One of the more media-exposed Christian rock bands of the '90s, Newsboys formed in the late '80s around a core of John James, Peter Furler, and Philip Urry. Though early in their career the band was panned for a perceived overreliance on religious clichés in their lyrics, Newsboys later grasped secular music's alternative revolution in the early... [+] Read More

One of the more media-exposed Christian rock bands of the '90s, Newsboys formed in the late '80s around a core of John James, Peter Furler, and Philip Urry. Though early in their career the band was panned for a perceived overreliance on religious clichés in their lyrics, Newsboys later grasped secular music's alternative revolution in the early '90s for an image makeover, with good results. The group gained six number one singles on the Christian charts, and have been featured in more secular media outlets than the average Christian band. Step Up to the Microphone, their first album for major label Virgin, followed in 1998; Love Liberty Disco appeared a year later. In celebration of the new millennium, the Newsboys also observed their own career with the greatest hits package Shine...The Hits, issued in fall 2000. Their most elaborate work to date, Thrive, was issued in spring 2002 and led to one of their biggest CCM hits ever, "It Is You." Over ten years into their own career, that fall Newsboys Remixed was released, offering new takes on several of their biggest hits. The band issued Adoration: The Worship Album in April 2003. The record included both originals and Newsboy versions of well-known worship songs. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Caedmon's Call is a CCM band that fuses folk-rock with adult alternative rock influences. Cliff Young (vocals, rhythm guitar), Derek Webb (lead guitar, vocals), Danielle Glenn (vocals), Aric Nitzberg (bass), Todd Bragg (drums), Randy Holsapple (organ), and Garett Buell (percussion) formed the Houston, TX-based band at Texas Christian University... [+] Read More

Caedmon's Call is a CCM band that fuses folk-rock with adult alternative rock influences. Cliff Young (vocals, rhythm guitar), Derek Webb (lead guitar, vocals), Danielle Glenn (vocals), Aric Nitzberg (bass), Todd Bragg (drums), Randy Holsapple (organ), and Garett Buell (percussion) formed the Houston, TX-based band at Texas Christian University in the summer of 1992. The group originally included Aaron Tate, who left the band shortly after its formation, but he continued to write songs with Young. After spending some time playing locally, Caedmon's Call began touring college campuses across the South, steadily building up a dedicated following of young Gen-X singles.

Caedmon's Call self-released their first album in June of 1994. In August of 1995, they released their second record. Both independently released albums sold over 10,000 copies apiece, and were distributed in Canada and the U.K. as well as America. The two albums, plus their live shows, led Musician magazine to call Caedmon's Call one of the best unsigned bands in America. Such grassroots success attracted the attention of Warner Bros., which signed Caedmon's Call in 1996 and released their major-label debut, the Don McCollister-produced Caedmon's Call, in the spring of 1997. Long Line of Leavers was issued three years later, and despite a good reaction from their fan base, it signaled to the bandmembers that they desired more control over their sound.

The next year, In the Company of Angels: A Call to Worship was recorded by the band, and its success in the Christian market led to their highest sales yet. When the album was nominated for several Dove Awards, Caedmon's Call decided to continue to produce their own material and recorded Back Home in 2002. Released the following spring, the band hit the road with Jars of Clay to promote the release. In 2004 the anthology Chronicles 1992-2004 was released, as well as a new collection of songs called Share the Well. In the Company of Angels II: The World Will Sing arrived in March of 2006. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Jars of Clay were the breakout band of the so-called alternative CCM movement of the '90s, scoring an enormous mainstream hit with their debut single, "Flood." The group's lyrics may have been exclusively Christian, but their mostly acoustic music fit perfectly into the folky jangle pop wing of alternative rock radio, at the time a rarity on the... [+] Read More

Jars of Clay were the breakout band of the so-called alternative CCM movement of the '90s, scoring an enormous mainstream hit with their debut single, "Flood." The group's lyrics may have been exclusively Christian, but their mostly acoustic music fit perfectly into the folky jangle pop wing of alternative rock radio, at the time a rarity on the contemporary Christian music scene. Not only did their success set the stage for breakthroughs by Christian bands like dc Talk and Sixpence None the Richer, but it's also difficult to imagine the later popularity of heavier, Christian-themed hard rockers like Creed and P.O.D. without Jars of Clay having established the viability of fusing spiritual themes with mainstream alternative rock sounds. As popular tastes shifted, Jars of Clay found it increasingly difficult to maintain their secular audience, but still commanded a sizable following among Christian youth and remained one of the highest-profile groups in any gospel-music subgenre.

Jars of Clay were formed at Illinois' Greenville College in 1993 by singer/songwriter Dan Haseltine and keyboardist Charlie Lowell; they soon added guitarist Stephen Mason, who like Haseltine, was a big fan of Toad the Wet Sprocket (a good secular reference point for the typical Jars of Clay sound). All three were music majors in the college's new CCM department, and at first played together just for fun, writing a song for a class recording project. Eventually, they chose a name for the band from a verse in the second book of Corinthians, which emphasized the frailty of the physical vessels in which God had placed the human spirit. Second guitarist Matt Bronleewe joined up later, and drummer Scott Savage became part of the band's live lineup, though they continued to use electronic drum loops on some of their recordings. Encouraged by the response to their small repertoire of originals, the band entered a talent competition run by the Gospel Music Association in 1994. Chosen as finalists on the strength of their demo tape, the band traveled to Nashville to perform for industry executives, and wound up winning the contest. They returned to Greenville and began selling a self-released demo CD called Frail, and record companies were soon calling the group's dorm hoping to sign them. With such intense interest, the band decided to leave school and relocate to Nashville permanently; at this point, Bronleewe departed, wanting to finish school and settle down with his fiancée, and was replaced by Lowell's childhood friend Matt Odmark.

After considering several offers, Jars of Clay signed with the smaller Essential label, which nonetheless had ample distribution power through its parent company Brentwood's arrangement with the secular label Silvertone. As the group was recording its self-titled debut album, Frail caught the ear of prog rock guitarist and recent Christian convert Adrian Belew, who offered to produce a couple of tracks for the record. One of those songs was "Flood," which became a runaway hit on Christian radio when the album was released in the spring of 1995. When "Flood" began to catch on with secular stations (particularly in the Northwest), Silvertone threw its full promotional muscle behind the album, and by early 1996, the song was a major crossover hit on mainstream rock radio, modern rock radio, and the pop charts (its peak of number 37 on the latter makes it one of many '90s-era hits whose release formats affected its chart eligibility, thus obscuring how massively popular it really was). "Flood" helped push sales of Jars of Clay past the double-platinum mark, a stunning showing for a Christian group.

Some secular listeners and radio programmers hadn't realized that Jars of Clay were a Christian band, and there was something of a backlash when that fact became more widely publicized. What was more, they were criticized in some Christian quarters for touring with secular alternative rock bands during 1996. They spent most of the year on the road, then took a break to work on material for their second album (they'd already released the Christmas EP Little Drummer Boy at the end of 1995). Signing on with British producer Steve Lipson, Jars of Clay released Much Afraid in 1997. The record debuted in the Top Ten on the pop charts and not only went platinum, but won a Grammy for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. Yet, despite some success with the singles "Five Candles" and "Crazy Times," Much Afraid didn't gain the same level of mainstream exposure as its predecessor. Nonetheless, their Christian audience remained loyal, sending their 1999 follow-up, If I Left the Zoo, to gold sales; the record was produced by Dennis Herring, who'd also worked with Counting Crows. By this time, Savage had left the band's concert lineup to back Jaci Velasquez, and was replaced by Joe Porter. Jars of Clay self-produced their fourth album, The Eleventh Hour, which was released in early 2002 and followed by a live DVD.

The next year, the band issued the impressive double-disc set Furthermore: From the Studio/From the Stage. This album highlighted fresh, acoustic-driven classics as well as cuts from some of Jars of Clay's intoxicating live shows. In November 2003, the group released their fifth album proper, Who We Are Instead. Comprised of the band's take on significant church hymns and popular spirituals, Redemption Songs followed in early 2005. Jars of Clay returned in fall 2006 with Good Monsters and supported their seventh effort on the road with Matt Wertz and ex-Sixpence None the Richer frontwoman Leigh Nash opening. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide [-] Hide

The Christian-themed punk-pop outfit MxPx was formed in Bremerton, WA, in 1993 by vocalist/bassist Mike Herrera, drummer Yuri Ruley, and guitarist Andy. Originally dubbed Magnified Plaid, at the time of the group's formation all its members were still in high school. Their moniker was later shortened to just MxPx after Ruley abbreviated their... [+] Read More

The Christian-themed punk-pop outfit MxPx was formed in Bremerton, WA, in 1993 by vocalist/bassist Mike Herrera, drummer Yuri Ruley, and guitarist Andy. Originally dubbed Magnified Plaid, at the time of the group's formation all its members were still in high school. Their moniker was later shortened to just MxPx after Ruley abbreviated their name on some show flyers, but poor handwriting saw the periods being interpreted as x's instead; the name stuck. By the time they got their driver's licenses, the trio had already released several 7" singles and their debut album, Pokinatcha, for Tooth & Nail Records in 1994. It quickly became the label's best seller and prompted the release of the band's sophomore effort, Teenage Politics, late the next year. By this album, Andy had been replaced by band friend Tom Wisniewski, who dropped his drumsticks and picked up a guitar in order to join the band. Popular with the skate/surf community as well as the punk underground (with a snowboard sponsorship to their name), MxPx broke out of the underground in 1996 with their classic third LP, Life in General. The album included such fan favorites as "Chick Magnet" and "Move to Bremerton." Though dubbed a Christian punk band, religious themes were never an overbearingly dominant force in the band's songs, as they usually relied on universal themes of growing up and trying to figure life out. As MxPx progressed in their career, their songs began to gravitate more toward the secular side of things as well. Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo, their debut for major label A&M, appeared in 1998. That fall they also released the compilation album Let It Happen back on Tooth and Nail, which contained B-sides, demos, and other stray tracks. The live At the Show trailed a year later. The Broken Bones EP came out in 2000 before their next full-length, The Ever Passing Moment, appeared in the spring. Two years later, MxPx commemorated their time together with the greatest-hits release of Ten Years and Running. Their next official studio effort came the next year in the form of Before Everything & After, an album that alienated many veteran fans with its overly slick, pop-oriented nature. Late 2004 saw the release of the career retrospective DVD B-Movie; jumping back to the indies and their punk roots, Panic next surfaced in June 2005 on Side One Dummy. ~ John Bush & Corey Apar, All Music Guide [-] Hide

With their fusion of rock, rap and funk, Audio Adrenaline emerged as one of the most popular CCM acts of the 1990s. The group was formed on the campus of Kentucky Christian College by lead vocalist Mark Stuart, guitarist Barry Blair, bassist Will McGinnis, keyboardist Bob Herdman and drummer Brian Hayes; originally named A-180, they recorded an... [+] Read More

With their fusion of rock, rap and funk, Audio Adrenaline emerged as one of the most popular CCM acts of the 1990s. The group was formed on the campus of Kentucky Christian College by lead vocalist Mark Stuart, guitarist Barry Blair, bassist Will McGinnis, keyboardist Bob Herdman and drummer Brian Hayes; originally named A-180, they recorded an independent single, "My God," which caught the attention of Forefront Records president Dan Brock, and soon after the label issued Audio Adrenaline's self-titled debut LP. Don't Censor Me followed in 1993, scoring hits with the singles "Big House" and "Can't Take God Away;" after 1995's Live Bootleg, the band resurfaced a year later with Bloom, which debuted in the Top 60 on the Billboard pop charts. In 1997, Audio Adrenaline -- now consisting of Stuart, McGinnis, Herdman and drummer Ben Cissell -- resurfaced with Some Kind of Zombie; Underdog followed two years later. A greatest hits collection, Hit Parade, celebrated almost ten years in the music industry, and served as a good introduction to the band. Lift came out the following year. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide [-] Hide

After building a dedicated following with three albums of Christian hip-hop, dc Talk make a play for crossover success with Jesus Freak. As the title indicates, the group members haven't abandoned their religious base. What they have done is expand their musical palette. Retaining a solid hip-hop foundation, the trio add elements of soul,... [+] Read More

After building a dedicated following with three albums of Christian hip-hop, dc Talk make a play for crossover success with Jesus Freak. As the title indicates, the group members haven't abandoned their religious base. What they have done is expand their musical palette. Retaining a solid hip-hop foundation, the trio add elements of soul, psychedelic rock, and pop, making Jesus Freak their most ambitious album to date. It also happens to be their best. dc Talk fuse their diverse influences together with style and grace, making the music sound seamless. The lyrics frequently avoid standard cliches, managing to celebrate Christianity without sounding preachy. With its musical diversity and well-crafted lyrics, Jesus Freak is the album that will convince secular listeners that dc Talk is worth a listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide [-] Hide

More pop-savvy and less edgy than its first, the band began to blow up big with singles like "Big House." ~ Thom Granger, All Music Guide

More pop-savvy and less edgy than its first, the band began to blow up big with singles like "Big House." ~ Thom Granger, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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This album marks Caedmon's Call's first release with a major label, Warner Alliance, after a string of successful independent releases. The band doesn't compromise their music, though, with most of the songs written by band members Derek Webb and Aaron Tate. "This World" features great harmony between Danielle Glenn and Webb along with honest... [+] Read More

This album marks Caedmon's Call's first release with a major label, Warner Alliance, after a string of successful independent releases. The band doesn't compromise their music, though, with most of the songs written by band members Derek Webb and Aaron Tate. "This World" features great harmony between Danielle Glenn and Webb along with honest lyrics. "Bus Driver" is a bouncy tune, and their passionate cover of Rich Mullins' "Hope to Carry On" is a must-hear for any listener of Christian music. "Center Aisle" is poignant look at the reality of suicide and the unanswered questions it leaves behind. This album solidifies the band as one of the premier groups in alternative Christian music with its variety, original lyrics, solid music arrangements, and vocals. ~ Melinda Hill, All Music Guide [-] Hide