, the mild, and the poor of the world

market, and so

in his

studio backup singers (Marty McCall, Gary Pigg. and

Christian on such projects as B. long

when many

The group had

distinct.

Gwen Moore) who worked

licited

Fine China

in

played an important role in bridging the gulf between secular

the group

moved

to

of the music

title cut."

they adopted a more

their last

DeGarmo and Key

two albums

electric

in-

After

sound

of the early '80s. is

more akin

to the

than to the vocal harmony style

with which they began and to which McCall would return "with First Call. Up

is

the most subdued of the four projects.

includes the songs "Adam."

which laments the

"Frontrunner." about John the Baptist, and

You Now," written by James Vincent.

It

loss of Paradise.

"Maybe

Sightseeing

I'll .,

Trust

— 328

"

Firmament

moves back is

—

in the direction of rock

and

platforms and purple hair

r

who

"Broadway Mary

roll.

woman

honky-tonk song about a

a rollicking

"with pink

and

gets saved at a revival

and Keen continued

ends up becoming a 'sidewalk missionary" in a sleazy part of

Go Down"

is

a

"Don't Look Back" (# 7

in

1978): "Givin'

town. 'Don't Let the Sun

meditation on Ephe-

Christian radio

hits:

It

Up" (#

18

Matthew Chinn,

synth.

—Open-Eyed

a Christian

albums have

Over.

also records

under the name Frolic,

New Age artist who produces contemplative amThe debut Firmament

completely instrumental and. in

is

has almost no

fact,

—

—

includes the very

track called

"The Future." The

and "God

Greater," a typical adult

Is

sounds very

also

much

was

Transfer-like jazz

meandering about

night music." Firmament

calls it "perfect late

respects to

Caul

unexpected ways. True Tunes

in

is

similar in

some

Engrave.

or

the

title track)

divided in

and Side

own pop

its

song of that album

some

First Call Marty McCall. voc; Bonnie Keen, voc; Mel Tunney, voc. (- 1989)

Marabeth Jordon (+ 1989, - 1995). 1985

—

Christmas a Capella (DaySpring); 1986 2;

Somethin

Song; 1993

(Warner

—An

1987

Undivided;

1989—God

Takes Over;

Evening

Evening

Concert Melody; Sacred journey; 1995

1996

in

— Beyond Decem-

First Call

(Warner

Marty McCall s Mel Tunney

is

founded

as a backing

solo career after the demise of

group

for

Fireworks.

the wife of Dick Tunney: both she and her hus-

band were members of Truth and would

and Melodie Tunney.

First Call's

later record as

sound

is

Dick

that of a classic

vocal ensemble with primary attention to jazz and pop ar-

rangements. McCall

formed opera and

is

a classically trained singer

who

Messenger (Fortress) with the group

album

J. C.

and

got their

first

projects

big break

by

when

a

number

called The

Friends. Before re-

cording on their own. the trio that composed

on

First Call

They

invited to tour as backup singers

appearing twice on the cover of

was

worked

of other artists.

Sandi Patty. They went on to enjoy considerable

tive style

has per-

has formally studied medieval and

renaissance music. In 1985, he recorded an

as studio singers

who

CCM

success,

magazine. Their norma-

a clone of that originated

by 2nd Chapter of

Acts, but they sometimes transcended this with a variety of other influences. First Call

when Marabeth

was

briefly beset

by scandal

in

(that

as "Lord of All."

on Cod

The group

Good.

Is

influence.

Lord,"

hymns

a la

devel-

The standout which betrays

"Someday" and "Sweet

midtempo song not too

1994

Jordon confessed to having had an extramari-

far

removed from some-

thing that the Pointer Sisters might have done. "Legacy"

is

a

nice ballad affirming the long-term consequences of positive

actions and words. "True Love"

by

pelled

a

is

an energetic pop song pro-

horn section.

God Is Good was

originally

focused on pop-rock

style

a

major advance over the previous albums,

but in the opinion of most

www.first-call.org

was

numbers ("Coming of the

"Parable of the River,"

traditional gospel

a soulful

is

Alliance).

First Call

MOR anthem,

an

is

//

Good (Myrrh): 1992—

Is

Alliance); The Early Years (Myrrh);

—An

is

track

contemporary ballad

Love" are also strong rock-oriented tracks. "Breaking Through"

December. A

in

Two

2nd Chapter of Acts such ops more of

title

2nd Chapter of Acts). Somethin' two halves, Side One containing

like

Takes Over

structures,

2nd Chapter of

Acts-like "Messiah" and an appropriately synthesizer-heavy

Manhatten

for

elabo-

of these

a strong inspirational feel

The former album also

ments. Chinn's compositions also depart from traditional song

Human

its

first

Grammy award and has become a holiday

early

drums, percussion, or other distinctively rhythmic instru-

ber

with

—

Ascension (Velvet Empire).

bient music intended for meditation.

December

greatest success

its

Christmas projects. The

were often the a capella numbers such as "Snap to It" on Undivided or "0 Sifuni Mungu" sung in Swahili on Somethin' Takes

2000

Matthew Chinn. who

album

for a

The other

the group, and McCall

them on the easy listening side of adult contemporary with Manhattan Transfer appeal. Highlights on those albums to

1982).

Firmament

is

The group has enjoyed

classic.

whom the group had re-

left

as a duo.

rate Evening in December

was nominated

sians 4:26.

in

with Michael English, with

tal affair

cently toured. She subsequently

would

really gel as

Song. Produced

by Michael

critics. First

an aggressive pop group on

Human

Omartian, the album includes covers Those

Bells"

Call

Bob Dylan's "Ring

of

and Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry 'bout

a

Thing." This record also evinces a thematic departure for the

group with more of an emphasis on dealing with to the

human

trials

endemic

condition: divorce, abuse, and other real-life

problems. Their self-produced Sacred Journey continues in the

same vein with more of an unplugged and

The

title

of Sacred Journey

rian minister Frederick all

of

this

life. is

which

Freedom

Buechner that

in Christ

a

book by Presbyte-

stresses the sanctity of

the project's central theme, and

is

expressed vividly in the song "Lazarus features a

Take 6

post-scandal project for cord.

live-in-studio sound.

was taken from

On

a capella vocal First

Unwound,"

arrangement. The

first

was another Christmas reduo of McCall and Keen com-

Call

Beyond December, the

bine their talents with high-profile guest performers

(Amy

Grant, Russ Taff, Ashley Cleveland, and. appropriately,

Dick and Melodie Tunney) The album a

new theme

First

song, "Let the Healing Begin,"

Call opens with

which

calls for for-

—

—

—

— 329

John Fischer

giveness. learning ture. First Call Christian radio

We Sing" weeks

in

(

1

hits:

988);

1

from the

"O

(# 7

Mungu" (#

Sifuni

1

99 1

3 in

in

1

in

"Someday" (# 2

990);

1

in

1993);

in

1

1

992);

You Worry

"Freedom" (#

of the Year; 1988

Group

"I

By the year 2002, John

fu-

Fischer had

for

I

in

1

4

990);

Will Always

'bout a Thing" 21 in 1994).

who

had not only "been there" and "done that" but

send

in the

mainstream world of rock and

1972— First Gear

al.

(Myrrh);

1974

Caution!

and formed the Arts Discovery Guild as a

Though he continued

The early Jesus movement group known as First Gear is remembered as a historical novelty because it featured inspirational crooner Larnelle Harris on lead vocals. The group had a soulful brassy electric guitars

sound

like that of Earth,

and accompanied by

more oriented toward

evangelistic proclamation

Wind, and

lots of horns.

Fire, led

The

King's

"I

offering positive entertainment than

— an anomaly that

sets

them

apart

two

Hollies'

"He Ain't Heavy,

Jeff Walkers'

"Mr. Bojangles,"

Move," the

and Jerry

Brother,"

while the creatively group's

titled Caution! Steep Hill Use

name appearing beneath) and Crofts songs.

Seals

re-

album, for instance, includes covers of Carole

Feel the Earth

My

He's

first

by

Both albums

from the Jesus music of the era and from Myrrh's normal leases.

to Harris screaming "yeah

what he must think

A

(with the

up new renditions of

serves

reviewer for Jesus Music listens

yeah yeah" throughout and wonders

of the

albums now. Or of the

leisure suit

numerous books and

his

Christians Don't

for his role as a regular

Dance (Bethany House, 1988).

Although they do not contain

two albums

are probably his

Jesus music per

First Nashville Jesus

—

974

The

unavailable. 1973

list

Peace

in

First

backed Pat

revival,

Band

Welcome

(Lamb and

Lion);

the Valley.

Boone on

a

Band was

number

symphony that releases. They also re-

a small

of his

country-inflected versions of Jesus music tunes mixed with

hymns and

a

Sang Bass." Jesus Music

with

few inexplicable says, try to

selections like

"Daddy

imagine "the Tijuana Brass

steel guitars instead of horns."

struments of the

communists

ley),

1

1

1

1

(Silent Planet).

www.fischtank.com

—

such

a

a perversion of

"lively"

as irreverent.

It

tants,

was

artists boldly

brought the sounds of folk rock into the sanctuaries:

Roman

in-

and men with long hair (the

was dismissed

time and in such a context that a few

in the

re-

white

in

being played by sex fiends (Elvis Pres-

(Pete Seeger),

Anything

Beatles). at

devil,

Ray

John Ylvisaker (a Ludenominations, and most im-

Catholic church.

—

— such people as Ralph Carmichael,

whose ranks would

Kurt Kaiser, and

the conservative Protes-

when

swell

the Jesus

movement

latter

Notably, The Cold Cathedral and Have You Seen Jesus

were issued on Repp's FEL

label,

crowd.

My

perhaps because the

Lord?

Roman

Catholics were a bit ahead of the Baptists at this point in time

(due to Repp himself, no doubt). offered a collection of

On

what were

these to

two

records. Fischer

become popular youth

group songs, the kind of songs that the kids could sing or

Young

them

Life

at actual

meetings even

if

You Seen Jesus time. In the

My Lord? are mold

special

gems

services.

title

sum-

"Look All

track from Have

that stand the test of

of the Kingston Trio or the

-Minstrels, such songs

at

they weren't allowed

Sunday morning

around You" from Cold Cathedral and the

1969— The Cold Cathedral (FEL); 1970— Have You Seen Jesus My Lord?; 1972— Still Life (Light); 974— The New Covenant; 976— Naphtali; 1977— Inside; 979—Johnny's Cafe; 1982— Dark Horse (Myrrh); 1985—Between the Answers; 1986 Casual Crimes; 1992— Wide Angle (Urgent); 999 World

movement day

God's natural order and guitars were rather obviously the

to sing

Folks'

of the

Syncopation was said to be

least.

and musical

transformed American

somber organ music was the order

mer camp

John Fischer

Some

who

one of a handful of people

churches at

first

are not

movement had hardly gotten

a prepioneer of that spiritual

swept the land. John Fischer belongs with the

Nashville Jesus

sought-after

work, Fischer's

his best

Jimmy and Carol Owens among

to Nashville

A

Christianity forever. In the '60s, before the Jesus vival,

portant

corded two all-instrumental albums of their own. offering

traditional

columnist in

most important. They

the Jesus

se, for

underway. Fischer was

theran) in mainline Protestant

1

to

over the years for

speaker, he also hosts the Wide Angle Radio Show.

Repp

he wears in publicity photos.

Personnel

known

CCM magazine; some of the early essays were collected in Real

Sreep HiB Use.

are

in 1947,

Wheaton College in 1969 and toured Leighton Ford. He eventually settled in Palo

perform music, he became better

Larnelle Harris, voc; et

Born

roll.

in-

Town-

a bit like Pete

Fischer graduated from

Alto. California,

Gear

—

who was

and the

his thirty years in ministry

dustry with unusual candor and insight

with evangelist

of the Year.

upon

also able to reflect

ministry of Peninsula Bible Church.

First

become the undisputed

senior statesman of contemporary Christian music, the master

in Spanish.

"Sweet Love" (#

988);

1992); "Don't

(# IS

Dove Awards: 1987 Group

1

"Broken Places" (# 2

); 1

"Wanna Be"

1992);

1

Through" (# 4

989); "Breaking

Back to You" (#

in

two albums

"The Future" (1986); "Messiah" (1987); "The Reason

"I'm Forgiven" (# 30 in

Come

and trusting God with the

past,

has also released

New

Christy

sound unbelievably tame by modern

standards, but they opened the door, and once folks like Fischer it would be impossible to keep folks Larry Norman, Marsha Stevens, Chuck Girard, and

got that door cracked, like

330

Fish Co.

Barry McGuire from getting doomed; the worst

might lead to would a

all

The

who

funeral dirges were

worried over what this

Fischer:

it

just

would not have hap-

him doing

of Fischer's albums also features

first

go-go version of "Got to Shout about

second offers a pedal

a

(on organ) and the

It*

country rendition of "Trust

steel guitar

albums

Fischer's

him

fore, revealing

would cease

for Light

but would allow his

own

compositional

to be revolutionary.

skills

'Albums

to the

What

Already Believe (1991),

I

cently, he has written a

My

\

'ision

Christian radio in

lyrics that

with

Quincy Newcomb

Day Song" with

The is

its

—a throwback to the New

Covenant

Still Life

name

Him

'Love

in the

morning

was actually a musical

for children. Naphtali

as a

metaphor

word

that

As

(see

fact that his

means

who

moved

into the '80s he

music was not only not

'a

doe

set

who may also

gives beautiful

was

able to accept the

revolutionary,

but no longer

vogue. With great humor, he would josh his audiences

about 'the old days of '60s radicalism." asking

worked

track takes

Genesis 49:21).

Fischer

in

title

for Christians,

the destiny of this son to be 'one

words"

even

is

at

how many now

banks they once wanted to blow up, and claiming

the concert had to end in time for everyone to drive their babysitters home.

On

the trio of albums he recorded for

Myrrh, he evinces the mature folk stylings of a Gordon

The

Lightfoot or a John B. Sebastian. Horse,

with

best of the three

Dark

is

a title track that urges Christians to be "dark

horses" that stand out from the crowd, taking

stances for the truth.

A

decade later on Wide Angle, he would

that the truth can have a broader compass than

we

now

realize.

Mark Heard and featured an allstar band that included Buddy and Julie Miller, David and Kate Miner, and David Raven (of The Swirling Eddies and

That album was produced by

Undercover). The theme

Jesus."

is

is

stated well in the song

'The Only

the only way. but there's more than one

way to

Other highlights include "Cup of Cold Water" and

'Where Did They Go?" both

of

which showcase Julie Miller.

Unfortunately, Wide Angle did not reach the audience

it

de-

served due to the bankruptcy of a distribution company. Fischer label

would

from Bethany House. Re-

of devotional books for Ser-

On

Away

a Hill Too Far

(1994), Be

and What on Earth Are We Doing? (1997).

(1995),

hits:

all

"Johnny's Cafe" (# 14

"Dark Horse" (#

1979);

in

3

Fish Co.

later re-release the record

with three new songs and

a

new

on the

title.

(+

gtr.,

voc; Steve Rowles,

978); John Hardwick. gtr. (+

1

1

978);

1975—Can

Bev Sage, voi. (+ 1978).

't

voc.

gtr.,

Rowan

//

John Gordon, bass

O'Duffy, drums (+

Be Bod (Myrrh);

1

1

978);

978—Beneath

the

Laughter (Grapevine).

Sometimes

it

seems that

a

band could make

big

it

if

they had the right name. As teenagers

in Bristol.

Farnie and Rowles formed a group called

The Pink Hat

tianity Blues Band, but for

some

Fish Co.. they recorded a debut

only

England, Chris-

reason, that didn't do

album of acoustic songs

it.

As

similar

to those of their better-known compatriots Malcolm and Alwyn. Then in 1978 they produced an album with a full band and a much fuller sound. Jesus Music describes the songs on Be-

more

neath the Laughter as

introspective, especially the title

track and the haunting "Sail Away." out. however, the group

Writz.

They pursued

changed

its

The year

name

album came

the

again, this time to

success in the general market with a

single called 'Night Nurse," but the latter failed to chart

—

the band broke up

sort of.

would appear

in the early '80s,

and then

The Casual

known

as

and

Another incarnation of the group

known

first as

Tease. Farnie

to be performing together as a

Famous Names,

and Sage were

duo

later

The Techno

called

Twins.

uncompromised

explore a different dimension of that theme, emphasizing

Way": "Jesus

and The

1983).

..." cho-

two albums.

style of Fischer's first

of one of Jacob's sons, a

and applies

free." fulfill

a ten-

features the popu-

probably Fischer's finest overall work: The

the

and

a folk rock bias,

sermonized his experiences into an

obvious biblical truth." The album

rus

Mark

a cover of a

number

vant Publishers, including

and Johnny's Cafe established

like Still Life

Fischer as a singer/songwriter

lar "All

is

and Angels' Song (1994) and the manifesto, Making Real

Steve Farnie,

dency to write

songs,

to be a thoughtful lyricist and gifted song-

writer. Christian music's premier critic Brian said,

come

to

new

of the

Fischer's books include the novels Saint Ben (1993) Saints'

Thou

and Obey."

has

The title track, one Heard composition.

be confirmed (there couldn't have been

Stryper without a John

pened).

The

inside.

fears of those

Some

Silent Planet Folks' World.

David Fitzgerald 1995—Columcille [with

(ICC);

1997— Lux

Aeterna;

1999— The

Eye of the Eagle

—

Dave Bainbridge and David Adam] (Kingsway); 2000

(Rhythm House)

2001— breath

Saxophonist David Fitzgerald was a founding the group Iona but

left

Light Eternal

of Heaven (ICC).

member

of

that group to pursue a classical musical

education. Shortly after earning his master's degree in music,

he recorded his project Columcille, revealing his deep love for turgical

soundtrack for a

a

lights of the

the

down through

the ages.

More

li-

of

would be seen on Lux Aeterna, which includes music used

this

on

music that has come

hymn

BBC

album include

"Steal

which conveys

film, Jesus

— Then and Now.

High-

Fitzgerald's instrumental version of

Away" and

the powerful epic "Golgotha,"

sonically the sense of pain and

triumph

associ-

—

—

33

Five Iron Frenzy

ated with Christ's crucifixion. LuxAeterna also includes a vocal

penchant

also displays a

commentary

for social

I

in songs like

with the vocals supplied by Adrian Snell,

"Third World Think Tank," "The Old West," and "Beautiful

was once a backing musician. An Ameriwas reissued as Light Eternal with some variation in tracks. The American version also contains a Come, Emmanuel" and a seven-minute version of "0 Come, rendition of the hymn "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." For Eve of the Eagle, Fitzgerald joins with fellow Iona alum

America." Our Newest Album Ever would score a major college

track. for

"Only

whom

Jesus."

Fitzgerald

can version of this album

Dave Bainbndge

(gtr..

for the reading of

kybrd.) to provide a meditative backdrop

poetry by Anglican

theme of Adam's work, rooted

far

away

in Celtic spirituality,

mundane

ness of God's presence in the

"We need

Canon Dave Adam. The affairs of

world

to keep a vision of this other

/

is

aware-

everyday

Not

life:

as a place

or set in another time / But a world that keeps break-

ing into our lives

/

Not

a

world that runs

parallel to ours /

is

closely interwoven

Graham Kendrick.

and

features the

me

/

Get

its

ode to nerds, "Suckerpunch." The latter song

memorable chorus. "They're wedgie

in line for a

someone who

own

at its

powers" and "Handbook clude "Blue

Comb 78"

worshipful "Every

All

/

believes in me."

humorous look

suckerpunching

all

want and

I

all

need

/ Is

ironic

and

I

The group took an

"stardom" in the songs "Super-

for the Sellout."

and the

New Day"

Other standouts

became

a hit

in-

The

eclectic "Fistful of Sand."

on some Christian

now enjoyed minimal general

stations, but FIF also

market

at-

tention and took part in a "Ska against Racism" tour alongside

mainstream bands.

several

But a

with ours." Breath of Heaven features modern hymns by such composers as Chris Eaton

world that

with

radio hit

Quantity

Woman"

Is

Job

contains

1

a

cover of ELO's "Sweet Talkin'

plus a groovy song called "Dandelions" likening a

Mom to our worship of God.

child's gift of flowers to his

Your Riot Gear"

is

a protest

"Get

song regarding the Denver police

department's use of excessive force following the 1988 Super

Five Iron Frenzy

Bowl. Supposedly an

Dennis Culp. tromb.; Nathanael (Brad) Dunham, trump.; Keith Hoerig,

(Leanor Inez) Ortega,

bass; Jeff the Girl

Roper, voc;

Sonnie Johnston, Walk); I

[EP]

2000

gtr. (+

1996

1999).

Micah Ortega,

sax.;

Andrew Verdecchio, drums;

gtr.;

Reese

Scott Kerr, gtr. (- 1999)

Upbeats and Downbeats

(S

//

Min.

1997—Our Newest Album Ever (SaraBellum); 1998—Quantity h Job (5 Min. Walk); 1999— Uve: Proof That the Youth Are Revoking; All

the

Hype That Money Can

Buy; Electric Boogo/oo.

By

would be one

in the Christian market, but

Colorado, band Five Iron Frenzy

arena. Like their

known

made

more

of the

when

the Denver,

their debut,

they were

to be operating in that then-novel

Orange County

siblings

The Supertones,

they played neo-ska a few stages removed from the music of

Madness

or

The

Specials fifteen years earlier in Britain. For Five

punk

Iron Frenzy especially, the music had strong that True Tunes simply called

them

"a

roots,

punk band with horns."

Everyone agreed that, whatever FIF's music should be they played

it

with exceptional competence

Supertones" was a

common

horns, rapped vocals,

punky

guitars,

called,

("better than

response). Tight,

erated to give the group one of the

such

The

harmonious

and rapid rhythms coop-

most recognizable and

in-

Upbeats and Downbeats features one near-perfect song: "A life

better than anything

since the Rascals' "It's a Beautiful Morning."

on

a similarly jubilant note: "Beautiful

ing"

and

worn by many people but are not in The live album (Proof That the Youth Are

fact the singer's pants.

new

Revolting) offers

versions of favorites plus a rendition of

Vengeance Rising's "Receive Him,"

finally explodes into

Tom Jones'

a cover of

"It's

song called "Ugly Day" about Brad's

a

Hype That Money Can

latter

two songs

which was

also

show up on

billed as "a

more

rock record," but does not stray too far from the group's

home

All the

turf.

Buy,

"Fahrenheit," from that album, offers a powerful, confes-

homophobia,

sional indictment of

as

Roper

reflects

on the un-

caring reaction he had in middle school to the death of Freddy

Mercury

(leader of

Queen) from AIDS. Sensing the impending

death of ska, the band also expands their repertoire on All

Hype by trying out

few new

a

the

bossa nova on "Hurri-

styles:

canes" and calypso on "Solidarity"

(with guest vocals by

New

Hope" empathizes with

Randy

Stonehill).

the students of

The song

"A

Columbine High School

in Littleton.

Colorado,

returning to school after the massacre that occurred there

(Micah Ortega's

Amy

sister

was one

of the students trapped

inside the school during the shootings).

"World without End"

brings the group full circle (back to "A Flowery Song") with an

fectious sounds in Christian rock.

Flowery Song" conveys the joy of

how

Pants," the mysterious epic explores

the titular pants have been

breakup with his fiance. The

the end of the '90s, ska

only the second act

My

"These Are Not

Not Unusual," and

www.fiveironfrenzy.com

crowded genres

Quantity actually includes an unlisted

EP,

rock opera consisting of eight bonus tracks. Possibly titled

day

/

The song

begins

Wonderful

an up-tempo chorus of the

feel-

classic

doxology. FIF's debut also includes a punk take on "Everywhere I Go," the song made famous by Amy Grant. The group

ecstatic

song of

praise. Electric Boogaloo is

sistently rock album.

It

offers a guy's pessimistic

outlook on his ultimate chances with

"an object of his affection.

rant social its

the band's most con-

opens with "Pre-Ex-Girlfnend," which

"The Day

We

commentary on the American

Killed" offers

punk-

legacy of massacring

native population. "Blue Mix" targets questionable prac-

tices in the

music business, where opening bands sometimes

— 332

Five O'Clock People

One

have to pay headline groups for the privilege of touring with

them their

where they sometimes actually have

or

sound mix to guarantee that the main group

will

(Micah and

The two Ortegas

ing sound that has captured the hearts of critics in the main-

married nor siblings, but

Jeff the Girl) are neither

stream press as well. The group

McWilliams and

Five Iron Frenzy

in

cousins.

wife.

prano, her voice

John

guitarist

McWilliams

a distinctive

is

Five O'Clock People

and

frail

with no warning

Drew Grow,

gtr.,

voc; Patrick Retreault,

voc; Andy Uppendahl, drums; Alex Walker, voc,

gtr.,

violin,

mand.,

kybrd. 1999

fragile to

O'Clock People

a critically acclaimed alternative

is

lar to

Caedmon's

They gained

Call.

eclectic folk

sound simi-

a sizeable following play-

at all."

The

style

and McWilliams' penchant

group

a "love

who

An

from

shift

admittedly an acquired

is

makes the

for screeching

it

or hate

it" affair

for

early lineup of the

some. Painter

is

a musical

has played just about everything (guitars, accordi-

ons. brass> keyboards, percussion, etc.)

on albums

He cowrote

Folds Five and the Indigo Girls.

"Good Thing"

for

Out

numer-

for

ous artists in the Christian market, as well as for folks

radio hit

with Pamplin.

respects, but she

"She can

'ball says,

taste,

ing clubs and cafes in the Northwest for three years prior to their major-label release

A so-

vocalist.

The

genius Five

some

in

husband and

are

sounding psychotic and raging

Nothing Venture (Pamplin).

band from Portland. Oregon, with an

who

and impressive

may recall Tori Amos

O'Riordan of The Cranberries, sounding

fronted by singer Fleming

is

Painter,

with an overload of vibrato, more akin to Delores

likes to sing

Kris Doty, bass;

music

sound

songs in which concerns are taken to the Lord in prayer. For trivia buffs:

in the Christian

market. Fleming and John have a unique style and a mesmeriz-

"Spartan" and 'Eulogy" are more explicitly Christian

better.

modern rock bands

of the best

on

limits put

like

Ben

the Christian

of Eden. He has served as engi-

neer or producer and done string arrangements for countless

group consisted of Alex Walker and Patrick Retreault and two people

named Brent and

two

John. This incarnation released

projects as well. His primary contribution to Fleming and John is

privately distributed albums/EPs {Five O'Clock People in 1996

and Blame Taker

in 1997);

some

tracks from these

quently remastered and released as Tripping tive

were subse-

the Spindley Distrac-

(2000). The Nothing Venture displays finely tuned songs its craft.

The

offer sincere

and

played with the finesse of a group that has honed record

sometimes wonder,

and the songs

entirely acoustic,

is

is

fragile reflections

doubt the

way of

on

life,

faith" the

Musically, "Remain" has a strong

faith,

and humanity.

group muses

"I

in "Lunar."

Dave Matthews Band

vibe.

drawn from the Psalms. "Sorry" offers a revealing look at someone struggling to deal with a break-up: 'The words that I would find to com"

Living Water"

fort

me

to love

/

is

Suddenly

you

/

worshipful, with lyrics

my questions / And am

rebel at

I

With whatever means

resolved

The group also name is derived Matthew 20:1-16

are mine."

covers LSU's "Blame." Five O'Clock People's

from

a reference in a parable Jesus tells in

about laborers

who are

from Revelation 22:17. spiritual or religious

received is

on Christian

NBC commercial in

Saturday night lineup. for fear

with

its titular

Lyrically,

the hype that

was being gen-

all

"the next big thing." in

/

Running out

Way We Are

The

drums; Stan Rawls, bass (-1999).

1

Are (Universal).

www.flemingandjohn.com

drums

also plays

99S— Delusions

of Grandeur (R.E.X.);

.

/

I'm afraid

.

.

.

.

(!)

lyrics. It

on the album.

On

"Ugly

more

But

with

dump

me

Girl,"

traditional

an ugly

girl")

her for an ugly

girl,

The album

officially inspired

pro-

discovered

The chorus

("I

can't

and the verses decry-

own

pettiness

a delicious irony: she doesn't get

song, the audience does.

song of searching

for

and

Folds,

woman who

new paramour and

physically unattractive.

imperfections reveal her

girl's

superficiality

one would

in a

presents the thoughts of a vain

woman is new

accessible

duo with Ben

The very melodic song has humorous and

pretty voice.

found

most

includes the group's

McWilliams drops the vibrato and sings

ing the

Fleming McWilliams, voc; Shawn McWilliams,

.

When A and B and C and D are true

/

believe you're leaving

Fleming and John

of fun

I'm not afraid of you."

has just met her ex-boyfriend's

2000).

which was

the song contrasts occasions

who

the moniker as

Afraid,"

1997 touting the network's

affirmation: "I'm afraid of growing old

I'm afraid of staying young of multiple choice

Not

also

Another highlight

stations.

the album's aggressive opener, "I'm

sampled on an

that the

1999— The Way We

airplay

had

The group intended

"This Day" (# 12

gtr.;

some

the only obvious nod to anything

It is

on the album. The song "Love Songs"

who

them being

John Mark Painter,

to be about heaven and contains a quote

best song, "Ugly Girl," cowritten by the

a self-deprecating response to

hits:

an intriguing Middle Eastern influence.

single that displays

The song appears

and

"borne the heat of the day."

Christian radio

sions of Grandeur includes "A Place Called Love," a radio-friendly

hired at five o'clock in the evening

only work one hour but are paid the same as those

erated about

to cowrite the songs with his wife and to support her diva/

rock goddess vocals with Led Zeppelin-inspired guitars. Delu-

why

and any-

but by the end of the

also includes

"The

Pearl," a

by John Steinbeck's novel,

— Flight

though the -46.

was

latter

based on Jesus' parable in

itself

Matthew

One

333

Eighty

on ska was more influenced by pop than by punk. reggae

— in

two

fact the latter

rap. or

ingredients were completely

missing. Thus, the group sounds like the Go-Go's with horns, or, as

Flick Eve

Adam McGrath, drums; Oran Thornton,

bass;

Hill,

Thornton, voc. 1998

The Perfect

gtr.;

(Columbia).

Kellutight

one

put

critic

it,

a cross

between the Halo Friendlies

and

The W's.

hit

"Vacation," along with standout tracks "Slacking" and

Trevor

Crackerjack even includes a cover of the Go-Go's

"Lost in a Haze." Both of the latter songs reflect on the instituFlick

wears

a

is

modern rock band from Stockton, Missouri, that on its sleeve. All

members

four

than

was

The group

suggested by

They have

its

thirteen

when

the debut

nently on several other tracks as well. "Sally" describes a

album was

re-

favors the sort of neopsychedelic sounds

song

titles:

that sound

'Freezer Burnt" and "Electric Pear."

down well and offer a

refreshing retro

all

connections to the Christian music industry." Although

members

four

reaching out for love and reflects,

girl

knew

Jesus.

find a

life

.

."

.

are unapologetically believers, they

do not

bring faith issues into their songs or live performances in obvi-

partner that everything

A

guise."

mature perspective granted

("I've

through").

theology in Flight

writing and playing on her pro]ects. Thus, the group has

re-

ceived considerable attention in the Christian press and has

some

specifically Christian venues.

While finding the

very existence of a Christian music subculture to be regrettable.

Thornton says the group

vited to play, but will

are

when

wherever

we

may

First

be "a blessing in dis-

Dated" evinces

is

generally

latter forte

is

accentuated on their sec-

ond album, which represents what was announced

pays tribute to the

few

tion to a Split for

My

classic Big

originals

Band sound of the

Baby"). Lineup offers

new

versions of

in others: "We're

who we

Is

Bad." Brian Setzer's "Look at That Cadillac." and

perform the song

"I

Wanna Be

Like You"

from the Walt Disney

movie The Jungle Book.

Shrunk

(a.k.a.

One

Eighty and

to a quartet, the

One Eighty: 998—Cracker/ack 1999—Uneup (BEC); 2001—Girls and Boys.

gtr.;

Kim

1

(BEC). As Flight

One

perc

Eighty:

of

group took to describing

young teenage

"just

Legal hassles caused the group originally

name

Eighty.

known

as

One

twice, first to One Eighty, Inc., and The group formed on the campus of

Southern California College

in

1995 as a groundbreaking ex-

God has

it

was evident

that the group's take

and brings things to

is

on such mysteries of the universe and more on v

"Good

offers a simple statement of regret following a fight.

Thing" cleverly

piles

up metaphors from pop culture

("a love

you complete me" from the film Jerry Maguirt;

map" from Sixpence None the Richer

Me")

album, however,

really

is

matters of the heart: the album's standout song. "I'm

able for free.

first

school

it

reflects less

and competent enough to meet the expectations of the

girl in

"I

Guy"). As before, the group

Tennberg, supported by an instrumental section that was tight

From

energetic opening song. "Prom

most profound when

a

that says

ska.

The

specific plans for individuals' lives

-treasured

initial

girls.

No

fears

pass with perfect timing informs several songs ("Little Girl."

sound show-

Their

Songs tend to focus on the dreams and

your average insecure human being." The notion that

Madelyn Mendoza and Kim

a female-fronted ska band.

cased the trade-off vocals of

their style

and Boys shuns most

and swing influences while returning strong

references.

Queen," reveals that the most popular

Want

www.flightl80.net

ample of

of the ska

Doubt

bass (-2001); Jerry Elekes, gtr. (-2001); Madelyn Mendoza, voc,

its

The W's'

Rodgers and Hammerstein's "This Can't Be Love." They also

Eighty

One

'40s. In addi-

and standards ("Get Happy." "Banana

for

Tennberg, voc, trump.; John Anderson, sax. (-2001); Dave Desarmier,

then to Flight

as a one-

time detour for the group: an entire record of swing music that

no more put on Christian stylings

Jamin Boggs, drums: Josh Brisby, tromb.; Chris Tennberg,

Eighty to change

the

too

"The Devil

Eighty, Inc.)

(-2001). As

will see us

One Eighty's original compositions, and when it just offers good time music not

at its best

heavy on message. The

go."

One

Flight

God

more impressive than

as "chick rock" for their next pro]ect. Girls

One

more

a

in-

seems natural to do so

it

going according to God's

is

wherever they are

will play

one audience than they will shy away from expressing their faith

is

only she

as a disillusioned spouse feels taken for

sentiment

band

"if

those longing to

learned to pray everyday that

Still,

of

member Johnny Q. Public and wrote much of the material for that group's debut album. He is also married to Angie Thornton, who records as Miss Angie and has been heavily involved in

"When We

song called

ous ways. Oran Thornton, however, was a prominent

played

The song "Wait" promises

plan and that the seeming delay

themselves as "a general market band with

Flick describes

troubled

al-

ternative to angst-dnven '90s music.

close

more

little

Overtly Christian themes feature promi-

social clubs.

are in their teens or early twenties. Lead singer

Trevor Thornton corded.

apathy evident in churches that seem to be

tional

influences (the Beatles. Pink Floyd)

its

as descriptions of

s

an unnameable good thing that

The most obviously

ska-like "In the Midst,"

which

evangelical lyrics offers

an

"a

song "Kiss is

come

avail-

in the

explicit prayer of

— 334

Derek Floyd

my soul /

repentance: "Jesus, have mercy on

and make

me

me

Cleanse

Focused was a Southern California hardcore band often

again

compared to The Crucified.

whole."

as

1983—Arrival: Derek

ally swings."

Floyd (PTL);

1986—Once

Again;

1991—On

the Hori-

zon (Diadem).

Singer/ songwriter Derek Floyd established hip credentials

with the younger generation early on when he wrote the "Reaching for the World"

for

aggressive, but

It's

it

re-

a passionate exhorta-

tion to the listener to "put your knee in the dirt

and

bow to

the

God that holds your blood red destiny in the palm of His awesome hands." The ten songs that follow offer what HM called "a slamfest" of intense proclamations,

with

a focus

on

calling

out as almost a hardcore worship song. The group changed

time, he also toured

Top 10 on the

with

Womack. It's been downhill from there, as he went on to become director of the youth choir for Jim and Tammy Bakker's PTL Club— not exactly a job that would endear him to rock and

MOR

His albums consist of inspirational a sterling vibrato that

reminds

many

songs per-

reviewers of

but he seems to have a certain unexpected appeal

little

on The Hope That

ticeably

Years" deals with rape

and

an indictment of our materialistic

offers

went on on

though the songs were no-

lies Within,

more complex musically and more

cally. "Killing

to form

The Merbabies, and

issue-oriented

incest;

lyri-

"Consumer"

society. Chris

Bowden

Dirk Lemmenes went

with former Crucified members Mark Salomon and

to play

Bellew in Stavesacre.

Jeff

Johnny Mathis. Floyd does not sing rock music, or even pop

among some

who just appreciate good songs and good voices. Remember when Tony Bennett suddenly became popular with the MTV crowd?

Fold Zandura Fontamillas, bass, voc, elec; Jyro Xhan,

Jerome

Fluffy

gtr.,

voc, elec; Frank

1995— Fold Zandura (Xhan); 1997— Return (BEC); 1999— King Planet [EP] (independent).

drums.

Lenz.

Ultraforever

(Sub-Lime);

Fold Zandura began as a side project of Mortal, founded by that industrial band's

See Duraluxe.

main members

CCM,

Fontamillas). According to

soundscape of tronics

Kyle Brown, bass; Ryan Clark,

decessor by saying that

Danny Dinh,

gtr.;

—

voc; Robert Torres, drums. 1995

gtr.;

Suffering of the

Robbie Imrisek,

Mosses (Tooth and

(Jyro

Xhan and Jerome

Fold Zandura "constructs a

heavy guitars countered by dreamy

thick,

Focal Point

and samples." Xhan contrasted the group with

music but

just "noisy

elec-

its

pre-

FZ does not endeavor to play industrial pop songs." The band's custom debut

contains their best songs, though these are remixed in better

Nail).

The metal-influenced hard rock band Focal Point released one album while all of its members were still high school students in the small town of Elk Grove. California, then broke up. They performed hard music with typically harsh vocals, though production quality gave

their

album

a clean

with minimal distortion. Most of the songs deal with sues.

it.

R&B charts in 1977. R&B artist Bobby

went

formed with

has a lot of feel to

The album Bow opens with

attention to the grace and mercy of God. "Perfect Will" stands

Notes, which

to the

hit

It

described their music

to explain, "It's not fast

Harold Melvin and the Blue

Around that

rollers.

Crucified.

like

Derek Floyd

Mann once

"mood swing hardcore." He went on

"Homicide" offers a virulent attack on abortion

social

will not let

I

with child abuse. "Broken Bonds"

it

is

last');

hate

bemoaning

went on

to be lead

face

on

"Ember"; the

end

latter

song

Focused

Progress

(/

1995);

Andrew

1995— The Hope

992-1 996).

gtr. //

Reizuch, gtr. (+ 1995).

That Lies Within;

Chris

1993—Bow

1999— The Wheels

a bit

on the hard-edged bonus track

launched the recording career of

of

recalls

The Throes

in its

"Mad catchy pop songs with memo-

melodic tones. Similarly. Ultraforever offers "La Futura," Into."

and "Tonight Forever"

rable hooks, along

After releasing

two

as

with the potential

albums

full-length

a break

hit single "Wencarla."

in a single year, Fold

and then came back with the seven-track recalls

the harder music of Mortal on Av-

its title track.

Strongly opposed to Christian/

secular divisions in music, Fold

Bowden, drums (+

five of the nine

reprised comically as a

John Jonethis. The song "Valgreen"

EP King Planet, which

Nail);

is

in a version that

alanche" and on

Dirk Lemmenes, bass; Tim Mann, voc; Mike Merryman,

all,

opens with two midtempo pure

Ultraforever). Return

pop numbers before toughening up

Zandura took

singer for the group Training for Utopia.

(Tooth and

projects (in

is-

"Neglected" deals

confessional,

acts that have destroyed a friendship. Clark

I

on the subsequent

songs from Fold Zandura end up on Return and two more sur-

at the

clinics ("A

beating heart treated like a worthless piece of trash /

what you're doing and

sound

versions

Zandura

likes to

mix songs

dealing with romantic frustrations with ones that offer confi-

dent affirmations of faith in God. "Forever Throw" did example of the latter: "It's

And

it's

You

who dreams

You

who

sings the

is

a splen-

morning

the light." But, then, in "Never,"

/

FZ

—

.

335

Fono

sounds

and

like

/

I

pleads

The Cure

as

Xhan

Were never meant

with

a

sings.

to be."

"The

have

stars

The song

lied /

You

"Please Believe"

former lover not to look back in anger. "Jesus

what

Eternal' offers

True Tunes called "a

stream of conscious-

on the Lord's forgiveness toward an ignorant

ness meditation

and damaged world." Xhan explains the meaning of their name

comes from John

as follows: the "Fold" part

10:16.

where Jesus

speaks of seeking out alienated people ("sheep not of

And Zandura?

"I

just

thought

it

sounded

my fold")

for the Children (Asaph);

Invisible

Shock" addresses

own

of

Musk Fong grew up

in

Man

(Frontline).

of the Jesus music a classic solo

Hollywood

ering

California,

where he

Wings homeless ministry and

1999

gtr.,

voc; Andy Ridley, drums. As Seven:

actors:

A

Seven

their career as

lowing

in the

movies. Fong attended Holly-

wood High along with Jeff and Beau Bridges and other celebrities' kids. He eventually landed in a Laguna Canyon commune headed by Timothy Leary. He practiced yoga, studied eastern large doses of mind-altering drugs in search

He

LSD

fatal

experienced miraculous deliver-

trip

and had

As Fono:

high-energy modern rock band from the United King-

dom, Fono began

and played the recurring character "number one son"

ance from a near

[EP].

www.fono.net

Seven, the band opened a tour for

of spiritual enlightenment.

1997— Burn

goesoroundcomesaround (Big Deal).

Herbie the Love Bug and Cirls, Cirls, Girls (with Elvis Presley;

and took

Cov-

also oversees the

serves as chaplain to the

unknown);

[EP] (label

Christian band

religions,

in-

Seven)

(a.k.a.

Crawford, bass; Del Currie,

May Lia appeared in 7c the Ends of the Earth: Benson Fong was in

Chan

was becoming

on "So Long Ago" Fong owns up to his

album

as the son

famous parents. His mother and father were both

popular series of Charlie

by

preoccupations. Fong became pastor of Poiema Chapel in

Huntington Beach,

Ian

soon after the group disbanded. According to an Internet inter-

view with Jesus

ruled

still

of Fools") and churches that don't

a Christian subculture that

creasingly ingrown, and

1996— High and Wired

Oden Fong was a founding member group Mustard Seed Faith. He recorded

Age

put faith into action ("Faith/ Action"). The song "Culture

Fono 1986—

in the church, exposing Christians

the flesh ("Joker in the

police department.

cool."

Oden Fong 1979—Come

and especially

a vision of Jesus that

Se7en

— no relationship to the

that records on Infiniti Records.

Bon

and attracted a

Jovi

As fol-

They have continued to build on Goo Goo Dolls

in the general market.

that foundation as Fono, touring with both the

and Robert

Plant. Musically,

Goo Goo Dolls, but terial;

Fono

is

often compared with the

ma-

that analogy holds only for their softer

The band

the band has a harder overall sound.

suggested that their sound

may

itself

has

represent "a cross between the

Foo Fighters and The Who"; in Christian music

circles this

pop-

meets-art-rock approach has also been employed effectively by

foreshadowed his ultimate conversion and wholehearted em-

Fold Zandura and King's X. Fono lead singer and songwriter

brace of Chnstianity As leader of

Del Currie also performed with Split Level and Tribe of Dan.

a solo artist.

Mustard Seed Faith and as Fong became especially known for his prophetic

The

boldness in proclaiming the gospel and for his dedication to street people,

might find

gang members, and other audiences that some

Fong describes Come

for the

many

Sabatino would refer to

Children as "everything

most underrated

as "one of the

it

Christian music releases of

all

time."

bum's most remarkable contribution,

The a

wanted

I

David Di

years." In 1999. historian

track

title

is

on Mustard Seed

heavier than anything

triguing

is

Faith.

"

'n' roll,

Also

in-

"Crazy Voices," featuring an electronically modu-

lated "chorus sound."

and "The Mask."

Fong's atmospheric sonic portraits. placed the song "He's

much

ways

there." Invisible

I

example of

time Fong also

could be anywhere

Man

It

displays the slow,

of the nonacoustic Jesus

music and expresses simple confidence

"Though

fine

this

Always There" on the Maranatha Seven

groove that typified

ence:

a

About

compilation album (Maranatha!. 1980). electric

al-

seven-minute powerful

song that Jesus Music describes as "pretty serious rock

way

the

/

I

in

God's abiding pres-

bow my

head

/

He's

al-

addresses complacency in society

it

by storm, as "one of

come across in Christian was 'probably the best radio-

the most surprising albums I've ever rock" and another to claim

a little scary.

to do musically for

effective debut goesaroundcomesaround took critics

inspiring a Phantom Tollbooth reviewer to describe

friendly alternative rock

it

album by Christians

ever." Indeed,

every track on the album seems to have hit single potential.

The opening "Alcatraz"

inspired

track. "Collide."

is

ment

as a

until

metaphor

in the First

emotional

By

contrast, "Drift

shimmers with pop

pillages the lyric

song with novel

you

for

song's affection

is

with the

in

"Under

got you under

my

is

you a

in."

The

line

"I'll

driven by acoustic

sensibility.

(or

effect: "I've

was

an agitated rock

from an old Frank Sinatra

out. breathe

it

and uses imprison-

distress,

Away"

a

memorable melody.

a

you break" delivered repeatedly

star scream.

guitar and

marvelous pop explosion,

perhaps the album's most powerful track:

by the movie Murder

bend

a

is

number with

hook-filled

fast-paced,

My

Skin"

Four Seasons) skin

/

Breathe

object of this almost-worship

female companion, not Jesus, but specifi-

cally Christian content relates the tale of a

is

expressed in

"Now

She's 24."

which

young woman's conversion. "Burn."

a

— 336

Foreigner

potential alternative rock hit

"Knock me down

lyric.

hands

/

script

number

"Drift

/

if

ever there

was

one, features the

never wanted this pride

I

Tie

/

my

ented with simple, youth-group

lyrics: "Jesus,

One

He's the Lord of everything" ("The

with

slightly different songs (a

Down'

'All Falls

in place of

nonde-

"Round and Round."

Away." and "Splendid").

Christian radio

hits:

"Now

She's 24" (# 7

1999); "Drift

in

Away" (#

1998— Turning

The Toronto-based

quartet Forevertree belongs to the post-

grunge genre of rock exemplified by bands

They attempt

Foreigner

like Live

and Creed.

to supplement, but not replace. Nirvana-style

guitar histrionics with eclectic elements pinched from this or

Lou Gramm.

that alternative source. Thus, as The Lighthouse notes, their

standout song "This Cage

Forerunner

Me"

features an impressive heavy

guitar attack, but also a dissonant, haunting is

Paul Brannon. gtr.; Joe English, drums: John Lawry. voc; kybrd.;

—

Smith, bass. 1984

Jeff Miller,

(BulletProof).

16

2000).

a.k.a.

(Refuge);

melody

line that

Led Zeppelin. The group

in a style reminiscent of

also

moves beyond

sic,

three-chord pop number, and "Breathe," a masterpiece

its

staple

domain on the songs

"Six," a clas-

Live.

The former drummer for Paul McCartney's Wings. Joe English, was also a member, as well as Paul Brannon. who had been a member of The English Band. The album packaging for the group's first album was confusing in that it listed the group's name as both "Forerunhad also sung

chanted

Tim

Forerunner was a one-time project fronted by John Lawry.

who

/

Forevertree Geoff Breen, bass; Bob Gale, drums; Dwayne Jackson, voc; gtr.

See

He's the King

for Me").

So I can do no wrong." The album had been released on

cassette a year earlier

in

—

—

for Petra.

on which they allow unresolved musical

of understatement

tension to carry the song from start to close. Lyrically, Forevertree's

songs address Christian themes

demption with unmistakable proclaims. "In Your will

where

you'll find

me /

is

judgment and

like

On

clarity.

where I want to be

I'm pure in

re-

"Pure," the singer / In

Your Word

is

my mind."

ner" and as "The Joe English Band" (though English's partici-

pation seemed minimal).

The songs

are

but vary in profundity. "Hard Times" ("Hard times are just a

all

explicitly Christian

relies

heavily on cliche

way to grow"). "Nowhere

to

Run"

pres-

For Love Not Lisa Mike Lewis, voc,

ents Christ as the only sure refuge in a world torn apart by war.

drums. 1993

There are also two instrumentals and a powerful worship song

West),

written by Lawry ("Jesus

by Refuge

in

Forerunner.

Is

Saviour").

The

Live

album

released

1984 was officially credited to Joe English and

It

includes performances of a

number

of songs

from English's solo albums.

1999— The

Although

;

1999

Foreverafter

McBay, bass; Aaron Preston,

Information Superdriveway (East

(Tooth and

name summoned

Nail).

retro images of flower

featured

on the the

and Candlebox. They

for their song, "Slip Slide Melting," best-selling soundtrack for the

ture The Crew. For Love

Jennifer Lyons, voc; Jay Lyons, ace; Brent Milligan.

1995

as Nirvana, Foo Fighters,

known

best

Oklahoma by Alex Nifong. gtr

Lost Elephant

their

same ballpark became

Foreverafter bass;

Miles, gtr.; Clint

(Atlantic);

power. For Love Not Lisa was a grunge band playing in the

was

Jamey Lyons, voc

gtr.;

Merge

Not

Lisa

mononymous

was

originally

which

motion

pic-

formed

Miles and a bass player

in

named

Matt Hilben. There were numerous undocumented personnel

(Word).

changes (including drummers Kent Ewing and Eric Myers and www.foreverafter.net

Foreverafter

Jamey and

is

bass players

a labor of love for the

Jennifer Lyons,

who

have spent some years minis-

youth groups, especially

tering to

husband and wife duo

as

worship

leaders. Their

debut album features simple pop songs targeted for church

Dan Mukala serves as coproducer and co-composer, and many of the songs recall the sound of his band (Mukala). Alex Nifong was also a member of Mukala. The opening track, "Who You Are" is typical; bouncy, repetitive, with a straightforward theme (loving Christ for who he is. and not simply

youth.

what he

does).

campaign

The song "No" supports the True Love Waits

for sexual abstinence before marriage; "We'll

gether until

we

wait to-

say forever." Most of the songs are worship

ori-

Ahren Burns and Doug Carrion) but the eventual

lineup included Aaron Preston and Clint McBay, both of

whom

had played with the band Chainsaw Kittens, and lead singer

Mike Lewis, who became the

Not

Lisa

was

a

identifiable front

man. For Love

moderately successful general market band and

had nothing to do with the Christian music scene. After the

group broke up. however. Mike Lewis and Miles formed the distinctively Christian Nail, a

company

music, though

it

that

group Puller and signed to Tooth and is

primarily associated with Christian

also strives to break

so-called Christian

down

barriers

between

and secular markets. The association of

Puller with the label created something of a For Love Not Lisa revival

among

fans of Christian music

who now

sought out

—

—

—