Groove, Move, and Power

Sven MUSIC! Bob

Music contains a power both unexpected and underestimated. Words alone contain power, but when set to sounds and rhythms that peirce the mind, music is a powerful influence. I love music because it is fun, and because it is powerful. I fear it for the same reasons. Too many minds have been scarred, blinded, or numbed by the pervading power of music. You will be affected by music, there is no choice. The choice lies in the way you will be affected, determined by the music you listen to. I choose music that I find to be enjoyable, of good quality, and that encourages traits that I am striving for.

Below you will find the following:

The Best Bands
The Best Songs
The Best Recording Companies
My Musical Philosophy
Music Links

The Best Bands

To see a list of my top five bands, look here.
There are many more wicked awesome bands out there, so check out the
quick list at the bottom of the bands page.

The Best Songs
(song-artist-album)

Worlds Apart - Jars of Clay - Self-titled
Hands in the Air - The Waiting - Self-titled
Beautiful - Plankeye - Commonwealth
Who Loves You More? - Plankeye - Commonwealth
Hitler's Girlfriend - Dime Store Prophets - Love is Against the Grain
Scarred But Smarter - Model Engine - The Lean Years Tradition
I Believe - Prayer Chain - Whirlpool EP
Do I? - Poor Old Lu - Mindsize
Home - Switchfoot - Self-Titled
I'll Give - Small Town Poets - Self-Titled

There are the current Top Ten. Tough Choices - Subject to change.
Check out all those Groovy Bands.

The Best Recording Companies

The Best Recording Company. Without Question.
The best music philosophy, The best bands.
Bands: Dryve (broken-up), Dime Store Prophets (broken-up),
Five Iron Frenzy, Rose Blossom Puch, Model Engine, Echoing Green,
The Electrics, Sherri Youngward

Smaller, but has a great musical focus and very talented bands.
Bands: The Choir, Christine Glass, Between Thieves, Common Children

Bigger name bands, bigger company, but not as cool as the first two.
Still focused and brimming with great bands.
Bands: Grammatrain, Considering Lily, Small Town Poets, Skillet,
Bleach, dc Talk, Audio Adrenaline, Iona, Big Tent Revival,
Geoff Moore and the Distance, Rebecca St. James

My Musical Philosophy

The basis of my musical philosophy stands on the the contrast between ministry and industry. The goal of those who follow Christ is to bring glory to God. He wants it and deserves it. Therefore, Christian Music should be focused on bringing glory to God through music. That is where ministry comes in. Bands and recording companies can bring glory to God by serving as ministries. Examples of how to minister through music are: Write songs that speak truth about God, songs that encourage other believers to grow, songs that bring unbelievers closer to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, using profits to benefit the needy, living lives that reflect Christ and his character. Christians have an obligation to glorify God in whatever they do. Unfortunately, much of Christian music today has moved from ministry to industry. Financial gain has come before God's glory. In other cases the intent has become to glorify the artist rather than God. Advertising that builds the image of the artist rather than God, music oriented at what people want to hear regardless of what they need to hear, are all examples of this ill-focused glory. Christain music needs to refocus on bringing glory to God rather than to man. Christian music needs to be a ministry rather than an industry.
As for secular artists, I obviously do not expect a ministry. I wish only that they recognize the power of their music and the power of their position and act accordingly. Musical Artists have great capability to influence society and I wish that they would influence it in ways that better it. Examples: promoting unity, love, hope, truth, and other such ideas that encourage healthy living. I do not ask that artist ignore difficult or serious issues, I only ask that they would deal with them in a mature way. Music has power. Those who wield it need to reoginze the power they hold and use it responsibly.

Music Links

Here are some groovy little links for all you music lovers out there.
Enjoy.

Bands/Artists

Jars of Clay
Plankeye
Sixpence none the Richer
Poor Old lu
Dime Store Prophets
Dryve
77's
The Waiting
Rose Blossom Punch
Soulfood 76
StarFlyer 59
Five Iron Frenzy

Record Companies

5 Minute Walk
Tattoo Records
Forefront Records
Ardent Records
SubLime Records

Music E-zines

7-Ball Magazine
TLeM
CCM Magazine

Online Stores

Cross Rhythms Music
True Tunes Online
Club Fish
Star Music