I think I like last month's format, and I'll continue it until I think of something better --or if I get it suggested to me. Part one will be the stuff I heard but haven't yet bought, and part two will be stuff I bought, and can reference again and again. Hopefully, the bought-stuff will consistently feature most of the 4s and 5s.
The Others
Amy Grant: Powerful, and relatively gimmick-free vocals. Too heavy on the keyboard-effects [3]; Rebecca St. James: Album shows breathy, pouty, and lots more stylized vocals than her radio-stuff. Just on the acceptable edge of the stereotype. [3]; Michael English: Slurred, cliche, warbled, nasal vocals with electric keyboard-driven soft '80s style --nearly epitomizes the stereotype of mushy CCM. [low-2]; OK, I'll admit it! I checked out a Gaithers CD. It was really quite good. I found myself singing along with quite a few of them. Since they're Southern Gospel, I can't really give 'em a "3" which means I'd play 'em on my radio station if I picked the music, but not buy 'em for my personal collection. So, on a technicality, The Gaithers only get a "2".
Heard:
- Thousand Foot Krutch: Great heavy rockers, but it'd be nice if they'd sing more and scream-rap less. I don't know if it's close, but my old conception of Beastie Boys came to mind. As heavy rap goes, this is quite tolerable. [3]
- Living Sacrifice: Just another Christian death metal band. The vocals, growled as they are, are actually close to understandable without reading the printed material. [3]
- Stavesacre: Heavy rockers. Instrumentals sound similar to Grammatrain and vocals show strong Ozzy flavors at times. [4]
- Project 86: Heavies. Great instrumentals. WTU: Rapcore. The difference between the terms, "vocalist" and "singer" hit me while listening to Project 86. Despite the scream/yell rap, I still liked 'em --at least a little. [4]
- B.O.B. (Bunch of Believers): Fun ska. --Really fun ska! [5]
Bought:
- Amy Morriss: Amy's on the interesting side of stereotypical CCM. She's got a low alto voice with faint hints of warble/slur/breathiness. [4]
- Crooked Smile: Alternative [4]
- Joy Electric: techno-pop --imagine Kraftwerk as a lighter pop band. It's a fun sound, but the lyrics are a bit iffy for the label of "Christian". [4]
- Klank: If Klank is typical of "industrial" music, I think industrial's a sort I might look more deeply into. Heavy, electronic, almost death-metal vocals, but they're understandable, at least with the lyrics to read. [4]
- Sarah Jahn: IAW the Encyclopedia (see numerous references throughout this topic), Sarah's got a sound similar to Jewel or Sarah McLachlin, or alterna-folk. I'd call her jazz/folk rock. She's got a very low (contra-alto?) voice, and it's nearly fault-free. [4]
- Tenderfoot: heavy rock with punk-flavored vocals. [4]
- The W's: Big band/Swing, with a bit of Rockabilly mixed in. Really fun music, and pulse-building. [5]
- Scarecrow and Tinmen: Alternative/Power pop, diverse, somewhere between Audio Adrenaline or Newsboys. I heard sounds reminiscent of: Newsboys' harmonies, Donovan, Larry Norman, DC Talk, and even Beatles. Lots of retro-sounds. Strong message, and not shy about their Christianity. [5]
Amy Grant: Powerful, and relatively gimmick-free vocals. Too heavy on the keyboard-effects [3]; Rebecca St. James: Album shows breathy, pouty, and lots more stylized vocals than her radio-stuff. Just on the acceptable edge of the stereotype. [3]; Michael English: Slurred, cliche, warbled, nasal vocals with electric keyboard-driven soft '80s style --nearly epitomizes the stereotype of mushy CCM. [low-2]; OK, I'll admit it! I checked out a Gaithers CD. It was really quite good. I found myself singing along with quite a few of them. Since they're Southern Gospel, I can't really give 'em a "3" which means I'd play 'em on my radio station if I picked the music, but not buy 'em for my personal collection. So, on a technicality, The Gaithers only get a "2".
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