Top Ten Underrated Albums in Christian Rock

For this post, I want to discuss some of the most underrated and overlooked albums in Christian rock. Some of these records were overlooked because of band break ups, some had distribution issues, while others simply did not get the recognition that they deserved. This list is completely subjective, every album and piece of criteria was created by me. Below, I listed the main criteria that I used to determine these ten albums. Even though I tried to stick to each of these standards, there are a few exceptions on my list.

1. Greatness. An album cannot be labeled underrated, unless it was a truly great record.

2. Recognition. Did an album get recognition in awards and honors, or was it overlooked? If it was overlooked, then a record could be viewed as underrated.

3. Album Sales. This is definitely not the most important criteria, but I think it needs to be mentioned. If an album sold millions and millions of copies, can it really be labeled underrated? I say no.

4. Popularity. To be underrated, I don't think an album can be one of the most popular Christian rock albums of all time.

5. Major Christian Label. I felt like these albums needed to stay within the scope of major labels. The possibilities are endless for underrated independent albums and bands, so I only chose albums that were on a major Christian label.

6. I have a vast knowledge of the history of Christian rock, but I rarely listen to Christian music before the 1990s. Each of these albums was released in the last 20 years.

10.  Ardent Worship – Skillet (2000)

Top Tracks – Your Name is Holy, Angels Fall Down, Shout to the Lord

Skillet is currently at the forefront of Christian music.  Their last two albums have gone gold while also producing two gold singles.  Skillet started out as a grunge rock group in the 90s, before turning to the genres of electronic and hard rock later in their career.  Stuck between these different genres was a small, live worship album.  Skillet has had a few worship songs throughout their career, but Ardent Worship is an entire album of worship music from Skillet.  With huge worship anthems like "Shout to the Lord" and "Angels Fall Down," Skillet proved that they can not only rock, but they also can perform powerful worship songs.

9.  Last Chance to Breathe – Spoken (2005)
Top Tracks – Bitter Taste, From the Inside, 4^th Street

Spoken has been around for a long time; they have released six albums since 1997 and had a very short stint on Tooth and Nail Records.  With an emocore/hardcore sound alongside very unique vocals, Last Chance to Breathe was a joy to listen to.  "Bitter Taste" is still one of my all time favorite screamo songs, and the group even recorded a pretty good cover of "Time After Time."  However, most people simply can’t get past the lead vocals.  Matt Baird’s high pitched, almost whiny vocals are an acquired taste and take a little getting used to.  But, if you enjoy unique vocals and a hardcore sound, you definitely want to pick up this overlooked album.

8.  On A Search in America – Dizmas (2005) 

Top Tracks – Let This One Stay, Redemption, Passion, Glory, Saturday

Dizmas had a very short career.  They were first signed to Credential Recordings in 2005.  After three years, an amazing debut, a sophomore album flop, and a greatest hits album, Dizmas’ short career was over.  Between their short career and their awful second album, Dizmas’ debut has somehow gotten lost in the shuffle.  On A Search in America is definitely a rock record.  The beginning of the album features blazing guitars and heavy metal screams.  By the end of the record, Dizmas has completely changed gears to punk and a brief stint of pop rock.  Dizmas repeatedly jumps around in different genres on this record, and by the end it proves to be a strong suit of the group. 

7.  Vices – Dead Poetic (2006)

Top Tracks – Narcotic, Paralytic, Vices

I had been a huge fan of Dead Poetic up until their hiatus in 2008.  For Vices, the group ditched their hardcore sound and transitioned into a newer, fast paced rock and roll style.  The transition could have been filled with misses and bumps in the road, but Dead Poetic pulled it off flawlessly.  Brandon Rike’s flawless vocals blended together perfectly with the group’s newfound rock style.  Shortly after the release of this album, Dead Poetic disbanded, and fans were never really given a chance to latch on to Vices.  

6.  Supernatural – DC Talk (1998) 

Top Tracks – Into Jesus, Supernatural, Consume Me

Even though Supernatural went platinum in 2002, I still think this is an underrated album.  I contribute most of Supernatural’s success to its predecessor Jesus Freak.  Jesus Freak is easily in the top five most important Christian albums of all time.  If Supernatural had been a total flop from DC Talk, I still think the album would’ve received record sales numbers because of the popularity of Jesus Freak.  On that note, I actually think Supernatural is DC Talk’s best album of their career.  Jesus Freak definitely had the hits, but DC Talk was flawless on this record.  Supernatural completely erased DC Talk’s old sound and ushered in their very short era of rock music.  This was also the last album from DC Talk before they separated.  When people think of the career of DC Talk, most of them instantly think of Jesus Freak.  But, I truly believe Supernatural should be in the conversation of DC Talk’s greatest albums. 

5.  Say It Loud – Sanctus Real (2002)

Top Tracks – Say It Loud, All I Want, Nothing to Lose

With their contemporary pop sound, Sanctus Real has become a major success on Christian radio.  However, few know or recognize them for their early rock roots.  Their first two albums and especially their debut album, Say It Loud, are fun, infectious rock records.  For any fan of rock music, Sanctus Real’s debut is a must have.  Sanctus Real has not received the recognition they deserve for their widely overlooked rock roots.  I am still hoping that they will one day return to the sound of Say It Loud.

4.  The End is Not the End – House of Heroes (2008)

Top Tracks – Lose Control, In the Valley of the Dying Sun, Sooner or Later

I believe House of Heroes’ third album, The End is Not the End, was largely overlooked because of distribution issues.  House of Heroes finished the album in 2008, but it wasn’t released to stores until 2009.  A loose concept album, The End is Not the End is based around World War II themes.  From killing another soldier to marrying a Communist woman, this is definitely one of the most unique albums in the last ten years.  In between the numerous World War themes, the music of each song compliments the lyrics and vocals, without overpowering or becoming lost in the background.  House of Heroes is a very special and talented group, and this underrated album is by far their best release.   

3.  Love Liberty Disco – Newsboys (1999)

Top Tracks – Beautiful Sound, Love Liberty Disco, Everyone’s Someone

The success of the Newsboys speaks for itself.  Since their formation, the Newsboys have sold over seven million records, released 15 full length albums, performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, received four Grammy nominations, and they have been inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.  With all their success, you might be surprised that the Newsboys have an underrated album.  This record is the only one in their career that deviates from their normal, pop rock sound.  Love Liberty Disco features multiple ballads, while throwing in some upbeat, almost disco sounding tunes.  In the late 90s, the Newsboys dominated Christian music.  They were at the height of their career.  This album was a huge leap of faith for the Newsboys.   To release an album drastically different from their normal pop was definitely risky.  Neither the Newsboys nor the Christian music community knew what to do with this record.

2.  The Everglow – Mae (2005)

Top Tracks – Someone Else’s Arms, Suspension, The Everglow

This alternative group sadly broke up in 2011 after a ten year career.  Throughout their time as a band, Mae released three full length albums alongside numerous EPs, but none of them compared to the greatness of The Everglow.  While listening to the album and reading through the accompanying lyric book, the listener is instantly thrust into a music experience.  To fully embrace The Everglow, one must listen from track one all the way to track 15.  From fast tempo rock songs to the piano driven ballads, this album has it all.  

1.  Children 18:3 – Children 18:3 (2008)

Top Tracks – LCM, Search Warrant, Homemade Valentine

Fueled by goth make-up, dual vocals and raucous punk rock, this debut from the Hostetter siblings blew me away.  By playing together for nine years before they released this debut album, these three siblings have the maturity level and sound of seasoned music veterans, not of a debut band. This record took me completely by surprise, and it could even be labeled as perfection.  To this day, I am still shocked at how many people have not heard the music of Children 18:3.  They are quietly taking the Christian punk world by storm and definitely deserve more attention.

I hope you enjoyed this look at ten albums that I think deserve more recognition.  

Side Projects

For those not familiar with side projects, they are musical endeavors in which an artist creates new music apart from their original band.  Side projects are a great way for musicians to play and explore other types of music and genres.  Some side projects prove to be very popular and beneficial financially, while others are simply created for the love of art.  For this post, I want to share a few of the newer and more popular side projects in Christian music today. 

The Almost

For a couple of years now, The Almost has been one of the most popular side projects in Christian rock.  The alternative project was created by Aaron Gillespie, while he was still the drummer and back up vocalist for the screamo group Underoath.  The Almost has released two full length albums, Southern Weather and Monster Monster, as well as two EPs.  Southern Weather debuted at number 39 on the Billboard charts and received multiple spins on MTV.  In 2010, Gillespie announced that he was leaving Underoath and joining The Almost full time.  Here is arguably the band’s most popular song to date, Say This Sooner.

FM Static

This band is a side project of Trevor McNevan and Steve Augustine from Thousand Foot Krutch.  Since 2003, FM Static has rarely toured, but the duo has released four albums on Tooth and Nail Records.  Drastically different from the hard rock style of Thousand Foot Krutch, FM Static is easily described as Top 40, pop punk. Their third record was arguably one of the more unique Christian rock albums of the last 10 years.  Dear Diary was a concept album about a teenage boy who chronicled the hardships of life through his diary.  Below, is the first song on the album, titled Boy Moves to a New Town with an Optimistic Outlook.

Jason Dunn (Formerly Lights Go Down)

This side project was quite shocking to most fans of Christian punk music. What started as an idea for a side project in 2010, Lights Go Down slowly escalated into a full time solo project in 2012, when Jason Dunn announced that he was leaving Hawk Nelson. Nothing has been said about his debut solo record nor has a release date been announced. Dunn has released the title of his solo album, Abandon Progress, along with some acoustic videos. Just like The Almost, Lights Go Down began as a simple side project that ultimately turned into a new musical direction. Below is a mashup of Someone Like You and 36 Days.




Vocal Few

Vocal Few is a new project created by husband and wife Matt and Kristie MacDonald. Matt MacDonald is the lead vocalist for the independent rock group The Classic Crime. According to the group’s Facebook page, the idea of Vocal Few was born out of a positive pregnancy test. The group’s debut EP not only helped to pay for the MacDonald’s new child, but it also allowed the couple to create music together for the first time. The EP, She’ll Be Right, features vocals from Matt and Christie, as well as a heavy use of keyboards and acoustic guitar. Here is a lyric video for their song, Every Second. This song is a great reminder that every second in our life counts.




Side projects have long been described as just another creative outlet for musicians and artists. Some projects have received national popularity while others simply served as an extra cash flow. These projects have always offered the listener great experiences and new musical genres from their favorite artists. If you are a fan of side projects, here are few more that you can check out.


Anchor and Braille – Stephen Christian of Anberlin
Carrollhood – Nathan Young of Anberlin and Tim McTague of Underoath
The Brothers Martin – Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric and Jason Martin of Starflyer 59
The Drawing Room – Joel Bruyere of Thousand Foot Krutch
Matt Thiessen and the Earthquakes – Matt Thiessen of Relient K

The Death of Album Art

With the advancement of digital music and online sales, album artwork is a dying breed.  Some experts are predicting that consumers will soon only be able to purchase music digitally, and that physical copies of albums will not be available anywhere.  With predictions of record labels moving to selling only digital copies in the next five years or less, one can safely assume that album artwork will slowly fade away.

I grew up in the compact disc age of music.  I remember when I first started getting into Christian rock.  I had to buy most to all of my albums online.  There wasn’t a big record store or a Christian bookstore close to my house where I could buy music.  Many times my purchasing decisions were based on two things:  an album cover and what I knew about a given band. 

I love buying physical copies of albums.  I do have an iPod and I regularly buy music on iTunes.  But, for my favorite artists, I always purchase a physical copy of their work.  I know I have stood by cds longer than most.  Maybe I am old school, but I love having something to hold in my hands while experiencing music.  I think there is something powerful and nostalgic about physical albums.  I love getting a brand new cd in the mail, listening through the entire record, reading the lyrics, and studying the album art.  I even read the Thank You notes in the back.  To me, buying and listening to music is an experience.  Physical copies of albums are a great way to help me digest new music, and really sink my teeth into it.

A band’s artwork has the potential to tell a story right alongside the music.  Not only can music be creative, but the album artwork can be equally as creative and compelling.  Graphic artists and musicians have the power to really make an album come full circle with unique artwork, a creative layout, and professional photographs.  Bands and artists have so much freedom and creativity in how they choose to lay out their physical albums.  Where are you going to place the lyrics?  Are you going to have photos of the band?  Are you going to use other people or models in the photos?  Are you going to create graphics that tell a story alongside the lyrics?  There are so many questions that bands can tackle within album layout and artwork.

Music will never die.  It doesn’t matter if it’s in a physical or digital form, music will always be around for enjoyment.  But, the one thing that digital music will destroy is album art.  Yes, some albums let you download the art or see the album cover.  But, let’s be honest.  Who actually looks at it?  Who looks at an album cover on their iPod or looks at a downloadable PDF file of the artwork.  Even me, who loves to dissect the album art, doesn’t even do that.  Don’t get me wrong, I am not arguing against digital music.  With our huge advancements in technology, digital music is the next logical step from compact discs.  Just like cds were an upgrade from cassette tapes and tapes were an advancement from records, digital music is the next technological step.  But, when music fully turns to the digital format, musicians and artists will lose their creative artwork.  Maybe, in the future someone will think of a way to share artwork besides a small PDF file of the album cover.  With all the advances in technology, who knows?  

  

I will embrace the new digital format.  It may take me longer than most, but I will learn to love digital music.  It’s obvious that this is where the musical world is headed.  However, I will miss the experience of an album, the experience of studying the music, the lyrics, and the art.  I am looking forward to the new age of music, but cds will always be my music medium of choice.  

Top Anticipated Albums in 2012

2011 is over and it’s time to take a look at another year of music. This list is my top ten anticipated projects for 2012.

 10. Nine Lashes

Nine Lashes is poised to release World We View on February 14. Discovered by Trevor McNevan of Thousand Foot Krutch, the group’s debut album on Tooth and Nail Records will feature a modern rock sound reminiscent of 12 Stones and Decyfer Down. The band’s first single, “Anthem of the Lonely,” has already been very successful on Christian rock radio, including a peak at number one on a couple of different charts. With guest vocals from Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter, this album will be a must have for any hard rock fan.

 

 
9.  The Letter Black

I was a big fan of The Letter Black’s debut album.  I loved the dual vocals between Sarah and Mark Anthony, and “Believe” is still one of my all time favorite songs.  Two years after the release of their debut, The Letter Black is gearing up for their sophomore record.  According to Sarah Anthony, this record will be heavier than their first.  “We are going to still have some songs like “Hanging On By a Thread,” that everybody loves.  But, we are going a little bit heavier like “Wounded,” with a little bit more screaming here and there.”

8.  Demon Hunter

Not only will Demon Hunter be releasing a new album in 2012, but this year also serves as the tenth anniversary of the band.  It has been ten years since the release of their debut self titled record.  Even though Demon Hunter has seen a couple of member changes over the last couple of years, it’s still safe to predict nothing short of greatness from this metal juggernaut.  While you are waiting for some new metal music, you can check out Demon Hunter’s latest video for “LifeWar.”  It will blow your mind.  

7.  Children 18:3

Coming in at number seven is the punk rock siblings from Minnesota.  With two great punk albums under their belt, Children 18:3 is returning for arguably their most important record to date.  They are easily one of the best bands on Tooth and Nail Records, and their first two albums will be tough to top.  Little to no information has been released about the new album, but you can check out some studio updates from the band on YouTube.

6.  Worth Dying For

One year after the release of their album, Love Riot, Worth Dying For is returning with a brand new live album.  Featuring ten new tracks and some fan favorites off their previous record, Worth Dying For will be bringing back their usual rock worship style.  So far, Worth Dying For has released two songs.  The group released a music video of “The World Can’t Take It Away,” and they released a live version of “Savior” on Itunes.  With a live sound and a couple of new vocalists, this worship record will definitely be one to pick up.

5.  House of Heroes

I truly believe that House of Heroes is the most underrated band in Christian rock music today.  Each new album and each new concept idea brings another fresh take to this alternative rock group.  Their self titled album was almost flawless, The End is Not the End blew me away, and Suburba was another rocking album.  For House of Heroes’ next record, lead vocalist Tim Skipper has already announced that they have 21 completed songs.  Obviously, not all of these songs will make it on the next record, but if House of Heroes has that many songs to choose from, this could be another flawless album.

4.  David Crowder Band

This new album will definitely be a bittersweet moment for the Christian music community.  Give Us Rest or (A Requiem Mass in C [The Happiest of All Keys]) will be their final album as a band. After numerous records and addictive worship hits like: “Foreverandever Etc…,” “Come Awake,” “Open Skies,” “No One Like You” and “SMS (Shine),” I will be sad to see this band leave.  With an astonishing 34 songs on their final album, the David Crowder Band will be leaving the music industry not with a whimper, but with a bang.

 3.  Flyleaf

With heavy hitting rock anthems, meaningful lyrics and an occasional scream by Lacey Mosley, this group knows how to make great music.  If you haven’t heard either of their first two albums, you should drop everything and go listen to them right now.  They are that talented.  So far, their new album has been almost shrouded in secrecy.  Flyleaf has entered the studio to work on some new tunes, but no word yet on when new music will be released.

2.  Thousand Foot Krutch

Late in 2011, Thousand Foot Krutch decided to leave Tooth and Nail Records and pave the way as an independent band.  Trusting in their very loyal fans, TFK launched a Kickstarter campaign to help with production costs.  Within a day, the band raised its goal of 40,000 dollars, and to date the group has raised over 100,000 dollars.  As a thank you to fans, Thousand Foot Krutch released a brand new song from their new record entitled “War of Change.”  Stylistically, this song brings back some old school Thousand Foot Krutch with a mixture of hard rock and even a little rap.  After hearing the first song off The End is Where We Begin, this record will be a definite competitor for album of the year.

1.  Skillet

My number one pick is Skillet.  A lot has happened since the release of their latest album, Awake, in 2009.  The group had an explosion of popularity and had to replace long time guitarist Ben Kasica.  Even though it is still way too early to know anything about their new record, many questions still arise.  Is Skillet going to change up their sound like previous records, or are they going to stick to their latest hard rock formula that has gained them so much popularity?  Also, will new guitarist Seth Morrison make an impact on the style or sound of the group?  Finally, what can fans expect from the vocals?  Will Jen Ledger or Korey Cooper add some extra vocals to the new album?  Since it is still early, we will have to wait for these questions to be answered.  But, panheads can rejoice because 2012 marks another Skillet album release.

Overall, here is my list of ten albums that I cannot wait to buy in 2012. Here are a few more bands to look out for. These groups will also be releasing new music in 2012.

Manafest

Kutless

The Almost

Write this Down

Fireflight

Stellar Kart

Sent By Ravens

P.O.D.