…and this is a 
An ‘atheist rock’ genre?
Category: Entertainment • Godlessness
Posted on: August 18, 2008 7:44 PM, by PZ Myers
I got a request from a reader that I'll just pass on directly to any musically-inclined readers here…
Any chance Pharyngula readers can help? I have been writing and posting songs under the band name Natural Wastage on Soundclick.com (a sort of music version of myspace/facebook, I guess) for a while, and whilst re-installing some songs last month, I was struck by the number of Christian related genres available. Therefore, in mid July I emailed Soundclick and asked
"Looking through the categories I note that while there is Christian Rock, Country and Rap, Contemporary Christian pop and Pop and Urban Gospel, there is no category for atheist music. Can I ask you, initially, to create 'Atheist Rock' as a sub-genre of Rock. This is the category that most of my recent and current music writing falls into". The reply was I got was
"At this time there has not been enough requests for this genre to be added, so we will not be adding it. Thank you for your suggestion though."
Best Regards,
Ally Byrd
SoundClick Staff
support@soundclick.comWhat I'd like to ask is whether there are any song writers or performers reading Pharyngula who feel as I do, and if so, would they be prepared to contact Soundclick with a request that they add an Atheist Rock, or Atheist Folk, or whatever, to their list of genres. Please note that I would NOT suggest a blanket, mass emailing by large numbers of people UNLESS, AND ONLY IF they are genuinely prompted by an individual unfulfilled, unrequited need to listen to, or write for, these particular genres. There is absolutely NO reason to suppose Sounclick's response is anything but honest. So let's be honest ourselves.
Hmmm. I can think of a few bands with an atheist sensibility (maybe readers can name more here!), but most of their music, with some exceptions, simply doesn't say anything about gods or jebus or magic spirits dwelling in the trees or whatever. There probably is a dearth of explicitly atheist songs because most are about real subjects, rather than not-real subjects…and you can't just say that any song that doesn't mention a god is an atheist song, or you'd have to call the Beach Boys an atheist band.
But hey, maybe there's a thriving genre out there that I'm missing. If so, let us know about it and try to show Soundclick the light.
Comments
Posted by: J Dub | August 18, 2008 7:54 PM
All music that is not terrible Christian rock is atheist rock. Geez.
Posted by: Martin | August 18, 2008 7:58 PM
The thing is, atheists really don't evangelize. I mean sure, we have prominent atheists who write books full of atheist arguments and raise the profile of atheism. But it's not like we have a thing to convert people to where a bunch of rah-rah songs would be the appropriate tool. If anything, we simply try to make people aware that reason rather than superstition is a better way to live life. I can see getting a handful of good songs out there that point out the feeble waste that is religion -- try such standbys as XTC's "Dear God" and Todd Rundgren's "God Said" for that -- but not enough to prompt a whole genre of rock. And songs just bashing Christianity would be a silly waste of artistic effort IMHO.
Posted by: Linda | August 18, 2008 7:58 PM
I'd call Abandoned Pools atheist rock. Especially the song "Lethal Killers."
Posted by: Rey Fox | August 18, 2008 8:00 PM
Well, in "Undertow", Michael Stipe sang "I don't need no heaven, I don't need religion, I am in the place where I should be." Then there are those Rush fellers, if you don't mind a little Objectivism with your denials of superstition.
But I dunno, atheist rock as a genre? Sounds cringingly didactic to me, not to mention a little obsessive in the way that, gasp, religion is. I don't need my lack of faith affirmed in everything I do. Christian contemprary/rock/zydeco is NOT what we want to emulate in any way, shape, or form.
Anyway, I think if I could be said to have any religion, it would be rock 'n' roll. Rock and various other popular musical genres have been sort of elbowing religion out of its former privileged places in culture, and that's fine with me. I say we just declare rock 'n' roll to be atheist music (is that more or less scary that satanic music?).
Posted by: J Dub | August 18, 2008 8:00 PM
Maybe songs that sound like gospel or contemporary Christian could be written with sacrilegious lyrics. That might be good atheist rock. I'm thinking of the Persuasions' version of Zappa's "The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ifbgd3tkZ2M
Posted by: Irene Delse | August 18, 2008 8:01 PM
What about atheist hip hop? MC Hawking, anyone ?
Posted by: andy | August 18, 2008 8:01 PM
Several songs by Muse deal with losing religious faith or have antireligious themes.
Posted by: Ubi Dubium | August 18, 2008 8:01 PM
Atheist Rock?
Try Tim Minchin's "If You Open Your Mind Too Far Your Brain Will Fall Out" (Check YouTube, it's there)
Also Dan Hart - especially his album "Santa God and Other Blasphemies". (Available on CD Baby)
Posted by: extatyzoma | August 18, 2008 8:01 PM
atheist rock, hmm, i dont like the idea of that labelling somehow.
when i listen to some stuff by 'autechre' i actually think 'these guys have to be atheist' the musics just to screwey and/or well thought out to have been influenced by any acceptence of any authority, id be suprised if any mind accepting dogma could make such obscenely creative sounds.
Posted by: Mrs Tilton | August 18, 2008 8:06 PM
Well, yes, as Martin notes, XTC. Or for that matter, Roxy Music's "More Than This" (I like the music very much but rather dislike the text: sobby romantic "ooh am I not so brave to be facing the awful certainty of ultimate extinction, now be sure to snap that photo from my LEFT dammit").
Ultimately I agree with JDub. I'd hardly turn down the occasional ditty mocking double-wetsuited reverends dying with dildoes rammed up their arses, but really, most bands manage to sing about all sorts of things without referring to anything imaginary (beyond, perhaps, undying teenage love).
Posted by: SC | August 18, 2008 8:07 PM
http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/atheistmusicians_atoe.html
Posted by: G Felis | August 18, 2008 8:07 PM
Bad Religion is one of my favorite bands, and they certainly have lots of songs with explicitly pro-atheist, anti-dogma lyrics, but I still be Greg Graffin would be annoyed if someone tried to pigeonhole them as an "Atheist Rock" band. What a horrible label!
The thing about the various "Christian _______" music categories is that they are blanket labels that encompass almost entirely craptacular generic music that is only embraced by mindless consumerist drones who will buy anything marketed to them as "Christian." My guess is that most atheists don't want pure shite shoveled their way by the demographics-driven marketing of corporate music powers-that-be. I know I don't.
Posted by: Tex | August 18, 2008 8:08 PM
I nominate John Lennon's 'Imagine.'
Posted by: jpf | August 18, 2008 8:13 PM
Something to keep in mind is that the reason there are all those Christian music subcategories (you left out my favorite, Christian Gangsta Rap) is because Christians, mostly Evangelicals, have a habit of trying to create a Christian simulacrum of popular culture as a way of isolating their kids against worldly or unchristian thinking (or sometimes just thinking). If something is popular with the kids, they make a Christian version of it so their kids won't be tempted to stray from the fold. This is also the reason there exists Christian X-treme sports, Christian energy drinks, and youth pastors with tattoos and soul patches.
These things are self-imposed ghettos and I don't know why you'd want to emulate them.
Posted by: coz | August 18, 2008 8:13 PM
'Bad Religion'
The lead singer has a Ph.D in Evolutionary Biology
Posted by: Stan Ferguson | August 18, 2008 8:14 PM
Beach Boys do have the beautiful "God Only Knows."
Not sure what that counts as.
Posted by: Spero Melior | August 18, 2008 8:15 PM
No, you still couldn't call the Beach Boys an atheist band ("God Only Knows").
Maybe Stovokor would qualify under some schemes, since they don't worship any earth gods?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stovokor_(band)
Posted by: dsmccoy | August 18, 2008 8:15 PM
The Beach Boys mention God:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC_UILNwWrc
Could we place them over in Christian Rock where I don't have to hear them?
Posted by: Mike | August 18, 2008 8:17 PM
I dont know of any rock out there, but for Atheist Rap,
buy Greydon Square and Syqnys CD's, they are awesome
Posted by: Spero Melior | August 18, 2008 8:17 PM
Triple Jinx
Posted by: LisaJ | August 18, 2008 8:17 PM
I second Muse as a potential atheist band. I've heard the lead singer describe his lyrics as trying to "ask questions" about different issues (such as religious dogma, politics, etc), instead of just giving his opinions. They are an incredibly talented band. My favourite.
Posted by: Gûm-ishi Ashi Gurum | August 18, 2008 8:17 PM
Vast vast swaths of all metal subgenres are explicitly atheist and anti-theist. Indeed about 99% of metal music is against Abrahamic religion.
People always seem to forget this.
Posted by: RobertMc | August 18, 2008 8:17 PM
I think you could call "Dear God" by xtc an atheist song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk41Gbjljfo
Posted by: Rienk | August 18, 2008 8:20 PM
Nine Inch Nails anyone?
Posted by: jpf | August 18, 2008 8:22 PM
@#22:
Pat Boone forgot this and faced the wrath of Evangelicals for his "In a Metal Mood" album. He's been trying to make amends ever since.
Posted by: Turdus | August 18, 2008 8:23 PM
For an old one , how about "Cathedral" By Crosby Stills Nash and Young
Six o' clock
In the morning, I feel pretty good
So I dropped into the luxury of the Lords
Fighting dragons and crossing swords
With the people against the hordes
Who came to conquer.
Seven o'clock
In the morning, here it comes
I taste the warning and I am so amazed
I'm here today, seeing things so clear this way
In the car and on my way
To Stonehenge.
I'm flying in Winchester cathedral
Sunlight pouring through the break of day.
Stumbled through the door and into the chamber;
There's a lady setting flowers on a table covered lace
And a cleaner in the distance finds a cobweb on a face
And a feeling deep inside of me tells me
This can't be the place
I'm flying in Winchester cathedral.
All religion has to have its day
Expressions on the face of the Saviour
Made me say
I can't stay.
Open up the gates of the church and let me out of here!
Too many people have lied in the name of Christ
For anyone to heed the call.
So many people have died in the name of Christ
That I can't believe it all.
And now I'm standing on the grave of a soldier that died in 1799
And the day he died it was a birthday
And I noticed it was mine.
And my head didn't know just who I was
And I went spinning back in time.
And I am high upon the altar
High upon the altar, high.
I'm flying in Winchester cathedral,
It's hard enough to drink the wine.
The air inside just hangs in delusion,
But given time,
I'll be fine.
Posted by: Stan Ferguson | August 18, 2008 8:23 PM
I'm of the firm belief that the vast majority of contemporary pop music (top 40) is absolute proof of the non-existence of God or any deity.
Posted by: James | August 18, 2008 8:23 PM
I'm going to say Pink Floyd.
Posted by: Patricia | August 18, 2008 8:24 PM
Freethought Radio Network plays a variety of music everyday.
That young fellow Graydon Square does atheist rap, if thats of any help? Godsmack too, I think, but I can't listen to it.
Posted by: windy | August 18, 2008 8:25 PM
It's not rock, but José González says that his second album was inspired by The God Delusion. The lyrics are not very explicitly about religion, though, except for "Abram".
And I know Heart's Magic Man is not really about religion, but it works that way too ;)
Posted by: John C. Randolph | August 18, 2008 8:26 PM
I'd say that Free Will by Rush is clearly an atheist song.
You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice,
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill,
I will choose a path that's clear: I will choose free will.
-jcr
Posted by: Helioprogenus | August 18, 2008 8:27 PM
I can think of Bad Religion and Motorhead off the top of my head right now.
Have a look at these lyrics;
Thou who wouldst make us devils
Thou shalt not poison me
The world hath been persuaded
to believe thy heresy
I spit in the eye of Satan
And I will spit in thine
The devils that surround thee
Liveth only in thine eye
Bad Religion, Bad Religion
I need no gods or devils, I
need no pagan rights
Bad religion, Bad religion
I need no burning crosses to
illuminate my nights
HEY, HEY, You hear me now
You hear me now
HEY, HEY, For thou art Judas
The mark of Cain be on thy brow
Evangelistic Nazis, you cannot frighten me
The name you take in vain shall
judge you for eternity
[ Find more Lyrics at www.mp3lyrics.org/9kan ]
I spit in the eye of Satan
Spit right in your eye too
You are the spooks you're chasing
You know not what you do
Bad religion, Bad religion
I know you lie, I know you lie
Bad religion, Bad religion
Thieves and liars
Cross my heart I hope you die
If there be such a being
Then thou art Anti-christ
Turn men against their children
Turn beauty into vice
I say thy God shall smite thee
He will perceive thy lust
His wrath shall fall upon thee
Thou that betray his thrust
Bad religion, Bad religion
I say that thou art liars, Thy
souls shall not be saved
Bad religion, Bad religion
Here are the days of thunder, The
days that thou hast made
HEY, HEY
Base seducers, I see thy greed
HEY, HEY
I am more fit for glory,
Than any ten of thee
This one's called Bad Religion by Motorhead (although there's also the band bad religion as well)
Posted by: wildcardjack | August 18, 2008 8:27 PM
I can think of a few examples of atheist music; Cannibal Corpse with their song "Boiled Christians", KMFDM, NIN, Pigface, Front Line Assembly etc.
Maybe even the bulk of the Beatles stuff. But mostly music is secular and neutral WRT god. Atheist rock would inevitably be in opposition because otherwise it's just rock, right?
Posted by: Jared | August 18, 2008 8:28 PM
Only one that comes to mind is Nine Inch Nails...
Heresy=good song
Posted by: MWC | August 18, 2008 8:31 PM
I am pretty sure that RUSH is athiest.
Posted by: G.D. | August 18, 2008 8:31 PM
Well, most black metal - at least more recent black metal - is distinctly anti-theist (although some of it does express woo-related views) rather than "satanist". Would be the obvious choice, but I can think of several reasons why I wouldn't suggest it to Soundclick. I guess that in general, a lot of music from the heavier end of the rock spectrum would count as explicitly anti-religious.
The explicit expression of atheist views hasn't really been a very common occurrence throughout the history of music (considering a.o.t. that the church has historically been an important comissioner), although some obvious examples could be cited: Delius' 'A Mass of Life' and Requiem (based on Nietzsche), Richard Strauss' 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' and the 'Alpensinfonie' (which was originally published with the subtitle "the anti-Christian"). Other works which in more subtle ways could be said to express atheist views are Fauré's requiem and Brahms' 'Deutsche Requiem' (both Brahms and Fauré were atheists and deliberately composed said works with their views on religion in mind).
Posted by: C. David Parsons | August 18, 2008 8:33 PM
I am assuming that Pharyngula is not credentialed for the Dem convention.
Posted by: DaveR | August 18, 2008 8:33 PM
Can the original author of the request please define for me what "atheist rock" is? Is it rock that has a notable atheist agenda, or is it simply rock that is not specifically theist? In the case of the former, I suspect the list of bands to be quite short. For the latter, it seems to me that most rock fits the category. Either way, I think it is a rather silly request.
I simply choose to not listen to Christian music. Unfortunately, this has a side effect: I rarely listen to the lyrics of a song until I've listened to it several times. It isn't unusual for me to like a song, only to find out it is basically a mainstream Christian rock song. I have to bust out the MC Hawking to feel clean again.
Posted by: Geoff | August 18, 2008 8:36 PM
The Beach Boys were using "God only knows" as an expression. It's a love song, nothing more. I'm an atheist and I say "Oh God" and "God only knows" from time to time. The latter in the pantheistic sense.
I have a blind friend who ways "I see" all the time.
Posted by: Rachel | August 18, 2008 8:40 PM
MC Frontalot has a great song called "Origin of the Species" which makes awesome fun of fundamentalism, but he's considered "nerdcore" (yes, there is such a thing), not atheistic music (if there is such a thing).
Posted by: John C. Randolph | August 18, 2008 8:41 PM
I simply choose to not listen to Christian music.
You're missing out on some great work, then. Bach, Mozart, and Handel wrote some beautiful pieces.
-jcr
Posted by: Left_Wing_Fox | August 18, 2008 8:41 PM
Yeah, I came to the conclusion a while back that if you have to explicitly market yourself as "Christian" it's because the music sucks too much to hit the mainstream. It's not uncommon to hear a song with christian themes on the radio, so it's not as if they have to create this underground culture to spread the word. It's only appealing to people who have made religion the alpha and omega of their lives, and I have no desire to pigeonhole my musical tastes that way.
So, I'll stick to Atheist/Agnostic playlists instead, and will add "Bukowski" and "Ocean Breathes Salty" from Modest Mouse to the mix, as well as "Jesus He Knows Me" from Genesis.
Posted by: Bride of Shrek OM | August 18, 2008 8:41 PM
Not so much "atheist" rock but certainly "creationist" rock is Sam Sparro's "Black and Gold". Its pretty catchy too.
The first verse as an example:
If the fish swam out of the ocean
and grew legs and they started walking
and the apes climbed down from the trees
and grew tall and they started talking
Posted by: False Prophet | August 18, 2008 8:42 PM
#22 Gûm-ishi Ashi Gurum:
Not true. Metal is generally anti-establishment, which tends to include religious institutions, but is not necessarily atheist in content. (And I say this as a dyed-in-the-wool metalhead.) A lot of metal, especially power metal, deals with occult or fantasy themes. In most cases it's just storytelling or marketing-via-controversy, but it's hardly explicitly promoting an atheist/non-supernatural worldview. Check out the lyrics to Black Sabbath's "After Forever" for a decidedly pro-Christian stance.
Then we have the black metal scene of the early 90s, which was admittedly explicitly anti-Christian, but tended to embrace criminal behaviours (murder, church-burning) or irrational ideologies (paganism, Nazism).
Most "atheist" bands aren't the ones that promote an ideology of non-religion, because that's no better than the contemporary Christian music (CCM) genres, which combine preachy lyrics with derivative music. Rather, the best "atheist" bands are the ones that make you think or ask you to examine stances critically: Muse, Rush, Tool, Marilyn Manson. In a similar vein, most of the members of my favourite band, Dream Theater, practice some religious faith but in their songs that explore religion ("Voices", "Blind Faith", "The Great Debate") there is an honest lyrical examination of those beliefs (and jaw-dropping musicianship to boot).
Posted by: El Herring | August 18, 2008 8:42 PM
I don't think you can have a specific "atheist" music genre. I would categorise music such as XTC's song and others that people have mentioned here as anti-religious certainly, but not atheist. If music is not specifically religious, then the definition is secular, not atheist - and secular music is the vast proportion of all modern music, I would say.
I write music on scientific and astronomical themes (because that's what interests me), but I have never considered calling it "atheist music". It's just music (and some people don't even call it that, but I don't give a monkey's!)
What's the point of trying to stick the label "atheist" on to music anyway? It's just music - you either like it or you don't. I'm actually a big fan of Neal Morse who writes some excellent prog rock, the only trouble being that he tends to sing about his religion all the time. I just try to ignore the constant evangelising he stuffs into every bar. It's good music, that's all that matters to me. The music should stand or fall by its own merits, and shouldn't have to have labels stuck onto it.
Posted by: Bride of Shrek OM | August 18, 2008 8:42 PM
.. sorry I meant "anti-creationist" rock...what a dick I am.
Posted by: Sam | August 18, 2008 8:42 PM
Palomar's "Bury Me Closer" denies an afterlife, FWIW.
Posted by: me | August 18, 2008 8:43 PM
Tool
If you want to get your soul to heaven
trust in me now don't you judge or question
You are broken now but faith can heal you
Just do everything I tell you to do
Deaf and blind and dumb and born to follow
what you need is someone strong to guide you
Deaf and blind and dumb and born to follow
let me lay my holy hand a hand upon you
Posted by: Fernando Magyar | August 18, 2008 8:45 PM
Tex @ 13, Beat me to it:
Nah, not enough people requested that song...
Posted by: Hairy Doctor Professor | August 18, 2008 8:48 PM
Julia Ecklar has some good ones on her "Divine Intervention" CD, http://www.prometheus-music.com/divine.html, probably "The Hand of God" is most appropriate here. I enjoy the whole CD, pretty much, although I have to be in a truly foul mood to listen to it - and doing so makes my mood even worse. Highly recommended, but not for everyone.
Kathy Mar's "My Favorite Sings" CD, http://www.prometheus-music.com/mysings.html, has one track called "The Word of God" which is also very good, but is more from a deist's point of view than that of an atheist. More appropriate from that disk is "Water, Fire, and Smoke" (nice didgeridoo background).
Posted by: Tony Sidaway | August 18, 2008 8:49 PM
I think others have said it before me.
If you're an atheist, don't construct a getto for atheism, but expand with other atheists into the welcome fields of secularism where people meet as people and religion is sidelined.
Posted by: Nada platonic | August 18, 2008 8:50 PM
A few bands that come to mind are: Jane's Addiction ("Had a Dad" and "Ain't no Right"), Dead Kennedys ("Religious Vomit" and "Moral Majority"), Metallica ("The God that Failed"), possibly Nirvana (at the end of "Stay Away" Curt sings "God is gay"), and let's not forget the Sex Pistols ("Anarchy in the UK").
Just for fun, here are the lyrics to "Religious Vomit":
All religions make me wanna throw up
All religions make me sick
All religions make me wanna throw up
All religions suck
They all claim that they have the truth
That they'll set you free
Just give 'em your money and they'll set you free
Free for a fee
They all claim that they have 'the Answer'
When they don't even know the Question
They're just a bunch of liars
They just want your money
They just want your consciousness
chorus:
All religions suck
All religions make me wanna throw up
All religions suck
All religions make me wanna BLEAH
They really make me sick (x5)
They really make me ILL
And "Moral Majority" ends:
Blow it out your ass, Terry Dolan
Blow it out your ass, Phyllis Schafly
Ram it up your cunt, Anita
Cos God must be dead
If you're alive
God must be dead
If you're alive
Posted by: Marc | August 18, 2008 8:51 PM
I will have to third Muse, cause I like them that much.
And theyre one of few bands that even touch on athiestic subjects.
Alphaville has transhumanistic and other similar references. They tend to mix it with a bit of spiritual imagery. Though, transhumanism is next to godliness.
They use the acronym S.M.I^2.L.E., Space Migration, Intelligence Increase, Life Extension from Timothy Leary.
Ascension Day
Do what you want and then die when you want to
We're gonna walk on the blood of the meek
We're gonna sail through the oceans of wonder
We're gonna live in the dreams that we seek
>>
A tragically (mostly) unknown band.
I could imagine Rush or Pink Floyd touching this stuff, but I dont know either of them all that well.
Posted by: Bjørn Østman | August 18, 2008 8:53 PM
Lennon:
God is a Concept by which
we measure our pain
I'll say it again
God is a Concept by which
we measure our pain
I don't believe in magic
I don't believe in I-ching
I don't believe in Bible
I don't believe in Tarot
I don't believe in Hitler
I don't believe in Jesus
I don't believe in Kennedy
I don't believe in Buddha
I don't believe in Mantra
I don't believe in Gita
I don't believe in Yoga
I don't believe in Kings
I don't believe in Elvis
I don't believe in Zimmerman
I don't believe in Beatles
I just believe in me...and that reality
The dream is over
What can I say?
the Dream is Over
Yesterday
I was the Dreamweaver
But now I'm reborn
I was the Walrus
But now I'm John
and so dear friends
you'll just have to carry on
The Dream is over
Posted by: ElectricBarbarella | August 18, 2008 8:55 PM
See I'm not sure this would work. Most people don't label music "atheist" because they (right or wrongly) assume that any music that isn't "Christian" is Atheist.
I mean, I listen to goth/industrial/synth but also listen to techno/80's/Disco (I've got a good range of tunes). And most people automatically assume (and we know what that word means) that the "goth" music I listen to is Atheist. And that's simply not true.
So while I do understand his point ("If you've Christian Rock, why not Atheist Rock"?), I don't know how well that genre label would do if (by their logic) "anything that isn't Christian is atheist".
toni
Posted by: Spinoza | August 18, 2008 8:56 PM
This is one of the dumber ideas I've ever heard.
Posted by: Zeke Silva | August 18, 2008 8:57 PM
It's called death metal... I would say a good 90% - 95% of death metal bands are god free: Atheist, Agnostic front, Opeth, Kataklysm, Death, Winds of Plague, Nevermore, Obituary, Nile, Morbid Angel, Deicide, just to name a few.
Posted by: Willy | August 18, 2008 8:58 PM
Irene@ #6:
The Hawkman!
I also nominate Peter Gabriel's "Not One of Us"
Posted by: Mark | August 18, 2008 8:59 PM
Bad Religion, of course. They probably have the most outspoken and intelligent lyrics you're likely to find on the subject of religion being less-than-awesome.
Ironically, many Christians interpret their lyrics as being religious in character.
KMFDM is pretty awesome too.
Posted by: Cloudwork | August 18, 2008 9:00 PM
NO FX has atheistic themes in some songs.
I wouldn't say Pink Floyd because of one song, "Us and Them", i still like and listen to their music though.
Wouldnt like an atheist rock classification either. No other groups or even religions than christianity really have these sub-genres, you dont see Jewish rap or Muslim rock etc.
Posted by: Tony | August 18, 2008 9:04 PM
Plenty of hardcore/punk bands have held the anti-religion mantle over the years. Many of these bands are no longer around, but still good for many listens
Chokehold
Left For Dead
The Swarm
Bad Religion
Fucked Up
Converge
Morning Again
The Power & The Glory
This BANE song always gives me goosebumps:
Struck Down By Me
Posted by: kwandongbrian | August 18, 2008 9:16 PM
I'm kinda naive about music genres; does George Hrab play rock? He was on the boat with Myers, fer cryin' out loud -it's gotta be atheist music!
Posted by: Rick R | August 18, 2008 9:16 PM
I 'third' the notion that ghetto-ization of music as 'atheist' is a low and unworthy goal. The "frightened of their own shadow" xians want to live in a god-soaked ghetto. Let them.
The rest of us have a much much bigger world to roam in.
As an aside, I would say that xians don't think "unxian" music is 'atheistic' so much as satanic. It's the binary thing. If you aren't wailing about Jebus, you're sucking beelzebub's c--k.
Posted by: Keith | August 18, 2008 9:19 PM
Modest Mouse has a few songs, among them the closest thing they've had to a hit, "Bukawski."
There's always Bad Religion, whose logo is a crossed out cross.
Skinny Puppy, for your Gothic/Industrial tastes.
I'm sure their are others but many simply avoid mystical lyrics.
Posted by: Joe the Ordinary Guy | August 18, 2008 9:24 PM
I'm with the "atheist rock as a category is a bad idea" crowd. However, there are two wonderful songs that served as "atheist anthems" for me personally:
"Heyling" by FC Kahuna
and "This is the Life" by Living Colour
Check 'em out.
Posted by: Blake Stacey | August 18, 2008 9:24 PM
I agree with those who find the genre label "Atheist Rock" a little silly or perhaps misguided, but I still want a band named New Atheist Noise Machine. (We can thank Matt Nisbet in the liner notes.)
Also, we need a punk band called Naked Dromeosaurid, or maybe a synthpop group called Feathered Dromeosaurid — I'd be down with both.
Posted by: Bad | August 18, 2008 9:31 PM
The whole reason Christian pop is so bad is that it's vapid and predictable: every punchline is basically just another goose of the ideology.
Atheism, at least, doesn't have any single identifiable ideology its beholden to, so as a genre it might have a leg up in that regard.
As for an atheist-friendly anthem, I'll take "I'll Follow You Into the Dark" by Deathcab any day of the week.
Posted by: Monado | August 18, 2008 9:31 PM
You're thinking inside the box here: why not label everything that doesn't refer to a higher power as Atheist Music. Everything good, that is--every bit of music where people reach out to and help each other or accept a their tough lives without whining for a magic fix. Start with "Pack up Your Sorrows" sung by Joan Baez and "The Mary Ellen Carter (Rise Again)" by Stan Rogers.
Posted by: ElectricBarbarella | August 18, 2008 9:32 PM
I would take that a bit further (only because I have to deal with Christians a bit more closely than most being an Atheist Homeschooler) and say it isn't so much that they think anything that is not-Christian is atheistic or even satanic, but Pagan (which I've heard) and then they make the cyclical argument that brings them back to being "but if they are Pagan and since Pagan is Satanic, and we all know all Atheists are Satanic Pagans....(drifts off)"...
:)
Basically, labeling the genre of music "Atheist" Rock is sort of a double entendre(sp), a, umm, what's the word--not double negative, ahh shit--just drew a blank on it. I think you get what I mean though.
toni
Posted by: mikeg | August 18, 2008 9:36 PM
howz bout Roy... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyE5wjc4XO... and Leonard Cohen... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf36v0epfmI... check em out?
Posted by: John S. Wilkins | August 18, 2008 9:40 PM
What has happened to our young folk - don't they teach the classics any more?
Frank Zappa, man!
Posted by: Bachalon | August 18, 2008 9:40 PM
Would the band Atheist count? Pretty much of all of extreme metal really.
Posted by: Justin | August 18, 2008 9:40 PM
Funny, I just saw this yesterday at Atheist Movies
Children of a Worthless God by Exodus @ YouTube
Brainwashed into madness,
your children are killers without fear
Manipulate and dominate,
stealing their lives for your hate
Twisted perverted minds,
think as we do or you die
Demagogue, fanatical tyrant
a false prophet seething with lies
I you fear, seeing through your lies
You I fear, raping of innocent minds
Follow us blindly or die like a dog
Blood mixed with sand for this holy war
Your saviors a killer, you die for Allah
You are all children of a worthless god
Propagation of violence
your one god a disease upon man
Execution, crucifixion
the answer for those not in your plan
The penalty for contempt against your god
is death and nothing else
Ignorant infidels
are subhuman and will all burn in hell
I you fear, seeing through your lies
You I fear, raping of innocent minds
Follow us blindly or die like a dog
Blood mixed with sand for this holy war
Your saviors a killer, you die for Allah
You are all children of a worthless god
Smite the perverts and the obstinate
praising the death of the free
United States of Islam
that's what you would like it to be
Violate the unbelievers
praising crimes against man
Human rights mean nothing
Doctrine of death a scourge upon man
I you fear, seeing through your lies
You I fear, raping of innocent minds
Follow us blindly or die like a dog
Blood mixed with sand for this holy war
Your saviors a killer, you die for Allah
You are all children of a worthless god
Posted by: Qwerty | August 18, 2008 9:42 PM
Remember when the Christians ragged on John Lennon for having the temerity to suggest the Beatles might be more popular than the skyfairy.
If you are into evolution, I think that "Transitional Forms" would be a great name for a band.
Posted by: Milo Johnson | August 18, 2008 9:43 PM
Isn't atheist rock just rock?
Posted by: Helioprogenus | August 18, 2008 9:43 PM
Here's another motorhead song called God was never on your side.
If the stars fall down on me,
And the sun refused to shine,
Then may the shackles be undone,
May all the old words cease to rhyme,
If the sky turned into stone,
It will matter not at all,
For there is no heaven in the sky,
Hell does not wait for our downfall!
Let the voice of reason chime,
Let the friars vanish for all time,
God's face is hidden, all unseen,
You can't ask him,
What it all means,
He was never on your side,
God was never on your side,
Let right or wrong alone decide,
God was never on your side.
See ten thousand ministries,
See the holy, righteous dogs,
They claim to heal,
But all they do is steal,
Abuse your faith,
Cheat and rob,
If god is wise,
Why is he still,
When these false prophets,
Call him friend,
Why is he silent,
Is he blind?!
Are we abandoned in the end?
Let the sword of reason shine,
Let us be free of prayer and shrine,
God's face is hidden, turned way,
He never has a word to say,
He was never on your side,
God was never on your side,
Let right or wrong alone decide!
God was never on your side!
No, no, no!
(Guitar solo)
He was never on your side,
God was never on your side,
Never!
Never!
Never!
Never!
Never on your side!
Never on your side!
God was never on your side,
Never on your side...
Posted by: tim Rowledge | August 18, 2008 9:47 PM
Hairy Doctor Professor @ #50 - Yay for Julia and Kathy! Filk is full of anti-woo, anti-religiosity lyrics. And of course, far too much Trek. Bet there is an entire ChristiFilk genre lurking out there though, but happily I've never had to listen to it.
Jordin Kare's "Parody Violation" might well appeal to many folks here (Jordin really is a rocket scientist) and probably a fair bit of Leslie FIsh's too. Best of all, unlike so many musical genres, Filk is pretty much exclusively performed by people having fun for people having fun and whilst I can't sing I *can* audience with the best of them.
Posted by: SmartLX | August 18, 2008 9:49 PM
Naming lots of bands which could be counted as "atheist rock" is one thing, but before we campaign for the new channel we need to make sure a decent amount of them are willing to be identified as such, or at least would not rather appear in some pre-existing channel. I think it would be counter-productive to have an atheist category there which is all-too-obviously empty.
Posted by: Richard from Edmonton | August 18, 2008 9:51 PM
This is going back a ways but I always considered The song Roll the Bones by Rush to be atheistic leaning
"Well, you can stake that claim --
Good work is the key to good fortune
Winners take that praise
Losers seldom take that blame
If they dont take that game
And sometimes the winner takes nothing
We draw our own designs
But fortune has to make that frame
We go out in the world and take our chances
Fate is just the weight of circumstances
Thats the way that lady luck dances
Roll the bones
Why are we here?
Because were here
Roll the bones
Why does it happen?
Because it happens
Roll the bones
Faith is cold as ice --
Why are little ones born only to suffer
For the want of immunity
Or a bowl of rice?
Well, who would hold a price
On the heads of the innocent children
If theres some immortal power
To control the dice?
We come into the world and take our chances
Fate is just the weight of circumstances
Thats the way that lady luck dances
Roll the bones
Jack -- relax.
Get busy with the facts.
No zodiacs or almanacs,
No maniacs in polyester slacks.
Just the facts.
Gonna kick some gluteus max.
Its a parallax -- you dig?
You move around
The small gets big. its a rig.
Its action -- reaction --
Random interaction.
So whos afraid
Of a little abstraction?
Cant get no satisfaction
From the facts?
You better run, homeboy --
A facts a fact
From nome to rome, boy.
Whats the deal? spin the wheel.
If the dice are hot -- take a shot.
Play your cards. show us what you got --
What youre holding.
If the cards are cold,
Dont go folding.
Lady luck is golden;
She favors the bold. thats cold.
Stop throwing stones --
The night has a thousand saxophones.
So get out there and rock,
And roll the bones.
Get busy!
Man is my age showing.
Posted by: Eric | August 18, 2008 9:53 PM
Awesome Rush video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwC9bW0q7o4
I don't know if this is their video or if a fan made it, but it's good.
Faithless is almost an atheist anthem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njU2zrHAE-8&feature=related
Also, don't forget God Am by Alice in Chains.
Posted by: sangfroid | August 18, 2008 9:54 PM
I second Rush (Tom Sawyer; "No his mind is not for rent / To any god or government") and John Lennon, and I add Bob Dylan, even though I guess he's folk. With God on Your Side, anyone?
Labeling something atheist rock to counterbalance Christian rock is a terrible idea since "Christian" already means "crappy". Any Christian band that expands its audience beyond youth groups automatically becomes just rock...with songs about Christianity.
Posted by: phdel | August 18, 2008 9:54 PM
There are actually some quite overtly atheist bands in the metal genre, such as Deicide, Atheist, and Cradle of Filth.
Posted by: KikiMarie | August 18, 2008 9:55 PM
I love the Dandy Warhols, and one of their totally excellent songs is "I am a Scientist." Here is an excerpt:
Ah, the Dandys never really get too deep, but they know what's what. :)
Posted by: Iason Ouabache | August 18, 2008 9:57 PM
Cursive needs to be added to the list too. "The Ugly Organ" and "Happy Hollow" would definitely fit into an 'atheist rock' category.