Shaun Groves
Here are twenty of Rolling Stone magazine’s Fifty Best Albums of 2005 list. Did your favorite make the cut?
1. Kanye West, Late Registration
2. The Rolling Stones, A Bigger Bang
3. White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan
4. Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine
5. Bruce Springsteen, Devils and Dust
6. My Morning Jacket, Z
7. Beck, Guero
8. Bright Eyes, I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning
9. Sufjan Stevens, Illinois
10. 50 Cent, The Massacre
11. M.I.A., Arular
12. Sleater-Kinney, The Woods
13. Various Artists, Run the Road
14. Thelonious Monk Quartet With John Coltrane, At Carnegie Hall
15. Gorillaz, Demon Days
16. John Legend, Get Lifted
17. Van Morrison, Magic Time
18. Kings of Leon, Aha Shake Heartbreak
19. The Magic Numbers, The Magic Numbers
20. System of a Down, Mezmerize/Hypnotize
Here’s what’s interesting to me. First, go to iTunes Music Shop and sample a couple songs from all of these albums. Get the gist of what music folks under thirty are listening to. Then go to any Christian radio station on-line or on the dial that makes it their goal to be “reaching young people” with their programming (eg, Air1 or WAY-FM) and listen. (These stations are often labeled “CHR” or “ROCK”) Now compare what you’ve heard. Does one sound anything like the other? Why is that? Is this difference, assuming you heard one, good or bad? Is that difference intentional? Does it serve a purpose? Does an eighteen year-old Christian have different ears than an eighteen year-old agnostic? Are these questions unfair or off base? Do they matter at all? Why or why not? You tell me. I’m just thinking out loud.
James says:
Hi Shaun! First time visitor.
Thanks for White Flag, a truly inspiring and enjoyable CD. (listening right now!)
My thoughts regarding music and youth culture are pretty simple. I really think that the church should be setting the trends. To make that happen the up-and-coming generation is going to have to penetrate the influential urban centers of our country. We need sharp, educated, trend setters with a passion for Christ and a vision for Kingdom dominion through servant leadership. You, Shaun, are a great example for the generation on your heels.
Until then I think it’s stupid to try to fight what’s popular from the outside in. It’s stupid to fight popular trends unless they’re sinful
P.S. My wife, Deea, has been a fan for a long time. If you left a comment on her <A HREF=”http://after-thought.blogspot.com” REL=”nofollow”> with a link to yours she would be very encouraged and a loyal reader! We’re praying for you.
Aho says:
Natalie deasons husband here…
I was happy to find I own 3 of the top 5 and 4 of the top 7, 5 out of the top 20.
The Christian music problem is defnintely a problem but in my opinion the labels solve this problem by following the money.
I have found (in local church ministry and in christain bookstore management, which I have both done) that kids under 30 like to buy the stuff on the radio and see on the cover of Rolling Stone.
Women, who drive mini-vans and take their kids to mothers day out, shop at lifeway and buy Christian music. This why some artists are produced and sell while other, artisticly superior artist are not pushed as hard. It simply the ‘jesus loving’ folks chasing their share of the almighty dollar.
check out my dcb wishlist on my blog for a few more of my veiled complaints about this.
chris