The Music in My Head
I went to Wal-Mart earlier tonight to pick up a new soundcard for this old computer. It needs it, because I don’t have a PCI soundcard for it. As I wandered through the Electronics department, I stopped by and picked up a Collective Soul CD.
As I checked out, it made me think again … most of my music is of a Christian nature. I’ve had friends ask me about this before. I guess my answer to their question of, “Why would you limit yourself?” is this: while I may be musically limiting my tastes, I recognize the power that music holds over me. If I have positive lyrics stuck in my head, that’s good for me. If I have negative lyrics, that’s not so good.
I am one of those people who has music in their head most of the time. If all is quiet around me, some lyric, or beat, or melody, or guitar line will come to mind. [Now that I'm playing the harmonica, I even think in harmonica chord progressions.] I want that to be positive. I have enough negative influences in my life–some of them of my choosing, some of them of society’s–that I don’t need any more.
Of course, I do tire of “thinking about God all the time”. It’s little wonder, then, that two of my favorite Christian bands are Caedmon’s Call and Dog Named David, both of whom understand that life can be lived in praise of God without ever having to utter His name. 
I have always had secular music around me until about 2 years ago. A friend of mine who I was around a lot introduced me to a couple Christian artists who I really liked. So I started buying more. I still haven’t heard of Dog Named David.
But what I do know is that when I listen to Christian music I am much more positive, happy,…I have more peace about me. My problem is finding the artists that I like. There’s a lot of mediocre stuff out there.
November 26th, 2001 at 16:55There’s a reason you haven’t heard of Dog Named David: they’re on an independent label and really only play in the Southeast, especially Alabama.
DND’s Web site is, predictably, dognameddavid.com.
To what bands do you currently listen, Allison? I will agree with you that there are plenty of mediocre Christian bands, but I feel like there are a lot of mediocre secular bands as well. I can give some ideas for bands if I know what your [or anyone else's] listening preferences are.
If you’re into folk-style music, I really recommend the selections at GrassrootsMusic.com. Kirby Trapolino and his colleagues haven’t disappointed me yet.
November 26th, 2001 at 17:55I wish I could sample some Dog Named David as well as other stuff at grassrootsmusic.com. The only stuff I’m into now is Third Day, Jen Knapp, Chris Rice, Watermark, one or two Ginny Owens, Sonic Flood, Passion, Mercy Me, Darrel Evans, and a few others I can’t think of right now.
November 26th, 2001 at 21:20Actually, when I was looking at Grassroots last night, they had some .ram samples of DND. I figure they do a few for each disc that they sell. It sold me on buying one or both of DND’s studio albums just for interest, although Acoustic Canine is the one to get to start off with, for sure.
You might look into Bebo Norman, Sandra McCracken, and Vigilantes of Love, too, Allison.
November 27th, 2001 at 10:58