Earthsuit and religion in music

[crunchee]

I'm a little surprised he's never heard of any of the Earthsuit bands though..

you say that like it's a bad thing.  i heard an earthsuit song and much of the mutemath stuff, and they all suck.  it's great to see christians copy something different than  the mercy me/daughtry/coldplay, but they just weren't that good.  and their whole we're-not-really-a-christian-band thing pisses me off.  you guys are a christian band and you play cornerstone.  shut up.

[Uncle Pete]

I'm a little surprised he's never heard of any of the Earthsuit bands though..

you say that like it's a bad thing.  i heard an earthsuit song and much of the mutemath stuff, and they all suck.  it's great to see christians copy something different than  the mercy me/daughtry/coldplay, but they just weren't that good.  and their whole we're-not-really-a-christian-band thing pisses me off.  you guys are a christian band and you play cornerstone.  shut up.

ok, that was really annoying to read. Im an avid fan of Earthsuit and related bands, and really, thats your opinion if you like them or not, but crap, they don't want to be labeled as a christian band anymore for a reason. They've been screwed over too many times in the christian market and they dont want that again. Plus, its really hhard to get a christian message to nonbelievers unless you can identify with them. Not too many nonchridtians go out looking for the newest Christian band to jam to or anything.

[crunchee]

ok, that was really annoying to read. Im an avid fan of Earthsuit and related bands, and really, thats your opinion if you like them or not, but crap, they don't want to be labeled as a christian band anymore for a reason. They've been screwed over too many times in the christian market and they dont want that again. Plus, its really hhard to get a christian message to nonbelievers unless you can identify with them. Not too many nonchridtians go out looking for the newest Christian band to jam to or anything.

this is ridiculous, for a few reasons.

1.  unless you just say that your beliefs are personal and you don't inject them into your songs, christian bands who try to hide their religious affiliation lose their credibility in the mainstream.  you can't say that we're just christians in a band and expect the world to be okay with that.  besides, you're just being dishonest with yourself and your fans.

2.  everyone in the christian market has been screwed over by the christian market, and they should've known that before they got started.  it's not like terry taylor or mike roe complaining about things; they were in the market before it had a reputation of being bad.  i refuse to send demo's to christian labels because i already know what's in store for me.

3.  mutemath's music is a watered-down combination of sting and numerous party/dance/british rock bands.  and if you've seen their live show, they just look pretentious, like bright eyes or something.

if you like them for their music, whatever.  (there is certainly better stuff out there.  but if you were to peer into my collection, i'm sure you'd find plenty of eric champions, steely dans, u2's and beach boys to disagree with.)  but don't defend them because of their stance in/against the christian market.  it's childish and trite.  sorry.

[Zelönka 22]

i heard an earthsuit song and much of the mutemath stuff, and they all suck.  it's great to see christians copy something different than  the mercy me/daughtry/coldplay, but they just weren't that good.  and their whole we're-not-really-a-christian-band thing pisses me off.  you guys are a christian band and you play cornerstone.  shut up.

Heh. I didn't like Mute Math at all first few times I heard it - And I too thought it just sounded like another pop-rock boy band. Listen to it a few times more and I'm sure you'll see what's so great about it.
Same goes with Macrosick and Club of the Sons. At first I thought "We Never Started" sounded completely gay. Hah. And it took me some time to see what was so great about Club of the Sons.
Unless you'd rather call them by similarities with other bands and just trash their music

And they're not a "Christian band" because they don't make songs with "Christian lyrics" such as "Jesus! I want to follow thee! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus Jesus" (..and so on).
I don't know where you got the idea that they deny their Christianity, but seriously, look into their lyrics..

Mute Math is the greatest band I've ever seen live. You should see them.


Now let's not get too carried away here guys.
Start a new thread if you want a big discussion on it.

[crunchee]

And they're not a "Christian band" because they don't make songs with "Christian lyrics" such as "Jesus! I want to follow thee! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus Jesus" (..and so on).
I don't know where you got the idea that they deny their Christianity, but seriously, look into their lyrics..

Mute Math is the greatest band I've ever seen live. You should see them.

if your band has christians, you're a christian band.  that label just means whatever you want it to mean.  starflyer is a christian band, but they're obviously world's apart from crap like third day and big daddy weave.

and i have seen mutemath.

[unhappybirthday]

if your band has christians, you're a christian band.

That doesn't make any sense. Does a band containing buddhist band members make it a buddhist band? What about Low? The members are morman....does that make Low a morman band? 

good lord 

[Metaphizzle]

i heard an earthsuit song and much of the mutemath stuff, and they all suck. 

Out of morbid curiousity, which Earthsuit song was it you heard?

A word of explanation about the Earthsuit love here: this board is a spinoff of the Earthsuit Legacy forum. The founding members of the board (Stephen, Jono, and decade child) all came from there.

(On the other hand, I came here from the Joy Electric board. I mostly just lurked there.)

[Uncle Pete]

I came from there too :3

in fact i was like the ninth member here?


before i lost the url >_>

[grandeped]

That doesn't make any sense. Does a band containing buddhist band members make it a buddhist band? What about Low? The members are morman....does that make Low a morman band? 

Actually, I have heard of a Buddhist band.  Also, a Muslim rock band, a Vedic metal band, you name the religion and style, there is probably a ____ band out there somewhere.   People do it all the time.  I even used to listen to a band called "Killer Dwarfs" that every thought was a band of all people under five feet tall.  But they weren't.  People will find all kinds of ways to put labels on music based on musical style or lyrical content (or both), and then bands will fight against any label they get because, well, who knows why half the time.

[Zelönka 22]

if your band has christians, you're a christian band.

That doesn't make any sense. Does a band containing buddhist band members make it a buddhist band? What about Low? The members are morman....does that make Low a morman band? 

good lord 

So.. if a band has members of all sorts of religions including Christianity, would that be considered a "Christian" band?

And what about a band who sings of or to Jesus but has their drummer who is actually an Athiest? Is that a "Christian" band?

[unhappybirthday]

Actually, I have heard of a Buddhist band.  Also, a Muslim rock band, a Vedic metal band, you name the religion and style, there is probably a ____ band out there somewhere.   People do it all the time.  I even used to listen to a band called "Killer Dwarfs" that every thought was a band of all people under five feet tall.  But they weren't.  People will find all kinds of ways to put labels on music based on musical style or lyrical content (or both), and then bands will fight against any label they get because, well, who knows why half the time.

My point was not to say that such bands do not exist. Rather, one's religious affiliation does not mean that their job is going to be of the same affiliation.

So.. if a band has members of all sorts of religions including Christianity, would that be considered a "Christian" band?

And what about a band who sings of or to Jesus but has their drummer who is actually an Athiest? Is that a "Christian" band?

You're asking me? It sounds like you're making the same case.

[Uncle Pete]

So.. if a band has members of all sorts of religions including Christianity, would that be considered a "Christian" band?

And what about a band who sings of or to Jesus but has their drummer who is actually an Athiest? Is that a "Christian" band?

You're asking me? It sounds like you're making the same case.

no, he was asking crunchee..XD

[crunchee]

look, guys, if a band is made of christians and writes like they are (regardless of how well they do it, avoiding cliches of mainstream christian music), then they're a christian band.  most people shun that label because they think that it makes them a christian industry band.  and most fans of those bands are outraged when their favorite band is labeled as such because they think it pigeonholes them.

the christian label does not limit an artist.  an artist limits an artist, so don't worry about how you're labeled.  some truly great albums have been made by christians in the christian market.  doppelganger, perfecta, sin disease, 88, strip cycle, delicate fade, gold, lovelife, and further quickly come to mind as records that clearly measure up against "secular" records. 

don't listen to it because it's better than the rest of the christian market, dig it because it's good and because you like it.

[Zelönka 22]

unhappybirthday- No, just continuing your point even further. 

look, guys, if a band is made of christians and writes like they are (regardless of how well they do it, avoiding cliches of mainstream christian music), then they're a christian band.

Not once has Mute Math said or hinted of anything Christian related in their music. The closest they ever came was "You Are Mine", and that does not say anything about Christianity, God, or any Christian-like writing.
From a Christian perspective, and knowing that the band is made up of Christians from a previous Christian band, it doesn't take long to figure out that chances are, the song is about God. However, nowhere does Mute Math actually claim it to be about anything other than what they say in the lyrics - it is a piece of art. You cannot say that nature is proof that God exists, no matter how much you may believe that. It is just a piece of art. One will see it from your perspective, another will not.
Labeling a band as "Christian" though nowhere in their music is Christianity found is a serious law matter.

the christian label does not limit an artist.  an artist limits an artist, so don't worry about how you're labeled.

An artist limits himself by signing to a Christian label - unless that artist only makes music for Christians.

records that clearly measure up against "secular" records.

No doubt. But take notice how much smaller the Christian music industry is - and think about how much trust is (or should be) between one Christian and another. I'm not gonna go as far as saying "It's Christian, it must be good!", but a band labled as "Christian" is definitely a plus for Christians and therefor sale rates.
There are definitely some respected Christian bands out there like Underoath, P.O.D., and Switchfoot.

don't listen to it because it's better than the rest of the christian market, dig it because it's good and because you like it.

Exactly! - Mute Math!
(but if that's what you really believe, why would you have an opinion on them trying to stay away from the Christian label?)


crunchee, I'd like you to answer these two if you could:

So.. if a band has members of all sorts of religions including Christianity, would that be considered a "Christian" band?

And what about a band who sings of or to Jesus but has their drummer who is actually an Atheist? Is that a "Christian" band?

[Joyflyer 59]

Since we're playing the "We're not Christians, we're just Christians in a band" game, I've had some thoughts on this for a while:
These guys have a job.  Their occupation is that of a musician. 
I'm a high school math teacher.  I'm a Christian.  I teach in a public (secular) school. 
Should I be expected to teach in a private Christian/Catholic school just because I'm a Christian? 
Is it O.K. for me to teach a non-Christ focused brand of mathematics in a non-Christ focused setting? 
Is it O.K. for Christians to write and make a non-Christ focused brand of music in a non-Christ focused setting?

Some bands I choose to support because I like their music and I know that the band members are believers. 
Just like if I knew a mechanic from my church, I might bring my car into him or I might call a construction worker from my church to put an addition onto my house.  I choose to support other believers in whatever it is that they do.  (As it is, I don't think my mechanic is a Christian, I'm just saying I might choose to financially support other believers over "secular" mechanics.)