Athlete
'There are valid reasons for asking it; for some, it’s a desire to take their music beyond the confines of the church.'

George Luke reviews the best new releases from the Christian music scene released this month

Use the links to buy the albums from amazon.co.uk and Christian Aid will receive part of the sale price

“Are we a Christian band… or are we Christians in a band?”

It’s a question more and more Christians are asking themselves as they embark on careers as musicians. There are valid reasons for asking it; for some, it’s a desire to take their music beyond the confines of the church.

For others, it’s wanting to write and sing songs about issues that aren’t necessarily ‘religious’. And for others, it’s simply wanting to avoid all the baggage that comes with the label “Christian band”.

Whatever the reason, it does seem to be a dilemma only Christian musicians have (I’m sure Brandon Flowers doesn’t spend sleepless nights wondering whether The Killers are a Mormon band or if he’s a Mormon in a band).

Worry

It also seems to be something artists worry about more than their punters do. It certainly wasn’t on the minds of the people I saw in a pub a while ago, singing along drunkenly to The Fray’s hit single (and title track of their debut album) How to Save a Life.

The Fray’s piano-driven sound is quite upbeat – so much so, they even manage to make missing a loved one sound happy (“She Is”). I particularly liked the strings on “Look After You”, and “Over My Head (Cable Car)” is another potential hit single. All in all, a fine album.

• Buy The Fray – How to Save a Life

While the strategy of not calling themselves a Christian band worked for The Fray, it seems to have backfired for Cold War Kids. Initial response to their album Robbers & Cowards was good – but that quickly changed when their religious leanings became known.

At least, that’s what a few bloggers claim. I don’t think the band’s faith is the problem; if anything, it makes for some very interesting song lyrics (check out “ Saint John” or “Hang Me Out to Dry” for starters).

Rather, the problem for me is that lead vocalist Nathan Willett sounds too much like Jack White for his own good (the band are supporting the White Stripes on tour at the moment; talk about messing with your fans’ heads!).

Concepts

There are some interesting song concepts and fine musicianship (and even a bicycle!) on Robbers & Cowards, but the White Stripes soundalike thing gets tired very quickly.

• Buy Cold War Kids – Robbers and Cowards

Mute Math took the “don’t call us a Christian band” thing a bit too far last year; they actually sued their record label for promoting their music to the Christian market (now I think of it, maybe I shouldn’t be reviewing them here in case they come after us).

2007 has been quite an eventful year for the lads from New Orleans. They received some unexpected free publicity when one American Idol contestant sang their song “Typical” on the show, then went on to record the theme song for the Transformers film.

Over the summer months, they visited the UK several times, playing songs from their self-titled debut album at various festivals.

Mute Math’s world is pretty much rooted in the 80s. It’s a world inhabited by guitar-shaped, hand-held keyboards and those electronic drums that look like plates.

Songs such as “Chaos” and “Noticed” are very Police-like, and reminiscent of the band’s previous incarnation as Earthsuit.

• Buy Mute Math – Mute Math

New album

Here in the UK, the faith of Athlete is one of rock’s worst kept secrets. But it doesn’t seem to have done their careers any harm – and their new album, Beyond the Neighbourhood, won’t hurt them much either.

On the new album, we find the Joel Pott & Co tackling topics such as climate change (“Hurricane”), the ugly side of nationalism (“Outsiders”), and celebrating the joys of a new relationship (“Flying Over Bus Stops”).

Sound-wise, the mood is a lot lighter here than it was on their previous album. Loops and samples mingle with guitars to fine effect – best showcased on the instrumental track “In Between 2 States”.

I could say Beyond the Neighbourhood was a brilliant return to form, but that would imply that Athlete had been off-form once – and in my opinion, they never have been.

And anyone who can shoehorn Millwall’s “nobody likes us and we don’t care” line into a song and not sound thuggish deserves respect.

• Buy Athlete – Beyond the Neighbourhood

• Buy The Fray – How to Save a Life
• Buy Cold War Kids – Robbers and Cowards
• Buy Mute Math – Mute Math

• Read other Tunes columns