Atheist Music?

[Mister Pervert]

Christians are probably kicking themselves these days that they ever called rock and roll "the Devil's music" - Elvis Presley dressed in a straw hat and checked shirt singing "Wooden Heart" is about the furtherest thing I can think of from Ozzie Osbourne or Marilyn Manson in full-on, Satanic mode.

Christian music itself runs the gamut from Bach Chorales to limp-wristed metal hair band imitations; Buddhists have gamelan and those monks that can do that weird singing thing - singing two notes at the same time (freaky and more "Satanic" sounding than Osbourne and Manson combined!) Muslims have their own versions of sacred music; Hindus their music, etc.

But what about atheists? I suppose you could look to the post-modernist minimalists such as Steve Reich but this is as much a hybrid of various Eastern spiritual ideas as anything that stands out uniquely as something that might identify as "atheist" music.

Just curious here, guys (and gals). I personally enjoy a very ecclectic , wide range of musical styles and don't embrace or avoid things purely because of religious connections or lack thereof. A recording of "Come To Jesus" sung by teenagers strumming acoustic guitars is avoided not because of the content but because it sounds like crap - crap that doesn't even benefit from any humor, such as might be heard in a Shaggs song like "My Pal Foot Foot"



In other random thoughts, there is some debate in academic circles as to whether or not Beethoven was an atheist. If I can find the paper I read recently (stumbled across it, actually) I'll post more on that.

[SchizoDeluxe]

I find music that is anti-establishment tend to be on the atheist side. A lot of metal bands like Slayer and Exodus are anti-religious and are atheists and there's a lot in 60's and 70's folk and classic rock and punk rock that have an atheist outlook. On the flip side, a majority of pop, hip hop and r&b tend to be more religious or spiritual in their music. Coincidence?

[Mister Pervert]

Originally Posted by SchizoDeluxe

I find music that is anti-establishment tend to be on the atheist side. A lot of metal bands like Slayer and Exodus are anti-religious and are atheists and there's a lot in 60's and 70's folk and classic rock and punk rock that have an atheist outlook. On the flip side, a majority of pop, hip hop and r&b tend to be more religious or spiritual in their music. Coincidence?

Punk Rock generally, and Sex Pistols specifically - a "musical Taliban".

[SinisterDexter]

I am very eclectic in my tastes, although I can pinpoint most of my proclivities in a past singing in choirs.

I love sacred motets (William Byrd and Durufle are two favourites), although probably my favourite piece of choral music in this style is not overtly religious at all - a setting of text from The Tempest by Shakespeare by Raph Vaughan-Williams - The Cloud Capp'd Towers.

In terms of popular music I tend to enjoy music with either a strong lyrical lead, an interesting harmonic or instrumental mix or lyrics that speak to me. Examples of the first would be george (although I find Katie Noonan's recent stuff is much too self indulgent), Darren Hanlon, Jet, Neil Finn and Kate Miller-Heidke. The second is artists like Ben Folds, The Cat Empire, Watussi, Jamiroquai and No Doubt (also not fussed with Stefani's recent offerings). The third would generally be individual songs rather than artists - Falling Aeroplanes (Darren Hanlon), Imagine (Lennon), Deja Vu (Something for Kate), etc.

I also have a penchant for the ridiculous that probably trumps the others. Two groups strping to mind that are examples of this. The first, the Oxo Cubans are somewhat obscure. But the second is probably my most favourite band of all time - They Might Be Giants (the singer George Hrab, who does Far for the IYA 365 days of astronomy podcast sounds very very much like them). I've always said that the song I want played at my funeral is Exquisit Dead Guy by TMBG.

Also love jazz, especially big, live, bold jazz with international or ethnic overtones and a brass section with balls.

Unfortunately, unlike most atheists and wargamers (two groups that make up my self-identifying cliches), I do not get in to metal. Never have. I just don't get it (sorry).

[Mister Pervert]

Originally Posted by SinisterDexter

Also love jazz, especially big, live, bold jazz with international or ethnic overtones and a brass section with balls.

Now we're talkin'!

Lalo Schifrin is probably my favorite composer and his best album is, for me, "The Cat" with Jimmy Smith.

Another favorite album is "Time Stood Still" by Bob Moses. It's a great fusion of kick-ass big band with African drum loops.

For something more offbeat, a band from the early 70s called CCS (Collective Consciousness Society). Kind of English prog rock fused with jazz horns. They did some great arrangements of Led Zep (Whole Lotta Love) and other great rock tunes. Similar in many ways to Blood Sweat & Tears (the first album) for its sheer raw power.

[Mister Pervert]

Originally Posted by The Irreverent Mr Black

CCS was sort-of helmed by Alexis Korner, a seminal figure in Brit jazz and blues.

Ayup! One and the same.

[Mister Pervert]

Originally Posted by LapsedAtheist

Punk Rock generally, and Sex Pistols specifically - a "musical Taliban".

Self-quoting here, but here's an idea I've floated (with varying degrees of success) in the past: punk rock, as exemplified by the Sex Pistols, is a kind of musical fundamentalism every bit as stupid and ignorant as fundamentalist Christianity.

It's not to argue that Sex Pistols band members were responsible, but they - that is, the band - became the "icons" (religious overtones intended) of a musical idiocy that continues to this day. An idiot audience convinced the Sex Pistols were a kind of sign of a "musical rapture". Why? Because they preached the truth of "one true chord" (and the trinity of a three-chord rock philosophy) and if music was any more complex than that, it was frikken' "science".

So yeah... reply interrupted many times..more to say later.

[SinisterDexter]

Originally Posted by LapsedAtheist

Now we're talkin'!

Lalo Schifrin is probably my favorite composer and his best album is, for me, "The Cat" with Jimmy Smith.

Another favorite album is "Time Stood Still" by Bob Moses. It's a great fusion of kick-ass big band with African drum loops.

For something more offbeat, a band from the early 70s called CCS (Collective Consciousness Society). Kind of English prog rock fused with jazz horns. They did some great arrangements of Led Zep (Whole Lotta Love) and other great rock tunes. Similar in many ways to Blood Sweat & Tears (the first album) for its sheer raw power.

Sadly, I can't claim any degree of artist-knowledge, I just know it when I hear the music. The only two I know of that I like are Los Cabrones and Doch. Both are discoveries from my years attending Womad and unfortunately I have not been able to see either since. The biggest problem with appreciating this kind of music is that it is mind-blowingly excellent live, and insipid when recorded.

[Mister Pervert]

Originally Posted by SinisterDexter

The biggest problem with appreciating this kind of music is that it is mind-blowingly excellent live, and insipid when recorded.

You fundamentalist, you!

[SchizoDeluxe]

Originally Posted by LapsedAtheist

Self-quoting here, but here's an idea I've floated (with varying degrees of success) in the past: punk rock, as exemplified by the Sex Pistols, is a kind of musical fundamentalism every bit as stupid and ignorant as fundamentalist Christianity.

It's not to argue that Sex Pistols band members were responsible, but they - that is, the band - became the "icons" (religious overtones intended) of a musical idiocy that continues to this day. An idiot audience convinced the Sex Pistols were a kind of sign of a "musical rapture". Why? Because they preached the truth of "one true chord" (and the trinity of a three-chord rock philosophy) and if music was any more complex than that, it was frikken' "science".

So yeah... reply interrupted many times..more to say later.

The sex pistols are overrated and nowhere near the originators or even pioneers of punk rock, they just took a genre and made it obscene and offensive for the sake of getting attention and causing trouble, not unlike some of the so called "pop rock" bands of today. True punk rock lies in bands like the stooges, black flag and the ramones. But I do get what your saying about the whole worship thing though, and they certaintly weren't the only ones who receive that kind of response either. Some of the so called "greatest bands on earth" were the most overrated ones and part of that was the whole worship thing. Like religion, all the sheep just gather around because it's what they have been told to do.