The most overrated artists in CCM...
Legend1
1) Jars Of Clay (THE most overrated band in CCM history! Wake up people! Dan
sounds like he's afraid to sing. The musicianship is so simple that a first
year guitarist could play their songs. They are the most boring band I've
ever seen play live which, unfortunately, was 3 times. Luckily, I never had
to pay.)
2) Third Day (boring vocals, boring music, boring songs)
3) Michael W. Smith (hasn't released a decent album since "I 2 Eye" and
should NEVER be seen holding a guitar - it's an insult to all guitarists.
"Give Me Love"?...give me a break!)
4) Petra (haven't released a decent album since "Beyond Belief" and Schlitt
doesn't hold a candle to Volz)
5) Smalltown Poets (a grammy nomination? should have received a whammy
nomination for boring songs)
6) LaRue (grow up and experience life before you write about it, kids)
7) Caedmon's Call (atrocious vocals; a decent song every once in a while
that would be much better if sung by a decent artist)
8) Jennifer Knapp (bland writing; her last name fits, though: She always
looks like she never washes her hair)
9) Audio Adrenaline (These guys are so corny. Orville would be proud.)
10) Plus One (do I really have to say anything else here?)
Let's give these wonderful artists a round of applause! Mediocrity at its
best!
Bob Weigel
Legend1 <leg...@NOSPAM.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:MmOdnbCEked...@News.GigaNews.Com...
> The 10 most overrated artists currently in CCM are:
>
> 1) Jars Of Clay (THE most overrated band in CCM history! Wake up people!
Dan
> sounds like he's afraid to sing. The musicianship is so simple that a
first
> year guitarist could play their songs. They are the most boring band I've
> ever seen play live which, unfortunately, was 3 times. Luckily, I never
had
> to pay.)
Heheh. Arghh. When I first moved here I had a guy who played the truck
album over and over...and then again...and..heyyy let's turn on some joc for
background huh? Well they did accomplish kind of a unique sound but yeah
it's not something I'd listen to if I had it.
> 2) Third Day (boring vocals, boring music, boring songs)
> 3) Michael W. Smith (hasn't released a decent album since "I 2 Eye" and
> should NEVER be seen holding a guitar - it's an insult to all guitarists.
> "Give Me Love"?...give me a break!)
Well "decent"...I dunno. For sure he entered a phase there where the
adventure seemed to get taken out of the approach to the production. Did I
say that right? :-) I would say "Change your world" was decent overall. I
don't like some of it and some of it I like quite a bit. It's hard to make
great music in the Christian industry when you have all the walls knocked
out as much as Michael has. I respect him for holding the basic vision
together as long as he has and still he comes out with some good tunes for a
particular crowd I guess. But maybe a visit to Bruce Cockburn would be in
order. Seems there's an ingredient there...I dunno. Anybody else know what
I'm saying?
> 4) Petra (haven't released a decent album since "Beyond Belief" and
Schlitt
> doesn't hold a candle to Volz)
Hehhe. Well .... in a way at least. I won't even go into that whole
thing. But again though I'd have to say "decent" might be a strong word
there. :-) I like some of Unseen Power and even the one with Dave Lichens
who once visited my Springfield studio on the front....oh yeah "no doubt".
It IS interesting that we both seem to have similar perceptions though as to
when things really started to curb. I don't like any of those albums as a
whole and simply never listen to them even though I own those two. Beyond
Belief really came as a surprise to me. I expected to see Petra drop off
much earlier than they did. An amazing band. And once you get a name like
that (and that much budget) it's hard to drop out of the top rated groups in
ccm especially. Christians will ALWAYS be more easily sold something old
than something new...or at least be perceived that way by marketing people
therein. :-) Hence...I thank you for the good post. :-) -Bob
-Bob
Michael Martin
[snip]
I was going to reply to this, but the more I read it, the more it bothered
me.
At least the post on about music, but that's about all I can say. If
"Legend" had given constructive criticisms instead of sarcastic rhetoric, I
would have been much more inclined to actually dialogue and respond. The
original post seems to exhibit little of the love of the brethren we are
commanded to show.
Anyone who's read any of my posts knows I don't think being Christian means
automatically liking all "Christian music." Heck, I'm even inclined to
agree with some of Legend's conclusions (as far as some bands being
overrated). However,we ought to be writing as if we are talking to the
artists in question, with love, respect and compassion.
--
Michael Martin
http://www.stormraven.com
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in
return."
Jerry B. Ray, Jr.
>1) Jars Of Clay (THE most overrated band in CCM history! Wake up people! Dan
>sounds like he's afraid to sing. The musicianship is so simple that a first
>year guitarist could play their songs. They are the most boring band I've
>ever seen play live which, unfortunately, was 3 times. Luckily, I never had
>to pay.)
Yeah, I can't say that I really disagree with that. I loved "Liquid," but
that was the high point of their career for me.
>2) Third Day (boring vocals, boring music, boring songs)
I actually like Third Day, but not as much as I used to. I've been seeing
them since they first started, and they used to rock. The worship stuff
they've been doing of late has sapped my interest, though, to the point
that I haven't even gone to see them the last couple of times they were
in Atlanta.
>3) Michael W. Smith (hasn't released a decent album since "I 2 Eye" and
>should NEVER be seen holding a guitar - it's an insult to all guitarists.
>"Give Me Love"?...give me a break!)
I dunno, I like _Go West Young Man_ pretty well, and some of the albums
since then have had some good tracks, but none have been particularly strong
from start to finish. I actually like "Love Me Good," but it seems like I'm
in the minority there.
>4) Petra (haven't released a decent album since "Beyond Belief" and Schlitt
>doesn't hold a candle to Volz)
There were a few good songs after _Beyond Belief_, but no good albums, and
they more recent stuff hasn't been interesting to me at all. I like Schlitt
and Volz, but Volz is probably my favorite.
>5) Smalltown Poets (a grammy nomination? should have received a whammy
>nomination for boring songs)
Their first album was actually pretty good, and they were good live. The
second album was a bit of a letdown, and the live show suffered when they
had some turnover in the band. Didn't really get into the third album.
>6) LaRue (grow up and experience life before you write about it, kids)
Don't know anything about them.
>7) Caedmon's Call (atrocious vocals; a decent song every once in a while
>that would be much better if sung by a decent artist)
Yeah, they had one song that I liked, but mostly they bore me to tears.
I've never really gotten what the big deal is.
>8) Jennifer Knapp (bland writing; her last name fits, though: She always
>looks like she never washes her hair)
Another artist that I don't really "click" with. I suppose she's OK, but
I've never really connected with her music.
>9) Audio Adrenaline (These guys are so corny. Orville would be proud.)
Heh. They've evolved from "completely, totally awful" ("My God") to merely
mediocre. That's a step in the right direction.
>10) Plus One (do I really have to say anything else here?)
Don't know 'em.
One glaring omission I see here is Waterdeep. Tried to sit through one of
their sets at Cornerstone, and was bored to tears. There was a big crowd
that was really into it, but I Just Don't Get It. Hippie Jam Rock pisses
me off.
JRjr
--
%%%%% Jerry B. Ray, Jr. %%%%%%%% www.prism.gatech.edu/~jr70 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%
"Some will shake off the sloth of faithlessness
While others simply languish in their sleep
Me, I just fight to stay awake..." -- VOL, "Black Cloud O'er Me"
Brian
weak!
"Legend1" <leg...@NOSPAM.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:MmOdnbCEked...@News.GigaNews.Com...
David Bruce Murray
>
> 1) Jars Of Clay (THE most overrated band in CCM history! Wake up people!
Dan
> sounds like he's afraid to sing. The musicianship is so simple that a
first
> year guitarist could play their songs. They are the most boring band I've
> ever seen play live which, unfortunately, was 3 times. Luckily, I never
had
> to pay.)
Yep . . . I did pay to see a show with them on it a couple of times, but I
was actually paying to see the other artists that were performing. I'd just
as soon be at a bluegrass festival. (I can't keep saying that, because
there's actually some very good bluegrass nowadays.) I did like "Flood" and
a couple of other tunes from their first major release, but that was about
it. I think they went sour once they had a bunch of money to spend on
production.
> 2) Third Day (boring vocals, boring music, boring songs)
I can't agree with this overall. They most recent stuff is not so great, but
they were kicking on their first two or three recordings.
> 3) Michael W. Smith (hasn't released a decent album since "I 2 Eye" and
> should NEVER be seen holding a guitar - it's an insult to all guitarists.
> "Give Me Love"?...give me a break!)
You're dead wrong on MWS. You don't have to be Phil Keaggy to hold a guitar.
Lots of artists just play rhythm as they sing, and that's pretty much what
he does. MWS can definitely hold his own on keyboard and piano. He's not a
great vocalist, but he really shines with his music arrangements and stage
production. Overall, he's got more stylistic range than 10 upstart, here
today gone tomorrow bands combined.
Sure, he's done some cheesy songs. However, he's also had some outstanding
songs over the years, even since _i 2 eye_. "Missing person" is probably my
favorite from his second decade. If his playing guitar and songs like "Love
Me Good" were the only reasons he was popular, you'd have a point, but
that's obviously not the case. Even "Love Me Good," with it's moronic
lyrics, had a pretty cool music track.
I will say that I was very disappointed when I read that his next project
was going to be a no holds barred secular mainstream release, and then it
turned out to be a live follow-up to his _Worship_ CD. The encouraging thing
about MWS, though, is that he's always got something a little different up
his sleeve.
> 4) Petra (haven't released a decent album since "Beyond Belief" and
Schlitt
> doesn't hold a candle to Volz)
That's true. I don't think you'd call them "over-rated," though, because
everybody knows they haven't released a decent CD since _Beyond Belief_. :o)
> 5) Smalltown Poets (a grammy nomination? should have received a whammy
> nomination for boring songs)
Are they still together? They said they had to work hard to hold up the
"poets" part of their group. I never thought they succeeded at that.
> 6) LaRue (grow up and experience life before you write about it, kids)
I never cared for them, but your complaint isn't really fair. It's
interesting to hear kids write about life from their perspective. At least
they do their own writing, unlike most of the kiddy/teen pop acts.
> 7) Caedmon's Call (atrocious vocals; a decent song every once in a while
> that would be much better if sung by a decent artist)
Yep. I never understood the buzz.
> 8) Jennifer Knapp (bland writing; her last name fits, though: She always
> looks like she never washes her hair)
The girl with guitar deal was interesting for a while. I don't know how much
more staying power she's going to have, though.
> 9) Audio Adrenaline (These guys are so corny. Orville would be proud.)
True, but they're so much fun.
> 10) Plus One (do I really have to say anything else here?)
You need say no more. I just listened to their Christmas CD a few days ago
and heard them ruin some great classics. It's really OK to sustain a note
once in a while. These guys think they have to put 14 different notes to
every syllable.
--
David Bruce Murray / dmurray...@rfci.net
www.musicscribe.com / www.rfci.net/dbmurray
www.mp3.com/ssq / www.mp3.com/virtualvirtuoso
--- Making hay while the sun shines ---
David Bruce Murray
"Brian" <brian_...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:aojvnv$najut$1...@ID-153628.news.dfncis.de...
> Who sings that "I need you, I need you, I need you" song??? That song is
so
> weak!
You need look no further than Legend's No. 1 most overrated artist in CCM
for the answer to that question. And the sad thing is, that's probably the
strongest song on their last CD.
David Bruce Murray
BTW, are you going to follow up with a 10 most underrated list?
Breezy
> Let's give these wonderful artists a round of applause! Mediocrity at its
> best!
You and B.W. get my votes for uplifting posts of the year. :) Always
believing the best, hoping the best.
I'd say people's opinions (including my own), are what's overrated.
-Breezy
Bob Weigel
people's idolotrous fixations on various artists is what's being attacked.
That industry promotes who they will promote. It's not necessarily who has
the hottest cutting edge stuff going on. I'm tellin' ya. These people will
sell Twila, Michael, Carman etc. on the front line until they either are
totally unpresentable for some reason or lose their voices completely. If
they can sound like Alvin they will process their voice and keep them doing
concerts. Because like I say the Christian industry thrives on icons more
than the secular even.
And that's the aspect I see mostly attacked here. The use of "decent"
is obviously exaggerative and that's a common thing in this sort of writing
so I think we can all understand what he's saying; that maybe EVERYTHING
these artists put out isn't likely to be the cutting edge thing that needs
to be promoted the daylights out of. :-) -Bob
Michael Martin <baltez...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:aojo9f$kmt$1...@mailgate2.lexis-nexis.com...
Bob Weigel
appreciate constructive criticism. While some of the post wasn't
particularly specific about what was being criticised, most of us have heard
the songs and know what he means I think. And it's clearly just an
expression of personal opinion NOT "This person is in SIN because they made
some music that I DO NOT THINK EXCEEDS the quality of their previous effort"
or whatever.
This CONTRASTED with statements like "You are too critical"....well we
can't really compare the two. Being truly too critical means you are
focusing on something other than the holy spirit when you write and that
would be sin were it true. -Bob
Breezy <nowo...@NOmchsiSPAM.com> wrote in message
news:VSgr9.67737$rz6.11836@sccrnsc02...
Michael Martin
news:aok6u8$cuq$1...@news.tamerica.net...
> Because like I say the Christian industry thrives on icons more
> than the secular even.
> And that's the aspect I see mostly attacked here. The use of
"decent"
> is obviously exaggerative and that's a common thing in this sort of
writing
> so I think we can all understand what he's saying; that maybe EVERYTHING
> these artists put out isn't likely to be the cutting edge thing that needs
> to be promoted the daylights out of. :-) -Bob
Other than his remarks on 5) Smalltown Poets and 10) Plus One, comments in
the origina post are aimed directly at the artists and their abilities.
Nothing to do with the Evil Nashville Music Machine.
Breezy
> I'm not sure there is a rating on opinions. :-) But hey. Real artists
> appreciate constructive criticism.
Just interpret my original post to mean, "Legend1, would you like a little
cheese with your whine?"
> While some of the post wasn't
> particularly specific about what was being criticised, most of us have
heard
> the songs and know what he means I think.
I know what he was talking about too. Na na na na boo boo. :)~
> And it's clearly just an
> expression of personal opinion NOT "This person is in SIN because they
made
> some music that I DO NOT THINK EXCEEDS the quality of their previous
effort"
> or whatever.
Don't worry, Bob. I don't think like you. What I had to say had absolutely
nothing to do with whether or not anyone was in sin.
> This CONTRASTED with statements like "You are too critical"....well we
> can't really compare the two. Being truly too critical means you are
> focusing on something other than the holy spirit when you write and that
> would be sin were it true. -Bob
You mean when I'm choosing meats at the grocery store and I'm really
critical and am not focusing on the holy spirit and I say, "man, I can't
stand liver," I'm in sin??? ;)
-Breezy
Brian
Wheaton...
"David Bruce Murray" <dmurray...@rfci.net> wrote in message
news:r9GcnQrBAuZ...@News.GigaNews.Com...
Bob Weigel
simple. Well...it is! That doesn't mean they can't do more interesting
things. They just didn't. MW Smith doesn't play guitar by trade. He's a
keyboardist. He's a great keyboardist. I think the original poster was
talking about the fact that he's trying to use the imagery of himself with a
guitar for promotion and it comes off cheesy! Just like the 50,000
perspectives of himself in "Secret Ambition"'s video diminished what would
have been one of the greatest vids ever made..well maybe it still is. In
spite of Michaels overuse of his own image, it still has a very powerful
dimension. I (and obviously the original author) are keying on issues that
have to do with self-promotion. Ok? We puke when we see
self-promotion....ok? -Bob
Michael Martin <baltez...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:aok801$mdv$1...@mailgate2.lexis-nexis.com...
Bob Weigel
Breezy <nowo...@NOmchsiSPAM.com> wrote in message
> "> You mean when I'm choosing meats at the grocery store and I'm really
> critical and am not focusing on the holy spirit and I say, "man, I can't
> stand liver," I'm in sin??? ;)
>
Not sure why that would be. Remember though, there's "just one way to love
your liver"...(C) Bob Weigel 1993 Hehhehe. -Bob
Andrew Kerr
>
> 1) Jars Of Clay (THE most overrated band in CCM history! Wake up people!
Dan
> sounds like he's afraid to sing. The musicianship is so simple that a
first
> year guitarist could play their songs. They are the most boring band I've
> ever seen play live which, unfortunately, was 3 times. Luckily, I never
had
> to pay.)
I agree, Dan sounds like he doesn't want to sing...like someone's forcing
him to. I used to have the first two CD's. I have no idea where they are
now...and I don't really care.
> 3) Michael W. Smith (hasn't released a decent album since "I 2 Eye" and
> should NEVER be seen holding a guitar - it's an insult to all guitarists.
> "Give Me Love"?...give me a break!)
He's had a few good songs since "I2 Eye". And I like several of the songs on
Exodus, which he produced. He can play the guitar all he wants, it's not
like he's trying to sell himself as a virtuoso guitarist or anything.
> 4) Petra (haven't released a decent album since "Beyond Belief" and
Schlitt
> doesn't hold a candle to Volz)
You could call them overrated if they were still rated at all. I liked most
of what was on Unseen Power, but little of anything after that.
> 7) Caedmon's Call (atrocious vocals; a decent song every once in a while
> that would be much better if sung by a decent artist)
I like Cliff Young's voice, and their new keyboardist puts in a few cool
licks once in a while. Danielle's voice is kind of nasally, but fine for
harmony. Derek Webb seems to put a lot of feeling into most of the songs he
sings, I like that. If I took all the songs I liked off the three albums I
have I could come up with one decent album I think.
> 8) Jennifer Knapp (bland writing; her last name fits, though: She always
> looks like she never washes her hair)
The band I used to be in covered a few of her songs...otherwise I probably
wouldn't have listened to her at all.
> 9) Audio Adrenaline (These guys are so corny. Orville would be proud.)
I ran sound for a band that covered "Big as Jesus". I had to hear it about
20 times one night during practice...I'm afraid to come into contact with
any of their stuff in case that song comes on again.
> Let's give these wonderful artists a round of applause! Mediocrity at its
> best!
A lot of those you mentioned have been around a while. In general, they seem
to put out a good couple albums at the beginning of their career's and then
things seem to go downhill.
Andrew
Legend1
so seriously. The tone was perhaps a bit ruff, but it comes from watching
the Christian music industry put out mediocre music year after year without
really trying to promote music that is "ahead of it's time." Sorry if I
offended anyone.
Legend1
"Michael Martin" <baltez...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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David Bruce Murray
"Andrew Kerr" <apk...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:mAkr9.11$ty2...@read1.cgocable.net...
> > 4) Petra (haven't released a decent album since "Beyond Belief" and
> Schlitt
> > doesn't hold a candle to Volz)
>
> You could call them overrated if they were still rated at all. I liked
most
> of what was on Unseen Power, but little of anything after that.
Oh yeah . . . I forgot about _Unseen Power_ coming after _Beyond Belief_.
That was a very good CD, IMO. That was John Lawry's last with them, as I
recall, and it was his departure that marked the end of Petra making great
music.
TroutHound
to stoners. Waterdeep rawks. Have you ever actually listened to their studio
stuff, Jerry?
You might be surprised. Besides that, I've yet to see anyone "rate"
Waterdeep, much less underrate them. They arent even a blip on most people's
radar.
dt
NP: Yum Yum Children - Dufisized
--
Virtuosity
Spiritual Progressive Rock Reviews
http://home.att.net/~virtuosity
Bruce Brown
>
> 1) Jars Of Clay (THE most overrated band in CCM history! Wake up people! Dan
> sounds like he's afraid to sing. The musicianship is so simple that a first
> year guitarist could play their songs. They are the most boring band I've
> ever seen play live which, unfortunately, was 3 times. Luckily, I never had
> to pay.)
Not a great live band, but I wouldn't quite say boring. I think Dan's
voice has gotten stronger over successive albums, but I still prefer
"If I Left the Zoo" to the latest.
> 2) Third Day (boring vocals, boring music, boring songs)
Ouch. Maybe the later worship stuff has slipped a notch, but they're
still a great live band.
> 3) Michael W. Smith (hasn't released a decent album since "I 2 Eye" and
> should NEVER be seen holding a guitar - it's an insult to all guitarists.
Yeah, tell that to Johnny Cash--he used one as a prop too. "Freedom"
was an excellent album, although it didn't focus on his voice. On
vocal projects, he's only as good as his lyricists, which to my mind
makes the later worship stuff better, since he at least covers very
familiar tunes.
> 4) Petra (haven't released a decent album since "Beyond Belief" and Schlitt
> doesn't hold a candle to Volz)
I prefer Schlitt but agree on the other statement.
> 5) Smalltown Poets (a grammy nomination? should have received a whammy
> nomination for boring songs)
Well, blame the morons who nominated them for a Grammy. That's not
the band's fault. Their writing is generally good, IMHO.
> 6) LaRue (grow up and experience life before you write about it, kids)
It's a bit unfair to suggest teenagers don't feel enough emotions to
write songs, though they might not be accomplished songwriters yet.
> 7) Caedmon's Call (atrocious vocals; a decent song every once in a while
> that would be much better if sung by a decent artist)
When Derek sings, I love them.
> 8) Jennifer Knapp (bland writing; her last name fits, though: She always
> looks like she never washes her hair)
I like both her records and her live performance, hygiene
notwithstanding.
> 9) Audio Adrenaline (These guys are so corny. Orville would be proud.)
I love them because they know who they are and what they want to
accomplish. They wanted to take the youth group band mantle from
Petra and they and Newsboys and did.
> 10) Plus One (do I really have to say anything else here?)
Have never listened to more than a few songs.
--bab
Bruce Brown
> One glaring omission I see here is Waterdeep. Tried to sit through one of
> their sets at Cornerstone, and was bored to tears. There was a big crowd
> that was really into it, but I Just Don't Get It. Hippie Jam Rock pisses
> me off.
That should read "Hippie Jam Rock pisses me off."tm
Thom McGuire
<leg...@NOSPAM.yahoo.com> wrote:
>The 10 most overrated artists currently in CCM are:
>
>1) Jars Of Clay (THE most overrated band in CCM history! Wake up people! Dan
>sounds like he's afraid to sing. The musicianship is so simple that a first
>year guitarist could play their songs. They are the most boring band I've
>ever seen play live which, unfortunately, was 3 times. Luckily, I never had
>to pay.)
By far the most overrated band ever 2 good songs both by adrian belew
thats it.
>2) Third Day (boring vocals, boring music, boring songs)
The frist album was great but im prejudiced
>3) Michael W. Smith (hasn't released a decent album since "I 2 Eye" and
>should NEVER be seen holding a guitar - it's an insult to all guitarists.
>"Give Me Love"?...give me a break!)
Not since Chris Rodrigez left his band has he been good live
>4) Petra (haven't released a decent album since "Beyond Belief" and Schlitt
>doesn't hold a candle to Volz)
Volz leaving was the demise of the band but would have come anyway
since volz's new album is awful
>5) Smalltown Poets (a grammy nomination? should have received a whammy
>nomination for boring songs)
never been great just good
>6) LaRue (grow up and experience life before you write about it, kids)
Give them time there is a lot of talent in larue
>7) Caedmon's Call (atrocious vocals; a decent song every once in a while
>that would be much better if sung by a decent artist)
Right on
>8) Jennifer Knapp (bland writing; her last name fits, though: She always
>looks like she never washes her hair)
still right on
>9) Audio Adrenaline (These guys are so corny. Orville would be proud.)
nailed the youth band thing
>10) Plus One (do I really have to say anything else here?)
great guys teriable idea
>
Waterdeep
better when they do worship with 100 portraits ie: Enter the worship
circle
Joy
> "Legend1" <leg...@NOSPAM.yahoo.com> wrote:
<snippety>
> > 8) Jennifer Knapp (bland writing; her last name fits, though:
> > She always looks like she never washes her hair)
>
> I like both her records and her live performance, hygiene
> notwithstanding.
Doesn't she have 3 albums now? (And I always thought her hair looked all
right.)
> > 9) Audio Adrenaline (These guys are so corny. Orville would
> > be proud.)
>
> I love them because they know who they are and what they
> want to accomplish. They wanted to take the youth group
> band mantle from Petra and they and Newsboys and did.
And they're FUN, darnit.
> > 10) Plus One (do I really have to say anything else here?)
>
> Have never listened to more than a few songs.
I'm not sure if "Legend1" has either. In all fairness, *as a boyband*,
they're not bad at all. It's easy to scorn a group just because of the
*type* of music they make, but within the context of their peers, a lot of
them aren't lousy. (I know a lot of people who scorn "country" music based
on stereotypes and 'image' issues -- same applies to boybands and other
'cheesy' singers-of-ballads.)
-joy
Justin
Okay, I usually lurk, but I'll bite (just like most of the bands here!
Thank you!! Don't forget to tip your waiter!)
> 1) Jars Of Clay (THE most overrated band in CCM history! Wake up people! Dan
> sounds like he's afraid to sing. The musicianship is so simple that a first
> year guitarist could play their songs. They are the most boring band I've
> ever seen play live which, unfortunately, was 3 times. Luckily, I never had
> to pay.)
Overrated? Maybe. I just think they are told by the label to tone it
down to make the CCM crowd happy. I still give them credit for telling
the label to buzz off when Essential told them to do a worship album
because it sold.
> 2) Third Day (boring vocals, boring music, boring songs)
Sadly have to agree. Conpiracy #5 was cool, but I can't stand the
neverending cookie-cutter worship albums.
> 3) Michael W. Smith (hasn't released a decent album since "I 2 Eye" and
> should NEVER be seen holding a guitar - it's an insult to all guitarists.
> "Give Me Love"?...give me a break!)
With the hype this guy is given, how could he not be overrated? No one
can live up to that. He could easily be accused for putting out the
same album for much of the last 10 years, save a few very good songs
(I LIKED Love me good!!)
> 4) Petra (haven't released a decent album since "Beyond Belief" and Schlitt
> doesn't hold a candle to Volz)
Petra meant rock. No more. Schiltt may have the new Sleep-happy Petra,
but Voltz had the old MOR Petra stuff. Besides, no one can live up to
"Lucas McGraw" ;)
> 5) Smalltown Poets (a grammy nomination? should have received a whammy
> nomination for boring songs)
The prototype for sophmore slump. At least they made a 77s classic
known to a larger audience.
> 6) LaRue (grow up and experience life before you write about it, kids)
Nothing personal, just the newest darlings of CCM. Decent pop songs,
but the voices get to me rather quick.
> 7) Caedmon's Call (atrocious vocals; a decent song every once in a while
> that would be much better if sung by a decent artist)
**SIGH** A CCM-ified folk band. They could be so good....
> 8) Jennifer Knapp (bland writing; her last name fits, though: She always
> looks like she never washes her hair)
Sorry, I actually disagree on this one. I don't hear her enough on the
local CCM stations to say she's overrated.
> 9) Audio Adrenaline (These guys are so corny. Orville would be proud.)
Audio A's Some kind of Zombie was great, then it was back to the
Youth-Group band thing. Fortunately they don't rap anymore.
> 10) Plus One (do I really have to say anything else here?)
Sure, but that's like yelling at a cartoon for bad acting. As
BoyBand-itis loses some steam, they'll fade out as well.
Honorable mentions, any of the Inspo-pop groups (Point of Grace,
Avalon, FFH) that are basically the mixed quartet at church with a
budget, and Paul Coleman Trio (it's all been done before, boys).
Thom McGuire
>"Legend1" <leg...@NOSPAM.yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<MmOdnbCEked...@News.GigaNews.Com>...
>> The 10 most overrated artists currently in CCM are:
>
>Okay, I usually lurk, but I'll bite (just like most of the bands here!
>Thank you!! Don't forget to tip your waiter!)
>
>> 2) Third Day (boring vocals, boring music, boring songs)
>Sadly have to agree. Conpiracy #5 was cool, but I can't stand the
>neverending cookie-cutter worship albums.
>
Ok I must interject here having been there at the begining Third day
was signed to Gray Dot for 5 albums PLUS a praise and worship album in
the very begining. They were just fullfilling their contract. look
for new things from these guys as their contract is now up and can be
signed by anyone. My money is on Forefront.
Troy Miller
>
>> 2) Third Day (boring vocals, boring music, boring songs)
> Sadly have to agree. Conpiracy #5 was cool, but I can't stand the
> neverending cookie-cutter worship albums.
I dunno... I know a lot of people here criticize the current "worship
music" trend (including me), but of all the bands jumping on, I don't
think I would single out Third Day. Having been semi-familiar with them
from the beginning (and I'm sure Jerry could back me up on this point, if
not the sentiment), they've *always* had a worship sound to them. I mean,
if you look at "Offerings", much of it is just remakes of songs on their
previous albums. Way back before they were even signed they did worship
songs regularly in concert (witness one of my favorites, their rendition
of "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" from _Live at the Strand_, circa 1992 or
1993 or something).
I'd even go so far as to say they're *good* at it. They're worship songs
are certainly more fun (for me) to sing that a lot of the other worship
stuff around, and is sufficiently simple and catchy that the giant mass of
non-eclectic people can dig it and enjoy it. (In other words, contrast
this to something like The Violet Burning, whose album _I am a
Stranger..._ is one of the best worship albums, IMHO, but is a bit too
esoteric for a lot of people to swallow without some coaxing.)
> Honorable mentions, any of the Inspo-pop groups (Point of Grace,
> Avalon, FFH) that are basically the mixed quartet at church with a
Heh - we were just commenting the other day as an FFH song came on that
all their songs sounded pretty much the same.
Troy
Justin
[snip]
> I dunno... I know a lot of people here criticize the current "worship
> music" trend (including me), but of all the bands jumping on, I don't
> think I would single out Third Day. Having been semi-familiar with them
> from the beginning (and I'm sure Jerry could back me up on this point, if
> not the sentiment), they've *always* had a worship sound to them. I mean,
> if you look at "Offerings", much of it is just remakes of songs on their
> previous albums. Way back before they were even signed they did worship
> songs regularly in concert (witness one of my favorites, their rendition
> of "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" from _Live at the Strand_, circa 1992 or
> 1993 or something).
>
> I'd even go so far as to say they're *good* at it.
[snip]
Yeah, I think so as well. I guess where I may have been a little wrong
(a guy on USENET admitting he may be wrong? Yikes!), is where I lumped
Mac Powell and Third Day as the same thing. It seems I hear a lot of
Mac Powell praise songs with "City on a Hill" or the like and get them
all confused. Even a station around here announced a 3rd Day song as
"Mac Powell" more than once. But even then, I think that many of their
songs sound the same when they get into "worship" mode. So maybe
"modern worship" is overrated more than Third Day, but Third Day gets
caught in the crosshair because of their tendacies...is that better??
;)
Jerry B. Ray, Jr.
TroutHound <trout...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Hey, somebody has to reach out to the hippies. Not too many ccm bands cater
>to stoners. Waterdeep rawks. Have you ever actually listened to their studio
>stuff, Jerry?
Never heard their studio stuff. I was too overcome by the hype (at least
in the circles I hear about music in-here, Cornerstone, etc.) to really
give them a chance anyway, and the underwhelming and annoying show at
Cornerstone pretty much sealed their fate with me. :-)
Jerry B. Ray, Jr.
Troy Miller <yo...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>I dunno... I know a lot of people here criticize the current "worship
>music" trend (including me), but of all the bands jumping on, I don't
>think I would single out Third Day. Having been semi-familiar with them
>from the beginning (and I'm sure Jerry could back me up on this point, if
>not the sentiment), they've *always* had a worship sound to them.
Yeah, they've always done worship stuff as a part of their show. It's just
that the older worship stuff ROCKED (and occasionally included stuff like
U2 covers), whereas the newer worship stuff (and their last album or two)
hasn't really rocked all that much.
But it's unfair to say they're jumping on the bandwagon with the worship
stuff, since they were doing it before it was trendy.
Serra Finsbury
On Tue, 15 Oct 2002 18:55:17 -0500, "Legend1"
<leg...@NOSPAM.yahoo.com> wrote:
>The 10 most overrated artists currently in CCM are:
>
>1) Jars Of Clay (THE most overrated band in CCM history! Wake up people! Dan
>sounds like he's afraid to sing. The musicianship is so simple that a first
>year guitarist could play their songs. They are the most boring band I've
>ever seen play live which, unfortunately, was 3 times. Luckily, I never had
>to pay.)
>2) Third Day (boring vocals, boring music, boring songs)
>3) Michael W. Smith (hasn't released a decent album since "I 2 Eye" and
>should NEVER be seen holding a guitar - it's an insult to all guitarists.
>"Give Me Love"?...give me a break!)
>4) Petra (haven't released a decent album since "Beyond Belief" and Schlitt
>doesn't hold a candle to Volz)
>5) Smalltown Poets (a grammy nomination? should have received a whammy
>nomination for boring songs)
>6) LaRue (grow up and experience life before you write about it, kids)
>7) Caedmon's Call (atrocious vocals; a decent song every once in a while
>that would be much better if sung by a decent artist)
>8) Jennifer Knapp (bland writing; her last name fits, though: She always
>looks like she never washes her hair)
>9) Audio Adrenaline (These guys are so corny. Orville would be proud.)
>10) Plus One (do I really have to say anything else here?)
>
Don Lowe
"Serra Finsbury" <se...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3dc7d607...@news.sunet.com.au...
> Naked Heart!
> On Tue, 15 Oct 2002 18:55:17 -0500, "Legend1"
> <leg...@NOSPAM.yahoo.com> wrote:
> >The 10 most overrated artists currently in CCM are:
> >1) Jars Of Clay (THE most overrated band in CCM history! Wake up people!
Dan
> >sounds like he's afraid to sing. The musicianship is so simple that a
first
> >year guitarist could play their songs. They are the most boring band I've
> >ever seen play live which, unfortunately, was 3 times. Luckily, I never
had
> >to pay.)
They're the most overrated, and yet you went to see them three times?
I suppose a first year guitarist could play them ... if he could figure out
that Jars of Clay use alternate tunings on a LOT of songs, as well as the
capoing of the guitars for different voicings.
> >2) Third Day (boring vocals, boring music, boring songs)
You've never heard Consuming Fire, then.
> >3) Michael W. Smith (hasn't released a decent album since "I 2 Eye" and
> >should NEVER be seen holding a guitar - it's an insult to all guitarists.
> >"Give Me Love"?...give me a break!)
> >4) Petra (haven't released a decent album since "Beyond Belief" and
Schlitt
> >doesn't hold a candle to Volz)
Agreed.
> >5) Smalltown Poets (a grammy nomination? should have received a whammy
> >nomination for boring songs)
Yeah, they received a Grammy for theit second album, Listen Closely. I
thought it was overproduced, dull stuff ... but I like their other two.
> >6) LaRue (grow up and experience life before you write about it, kids)
> >7) Caedmon's Call (atrocious vocals; a decent song every once in a while
> >that would be much better if sung by a decent artist)
Atrocious vocals? Are you kidding? Their three part harmony is really
good, can you think of another Christian band that can harmonize like that?
> >8) Jennifer Knapp (bland writing; her last name fits, though: She always
> >looks like she never washes her hair)
Her first album had good songs, but I've been less impressed on the last two
...
> >9) Audio Adrenaline (These guys are so corny. Orville would be proud.)
> >10) Plus One (do I really have to say anything else here?)
No comment.
Josh Marihugh Neon Pachyderm
> I hope this thread was started in jest, but I'll play along.
SCC. hands down.
i loved his early work, but everything from Great Adventure on has all
sounded the same.
Though "Jesus is Life" is a step in the right direction.
I will be back as much as i can...i don't know that Chotel has a
newsserver, so i'm temporarily away from usenet.
David Bruce Murray
"Josh Marihugh Neon Pachyderm" <pinkel...@signmyband.com> wrote in
message news:b00b784a.02112...@posting.google.com...
>
> SCC. hands down.
>
> i loved his early work, but everything from Great Adventure on has all
> sounded the same.
>
> Though "Jesus is Life" is a step in the right direction.
>
> I will be back as much as i can...i don't know that Chotel has a
> newsserver, so i'm temporarily away from usenet.
The next SCC CD is supposed to be all love songs he wrote for his wife. That
should be a change of pace (though perhaps not the type you'd like).
lifesabirch
> should be a change of pace (though perhaps not the type you'd like).
wow - btwn scc's love fest, mws's worship craze, and ag's hymns - I'm verclempt.
David Bruce Murray
"lifesabirch" <lifes...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:103a5b9.02112...@posting.google.com...
Yeah, I wish all three of them would make a recording in their own style.
Smitty's next CD was supposedly going to be a no hold's barred, mainstream
pop effort, in the tradition of _Go West Young Man_ and _Change Your World_.
Instead, we got another round of live worship that sounds essentially like
50 other CDs that released this year. Grant's hymns CD is OK, but I'd love
to hear another pop project like _Heart In Motion_, _House Of Love_, or a
slightly darker effort like _Lead Me On_. _Behind The Eyes_ was just bad and
boring.
Michael A. Vickers
>Yeah, I wish all three of them would make a recording in their own style.
>Smitty's next CD was supposedly going to be a no hold's barred, mainstream
>pop effort, in the tradition of _Go West Young Man_ and _Change Your World_.
>Instead, we got another round of live worship that sounds essentially like
>50 other CDs that released this year.
What drove that, anyway? I don't follow CCM that closely anymore, and all of
a sudden there is a vertiable flotilla of P&W albums on the market by all
sorts of artists. Not that there's anything wrong with P&W music, but the way
it just all started showing up smacks of record labels being opportunistic.
Michael
Drivin' on my motorbike, Ruth in back of me,
I hit a bump at 75, and went on Ruthlessly.
David Bruce Murray
"Michael A. Vickers" <mavickers(@)kings-x(.)com> wrote in message
news:MPG.184a99767...@news.snet.sbcglobal.net...
> David Bruce Murray [dmurray...@rfci.net] wrote:
>
> >Instead, we got another round of live worship that sounds essentially
like
> >50 other CDs that released this year.
>
> What drove that, anyway?
In Smitty's case, his first worship CD sold successfully and he was touring
it. It wasn't a big deal for him to add some more of the same type of
material and record it at one of his shows. It was a relatively cheap way to
make a CD, especially since he was already on tour anyway.
I don't mind him turning out CDs that can be released quickly. I just wish
it didn't detract from his studio release schedule so much.
> I don't follow CCM that closely anymore, and all of
> a sudden there is a vertiable flotilla of P&W albums on the market by all
> sorts of artists. Not that there's anything wrong with P&W music, but the
way
> it just all started showing up smacks of record labels being
opportunistic.
Definitely. The industry is like a bunch of lemmings, except they don't
manage to kill themselves. Christian music is still on the rise in terms of
sales, from what I hear, even though the music industry as a whole is in
decline. As concept products, worship recordings are bigger than Christmas
recordings right now. By the time an artist gets thru doing all the
recordings they've "always wanted to do," they have little time left to do
more of the stuff that made them popular in the first place. Fans don't seem
to mind, though.
Smitty is a great example of this. He's not only done two Christmas
projects, but also two worship and one instrumental CDs.
Some of the worship bands, like Delirious, actually write original material,
but most otherwise established artists cover existing songs.
Speaking of trends in the industry, did you notice that after one label got
their own N'Sync clone in Plus One, every other major distributor added at
least one boy band? Then several tried to grab the girl band market as well,
and finally we ended up with the atrocious Jump 5 that was two guys and
three girls. If a concept is proven to sell in one area, the Christian music
industry is quickly willing to offer it in every possible variation. They
jumped all over ska a few years ago. Those groups are now either gone or
they've greatly modified their sound.
Jerry B. Ray, Jr.
David Bruce Murray <dmurray...@rfci.net> wrote:
>Definitely. The industry is like a bunch of lemmings, except they don't
>manage to kill themselves. Christian music is still on the rise in terms of
>sales, from what I hear, even though the music industry as a whole is in
>decline. As concept products, worship recordings are bigger than Christmas
>recordings right now. By the time an artist gets thru doing all the
>recordings they've "always wanted to do," they have little time left to do
>more of the stuff that made them popular in the first place. Fans don't seem
>to mind, though.
I mind. I've never heard any P&W music (at least, nothing APPROACHING
"normal" P&W stuff) that I could stand to listen to. I haven't set foot
in a Christian bookstore in a LONG time, since the current P&W fad has
the few remaining Christian bookstore type artists that I really enjoy
making music that I could care less about.
Jason Steiner
> David Bruce Murray [dmurray...@rfci.net] wrote:
> >
> > Yeah, I wish all three of them would make a recording in their
> > own style. Smitty's next CD was supposedly going to be a no
> > hold's barred, mainstream pop effort, in the tradition of _Go
> > West Young Man_ and _Change Your World_. Instead, we got another
> > round of live worship that sounds essentially like 50 other CDs
> > that released this year.
>
> What drove that, anyway? I don't follow CCM that closely anymore,
> and all of a sudden there is a vertiable flotilla of P&W albums on
> the market by all sorts of artists. Not that there's anything wrong
> with P&W music, but the way it just all started showing up smacks
> of record labels being opportunistic.
It makes perfect sense.
In my day there were a lot of people who listened exclusively to
CCM. I haven't been to a youth group in a long time, but I get the
distinct impression that's no longer true. Churches are getting more
liberal all the time, and it would be a difficult restriction to
maintain anyway, given the general pervasiveness of music in every
public place. Christian radio stations have always been pretty bad
about playing anything the kids want to hear, so even kids interested
in CCM would have to listen to mainstream stations and mainstream
music. And once they're doing that they have even less of a reason
to tune into a boring MOR CCM radio station.
So now that a good portion of their market has fled to mainstream
radio and mainstream retailers, what are Christian book stores and
radio stations going to do to distinguish themselves?
Worship music, of course.
They've got the market all to themselves, and as an added bonus, it
reaches a broad age demographic.
jason
--
"Listen, my boy, I can't abide children. I know it's the style nowadays to
make a terrible fuss over you - but I don't go for it. As far as I'm concerned,
they're no good for anything but screaming, torturing people, breaking things,
smearing books with jam and tearing the pages." - The Neverending Story
Gary Bishop
hear on any radio station. Mainly Stephen Curtis Chapman, Point of Grace,
Newsong, and all (100%) of this teen pop crap. The only good bands that
are being played on top 40 Radio, someone earlier pined them as overrated.
NO you wake up. Or I guess you like the teen pop, spears, backstreet boys,
sound alike crap.
Someone wrote:
> >The 10 most overrated artists currently in CCM are:
> >1) Jars Of Clay (THE most overrated band in CCM history! Wake up people!
Dan sounds like he's afraid to sing. The musicianship is so simple that a
first
I reckon you like that vibrato annoying voice that Stacie Orico is known for
(Gosh how I hate her stuff)
> >2) Third Day (boring vocals, boring music, boring songs)
No I don't guess you could come up with a stupid little synchronized dance
with their music. Just the thought of Mac and the boys on stage doing so
make me puke.
> >3) Michael W. Smith (hasn't released a decent album since "I 2 Eye" and
NEVER had a decent album.
> >5) Smalltown Poets (a grammy nomination? should have received a whammy
> >nomination for boring songs)
I agree that their newest album (Third Verse) isn't all that, but their
first two (self titled, Listen Closely) were great.
> >8) Jennifer Knapp (bland writing; her last name fits, though: She always
> >looks like she never washes her hair)
What are you saying! She IS the one bright spot among the over marketed
CCM. Her honesty in her lyrics and her vocals remind me somewhat of Rich
Mullins'. She strikes me as a servant reminiscent of Rich.
>Her first album had good songs, but I've been less impressed on the last
two
All three have been absolutely Great.
> >10) Plus One (do I really have to say anything else here?)
I agree Whole heartedly
David Bruce Murray
"Gary Bishop" <laza...@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
news:uu4iitj...@corp.supernews.com...
> The most overrated groups in CCM are most (99.9%) of the top 40 crap you
now
> hear on any radio station. Mainly Stephen Curtis Chapman, Point of Grace,
> Newsong, and all (100%) of this teen pop crap. The only good bands that
> are being played on top 40 Radio, someone earlier pined them as overrated.
> NO you wake up. Or I guess you like the teen pop, spears, backstreet
boys,
> sound alike crap.
I define "over-rated" as any moderately talented artist that is hyped by a
minority as the greatest artist ever. In some cases, this minority is a
group of rabid, un-discerning or musically uneducated fans. In other cases,
it's record companies and/or radio DJs being encouraged and/or "bribed" to
hype the artist. In other cases, it's a genuine case of a one hit wonder . .
. an artist records one great song and everything else they attempt falls
way short.
Jay
>
>No I don't guess you could come up with a stupid little synchronized dance
>with their music. Just the thought of Mac and the boys on stage doing so
>make me puke.
So, are you saying you like Third Day? I'm in the anti-Third Day camp. I have
never liked their music. Mac's voice is annoying.
>> >3) Michael W. Smith (hasn't released a decent album since "I 2 Eye" and
>
>NEVER had a decent album.
That's totally untrue. I am not a MWS fan, but I can admit that he's put out
some good music.
>> >8) Jennifer Knapp (bland writing; her last name fits, though:
>What are you saying! She IS the one bright spot among the over marketed
>CCM. Her honesty in her lyrics and her vocals remind me somewhat of Rich
>Mullins'. She strikes me as a servant reminiscent of Rich.
>
She had one good song, IMO. I don't find her interesting at all. And throwing
in the Rich Mullins comparison doesn't improve my opinion of her. I was never a
Mullins fan.
Jay
Make me a wish, mind over matter
________________________________________
www.underheaven.com