Contemporary Christian Music - Jeffrey Overstreet

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Contemporary Christian Music

A collection of 8 posts

On Movies & Media

Del Toro Wants Puppets to Invade "The Hobbit"; Plus, Andy Whitman on Great Christian Rock Albums

At Arts and Faith, Peter Chattaway comes up with two interesting links on The Hobbit. The first one is an interview, in which Del Toro says things that make me want to cheer. The only thing I will be pushing for more in these films that the other three are

"Christian" is a Bad Adjective

NY Times: Ten Great Christian Rock Songs

It's not hard to demonstrate that Christian rock is often... even usually... cheesy, derivative, and shallow. Much of it sounds like commercials for Jesus rather than artistic endeavor. But there are exceptions, although I'd prefer to take the modifier "Christian" off of those songs

"Christian" is a Bad Adjective

Phil Keaggy Speaks the Truth

Here's a revealing interview with Phil Keaggy, where he's saying some of the things about the Christian music industry that I've been saying at Looking Closer for a decade or more. This is just a piece of that article... Keaggy: I don't

Sufjan Stevens is my new hero.

I liked his Seven Swans album. Then I grew to love it. I liked his Illinois album. These days, I love it more than I can say. The two songs "John Wayne Gacy Jr." and "Casimir Pulaski Day" are better on their own than any other

On Songs & Albums

"Do you dare to gaze into their hollow eyes?"

Looks like the system finally beat them. Looks like they finally did say "die." About 20-or-so years past their prime, Petra is over. If you feel like reminiscing through your tears, go here . P.S. And if you are one of those offended by this post, for the

"Christian" is a Bad Adjective

Is "Illinois" the best "Christian album" of the year?

Sufjan Stevens' new album Illinois is very, very strange. And very, very good. And, judging by the critical response it's getting, it looks like the most highly praised album recorded by a Christian singer/songwriter in many years. (Am I forgetting any similarly celebrated titles?) Check it

"Christian" is a Bad Adjective

What's wrong with CCM? (installment 1,006...)

Kate Bowman is becoming one of the most interesting new voices in the dialogue about faith and art. And I just discovered an interview on her blog, Evangelical Expatriate that had me nodding and even cheering at the insightful observations about "contemporary Christian music."

Josh Hurst calls for closing the doors on CCM

Josh Hurst calls for closing the doors on CCM

[2025 Update: This post is past its expiration date. Some of these links may no longer work due to the cruel realities of the Internet’s impermanence. (If you find a solution to the broken link, let me know.) I’m preserving this post for archival purposes.] Josh Hurst at