Mutemath is Christian rock? Crap!
Story by:
Justin Ward
At Lollapalooza 2006, I caught a large portion of the Mutemath set — a band that I had never heard of at the time — and I friggin’ loved it! Imagine my surprise when I read that they’re actually a Christian rock band.
Or wait…are they?
It seems that they’re fighting the label on this but unfortunate damage has surely already occurred. Their Wikipedia page states that they’ve even sued their label for this type of accidental misrepresentation.
Did I miss all the references to the capital “He?” Could they be singing to Jesus and not me? Argh!
The story always continues, though.
If Mutemath had been billed and marketed as a Christian contemporary band, a genre with a largely evangelical listenership, it isn’t likely that they would’ve been able to produce the songs in their discography that most directly contend with faith, such as “Burden” from their 2009 album, “Armistice,” with lyrics like: “The devil is not the nature that is around us/but the nature that is within us all”; or “Blood Pressure,” a song that is essentially about being a Christian disappointment, with its lyric, “Why can’t you do a little more for Jesus?”; or the depressive slow jam, “Pins and Needles,” which confesses, “I’m growing fond of broken people/as I realize I am one of them.” Ironically, those songs are very much about spiritual beliefs, but they’re dark and not particularly worshipful, penitent or uplifting, which disqualifies them, among many listeners, as part of the lyrical tradition of Christian music. [Washington Post]
Why does it actually scare me that I’ve got Bible verses quoted on a post about a band that might be Christian rock? I’m shutting comments down; this s*** is getting weird…
Why does it actually scare me that I’ve got Bible verses quoted on a post about a band that might be Christian rock? I’m shutting comments down; this s*** is getting weird…
Mark 8:38
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Mark 8:38
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Mute Math reveals to those of us the truth of a deeper side of God and helps us to see that He will not be placed in a box. There are many facets to His character and Mute Maths’ music is a great awakener to us all, Christian or not. God is not boring. This music is different because God is different. He is a fiery,passionate,jealously and at the same time exceedingly loving God and He will not stop pursuing us. Thanks.
Mute Math reveals to those of us the truth of a deeper side of God and helps us to see that He will not be placed in a box. There are many facets to His character and Mute Maths’ music is a great awakener to us all, Christian or not. God is not boring. This music is different because God is different. He is a fiery,passionate,jealously and at the same time exceedingly loving God and He will not stop pursuing us. Thanks.
Ha.. I’m a Christian.. and I feel the same way about Christian Rock.. So.. no hard feelings.. Sucks that their having to fight this label issue.. I’m dyin’ for the 26th.. My buddy somehow was able to talk them into free Chiropractic work.. So he’s had this album for free for about 2-3 months…. These guys are sick..
Ha.. I’m a Christian.. and I feel the same way about Christian Rock.. So.. no hard feelings.. Sucks that their having to fight this label issue.. I’m dyin’ for the 26th.. My buddy somehow was able to talk them into free Chiropractic work.. So he’s had this album for free for about 2-3 months…. These guys are sick..
Can no one on this thread take a friggin’ joke?
To me, it’s comical that this band is labeled Christian Rock because to me, they aren’t. The whole purposes of this blog post was to posit to the audience, “why did I miss this?”
Comparing a band I like to having a lesbian friend in high school? Yeah, I was dead serious. Sorry for all the closemindedness. Yeesh.
Can no one on this thread take a friggin’ joke?
To me, it’s comical that this band is labeled Christian Rock because to me, they aren’t. The whole purposes of this blog post was to posit to the audience, “why did I miss this?”
Comparing a band I like to having a lesbian friend in high school? Yeah, I was dead serious. Sorry for all the closemindedness. Yeesh.
Wow what a double standard. An ex-girlfriend can turn out to be a lesbian and that’s o.k., but for someone to turn out to be a christian, there’s something wrong. And people think that I’m close minded because of my spiritual bend. When will open minded all inclusiveness include christianity.
Wow what a double standard. An ex-girlfriend can turn out to be a lesbian and that’s o.k., but for someone to turn out to be a christian, there’s something wrong. And people think that I’m close minded because of my spiritual bend. When will open minded all inclusiveness include christianity.
I think that it is incredibly ignorant that someone would contemplate
seriously not liking a band because of their spiritual beliefs, even though you really enjoy the music. That’s similar to my brother who quit listening to a certain band when they started to support a cer political canidate. Does it change the way the music makes you feel? Obviously, you liked them……
As a last note, I wonder if you found out that they were satanists, or Buddhists, would you have the same reaction? Not everyband that are christians are trying to cram their beliefs down your throat.
And people say that christians are close minded……..
I think that it is incredibly ignorant that someone would contemplate
seriously not liking a band because of their spiritual beliefs, even though you really enjoy the music. That’s similar to my brother who quit listening to a certain band when they started to support a cer political canidate. Does it change the way the music makes you feel? Obviously, you liked them……
As a last note, I wonder if you found out that they were satanists, or Buddhists, would you have the same reaction? Not everyband that are christians are trying to cram their beliefs down your throat.
And people say that christians are close minded……..
Well said Aaron :)
Well said Aaron :)
Mute Math did not sign on to a Christian label. They signed on to Warner Bros. Records and WB decided to market them through “Word”, a sub-section of WB that markets specifically to the Christian audience. The members of Mute Math never wanted this. They’re the victims of a marketing scheme.
Fortunately, their lawsuit against WB has resulted in a contract that will no longer restrict them in this way, although it did mean their debut album got sidetracked for about a year. But it will get its true national release on September 26th.
As for the lyrics, if they don’t seem to be obviously Christian-themed, then there’s really no reason you shouldn’t be able to enjoy them. Like most good lyricists, their lyrics don’t have any one meaning. They’re vague enough to resonate with you on whatever level you feel.
Mute Math did not sign on to a Christian label. They signed on to Warner Bros. Records and WB decided to market them through “Word”, a sub-section of WB that markets specifically to the Christian audience. The members of Mute Math never wanted this. They’re the victims of a marketing scheme.
Fortunately, their lawsuit against WB has resulted in a contract that will no longer restrict them in this way, although it did mean their debut album got sidetracked for about a year. But it will get its true national release on September 26th.
As for the lyrics, if they don’t seem to be obviously Christian-themed, then there’s really no reason you shouldn’t be able to enjoy them. Like most good lyricists, their lyrics don’t have any one meaning. They’re vague enough to resonate with you on whatever level you feel.
Not to be picky, but Mute Math are actually a band whose members are Christian.
I think you need to ask yourself “did I enjoy the band?” If the answer is “Yes”, then what difference does it make whether they are Christians and what their songs are about. If you enjoyed the music, those things should be secondary.
And Justin: why is Christian rock wrong? Are Christians not allowed to enjoy rock music or something?
Honestly, as a music fan, these guys are probably the best band I’ve come across this year, Christian or otherwise.
Not to be picky, but Mute Math are actually a band whose members are Christian.
I think you need to ask yourself “did I enjoy the band?” If the answer is “Yes”, then what difference does it make whether they are Christians and what their songs are about. If you enjoyed the music, those things should be secondary.
And Justin: why is Christian rock wrong? Are Christians not allowed to enjoy rock music or something?
Honestly, as a music fan, these guys are probably the best band I’ve come across this year, Christian or otherwise.
If loving Mute Math even though their Christian rock is wrong…honestly, I guess I don’t want to be right. These guys rule…
If loving Mute Math even though their Christian rock is wrong…honestly, I guess I don’t want to be right. These guys rule…
Yes MuteMath is a christian band. Sorry to here that you don’t like that.
Yes MuteMath is a christian band. Sorry to here that you don’t like that.
Wow…I must have been standing right next to you at Lolla.
One of the bands that wasn’t hard to enjoy up close.
Good stuff, had no idea about the Christian label.
Wow…I must have been standing right next to you at Lolla.
One of the bands that wasn’t hard to enjoy up close.
Good stuff, had no idea about the Christian label.