Today's syrupy church music is probably responsible for driving more Catholics away from Mass than anything the bishops teach.

I remember the advent of the guitar Masses in the 1970s.  That folksy music was actually far better than the damp-palmed pablum like "On Eagle's Wings."

Since the 70s I've also noted that the music dept. seems intent on taking a major role in the Mass, filing up every spare space that used to be an occasion for group recitation with "da da da da dah dah! hey everybody let us sing the words for you!"   Don't need it, don't want it.

I think everybody knows that Black churches get music right -- they make a genuine "joyful noise."  I can appreciate that popular parish efforts are trying their best to do likewise, but the result is irksome noise.