Great Bands for the Christian Indie Rocker

So you're a Christian indie kid who wants to listen to some great music? I've searched for a long time to find good Christian indie music because I love the indie sound and frankly it is hard to find a lot of contemporary Christian music that I enjoy very much. So here are some of my favorite bands that should appeal to any indie kid but aren't afraid to sing about what they believe.

Sufjan Stevens started out small and then rocketed to indie stardom (if there is such a thing) after releasing his album, Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lake State. He has an iconic sound filled with lush orchestral sweeps juxtaposed with simple and catchy banjo and guitar. His melodies are beautiful and his songs range from the pleasant easy listen to epic cacophonous romps. Sufjan now has a record label: Asthmatic Kitty where he has signed a lot of other unique and amazing artists that are worth checking out as well.

Jason Martin is the genius behind Starflyer 59. He has been around the scene for awhile, and has released over 10 albums since his first in 1993. Starflyer 59 has an instantly recognizable sound once you get to know it, and yet he spans all kinds of genres including shoe-gaze, space rock, indie rock, with a little pop thrown in from time to time. Most of Starflyer 59's music is somewhat timeless, needing multiple repeated listens to take in the full breadth and scope of a song. Influenced by bands like My Bloody Valentine, you can't go wrong if you start to dive into Starflyer 59's extensive library of fantastic albums.

Danielson is the moniker for Daniel Smith, one of the kings of the indie scene. He puts together some simply incredible songs, and many people either absolutely love or hate his screamy, screechy falsetto. What started as his senior thesis at Rutgers University became his first album, and he has since become quite an icon, even helping to catapult Sufjan Stevens into the spotlight. Danielson has his own recording label called Sounds Familyre, and a recording studio that he built himself. He received a lot of his musical inspiration from his father and his siblings, who often play with him on his shows under the name "Danielson Family." Even though the lyrics are overtly Christian, Danielson albums maintain high critical and mainstream acclaim because the music is so inventive and good.

Half-Handed Cloud is probably my favorite band right now. Led by John Ringhofer, Half-Handed Cloud knows how to make the catchiest little melodies using all kinds of instruments ranging from guitar to melodica and kazoo to omnichord. He has albums that are 24 minutes long that have 25 songs, and they are all golden. I think his myspace page says it best: "Tiny, scrappy investments in melody & arrangement." Drawing inspiration from great bands like Guided by Voices, if you love deliciously short but amazing songs, give Half-Handed Cloud a try.