Oh, CCM — what can we do with you?
When I received a recent catalogue from a local Christian bookstore, I was so frustrated when I saw this album cover from CCM vets Third Day for their new album, Revelations (seriously, you can ask my wife):
While I’ve had plenty of issues with their music in the past (it physically hurt me to hear them medley With or Without You with Your Love, Oh Lord — which, incidentally, I like as a worship song) I don’t doubt their sincerity. However, the cover of Revelations treads a bit too close to Radiohead’s Hail to the Thief album cover:
Sigh.
It’s one thing to accuse CCM of being derivative musically, but even the album art?
Apparently, I’m not the only one who noticed. Chief CCM grousers Patrol Mag vent their spleen on this very topic here and a few other bloggers notice this unfortunate phenomenon as well.
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To be fair, though, it seems like maybe Dinosaur Jr. stole their cover concept for their reunion album from an old school CCM band. See for yourself below:
headsparks* 
LOL!
I’m not apologetic of hating 99% of Christian rock and 98% of Christian worship music.
And so I’ll side with you about that being a bit pitiful.
What’s the deal with worship bands playing U2? Is that their way of being “honest” in their faith? They should put melody to David’s imprecatory prayers and sing that on Sundays.
looks like they took a great idea and messed it up (Third Day) looking carefully at the Hail… cover, it’s really neat, and the concept is great, but the Third Day one is just… cheezy
Jadanzzy — The cynical side of me says that if there’s money to be made in the approach you’re suggesting, then we should soon see a flood of imprecatory worship songs hitting the market :)
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Wayne — Yes, I loved the Hail to the Thief cover. I think it would be possible to play off it in a way that’s not derivative or cheesy but, unfortunately, the Revelations cover doesn’t quite make it.
oh boy, that’s bad.
Here is another brand new one.
Nirvana:Nevermind
SafetySuit
Rich — Yes, ugh.
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Jay — Thanks for stopping by and commenting. It looks like perhaps we have stumbled upon a trend here!
[…] It’s intelligent and informative. But the inherent criticism I have of it (akin to what Daniel @ headspark.com terms “grousing”) is that it’s just another fundamentalist reaction. We hate what […]