gungor | renrutkram

Gungor has been kind enough to supply me with a few copies of their newest release Beautiful Things to give away on this blog. There are several ways to enter the contest (one entry per method – comment, subscribe, or tweet – can be entered). To enter the giveaway you may 1) leave a comment on this blog with a valid e-mail address, (2) subscribe to this blog via the e-mail subscription button in the column on the right, or (3) include #GungorGiveaway in a“tweet.” The winners will be announced on this blog and will be contacted on June 14.

The album Beautiful Things by the more t-shirt friendly glossed “Gungor” (formerly “The Michael Gungor Band”) has been a genuine bright spot in the often trite and contrived “Christian” music market (notice I didn’t say “genre” as there are only Christian topics/lyrics and not Christian music/melodies).

One of the things I find fascinating about the album Beautiful Things is the range of musical style; this album is an eclectic mix. Classically inspired guitar solos morph into genuine Hard Rock anthems (“Dry Bones”). “Heaven” is introduced by a funk-styled bass run mixed with the gospel vocals. “Brighter Day” will convince you that you picked up a vintage Switchfoot album. Some tracks hint of Iron and Wine’s folk style (“Please Be My Strength”) or the experimentation of Arcade Fire (“We Will Run”) while others feel more like “church songs.” All of them, however, come across with honest artistry. The title track most clearly evidences the poetry, ability, and breadth of style that Gungor possesses. This album provides opportunities to shout and to weep, to sing and to be silent, to dance and to meditate. Gungor manifests genuine artistic freedom to make beautiful music that stands on its own without feeling an obligation to cater to a particular style, genre, or audience.

I recently spoke to Michael Gungor about music, art, Christianity, and community. He felt it important to play honest, creative, and organic music.

Sometimes part of our downfall in Christian is that the message becomes of such central importance (which of course the message is important) that the music becomes secondary to the point where it almost becomes propaganda, something to carry a message. I think there’s something sacred about art itself.

Throughout the album you hear an honest description of the Band’s journey. Beautiful Things could be described as a “journal entry from [Gungor’s] first two years living in Denver.” The song “We Will Run to You” was written for their faith community (Bloom Church) in Denver as they were struggling to express the need for repentance. As you listen to Michael Gungor, you hear the growth and change that has come with the move to Denver and the organic creation of a new church.

When asked how such deeply Scriptural pleadings with God can be used to reach out to non-Christians, Gungor explains how honest art and the human need to worship God come together.

[Our music is] definitely church music and most of it is written to God. There is something about [a song written to God] that unbelievers are drawn to, when it is done in a pure and honest way, when it is not manipulative.

As a Christian, when I hear Gungor I hear “praise” music as it should be: honest, artistic, Scriptural, and confessional. Within this CD you can marvel at the beauty of the creative process and, in turn, the beauty of the creator.

Gungor has been kind enough to supply me with a few copies of their newest release Beautiful Things to give away on this blog. There are several ways to enter the contest (one entry per method – comment, subscribe, or tweet – can be entered). To enter the giveaway you may 1) leave a comment on this blog with a valid e-mail address, (2) subscribe to this blog via the e-mail subscription button in the column on the right, or (3) include #GungorGiveaway in a“tweet.” The winners will be announced on this blog and will be contacted on June 14.

After hearing a Relevant Magazine podcast feature on the band “Gungor” (formerly the “Michael Gungor Band”) I was immediately hooked (you can listen to the live performances or download them for free… I particularly recommend the riveting guitar version of “Doxology”).

I am rarely impressed by the musical depth of a band that sings almost exclusively “Christian” music. Gungor’s music, however, has all of the range and experimentation of an Arcade Fire while managing simple folk interludes and classical guitar flourishes. I was pleased to find variety and meaning with Scripturally deep and redemptive songs. Michael Gungor and his bandmates manage to explore moving and creative musical and lyrical content while avoiding any hint of kitschy or trivial “contemporary Christian music.”