My musical journey…
October 24th, 2007 by Justin Meyer | Posted in Announcments, Features
I have been calling a bunch of other worship leaders and asking some of the guys in my bands about their musical journey. Here is mine…
Worship/Christian Music
- Jars of Clay – self-titled: This album is the reason I play acoustic guitar now.
Darrell Evans – Let the River Flow & Deleriou5? – Cutting Edge: These albums made me want to praise God passionately. I spent alot of high school Bible studies singing songs from these albums.
Chris Tomlin – Not to Us: This album was the first album in the Christian market that I feel was produced really well and was similar to the production of pop on the radio. The writing is concise and we have ended up playing almost every song on the album at church.
United Live – My Best Friend: This album came out at the same time all my friends were listening to Blink 182 and the begining of the alternative to indie transition. This album showed me that “praise” music could be punk or more rock and roll.
Switchfoot – The Beautiful Letdown: This album really spoke to me in some difficult times and ended up being the force behind me and my college girlfriend breaking up. The entire album is written so well and lyrically can be summerized in a simple phrase, “this is your life, are you who you want to be?”
- Emery – The Question: This album was the first ‘harder’ Christian music that I listened to because it was so well written and so melodic. It has opened the door for Underoath and other harder bands which I really enjoy now. Also lyrically, they craft alot of spiritual lyrics using sarcasm that I can appreciate.
aside: I never really got into crowder stuff that much. At least not leading it. I really appreciate that it is there, but I really have never enjoyed his stuff that much.
Other albums that have affected me greatly. Damien Rice – O: Weezer – Pinkerton: The Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream: Radiohead – OK Computer: Coldplay – Parachutes: Matt Redman – The Heart of Worship, The Father’s Song: Newsboys – Going Public: Eoghan Heaslip – Mercy & Grace in the Wilderness:
This has been a great excerise for me with my band because I learn where people are coming from. You can read the music I have been into and have a pretty good idea what I sound like or try for. I found that a few of my guys love Blink 182 (which I do not like at all) and that explains a lot of conflict between us. I would encourage you to do this for yourself. It actually can be quiet emotional. I have had some amazing moments around music.
The other benefit that has come from me thinking about this is that I realize that music sometimes feels like a large part of my life, but rarely changes my life for the better. Some of the albums that I love actually have not motivated me to seek the Lord. They have had little lasting effect on my life.
Just a few thoughts. Thanks. -j
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Those albums have all influenced me as well. I’m a big Emery fan.
Justin, It’s good to see people’s music journeys – I think for a lot of people music doesn’t really change their lives, as you said, but is more a reflection of what they are currently going through. I can listen to songs I loved in the past and they bring back memories that help me remember where I’ve been, spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
From the time I was born until about 1989 I primarily listened to my parents’ records of Christian stuff from the 60’s-80’s – Steve Camp, Dallas Holm, The Archers, etc. In the early 90’s when I was developing a musical identity apart from my parents, I discovered Metallica, which really reflected the inner energy I had as a junior high boy – sometimes I just had to get outside and chop a bunch of wood or something just to get that energy out. Grunge happened for a bit (Nirvana, Veruca Salt, Stone Temple Pilots, Silverchair), then in high school everything was punk rock – NOFX, Bad Religion, Vandals, etc. I developed a bit of a “if it’s on the radio it sucks” mentality, which was more rooted in my pride and wanting to be cool than the actual quality of the music. Later in college I got a few lectures on pride from some spiritual mentors and I began to enjoy other genres – heavier stuff such as hardcore, with some other random things thrown in such as Sarah Maclaughlin, Weezer, Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, Sigur Ros, and more recently Feist and Imogen Heap. And believe it or not, in the last year or so I’ve actually been enjoying a lot of top 40 stuff as well.
A little sidenote on the pop stuff – as worship leaders, while we should strive to stay original and different from the norm, we also have to approach our congregations where they are at. 80% of them listen to top 40 radio, if they listen to music at all. There’s a ton of good stuff to be found in the pop and even shudder the country music world! I’m so grateful to my wife for pushing me on this. Don’t get so prideful and self centered that you ignore good music that the rest of your congregation is identifying with, like I did. Go listen to some Timbaland stuff and see what you think.
Anyway, here are a few albums that have influenced me over the years:
Steve Camp – “After God’s Own Heart” – From 1985, a lot of really intense theology and some great (for the 80’s) energetic epic music. This was the first album I really connected with after I was saved, and helped to build a lot of convictions in my life. Many of these songs’s lyrics still come to my mind in pressure situations.
Veruca Salt – “American Thighs” – two lead vocalists, interesting harmonies, and incredible melodies, with a raw garage band quality. This was around the junior high/early high school introverted yet full of energy faze of my life, and I think a lot of these songs really reflect that aspect of my life.
Smashing Pumpkins – “Siamese Dream” – I love this album for the distortion and thick layered guitars. Especially on “Rocket.” “Cherub Rock” has some amazing energy. Another inner rage “expression.”
Toad The Wet Sprocket – “Dulcinea” – I love this album for Glen Philips’ melodies. “Fly From Heaven” has a great melody and the guitar tone is incredible. “Crowing” and “Something’s Always Wrong” are the other two standout tracks on this cd.
Killswitch Engage – “Alive Or Just Breathing” – A secular band, but with spiritual overtones – metalcore, quite heavy, with an interesting combination of screaming vocals with melodic choruses. My favorite aspect of this album is the desperate energy – there’s a sense of urgency that is communicated, basically a “what are you doing with this life – does your life count?” type of thing. Favorite tracks are “My Last Serenade” and “Rise Inside.”
Skillet – “Ardent Worship” – I saw Skillet live right around this time. John Cooper’s ability to draw his audience in from the first note of the first song blew me away. This was a turning point in my stage presence, worship song arrangements and overall stage setup for my worship teams. “Angels Fall Down” live was absolutely incredible. I like the use of semi-instrumental tracks on this CD to facilitate contemplation as well as build energy, such as on “We’re Thirsty” and the instrumental in the middle of “Sing To The Lord.”
[...] Comment on My musical journey… by Travis Swan …then in high school everything was punk rock – NOFX, Bad Religion, Vandals, etc. I developed … Many of these songs’s lyrics still come to my [...]
[...] Comment on My musical journey… by Comment on My musical journey…… …then in high school everything was punk rock – NOFX, Bad Religion, Vandals, etc. I developed … Many of these songs’s lyrics still come… [...]
[...] Comment on My musical journey… by Comment on My musical journey… …in high school everything was punk rock – NOFX, Bad Religion, Vandals, etc. I developed … Many of these songs’s lyrics still come… […] [...]
[...] My musical journey… – Cutting Edge: These albums made me want to … album came out at the same time all my friends were listening to Blink 182 and the begining of the [...]
[...] Comment on My musical journey… by My musical journey… …journey… – Cutting Edge: These albums made me want to … album came out at the same time all my friends were listening to Blink 182 and the… [...]
[...] Comment on My musical journey… by Comment on My musical journey…… …journey… – Cutting Edge: These albums made me want to … album came out at the same time all my friends were listening to Blink 182 and… [...]
pertaining to creating, It’s actually just what I needed about ask. The idea is much rather hear ideas coming from somebody, in lieu of a corporate and business site, which is why I like weblogs so much. Thanks!