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Just 25 Songs From Christian Bands That Are Still Pretty Great

Just 25 Songs From Christian Bands That Are Still Pretty Great

For the first couple decades of its existence, if somebody mentioned Contemporary Christian Music, you knew exactly what they were talking about. For a good while, it was the exact same handful of longhaired California hippies transposing biblical lyrics over Laurel Canyon vibes. A lot of it was actually pretty good, but it wasn’t anything you’d call diverse.

Fast forward a few years, and CCM actually managed to tear down some a lot of those walls. Despite some very well publicized attempts at gatekeeping Christian rock within narrow parameters, a growing number of talented songwriters started exploring new ways to express their faith. Soon, the standard adult contemporary stylings described a small sliver of the type of Christian music being made. There was Christian hardcore, Christian punk, Christian hip-hop, Christian dance, Christian indie …you name it. And, yeah, a lot of it was kind of bad, but a lot of all music is kind of bad. There was a lot of good stuff too, and some of it has held up beautifully.

Not everything on this list falls neatly into the “Christian box,” because Christian music is at its most fun when the people behind it are finding interesting ways to weave faith and art together in a way that doesn’t fit a convenient genre. Some of these will be right up your alley, but they won’t all be your cup of tea. That’s the thing about this era of Christian rock. There’s a little something for everyone.

1. Switchfoot: Learning to Breathe

2. Paper Route: Better Life

3. Stacie Orrico: (There’s Gotta Be) More to Life

4. P.O.D: Southtown

5. DELIRIOUS?: My Glorious

6. Jars of Clay: See the Art in Me

7. Five Iron Frenzy: Every New Day

8. Brave Saint Saturn: Estrella

9. Anberlin: The Feel Good Drag

10. John Mark McMillan: King of My Heart

11. MxPx: Responsibility

12. Andy Mineo: You Can’t Stop Me

13. Plumb: Stranded

14. Kirk Franklin: Revolution

15. Thrice: Open Water

16. Underoath: A Boy Brushed Red Living in Black and White

17. mewithoutYou: In a Sweater Poorly Knit

18. Sixpence None the Richer: Breathe Your Name

19. Relient K: Be My Escape

20. Blindside: Pitiful

21. Thousand Foot Crutch: War of Change

22. Jennifer Knapp: A Little More

23. Lecrae: Don’t Waste Your Life (Featuring Cam)

24. Mutemath: Typical

25. Sleeping at Last: Nine

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