"Letter of the Month"
This letter showed so much effort and insightful/fun commentary that we feel compelled to share it here, unedited (for length, which we would've had to do if we printed it in HM Magazine) and full of energy. We knew, when we picked the "Top 50 of the Second Half of Christian rock's history" that the letters to ed section would once again fulfill its purpose. Surprisingly, not a whole lot of comments came in. Maybe now the fighting can begin...
For clarification, we chose to focus on the "second half," because we'd already given so much print to the "first half" in our 7th Anniversary issue, our 10th Anniversary issue, and our 15th Anniversary issue. In going back that far and covering so much ground, some great eras get left with too little coverage. Thus, our focus on the "second half." Some of the criticism our friend offers here would be explained in that we left out those bands cuz we consider them "first half" material. The line between first and second half really begins with The Crucified's heyday. It gets a little fuzzy, because the Crucified has actually been around since the mid-to-late 80s anyway. But most of the bands in the "second half" released albums in the early 90s. Okay, enough editorializing (I'm cheating by commenting on his writing before you read it. Ha ha ha.). Let's let Alan Parish and Daniel speak their minds.
I am a long time reader and subscriber of your magazine, and despite my lack of interest in "metal," I have always enjoyed it. As of November of last year I moved to Zambia to do mission work, and because of that, no longer receive your magazine (too expensive to get it sent here, and even then, doesn't mean I'll get it because of the postal service). But, the 100th issue arrived at my parents' house, and they sent it on to me with some other mail. It was fun to be able to read about the music I love so much, especially the interview with the Violet Burning. But, what I was most excited to see was the top 50 list.
I love best-of lists, and was excited to see the one in the HM 100 issue. I have no idea what you mean as "seminal-important-influential" or the "second half of Christian Rock," but either way, it is a solid list. I don't agree with all of it, as no one would, but for the most part it covers the scene pretty well. I only discovered a few glaring errors, which I point out below. I have very diverse musical tastes, but there are still some genres HM covers that I do not listen to: most forms of metal. Because of this, I asked my friend Daniel, a metal lover, and fellow missionary in the Middle East, to help me out. So we have written a point/counterpoint discussion on the top 50 list. I hope you find it informative, humorous, and for the most part error-free. Enjoy.
P.S. I am not sending this as a "letter to the editor," even though it is a letter to the editor in the truest sense, for two reasons: 1. I don't want it "to become the property of HM" and 2. It is way too long to print. Yes, I would love to see the complete thing be published in your magazine because I think most readers would eat it up, but there is almost no chance that would happen. Maybe if you think it is worthy, you could put it on your website. If you got a kick out reading it, but no more, I'll post it on my own website. I am not saying this is some great literary work; it is just the composition of two friends who have an extensive knowledge of Christian Rock.
Author: Alan (26 years old. Favorite bands: Poor Old Lu, Sixpence None the Richer, the Prayer Chain, Sunny Day Real Estate, Luxury)
Top 5 albums that should be on this list that aren't:
Argyle Park- Misguided
Pedro the Lion- It's Hard to Find a Friend
Sixpence None the Richer- This Beautiful Mess
Luxury- Amazing and Thank You
Blenderhead- Muchacho Vivo
Co-Author: Daniel (22 years old. Favorite Bands: Bride, Believer, Tourniquet, Lament)
Top 3 albums that should be on this list that aren't:
Deliverance - Weapons of Our Warfare
Believer - Dimensions
Vengeance Rising - Once Dead
[Here is a breakdown on the entire list of 50]:
1. Unashamed- Reflection
Alan: A less-than-average hardcore album. One of the first Tooth and Nail hardcore releases, as was a much better album: Focused- Bow, which is not on this list. This album is probably best known for it's scream-o cover of "Our God is an Awesome God."
Daniel: Anyone who's ever heard the introduction song can't help but be overcome by the fury and intensity, especially if they know what hardcore is supposed to sound like. The lyrics to all the songs on this album are exceptional (straight from the Bible in many cases), the undercurrent of an adolescent recovering from divorce is hopeful in the midst of the pain, and even the little phone machine segues in between songs were creative--exactly on the money for the high school/early college years crowd. I'll admit one thing: when I first heard this album, I honestly thought that the high school howl of most hardcore "singers" was truly as unpleasant to hear as Justin Timberlake. However, this album played a large part in changing that opinion. If I continue to write this much about each album, I'll be writing for the next decade so I'd better speed up and not write as much!
2. Sometime Sunday- Stone
Alan: Agree wholeheartedly. A great album, possibly the best Christian "grunge" album ever released. However, Sometime Sunday should not be here before Blenderhead, a much better Tooth and Nail band peaking during the same time period.
Daniel: These same guys were in Tragedy Ann? Dang!
3. Fleming and John- Delusions of Grandeur
Alan: First of all, it would have been nice to see the original cover art of this album, not the reissue. That said, I love this album, one of my favorites, but it does not belong on this list. It would definitely belong on my list of the top 50 greatest albums of the last 10 years, but only behind many more female-fronted bands. I say this because this is the ONLY female vocal album on the entire HM list. Sixpence None the Richer, Hoi Polloi, Dakoda Motor Co., and Morella?s Forest should at least be here. Female-fronted music, heavy or not, has always been missing from HM.
Daniel: I agree with your sentiment that this album is simply fantastic but shouldn't have been included on the list. However, none of those other groups should have been either. If it's pop, light rock, or whatnot, I don't see why it should be included on a list that's about the 50 best heavy albums.
4. POD- Brown
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Comments
just wanted to clarify one thing. in talking about appleseed cast, i was refering to their current line-up (to the best of my knowledge) having only one christian. when the 'ring wars' cd was released there were 3 devoted christians in the band.
and for those of you that didn't see the actual issue, this list is in no order (meaning the unashamed album is not #1, it is just listed first).
Ok, for the most part I agree with everything said here. One of the first pages I turned to in the magazine was the Top 50 to see what was included, and when I saw some of the ablums listed, I just scratched my head. Anyway, good job guys! :)
this was great to read, i enjoyed daniel's comments a lot; it's good to know i'm not the only person who finds indie rock and emo annoying ;)
by the way daniel, GROMS rules, i wish they would have put out more than just the one cd.
For the most part this is very well said indeed! However, I STRONGLY DISAGREE with what you said about Plankeye. Commonwealth was by far the best plankeye album ever and easily in my top ten of the nineties christian albums.
Also, I will have to back HM on their pick of MxPx's Life in General album. Pokinacha sucked and teenage politics was a step in the right direction, but they were both very immature.
Thanks for the great read guys! It is nice to see Poor old lu get some credit.
The fact that Crimson Thorn made this list makes up for about 10 of the other crappy bands on it. Seriously, where is the metal? Oh wait...all the metal bands went emo. Or was it that all the hardcore bands started calling themselves metal? No...it was great hardcore bands that sounded like metal signed to major labels and became nu-metal. Sorry, sorry, I remember what it was. I gave up on Christian metal and started listening to Cradle of Filth. Guess I better start praying for my soul.
Man you guys know nothing about metal. Why do you get to make reviews on metal when you guys don't know a damn thing about it. Rackets and Drapes isn't dead and they were before Manson was conceived. But then you gotta think..Kandy liked making fun of the band by saying they were the alternative to Manson. haha. Blaster the Rocketboy is just genious, maybe the best christian punk band ever, they sure in hell beat all that washed up pop crap. Keep it Sci-Fi!!
Wow, I had forgotten how much I hated Life in General when it came out. I even got an email from Brandon Ebel once when I bashed MxPx for selling out on the AOL message boards. Funny how nowadays it is the only album of theirs I can stand.
now now ghastly, what are you talking about, knowing nothing of metal?
rackets and drapes is not even very metal to begin with. now when did they start? and when do you think manson was conceived? because i am pretty sure that he has been around longer....
anyway, now that i think about, here are some post-1991 cds i would have liked to have seen:
Believer-Dimensions
Betrayal-the Passing
Living Sacrifice-Nonexistent
Living Sacrifice-Inhabit (both this and nonexistent are much better than reborn)
Deliverance-Learn
Ethereal Scourge-Judgement and Restoration (a truly unique gem in christian music)
Galactic Cowboys-Machine Fish (better than s/t)
Possession-Eternally Haunt (amazingly creative death/thrash)
Sacrament-Haunts of Violence
Ultimatum-Mechanics of Perilous Times
etc etc....
\m/
You know, the only good thing I can say about Rackets and Drapes is that they had a heck of a live show. In fact, I dare say there was (and is) nothing like it in the Christian music scene. However, if you only listen to their CDs I can see how they come off a lame Manson rip-off. I was always disappointed in their recorded albums as Kandy Kane was quite articulate and they were one of the scariest bands I have ever seen. (Just to brag, I saw them at Sonshine followed by Antestor and Extol!! And to think, over 7000 people were wasting their time watching Audio Adrenaline on the mainstage!!)
while i agree with alot of it , i must say that the sophmore release from blindside was complete garbage and i couldnt believe it was on the list. poor production , sloppy ( very sloppy ) offbeat rythms and alot of noise that wasnt pleasent to the ears . while a couple tunes caught my attention , th majority should be in the septic tank
about blindside, that production was not sloppy, that was the way they intended. and those aren't offbeat rhythms, they are intentional uncommon time signatures. and it takes a talented band with a great drummer to pull those time signatures off.
yeah, i get bored much more easily when the drumming is overly simplistic in time signatures. i like technicality, it makes things so much more interesting to the ears, and sounds so much better!
When did I say Rackets was metal? Never, I was just stating the fact by reading the present reviews of certain albums was laughable. I can't wait for a new Manson album to come out to get my bands sound down right...Maybe 10 years ago when there was like 20 some odd bands that sounded like electro-shock rock sound we could've made it first before Manson broke mainstream. Oh God. Now every punk band that are similar rip each other off because they weren't noticed first...PSH. Human Soup '94 baby, if you ever meet Kandy, ask him what kinda shock he was doing before Human Soup, that shit was before manson was out of high school.
I'm glad HM printed a top 50 list, but think that a reader's poll would have turned up a more objective list. Ok, so these were the 50 the staff liked. Still, it was a tough era, especially for us die-hard headbangers looking for a fix when metal became the hot potato. Tourniquet "Vanishing Lessons" or "Psycho Surgery" should have made it, as well as anything from Impellitteri or Balance of Power. Even Undercover "Balance of Power" was a landmark hard music release. So many good bands...
Strongarm, Zao, Living Sacrifice, Extol, Mortification, MXPX, POD, Mewithoutyou, Hopesfall (are they still a christian band), Starflyer 59, Blindside, Norma Jean and NIV, are all really good at what they do. It is sad that this is the TOP 50 albums because I mostly listen to christian bands and many aren't here. Where is Underoath? Even Cool Hand Luke could've been there with their older rough recordings (a lot better than some of the stuff on that list). Was Embodyment there? The Deal??? The Deal is one of the best christian punk oi! bands, the only one worth listening.
Please do a more recent TOP #. I'd like to see bands like Haste The Day, Underoath, Cool Hand Luke, Copeland, Pedro the Lion, The Beautiful Mistake, Noise Ratchet, Dogwood, Beloved, The Supertones, Anberlin, This Runs Through, As I lay Dying, Embodyment, The Deal, Evergreen Terrace, Juliana Theory, Sinai Beach, and many others get some credit for all the music they've done.
not trying to be argumentative but manson started before 94. his band started in 1989 actually, and by 1990 they were already opening up for nine inch nails on tours.
;)
I've been into christian music for most of my life. And I have to admit that I am a bigger fan of punk than of metal. I know most of the readers prefer metal over punk, but I do listen to a pretty large variety of music. I aggree with HM mostly, and hardly at all with alan. First of all, Some of the bands that they dissed are some of my favorites. Further seems forever for example. They are one of the most unique bands I have ever heard. They mix Hardcore, emo, and jazz into a style that only they can do well. And who says that it isn't hard?? Sure, they have some softer songs, but if you have never been to one of their shows, I suggest you do because they rock. Second, for someone who put down further seems forever for beeing to soft, why are they pushing sixpence none the richer? they are one of the softest bands I have ever heard, and although i will admit that they are talented, I dont think that they belong in HM magazine. I think Chevelles first album definitely belongs on the list, and I do agree that southtown should be on the list in place of brown. my biggest complaint it that punk seems to have been disregarded in this magazine for the most part. yes, metal is huge, and I like it(Norma jean by the way, should definitely be on the list), but punk is just as hard as metal. Mxpx should definitely be on the list, and life in general was one of their many good albums but what about dogwood, slick shoes, craigs brother, sidewalk slam, calibretto 13, etc..... Also, Stretch armstrong should be somewhere in that list also. I know that when we make a list of the best bands, the old classics always seems to end up on top, but who says something new cant be better? I think stretch is one of the best hardcore punk bands I have ever heard. one more thing, I have mixed feelings about the julianna theory. I went to one of their shows, and enjoyed it alot, so I bought their album. then I met the band, and I hate them. I don't know why people think that this is a christian band, maybe becuase they were on tooth and nail for a while, but they are the most arrogant people i have ever met, and they will deny ever being a christian band. most of the band members even denied being christians at all, while the rest of them refused to answer. Now, don't get me wrong, I do not look down on them for not being christians, but I would have had more respect for them if they could have openly admitted to not being christians. refuseing to answer gives the feeling that they are too ashamed to say that they are christians, and that is embarassing to me. enough said.
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!
i was hoping that someone would have, by now, mentioned that strongarm's "atonement" was NOWHERE near as important to the christian scene (or the secular scene for that matter!!)compared to "advent of a miracle"
granted, atonement was awesome when it came out, but advent was by far more important, and changed the course of hardcore. fo' real. the only band that had more impact on the hardcore scene...
...you guessed it: zao's blood and fire. i'm glad it's on the list.
joshua*
the main thing i dissagree with was the annalysis of 90lb Wuss (amazing band), The Blamed's new stuff (also amazing), and Everdown (equally amazing).
And instead of ATCMM from Blindside, I would have included their self titled cd. That was the best blindside disc ever, and is one of the best hardcore cds in the christian market ever.
peace.
good article.
is that justin bu*l that i know?
i'm not related to tim harris...
argyle park is a must, vengeance rising?, juliana theory, believer, living sac's "reborn" IS the best (the new stuff is lame, like the old stuff)... where is the new underoath album, eh? hopesfall is not a christian band anymore, and the ep is far better than either of the lps. appleseed cast--low level owls, la symphony?, strongarm is huge, we need pedro. i'm not in a coherent mood. nights.
You bet your arse F&J's Delusions should have made that list way in front of Morella's Forest, Hoi Polloi, and Sixpence. I agree that "This Beautiful Mess" should have been on there too. So should Hoi Polloi's "Happy Ever After." Sometime Sunday's Stone had some decent music but Mikee's vox were very unoriginal and frankly irritating to listen to. Wish for Eden was terrible. SF59's Silver - epic!! I'm glad Mortal's Fathom made the list but I like Lusis a lot more. The Kings X album chosen should have been Dogman - by a long shot. Plank Eye's Scott Silletta sang flat so I never understood the big deal about them. Poor Old Lu's Sin - spectacular! Prayer Chain - Shawl's a great album but Mercury was by far their most accomplished work. Where is The Violet Burning's self titled? The 77s Pray Naked? I guess I should be directing these comments to HM and not you guys. : ) C ya!
okay, whoever said Norma Jean is "hokey" has another thing coming. If i ever find out and see whoever said this out on the streets of North Carolina i will personaly give them a face full o' brass knuckles. Norma Jean is THE BEST performing Metalcore band right now (not to mention insane breakdowns) along with Every Time I Die and Converge.
I really dissagree with the comment about Me Without You. How much acctual listening time have you put into it? A->B life is a cd that slowly grows on you to the point that it becomes an essential part of your taste in music. As Far as lyrics go, Aaron Weise is right up there with Poe and Dickenson. He uses the sweetest metaphors I've ever heard. And yes, their tallent is overlooked. Now for my second subject, Furthur Seems Forever. Carabba leaving the band has nothing to do with Furthurs' new found sucess. In fact, I think Carabba leaving the band was the best thing that happened to them. Not that I hate Carraba, He's increadibbly tallented. But the ellement that Jason Gleason's vocals add is untouched. You just cant dis on "How to start a fire" Its one of the cleanest mixed albums I've ever heard.
Peace, Love Bre
I agree. Further Seems Forever is an amazing band. If you have ever seen them live you know what I am talking about here. I never saw Chris with the band, but Jason is amazing. I love both "The Moon is Down" and "How to Start a Fire". Both are unique in their own ways.
Yeah, half of this list is crap. FYI - Klank (Darren Diosola [sp?]) and Klay Scott (Celldweller, Scott Albert, Klayton, etc) never were "christian" to begin with, according to them. Klay said he did it for the chance to make music. Since when does saying you are christian get you a record deal? Anyone ever heard of Level? Shame on you if you haven't. I'm happy to see many favs on the list (Believer, Tourniquet, Living Sacrifice, Saviour Machine, Precious Death, Paramaecium, Crimson Thorn [went to school with the guitarist], Zao, Circle of Dust, Mortification, Chevelle, Galactic Cowboys, POD, Bride, Stavesacre, Crucified, okay shutting up now...] but where is Deliverance? Gryp? ARGYLE fricken PARK? Seventh Angel? I'm sure I'm forgetting someone. BETRAYAL fer crying out loud? Nobody could touch them! Anyhoo... Piece Out.
The first time I heard mewithoutYou I disliked them. But after seeing their video like 20 times I thought it was pretty good. I love poetry.
saviour machine simply rocks. they are without a doubt one of the most ambitious, driven, focused, and misunderstood entities in christian music today. it actually takes an effort to absorb the material presented, which is precisely why i love them - its music that makes you use your brain. the entire legend trilogy is phenomenal, with the impending Legend part III:II to rock harder than them all. i highly encourage you to listen.
Overall, I enjoyed the article.
I do not know anything about the faith of Klay (Klayton) Scott AKA - Scott Albert - now doing celldweller.com But... Resaerching, I learned recently a great interview with Daren Diolosa:
http://www.hmmagazine.com/oe/archives/000242.php?page=all
Check it out. BTW, It's always good to put the source information when quoting folks. It kills the hearsay and rumors.
thanks
Peace!
One more for Klayton Scott and his beleifs? - After mush searching... I found a post of an interview doene by howard Stern... it is not the original source! Anyone have it?
