An appeal for some hip LDS music

OK, I have a confession to make.

Sometimes, when I'm alone in my car late at night and feeling lonely, I pull over and rummage through the glove compartment for my fix.

My heart skips a beat the instant my fingertips find it. I frantically pull it from its well-worn case and examine it for scratches. Then, before too much time passes, I stick it in the CD player.

The car is filled with upbeat, poppy drum loops and cheesy late-'90s vocals, bringing a familiar comfort to my troubled soul.

Yes, I, McKay Coppins, listen to EFY music.

Not all the time, mind you. Mostly just on Sundays when I don't feel like listening to my Mormon Tabernacle Choir CD for the five hundredth time.

But that brings me to my point.

Where is the hip LDS music?

While serving a mission in Dallas, I was introduced to the wide and varied world of Christian rock. Say what you will about Baptists and Evangelicals, but there's no denying they know how to rock out. In fact, their pious riffs and melodies expand to every genre from indie rock to boy band pop.

I know Mormon musicians are trying, and I know I should be patient, but you can only listen to the \"Remember the Promise\" soundtrack so many times before you start to get antsy. Is there nothing out there that I wouldn't be embarrassed to listen to with my non-Mormon friends?

For the record, that question wasn't rhetorical. I really want to know. I've been encouraged by some of the more recent work from Peter Breinholt, but I'm still not satisfied.

Part of the problem, I think, is that I'm not really willing to search through all the albums at Deseret Book in order to find the real gems. I'm sure there's some decently hip music out there, but I need your help. Post comments on the Deseret News Web site or send me an e-mail. If I find anything good, I'll be sure to let you know.

And if not, then I'm announcing a call to arms to all Mormon musicians out there. I don't care if it's indie folk or just a really good country album. I'm flexible at this point. I just know I'm not the only young single adult out there who wishes there was more non-cheesy LDS music available.