Christian alternative rock
Encyclopedia
Christian alternative rock is a form of alternative rock
music that is lyrically grounded in a Christian
worldview. Some critics have suggested that unlike CCM
and older Christian rock
, Christian alternative rock generally emphasizes musical style over lyrical content as a defining genre characteristic, though the degree to which the faith appears in the music varies from artist to artist.
and new wave
were recorded by artists like Andy McCarroll and Moral Support, Undercover
, The 77s
, Adam Again
, Quickflight, Daniel Amos
, Youth Choir (later renamed The Choir), Lifesavers Underground
, Michael Knott
, The Altar Boys, Breakfast with Amy
, Steve Taylor
, 4-4-1
, David Edwards and Vector
. Early labels, most now-defunct, included Blonde Vinyl
, Frontline, Exit
, and Refuge
.
By the 1990s, many of these bands and artists had disbanded, were no longer performing, or were being carried by independent labels because their music tended to be more lyrically complex (and often more controversial) than mainstream Christian pop
. The modern market is currently supported by labels such as Tooth & Nail
, Gotee
and Floodgate
. These companies are often children of or partially owned by general market labels such as Warner
, EMI
, and Capitol Records
, giving successful artists an opportunity to "cross over" into mainstream markets.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
music that is lyrically grounded in a Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
worldview. Some critics have suggested that unlike CCM
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
and older Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
, Christian alternative rock generally emphasizes musical style over lyrical content as a defining genre characteristic, though the degree to which the faith appears in the music varies from artist to artist.
History
Christian alternative music has its roots in the early 1980s, as the earliest efforts at Christian punkChristian punk
Christian punk is a form of Christian music and a subgenre of punk rock with some degree of Christian lyrical content. Much disagreement persists about the boundaries of the subgenre, and the extent that their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies among bands...
and new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
were recorded by artists like Andy McCarroll and Moral Support, Undercover
Undercover (band)
Undercover is an American Christian punk band based in Southern California.-History:Formed in the early 1980s by Joey "Ojo" Taylor in southern California, Undercover brought a new sound to the Contemporary Christian Music scene that differed from the Christian rock and Christian metal bands of the...
, The 77s
The 77s
The 77s are an American rock band consisting of Michael Roe on vocals/guitar, Mark Harmon on bass, and Bruce Spencer on drums.-Scratch Band:...
, Adam Again
Adam Again
Adam Again was a rock band founded and led by vocalist Gene Eugene, with Riki Michele on vocals, Paul Valadez on bass, Jon Knox on drums, Greg Lawless on guitar...
, Quickflight, Daniel Amos
Daniel Amos
Daniel Amos is a rock band formed in 1974 by Terry Scott Taylor on guitars and vocals, Marty Dieckmeyer on bass guitar, Steve Baxter on guitars and Jerry Chamberlain on lead guitars. Current members include bassist Tim Chandler, guitarist Greg Flesch and drummer Ed McTaggart...
, Youth Choir (later renamed The Choir), Lifesavers Underground
Lifesavers Underground
Lifesavers Underground was one of many Michael Knott projects. The band formed in 1986 and combined elements of an earlier Knott project called Idle Lovell and LSU's sunnier alter ego Lifesavers....
, Michael Knott
Michael Knott
Michael Knott is an American singer-songwriter and frontman for various bands, many of them Christian. He has released some 35 albums, including solo albums and with bands such as LSU and Cush....
, The Altar Boys, Breakfast with Amy
Breakfast with Amy
Breakfast with Amy was an Alternative Christian rock band that formed in 1986 in La Habra, California at the La Habra Four-Square church. At that time, the band consisted of vocalist David Koval, bassist Jeff "Tennessee Beans" Beahn, guitarist Christopher Colbert, and drummer Paul Pellegrin. The...
, Steve Taylor
Steve Taylor
Roland Stephen Taylor , is an American Christian singer, songwriter, record producer and film director.-Early life:Taylor, the eldest of three children, was born in Brawley, California. Taylor's father, Roland Taylor, was a Baptist minister. When Taylor was six years old, the family relocated to...
, 4-4-1
4-4-1
4-4-1 are an alternative-pop Christian rock band who played primarily in the 1980s. 4-4-1 consisted of lead singer/guitarist John McNamara, drummer Steve Giali, lead guitarist John Giali and bassist/keyboardist Glenn Holland....
, David Edwards and Vector
Vector (band)
Vector is a new wave rock band formed in Sacramento, California in the early 1980s by Jimmy Abegg, Steve Griffith and Charlie Peacock. The band had several drummers over the years, including Aaron Smith and Bruce Spencer, both also played drums for The 77s....
. Early labels, most now-defunct, included Blonde Vinyl
Blonde Vinyl
Blonde Vinyl was an independent record label founded in 1990 by Michael Knott. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music describes the label as "one of Christian music's first true indie labels."-Background:...
, Frontline, Exit
Exit Records
Exit Records was an independent record label founded in 1982 and run by Mary Neely, a veteran of the music business and longtime host for several national rock and roll radio shows, including Rock Scope...
, and Refuge
Refuge Records
Refuge Records was a Christian record label founded in 1980 by Greg Nelson and Ray Nenow.Refuge Records became an important label in the development of the West Coast Christian alternative music scene...
.
By the 1990s, many of these bands and artists had disbanded, were no longer performing, or were being carried by independent labels because their music tended to be more lyrically complex (and often more controversial) than mainstream Christian pop
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
. The modern market is currently supported by labels such as Tooth & Nail
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
, Gotee
Gotee Records
Gotee Records is a record label founded by dc Talk member Toby McKeehan , Todd Collins, and Joey Elwood...
and Floodgate
Floodgate Records
Floodgate Records was a part of the East West Records family of labels. It was founded in 2000 and managed by Tim Taber . Initial distribution was through Word Records, and marketing through Rocketown. Their first release was All I Have, a worship album by Rita Springer...
. These companies are often children of or partially owned by general market labels such as Warner
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
, EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, and Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, giving successful artists an opportunity to "cross over" into mainstream markets.
External links
- God Save the Teens: Local Kids Seek a New Kind of Church Through Hardcore and Hip-Hop by Lauren Sandler in the Village Voice 30 May - 5 June 2001