I recently discovered The CCM Patrol, a Christian music review site “where Christian music is allowed to get bad reviews,” and have been enjoying it immensely. I waver between thinking they’re a bit too harsh, and thinking that this is just the sort of blunt but honest music criticism the Christian music industry (and Christian artists in general) needs. Some of the feature articles, such as a recent one about the need for authentic lyrics in Christian music and another about cringe-worthy love/worship song lyrics, are great.
Giving CCM the bad reviews it (sometimes) deserves
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October 4, 2007 at 18:17
Ha Ha Ha! At last I discover I’m not the only one cringing! The first time I ever sang “One Desire” I sang the words but my mind was thinking, “Whoa! What is this song really saying?” And all this time I’ve felt so horribly perverse because I took the song “that way” – I sincerely thought it was just me…
October 4, 2007 at 20:18
Thank you for that link. What a great site! Nice to see Derek Webb being mentioned, too.
October 8, 2007 at 09:30
I think they miss the heart of the problem with most CCM. It’s spineless, and self focused (Was I too blunt?). While Martin Luther or Charles Wesley wrote about our Mighty Fortress of a God, or a God worthy of a thousand tongues to sing about, songs like “Draw me close” never even mention His name, and could easily convert to a love song sung by any boy-band.
October 8, 2007 at 21:38
At last, christians who dare to think that being a christian doesn’t mean being mediocre? The best quote: “There is good music and there is bad music. Music created by Christians tends to be baptized by the church and the Christian press for simply being Christian.” Wow! Let’s regard singing for our Lord an honor and put out our best for Him! Thanks CCM Patrol for challenging us to “Think”. Please tell me there’s one about christian movies?
October 15, 2007 at 17:52
Where is the line drawn between constructive criticism and destructive ranting. Between honest pleas for something better, and simple and plain meaness.
As a writer for the CCM Patrol these are things I’m constantly thinking about and re-considering. I too think the Patrol can be too harsh, but most of the time I’ve seen comments differing with our coverage the Patrol’s various writers and editors have reacted in a honest attempt to re-think things and be open to music that we’re not terribly excited about.
Timothy Zila
CCM Patrol Contributor
October 16, 2007 at 13:55
My girlfriend and I were having the discussion that there were never any bad reviews of CCM in CCM Magazine, and she went off on me (uh she was one of their main reviewers) saying I never read any of her reviews. But we both agreed that what’s considered the mainstream music scene is putting out much better music with religious overtones then the CCM market. Basically I’m not dying to go to a Newsboys concert when I can go see Iron and Wine but I will pretty much knock all you over for a Over the Rhine concert.