Comments about ‘An appeal for some hip LDS music’

I too would love to hear good music from LDS artists, even if it has nothing to do with the gospel. I know there are some extremely talented Mormons out there. Let's hear them.

imo, this isn't a problem of artists, but of distribution. Christian contemporary music is very popular right now and it sounds great. It also gets both mainstream and Christian bookstore distribution and there are christian contemporary radio networks that disseminate the music to the public over the airwaves and are readily accessible. Typically this market, however has shunned mormons because of religious biases.

So the mormons are faced with attempting to distribute through mainstream pop-ish type networks--which means competing with all sorts of garbage that causes most mormons to turn off the radio--or they must attempt to build their own distribution networks. Unfortunately Mormon bookstores like Deseret Book won't distribute anything more exciting than the jamming tunes of that Jenny Oaks Baker Violinist... or Janice Kapp Perry's sizzling classics... There's also the question as to whether a mormon population could support a more popular and modernized music genre, since such genres require a lot of money so that various artists with differing sounds and styles can compete.

Perhaps the internet will alleviate some of this, but for the most part don't expect much for another 100 years.

Most Christian contemporary music is good enough for LDS, if they would put past their fear of evangelicals (not entirely unjustified fear, because they equate mormons to heretics.)

Check out my top faves:
MercyMe, Natalie Grant, Nichole Nordeman, Third Day, Kutless, Mandisa, Matthew West, Building 429, 33 Miles, Brandon Heath, Chris Tomlin, Philips Craig and Dean, Francesca Battistelli, Big Daddy Weave, Avalon, Jeremy Camp, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, BarlowGirl, Bebo Norman, Casting Crowns, Bethany Dillon, Switchfoot, Jars of Clay, Mark Schulz, Lincoln Brewster, Newsboys, Point of Grace, Rebecca StJames, Rush of Fools, Todd Agnew, Salvador, Sanctus Real, TobyMac, Tenth Avenue North, Tree63...

Enjoy, --Ray

What? David Archuleta isn't considered hip?

In the late 80's and early 90's, LDS music was going great. I don't know what happened though. My getting older may have had something to do with it. haha. I have been turned off by much of mainstream Christian music. I personally, don't feel the Spirit with most of it. I count on LDS artists who have the gift of the HG to put out music there that really touches the soul. I do occasionally, though, turn on the local Christian station to find a song that really touches my soul. There is definitely a lot of room for more good LDS artists to come through.

Then theres always the possibility for the need to learn what real, lasting music is, instead of that which lasts for only a few days, weeks, or years. And, really, what kind of music will be in which heaven? Do we want to match our musical tastes with any particular heaven, or does anything really matter concerning our choices of the music that we live with?

About 44 years ago, while in the Manti Temple, I was beat over the head concerning this subject, and it so disturbed me that I didnt record it in my journal; and, it took me six months to understand and accept it.

About 1977, I heard President Benson give a talk at the last devotional at BYU, before summer break, where he challenged the students to listen to the music of Beethoven, Brahms, and Bach, et. al., during the summer and see what they could learn. Yes, I know that was only his opinion; and, really, whatever did he know about such things, and what right did he have to preach about it? How could any of that possibly apply to us today?

I thought the Osmonds and Janice Kapp Perry were cool and hip. I must be living in the past.

My parents will occassionaly buy me "LDS" music for Christmas or my birthday. I try to be respectful and listen to my gifts, but inevitably, I have to turn it off. In my opinion LDS music is really second-rate.

I wish the Killers would release an LDS album, or I wish the missionaries would babtise the group U2. That would solve our music problem.

The soundtrack to "The Singles Ward" is pretty good.

I would love to see clean music that has a pop beat that I can let my ten year old daughter listen to that won't embarrass her in front of her friends. I haven't heard much christian pop that didn't have a religious lyric and at ten that could be ostrisizing.

The Tabernacle Choir's sound is outdated. I have been saying this for years. The Church has a rich and culturally diverse membership. I would like to see some of that reflected in the Tabernacle Choir's music.

music has solid Bibical theology,a couple example: "No doubt we are unspeakably different from him: to the extent all man-like images are false." or "God is pronounced Inexpressible,unthinkable, invisible to all created beings." CS Lewis MIRACLES pp273,274.
A different message than Mormons have,listen at your own risk.

Music is a personal choice. I envision Heaven as a place where there is not just one type of music. I envision Heaven as a place where individuals will be able to enjoy the music that he/she loves.

or the missionaries could baptise Fleetwood Mac. I imagine they could put out some good LDS music.

Watch for Alex Boye's album coming out July 21st. It's not religious music, but will fit with LDS values with R&B and pop style. He's in the Tabernacle choir, but is known for his contemporary R&B style of singing.

I am LDS and have never been a fan of LDS music. It is pretty one-dimensional. I do love music by Handel, especially Handel's Messiah. Too bad he wasn't LDS.

If anyone out there has some legitimate suggestions on some really good LDS themed music, please let me know. I have been trying to find some really good LDS music and have been unsuccessful.

I have never liked organ music, even as a child. I felt guilty for not enjoying the Mormon Tab that my parents used to play on Sundays when I was growing up. It took until I was in college to realize that you don't have to like LDS music to be a good LDS member.

One of my religion professors at BYU told my class that he had never liked the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's music. When he said that, it felt like a tremendous load had been lifted from my back.

I now realize that it doesn't matter in the slightest whether you enjoy Church music or not. You can still be a good member and not like LDS music.

Disclaimer: I have been raised in the Church, served mission, graduated from BYU, temple marriage and I am an active member.

That having been said, I absolutely hate our music. I cringe when I hear it. It is not good. I wish we had more LDS artist making more diverse music for us.

I think the whole point of this article could be summed in in these 5 words:

Mormon music is not good.