Non-English speaking listeners would have a hard time telling Christian rock from secular rock, because there is really no musical difference between the two. Lyrically, however, they can be worlds apart. Even though a Christian rocker might claim
Pearl Jam or
R.E.M. as musical influences, his/her lyrics are likely to have more in common with
Mahalia Jackson. Musically,
Margaret Becker's debut album
Never for Nothing is a good example of late-'80s arena rock and pop/rock -- the melodies aren't unlike something one might have expected from
Heart,
Pat Benatar, or
Vixen back then. If someone spoke Korean or Serbo-Croatian exclusively and heard this LP without knowing anything about
Becker's background, he or she would have assumed it was secular rock. But lyrically, the singer is definitely coming from a Christian perspective on enjoyable tracks like "Break the Silence," "Fight for God," and "Make It Right" (all of which she wrote or co-wrote). Although
Becker doesn't come across as militant or preachy, her religious message is clear. Like most Christian releases,
Never for Nothing was ignored by the secular rock market -- Christian rock seldom crosses over to secular audiences. But it's a decent record that's worth acquiring if you have a taste for slick 1980s arena rock. ~ Alex Henderson