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| Christian alternative music | |
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| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | Early 1980s, United States |
Christian alternative rock is a form ofalternative rock music that is lyrically grounded in aChristian worldview. Some critics have suggested that unlikeCCM and olderChristian rock, Christian alternative rock generally emphasizes musical style over lyrical content as a defining genre characteristic,[1] though the degree to which the faith appears in the music varies from artist to artist.
Christian alternative music has its roots in the early 1980s, as the earliest efforts atChristian punk andnew wave were recorded by artists like Andy McCarroll and Moral Support,Undercover,the 77s,Steve Scott,Adam Again,Quickflight,Daniel Amos, Youth Choir (later renamedthe Choir),Lifesavers Underground,Michael Knott,the Prayer Chain,Altar Boys,Breakfast with Amy,Steve Taylor,4-4-1, David Edwards andVector. Early labels, most now-defunct, includedBlonde Vinyl,Frontline,Exit, andRefuge.[1]
By the 1990s, many of these bands and artists had disbanded, were no longer performing, or were being carried by independent labels because their music tended to be more lyrically complex (and often more controversial) than mainstreamChristian pop. The modern market is currently supported by labels such asTooth & Nail,Gotee andFloodgate. These companies are often children of, or partially owned, by general market labels such asWarner,EMI, andCapitol Records, giving successful artists an opportunity to "cross over" into mainstream markets.
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| Styles and fusion genres |
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