Eclectic-Thrice, RED, Children 18:3

Here are a few bands that  I wasn't sure of where exactly I should put them.  There are songs here that verge on hardcore as well as some that are basically alternative rock, sometimes from the same band.  Because I found them hard to categorize, these bands are getting their own category of difficult-to-categorize bands.

Thrice Lead vocals/guitar/percussion-Dustin Kensrue, Guitar/keyboards-Teppei Teranashi, Bass/keyboards-Eddie Breckenridge, Drums-Riley Breckenridge

Thrice, in one respect, is similar to the Classic Crime (see the Lightweights post): they aren't a completely Christian band because some of the members are not Christians.  However, their lyricist is a Christian and most of their songs are dominated by Christian themes.  I find their music very spiritually moving and uplifting.  They have songs about spiritual freedom, grace and seeking God.  That said, they are also a very talented band with an enormous range of sounds.  Just look at the fact that nearly every member of the band plays multiple instruments.  Thrice's songs often will incorporate interesting effects or obscure instruments in order to make their music unique, which they have certainly succeeded in doing.  Their songs range from the soft and subdued to the loud and raucous, with no loss in quality in either direction.  I had a hard time limiting the number of songs to post to even four.  Thrice has a lot of amazing material out there from a very productive career.

Image of the Invisible

Red Sky

The Earth Will Shake

Stare at the Sun

RED Lead vocals-Michael Barnes, Lead guitar-Anthony Armstrong, Bass/piano-Randy Armstrong, Drums-Joe Rickard

RED is a Christian band that has gained a great deal of publicity in recent years, but here's the skinny for anyone who hasn't heard them yet.  This band has found a great sound with a combination of heavy, intense songs and beautifully heartbreaking slow songs.  They've been compared to Linkin Park, but that's not an entirely accurate description.  The band does feature a piano (quite successfully) in many of their songs to fully bring out the emotional depth of the lyrics.  Even though they are a Christian band, several of their songs have made their way onto mainstream radio.  RED has tended to grow heavier over their three-record history, but their style and skill has been consistent throughout.

Death of Me

Breathe Into Me

Ordinary World

Pieces

Children 18:3 Lead vocals/guitar-David Hostetter, Bass/piano-Lee Marie Hostetter, Drums-Seth Hostetter

Children 18:3 is a member of that somewhat rare breed, the Christian punk band.  As you may have gathered from their names, Children 18:3 is made up of three siblings who have formed a band.  They have a fast-paced, lively sound with an edge.  They keep up a fast-paced tempo on the drums and typically feature that signature punk guitar sound on their songs.  David Hostetter, their lead singer, has a good voice, which is just a little rough around the edges (in a good way).  If you look up a picture of the band (or watch the music video for Cover Your Eyes), you'll see that they have definitely have tailored their appearance to match their genre.  The only thing about which I can find a fault with them is that I wish their songs were longer!

The Cruel One

Rain's a-Comin'

Cover Your Eyes