Since starting Bible College, I haven't returned to my old ways of listening to loud music while I study. I have been playing the occasional bit of Mozart or something else classical, but nothing rocky or with lyrics. Just head down in the books for the most part. But seeing as today looked like being a 15+ hour workday I decided to give in and have some old friends keep me company.
Most Christian rock bands I'd generally rate from poor to dodgy. Many seem to be pretty much just trying to be rock stars but with the occasional mention of God in their songs. I'm not saying that good ones don't exist - back in my High School days the band Aroma were one of the greatest evangelistic bands ever known to man. But my own view is that the whole Christian band thing is a bit like Christian surfers - many are doing a great job, but I wonder how many of them are surfers who happen to be Christian, rather than Christian surfers, if you catch my drift.
These meandering thoughts are my way of introducing you to The O.C. Supertones - a Christian rock band of in my opinion unparalleled brilliance. I grew up listening to these guys, and their musicality is great (if you like ska music) and even if you don't like the music, you can purely appreciate them for their lyrics, which are profound. There really is no excuse for the fluff that comes from most "Christian" bands, except to say the depth of the lyrics probably reflect the depth of their author's thoughts.
The Supertones have their not so serious songs as well, and I assume most people aren't into their kind of music in general, but let me ask you, have you ever heard another popular band with lyrics such as these?
In Between
Please allow me to introduce me.
Half of me slave, the other half free.
Righteous and sinful,
both at the same time.
Iniquity and purity
fill up the same mind.
And out of the same mouth,
the holy and profane.
I curse all my brothers,
then I bless Christ's name.
I hang in the balance,
but still I'm secure.
I'm leaning towards evil,
but striving to be pure.
I stand between the saint and
sinner, chasing after holiness, close
enough to grasp, but still it's just
beyond my reach.
Who I am is in between,
what I wanna be and what I am.
(x3)
Pulling from both sides,
humility and pride.
One seeks to give,
the other to be gratified.
In any case, however,
I know I'm in need.
Two appetites in me,
which one do I feed?
Running fast as I can
after elusive perfection.
Know I'm not there yet,
but sure I'm in the right direction.
Cause I see me at the end
and I look glorified.
Justified safe inside,
so I seek to be sanctified.
I stand between the saint and
sinner, chasing after holiness, close
enough to grasp, but still it's just
beyond my reach.
Who I am is in between,
what I wanna be and what I am.
Supertones are awesome - unfortunately I discovered them right as they finished up :S
ReplyDeleteAroma are also great - I have introduced my kids to their CDs, and they think they are awesome. Unfortunately my wife is not so much on the thinking is awesome side. We can pray for her though...
As no doubt you've found with your wife, early indoctrination is the best form of coercion. So I commend your commitment to the musical education of your kids.
ReplyDeleteI too only got into the Supertones fairly late, but they are playing a few gigs in the US this year again, so maybe some concert promoter will get them out here at some stage so they can play on some Christian rock festival will a million less awesome bands.
I agree, Christian music is terrible.
ReplyDeleteLast night I almost put my Aroma CD in the player, but then I spotted DC Talk; "Jesus Freak" and "In the Light" are awesome songs.
AS you know Isaac, I am a big Supertones fan. I got to see them live and meet them backstage in 2002, It was a lot of fun.
I would often get their lyrics stuck in my head and sing them while I was surfing. I think their lyrics made me learn good theology, it helped my understand parts of calvinism too with songs such as "Perseverance of the Saints" and it must be said, no band of their quality has matched them lyrically until Lecrae. I know rap isn't everybody's cup of tea, but this guy has redeemed that genre. He is doing as he would say Lyrical Theology. It is so encouraging and challenging and my youth crew are getting into it and being taught good theology through music. I love it.
Thanks Erich, I must admit that I keep hearing about Lecrae but have never heard his stuff (you know the whole white guys and rap not mixing too well thing). Will definitely check him out.
ReplyDeleteI also like me some Relient K, and Five Iron Frenzy. And Newsboys.
ReplyDeletePretty much, I like any music with a poetic edge, or a good turn of phrase to it, and those three bands scratch that itch for me. Well, Newsboys older stuff does.
Good times. I've got a few CD"s of theirs but I never really warmed as much to Relient K, but Five Iron Frenzy were a really fun band. Its a pity I got into a lot of the ska bands towards the end of their run so even if they did come to Australia I never got a chance to see them.
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