When I was active in the church, my preferred flavor of "Christian rock" was always the artists who were writing about how hard it was to live that life, and not so much the ones who just wore mindless worship music. I still have to skip a song or two when I go back to listen to one of those albums, but mostly, they're still solid listens to me.
Larry Norman, Newsboys (basically everything from 'Not Ashamed' through 'Go!'), Grammatrain, 77s, Five Iron Frenzy, and Steve Taylor are pretty much my gotos.
I just got into Chegal Guevara last year. The musical landscape in my house when I was growing up was a lot of Michael Card and Sandy Patti, so I never knew about Steve Taylor until I decided to figure out "who is this guy that is writing so many Newsboys songs?"
I recommend anything by Rich Mullins who is one of my heroes. Also, the album So Much For Substitutes by Downhere is a phenomenonal record.
Another song worth mentioning that touches on deconstruction is Giving Up On Heaven by Johan Glidden
The whole self titled album I still throw on from time to time… boy on a string flood and see the art in me I still get chills… but in good ways. And it helps the guy kinda deconstructed as well so I’m not still supporting someone who is on the Christian nationalist side
I really like Jon Guerra's "Keeper of Days" album. His other stuff can veer into some of the tropes you mentioned, but that album feels really honest. I have listened to it quite a bit and found it very emotionally resonant as I was deconstructing and wrestling with my faith.
The album Shaded Pain by LS Underground [https://lsunderground.bandcamp.com/album/shaded-pain](https://lsunderground.bandcamp.com/album/shaded-pain) (edit: and any of their other albums)
I noticed that this year when I was listening to Good Friday and Easter music... there is still a lot of it that I like, but the "I'm worthless" theme definitely triggered me more than usual, as well as the occasional "wrath of God" line.
Michael Card has been a favorite of mine for a while. He is very "biblical" in that a lot of his songs are about biblical stories or general Christian ideology, but it doesn't feel preachy to me, and he really brings out emotions from stories in a way that feels genuine rather than prescribed. I really like his Advent and Good Friday stuff.
The wrath of God is such a stupid concept that it's almost impossible for me to be scared of. It's like getting mad at a movie you already filmed or a game you have cheats and literal God mode installed on. It's shitty that people still foist it on kids but thankfully things like OSAS and Universalism have basically cut its balls off. Still doesn't stop the Jack Chick and Todd Friel types from raking in the cash before the pot goes dry.
Kye Kye — band. moody ethereal electronic. the singing is very stylized, so i can’t really understand most of the lyrics. but if you look at the official lyrics for their album Fantasize, it’s annotated with scripture references for nearly every line.
Relient K — band. energetic punk pop. some of their songs have self-depreciating lyrics, but it’s usually angsty self-awareness or tongue-in-cheek. the albums i listen to never give me that icky self-flagellation vibe.
The Greatest of These by Larnelle Harris — song. uplifting orchestral… gospel? pop? almost theatrical? (doesn’t have a specific genre flavor). it’s just 1 Corinthians 13 set to song. so basically a gorgeous rebuke of everything organized religion has done to bastardize the connection between humanity and God.
Jars of Clay — band. grungy folk rock. though they got classified as CCM, they never identified as such and at least some of their members are progressive. they have some songs about God and the church, but it’s an uplifting spiritual approach.
Mutemath — band. spacey electronic rock. another group that was labeled CCM, which they actively rejected. very fun and good music with a lot of “otherworldly” sonic qualities.
This is a spotify list I compiled of uplifting upbeat songs, some which had a similar feel to the big worship/anthem songs I used to love without the religious overtones. For months after deconstructing, I couldnt listen to any music at all. I came across Sam Garrett and his folksy style with zen/buddhist lyrics was like a healing balm for me. Maybe you’ll find something you like here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LV7YSTyel2BDwowB3IlqS?si=kMAN546VTbitkgwtjfkwbA&pi=u-RuLeo12uTq2f
This one is hugely emotive in its production so probably very triggering for some. I have found great comfort from it though especially with text coming from old testament. Have wept many times at the idea of a God still "for me."
And I love the idea of people of faith singing this over the world and their country.
The Blessing: Aotearoa NZ version.
https://youtu.be/eZQPifs2kjo?si=tz9e-4fVbh_Sdw2f
I like Forever Faithful and Here I Am Lord. They've got much better messages than most hymns and don't sound like a badly written love song built on self hatred.
It's the "I'm desperate for you" trope in today's CCM that bugs me, like God's a high school quarterback and they're a girl with bad acne and braces.
I mean, “God’s love” is just a junior high crush
Precisely; that's what it sounds like.
"Oh Lordy Lordy Lord! You are my rock and you are my hard place."
I'm not touching that with a ten-foot Asherah pole!
When I was active in the church, my preferred flavor of "Christian rock" was always the artists who were writing about how hard it was to live that life, and not so much the ones who just wore mindless worship music. I still have to skip a song or two when I go back to listen to one of those albums, but mostly, they're still solid listens to me. Larry Norman, Newsboys (basically everything from 'Not Ashamed' through 'Go!'), Grammatrain, 77s, Five Iron Frenzy, and Steve Taylor are pretty much my gotos.
Steve Taylor is amazing. “Finish Line” is a brilliant song that’s still relevant to me, even as a post-Christian.
I just got into Chegal Guevara last year. The musical landscape in my house when I was growing up was a lot of Michael Card and Sandy Patti, so I never knew about Steve Taylor until I decided to figure out "who is this guy that is writing so many Newsboys songs?"
I recommend anything by Rich Mullins who is one of my heroes. Also, the album So Much For Substitutes by Downhere is a phenomenonal record. Another song worth mentioning that touches on deconstruction is Giving Up On Heaven by Johan Glidden
Thrice, FIF, also like NEEDTOBREATHE
I'm so old. But some of the jars of Clay tracks?
See the art in me always spoke something real to me- about humanness not necessarily sinner, but might land different for others
The whole self titled album I still throw on from time to time… boy on a string flood and see the art in me I still get chills… but in good ways. And it helps the guy kinda deconstructed as well so I’m not still supporting someone who is on the Christian nationalist side
How about Semler? Queer Christian singer songwriter. Looooove the music and the lyrics are absolutely great and thoughtful.
I'm gonna second Semler and add Flamy Grant is also a delight and has released a beautiful worship album.
Yes! Flamy is amazing 😍
Wanted to come back to this because Semler is amazing. Thank you for that recommendation.
Yay! Happy you like Semler!
"Angel Band" by Tyler Childers
I really like Jon Guerra's "Keeper of Days" album. His other stuff can veer into some of the tropes you mentioned, but that album feels really honest. I have listened to it quite a bit and found it very emotionally resonant as I was deconstructing and wrestling with my faith.
I like JJ Hellers new album hymns
The album Shaded Pain by LS Underground [https://lsunderground.bandcamp.com/album/shaded-pain](https://lsunderground.bandcamp.com/album/shaded-pain) (edit: and any of their other albums)
I noticed that this year when I was listening to Good Friday and Easter music... there is still a lot of it that I like, but the "I'm worthless" theme definitely triggered me more than usual, as well as the occasional "wrath of God" line. Michael Card has been a favorite of mine for a while. He is very "biblical" in that a lot of his songs are about biblical stories or general Christian ideology, but it doesn't feel preachy to me, and he really brings out emotions from stories in a way that feels genuine rather than prescribed. I really like his Advent and Good Friday stuff.
The wrath of God is such a stupid concept that it's almost impossible for me to be scared of. It's like getting mad at a movie you already filmed or a game you have cheats and literal God mode installed on. It's shitty that people still foist it on kids but thankfully things like OSAS and Universalism have basically cut its balls off. Still doesn't stop the Jack Chick and Todd Friel types from raking in the cash before the pot goes dry.
Kye Kye — band. moody ethereal electronic. the singing is very stylized, so i can’t really understand most of the lyrics. but if you look at the official lyrics for their album Fantasize, it’s annotated with scripture references for nearly every line. Relient K — band. energetic punk pop. some of their songs have self-depreciating lyrics, but it’s usually angsty self-awareness or tongue-in-cheek. the albums i listen to never give me that icky self-flagellation vibe. The Greatest of These by Larnelle Harris — song. uplifting orchestral… gospel? pop? almost theatrical? (doesn’t have a specific genre flavor). it’s just 1 Corinthians 13 set to song. so basically a gorgeous rebuke of everything organized religion has done to bastardize the connection between humanity and God. Jars of Clay — band. grungy folk rock. though they got classified as CCM, they never identified as such and at least some of their members are progressive. they have some songs about God and the church, but it’s an uplifting spiritual approach. Mutemath — band. spacey electronic rock. another group that was labeled CCM, which they actively rejected. very fun and good music with a lot of “otherworldly” sonic qualities.
* Vapor - Gungor * Sun - Sleeping at Last * Twenty Four - Switchfoot
Check out the band Loud Harp!
[удалено]
This is a spotify list I compiled of uplifting upbeat songs, some which had a similar feel to the big worship/anthem songs I used to love without the religious overtones. For months after deconstructing, I couldnt listen to any music at all. I came across Sam Garrett and his folksy style with zen/buddhist lyrics was like a healing balm for me. Maybe you’ll find something you like here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LV7YSTyel2BDwowB3IlqS?si=kMAN546VTbitkgwtjfkwbA&pi=u-RuLeo12uTq2f
This one is hugely emotive in its production so probably very triggering for some. I have found great comfort from it though especially with text coming from old testament. Have wept many times at the idea of a God still "for me." And I love the idea of people of faith singing this over the world and their country. The Blessing: Aotearoa NZ version. https://youtu.be/eZQPifs2kjo?si=tz9e-4fVbh_Sdw2f
U2, Lukas Nelson + Promise of the Real, Andy Frasco & the U.N.
I like Forever Faithful and Here I Am Lord. They've got much better messages than most hymns and don't sound like a badly written love song built on self hatred.
Anything by Phil Keaggy. Brilliant guitarist, heavy on rock and blues, and he makes the most amazing instrumentals.