I totally take DIO seriously. Kate Bush, too.
Hmm, I don't think we have any Christian records in our collection. Of course there's the odd song here or there, found in some styles more than others (e.g., blues or bluegrass tunes based on gospel or hymnal standards, some classical pieces). Nothing wholly or predominantly Christian, though. No actual "Christian bands"—no DC Talk, heh.
Oh, well, I reckon you could, at least in part, count the amazing, unnerving
16 Horsepower. That music, entirely sincere (as far as anyone knows), puts to shame and renders comical any kind of metal or anything else that consciously tries to sound dark or sinister or "evil" or spooky. The imagery it invokes is Reverend Henry Kane territory. If The Jesus Lizard were making music 'round the turn of the century, and David Yow was a Nazarene preacher. Intense music, and always leaves me unsettled (in a good way) after listening to it. (I actually began this post late last night, but when I went looking for some other video selections I got sidetracked down the line of listening to all these songs. Then had to go sit on the back pine porch for awhile before hittin' the hay.)
A few more selections:
I Seen What I Saw,
Haw,
Black Soul Choir,
Heel on the Shovel.... Lots of live stuff on there, but I decided to go with the album versions and videos.
There's a weekly local public radio program that runs here on Sundays at 5AM called "Workin' on the Building," which is all old gospel soul recordings. (It follows the awesomely raucous, raucously awesome "
Woody's Roadhouse.") I have a friend who was born and had lived most of her life out west and, consequently, was not familiar with that kind of music (or much historically black American music in general). I played her that show and the first thing she said was, "wow, had I heard this as a little girl I might not have left the church, if only to stay for the music."
On that other hand, that sort of sentiment turns when you hear or read someone express something like the following (found on a youtube commentary, but is quite commonly expressed):
Such a blessing to see these kids serving God at a young age! We got to keep raising training our children in the ways of God. Nothing else will do. I am so blessed by the performance. Much props to all who participated in working with these precious souls. It was well performed and I no it took a lot of work. But, what we do for God will last forever! God Bless!
That's incredibly disturbing to me.
EDIT: Just added another particularly dark tune.