I miss Acoustic Shack

I don’t really listen to much contemporary Christian music these days. I’m still in love with some Christian bands from the 90s (Dakoda Motor Co., PFR, Caedmon’s Call). As a matter of fact, even with non-Christian stuff, I’m still in love with the mid-90s (Poe, Portishead, Toad the Wet Sprocket, the Fugees).

I still remember the first time I heard Acoustic Shack. It was after some youth group meeting on a Friday night, and one of our youth group counselors was going to give me a ride home. Before we drove off from church, though, he asked me to listen to something. I liked what I’d heard, and when he told me it was a Christian band, I was like, “What?!” (At this time, Michael W. Smith, DC Talk, and Amy Grant were pretty big; and Petra and all the Christian “heavy metal” bands were just cheesy).

So I got the CD (Fret Buzz) from the nearest Christian bookstore (which was 45 minutes from my house), and I loved the whole CD. When a friend of mine lent me a tape (yeah, what we had before CDs and right after records) of Acoustic Shack’s first album (which was self-titled), I loved them even more. Yes, the drums were all pre-programmed on the first album, but I liked the guitar solos and melodies a lot better than on the second one.

For years I listened to those two albums over and over again. I wasn’t too impressed with the third album A Distant Bell, and I never got to hear the fourth album.

Recently, I got nostalgic for Acoustic Shack and tried to track down more information about them. I found out that Michael Misiuk formed some band called The Kreepdowns, and I wasn’t able to find much about it at all online, so I gave it a shot.

I found a used copy of it for sale on Amazon (clearly no one else cares about The Kreepdowns, because the CD was less than the price of shipping, and the shipping was only a couple of dollars).

Well, I finally got the CD today, and it’s okay. It’s no early Acoustic Shack. It’s actually quite a bit heavier (a lot more electric guitar and screaming). I just gave it a quick listen, and so far “Cello” (the second track) is the only one that’s half-way decent.

If, like me, you’re nolstagic for a bit of good mid-90s Christian rock, there are a couple of YouTube “videos” (watch the album cover while you listen to the music) of Acoustic Shack:

“Radio Play”
I love the little multiple-guitar dance that happens between 2:10 and 2:50.

“It’s Good to Know”
2:15 to 2:50 on this song has a nice little acoustic guitar solo.

“Torment Party”
No real guitar solo here, but the song just has a nice sound to it overall.

Too bad Lisa and Michael Misiuk aren’t making any more music. I wonder what they’re doing these days.

7 comments

  1. Not be disparaging, but I can honestly say I have never heard any Christian music past hymns. What makes music Christian and what is the attraction?

  2. @Atomac
    That’s not disparaging at all. It’s an honest question. In terms of what makes music “Christian,” that’s a debate that even Christians alone could have with each other for years. Usually what people call “Christian” music is music that is created by someone publicly claiming to be a Christian and that has some lyrics explicitly in line with Christian doctrine.

    Occasionally you have supposedly non-Christian bands singing songs that seem Christian (ones I can think of off the top of my head are the Indigo Girls’ “Prince of Darkness” and the Housemartins’ “Caravan of Love”); and occasionally you have self-proclaimed Christian bands singing songs that are known as secular (Sixpence None the Richer’s “Kiss Me”).

    The appeal to a Christian of Christian music is simply the subject matter it covers. Music is an expression of our commitments, emotions, loyalties, dreams, and heartaches. And a lot of people who are religious like to express that religious commitment musically.

    I hope that helps answer your question.

    @greg
    Glad you like it.

  3. I’ve been an Acoustic Shack fan since the first album. I liked Distant Bell a lot. I actually think it is their best. Redeeming the Time is hymns and choruses done in a style that is a cross between distant bell and the eponymous debut. It’s acoustic and rootsy, but also with a heavy sense of groove – worth checking out.

  4. WHY DO THEY LOOK SO MISERABLE ON THE FIRST ALBUM? (I’m not into figuring out meanings)

  5. The first album is a favorite. A track on that album that still intrigues me is “Nicole and Lindsey;” a soft, ethereal piece that has a touch of sadness to it. I’ve often wondered if there is a story behind it.

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