The old hymns are far from dead. I think a lot of people are just tired of them as they have sang the same songs all their lives. If I have to hear "I'll Fly Away" again, it will be too soon!
I get really tired of some pop artists, too. The band's lyrical content has to really mean something to me, or the music gets old quick. Casting Crowns and Mercy Me are two that keep my attention with years worth of playing.
But, I don't want to knock modern rock or metal bands with killer messages, either. Seventh Day Slumber writes some really meaningful songs for me. Letter 7, the new Titanic, Grimmark, etc. have some killer Christ focused songs, too. But, with the pop & worship scenes, it has always been about writing something that endears completely to the heart without going after great musicianship. I can think of dozens of pop bands that I can't tell you who the guitarist is due to him doing nothing to stand out. With hard rock/metal, musicianship is more of the focus while trying to make the music bridge the gap to reach the heart.
In the end, it's all about whether our choices of media (music or otherwise) help to draw us closer to Christ or drive a wedge between us.
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"DEJA MOO--The feeling that you've heard this bull before!"