Atheist Rock: A Folk Phenomenon?

Subject: Atheist Rock: A Folk Phenomenon?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 08:22 PM

Not MY idea this time! But seriously, since so many folk are now post-religious, is there a place for this as a music movement and does it have to be Rock?

Subject: RE: Atheist Rock: A Folk Phenomenon?
From: Don Firth
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 08:28 PM

What would the hymns be like?

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Atheist Rock: A Folk Phenomenon?
From: Bee
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 08:35 PM

As Pharyngula's commenters have rightly pointed out, if it hasn't been labelled 'Christian' Rock, it's likely secular, what else is needed?

Same goes for any genre, some of it is specifically religious in nature and the rest mostly is not.

Silly idea, IMO.

There's actually a young guy who tried to make it recently as an 'Atheist Rap Artist'. The rap was lame, the people he hung out with were really lame, plus they may have ripped him off (they certainly tried to exploit him), he ended up poking one of 'em in the mouth, and the whole thing went to - uh - atheist hell in a handbasket, whilst no one bought his CDs. Very sad, really.

You can't force music to go in some direction you choose. It's either going there or not.

Subject: RE: Atheist Rock: A Folk Phenomenon?
From: bankley
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 09:04 AM

" Hymns and Hers "

okay how about polytheistic metal ? 'Thor's Hammer' stuff like that, but I believe there's a few Euro bands into it already... praise be to Odin

Subject: RE: Atheist Rock: A Folk Phenomenon?
From: Marje
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 09:13 AM

Chris Wood has written a splendid "Atheist Spiritual" which was performed by Martin Simpson in the BBC Folk Prom.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KiVdtEWkqD0

Marje

Subject: RE: Atheist Rock: A Folk Phenomenon?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 09:19 AM

"Don't turn your back on a Christian,
There's no tellin' what he might do,
Don't turn your back on a Christian,
He's the kind that will double-cross you."

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Atheist Rock: A Folk Phenomenon?
From: john f weldon
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 09:21 AM

This is the Marje post, properly clickified:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KiVdtEWkqD0

I posted this ages ago:
Old Rugged Hammer

and am reposting just to NOT be confused with the aforementioned metal "Thor's Hammer."
They are creepy.
I am wholesome.

Subject: RE: Atheist Rock: A Folk Phenomenon?
From: john f weldon
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 09:27 AM

How about "Losing Faith" by Montreal's own marvellous "Notre Dame de Grass"? It's on their CD; can't find it on the web. Great song!

Subject: RE: Atheist Rock: A Folk Phenomenon?
From: Marje
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 09:29 AM

Thanks for the clickification, John. I did try, honest, but it doesn't always work. Perhaps God (or possibly Satan) has put a gremlin in the link.

Marje

Subject: RE: Atheist Rock: A Folk Phenomenon?
From: Jayto
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 09:53 AM

I think spiritual is a rather blank term. It doesn't have to mean Christian even though it usually does. There is a market for aethistic music but it has to be real. True beliefs I think will carry it in a song just like any other belief system. If you do though as a gimmick I think you will crash and burn. Most times gimmicks are just drawn from stereotypes and not personal exoerience and thought. If the person doing this type of writing has actually put some in depth thought and analysis into the subject I don't see why it wouldn't fit into any format. The aethist rapper thing is a little weird thought for me. I mean alot of modern music revolves around Non-Christian imagery and mentality so I don't see the shock value on that one. The same way I don't see any shock from Thor's Hammer. There is a big difference between shock and making a case for your belief. I listen to all kinds of music just about every style you can think of. I see this as a common theme in alot of styles. Sometimes it is aggresive and in your face but others it is subtle and you have to think about what they are saying. So I don't see why it wouldn't work.

Subject: RE: Atheist Rock: A Folk Phenomenon?
From: bankley
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 09:53 AM

John f , that is an absolute blast ! laffed my ass off.... thanx..

Subject: RE: Atheist Rock: A Folk Phenomenon?
From: john f weldon
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 10:02 AM

Bankley - Thanks! A compliment indeed, especially when it comes from such a talented performer as yourself!
_jfw

Subject: RE: Atheist Rock: A Folk Phenomenon?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 01:27 PM

Losing my Religion, isn't that an REM tune?

Subject: RE: Atheist Rock: A Folk Phenomenon?
From: M.Ted
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 01:59 PM

Yes, it's an REM tune, but it's not about religion. Here is a useful websiteAtheist Music Guide Not a lot of folk in it, but it's fun.

Curiously, a lot of the Christian Metalheads seem to really like NIN and Marilyn Manson--I asked my daughter, who knows about such things, and she says that about hypocrisy, which none of them seem to like--