April 9, 2010

Shh ... There's Christian Rock Music in Rock Band


On April 6th, the Rock Band Network released a new handful of tracks for the Rock Band iteration of music games.  They are:

Anberlin - "Feel Good Drag" (I REALLY want to play this one!!!)
Switchfoot - "Meant to Live"
Thousand Foot Krutch - "Fire It Up"
Skillet - "Monster"
Superchick - "Stand in the Rain"
Hawk Nelson - "Live Life Loud"

What they don't mention is the fact that these artists are typically labeled as Christian artists.  And the fact that each one of them was released at the same time, it couldn't have been a coincidence that the game developers didn't realize.  Is this because Easter was this week?  That's where my money would go (as well as to the Rock Band Network ... if I owned Rock Band, that is).

This isn't actually the first time "Christian" bands have been featured in the annals of Rock Band's catalog.  GameBuddy, in the comment section of Kotaku's treatment of the unmentioned Christian connection between the tracks, lists Kutless, Underoath, and Demon Hunter, among others, as already purchasable.  Personally, I've played Kutless' "The Feeling" and it's got some crazy difficulty!  A lot of people instantly label Christian rock as lame, preachy and altogether lacking of any rock quality.  Makes me sad, but it's no surprise that Rock Band's developers haven't brought focus to the "Christian band" descriptor; it's often treated like a bad smell that people want to avoid.

But major kudos to Harmonix, MTV Games and EA for appreciating these tracks for what they are aside from songs from Christian bands: great rock songs!  These songs rock!  Anberlin and Underoath are two of my favorite bands and have an unquestionable rock mentality (videos of my two favorite songs of theirs, Anberlin's being their new Rock Band track, are provided if you continue reading, just because I love them so).  It's unfortunate that people don't give them a chance, expecting "Christian bands" always to be preaching about Christ and to have a message.

The difference more people should understand is that many of the best Christian bands out there aren't necessarily on Christian labels or are trying to win souls to Christ with every lyric, or even label themselves as Christian bands but a rock band composed of Christian artists.  Honestly, I would prefer them to be more outspoken about their faith in ways other than the Thank You section of their album booklet, but that's between them and God above.  I believe that they're at least doing what God has led them to do and lead examples of Christian living in their daily lives and in their performances.  I was front row when Anberlin came to town on October 2nd, 2008 (ironically, I'm wearing the shirt I wore to their concert today!) and it was amazing!  The performance was loud, jumping, rocking, and there was just a great vibe to the show and they were down-to-earth guys afterward, thankful that I had come!  I say this because these "Christian bands" may not be explicitly vocal about their Christianity, but their good music and performances are reaching a lot of people and providing positivity amidst the rampantly dark atmosphere that "cool" mainstream rock exudes.

But we're here for video games, and I'm just excited that these tracks are offered, for both my own pleasure and that others can maybe hear them for the first time.  I hope both Rock Band and Guitar Hero continue to offer similar tracks and maybe even track packs to cater to the Christian market as well as support good ole rock 'n roll.  But until it might become more popular, Guitar Praise will be the go-to game for the most Christian rock offerings (and they offer Stryper!!!).

"TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL" WOULD HAVE BEEN AWESOME AT THE END OF GUITAR HERO 3

So what do you think?  Should there be more "rock bands composed of Christians" featured in secular music games today?  Do you think they belong?

And if you continue reading below, enjoy Anberlin's "Feel Good Drag" and Underoath's "In Regards to Myself" music videos.  If they aren't rock, then I don't know what is.



Anberlin - "Feel Good Drag"
 

Underoath - "In Regards to Myself (Live)"
Can't find the actual music video to embed

4 comments:

  1. That picture of Stryper is SO FUNNY! You must be just as bored at work as I am to write two posts in one day.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Isn't it? They're awesome so I guess we can forgive them, right?

    And work ... yeah ... not a whole lot, uh ... going on.

    Thanks for reading, babe :) Makes you wanna play some Guitar Hero, huh?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Stryper! The guy second from the left must be the bashful one.

    I noticed they were putting those bands on rockband the other day and thought it peculiar. I thought,"Those guys are christian, right?" Good for them.

    ReplyDelete
  4. LOL!!! Bashful, that's awesome.

    I guess if you had to name the Strypers in that picture in Spice Girl fashion, they'd be Playful Strype, Bashful Strype, Emo Strype, and Wyld Strype.

    ReplyDelete