dc Talk - Jesus Freak
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Free Music Notes for Jesus Freak
Free Music Review: Groundbreaking!!
Hit: 5 Stars
DC Talk expanded their musical palette with this release, fusing their rap/hip hop roots with grunge/psychedelic rock with some lashings of pop; a style that would come to be known in some circles as Nu Metal (way before Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit). Generally, Tait and Kevin Max traded verses with Toby Mac providing rapping.
This album was like nothing before it, and opened the way for Christian groups like Jars of Clay, Audio Adrenaline, Newsboys to name a few. It debuted at #16 in the US, the highest ever for a gospel act at that time, went on to be certified platinum, and won a Grammy for best rock gospel album.
As the tenth year anniversary of its release approaches, I felt it fitting to write a review of this classic.
Opening track `So help me God' is a straight ahead Hendrix-like rock song seeking God's help to live for Him. The verses are muttered and muffled sounding leading to a catchy chorus.
`Colored people' features Kevin Max's dulcet tones (he sounds almost like a beautiful instrument) set to a mid tempo rocker about how we are a skin kaleidoscope by God's design, and a rap by Toby Mac.
Next up is the title track, `Jesus Freak', a hard rock/grunge song sounding like Nirvana. It has soft/low verses, leading to a rapped bridge, a rocky chorus, and back again. The song talks of being labeled a Jesus freak and not hiding the truth. Being a proud ambassador for Christ, and not caring about public opinion. My favourite lyrics are spoken by Kevin Max during a lull in the song; `People say I'm strange/does it make me a stranger/that my best friend/was born in a manger'.
`What if I stumble' is a mid tempo psychedelic rock song which starts off with a voice telling us that Christians are the greatest single cause of atheism in the world today, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and deny him with their lifestyle. Stunning acoustic guitar and Tait's soulful vocals with lyrics expressing concern at stumbling and falling and the effect it will have on those watching.
`Day by day' features Tait and Kevin Max trading verses to a mellow rocker which builds to a rocky chorus and lyrics about following more nearly and loving God more dearly day by day.
`Between you and me' is a haunting mid tempo R&B/pop song with great guitars and percussion and featuring Tait and Kevin Max on vocals. I particularly love the final minute of the song with the dark sounding guitars and Kevin Max's ad libbing out.
`Like it, love it, need it' starts of almost like a pop song which gradually gives way to wailing guitars and a rocky chorus, and some rapping by Toby Mac. Very alternative sounding.
As if the prior songs were not great enough, the next group of songs are simply outstanding, musically and lyrically. First up is a remake of Charlie Peacock's `In the light', a lilting, reggae tinged song with scratchy guitars and Tait's and Kevin Max's vocals really soaring while singing lyrics about the inner turmoil most of us go through in our quest to please God.' I despise my own behaviour/this only serves to confirm my suspicions/that I'm still a man in need of a saviour'. Charlie Peacock provides some vocals towards the end. Outstanding!
The atmospeheric, brooding mid tempo `What have we become' features melancholic sounding guitars, Kevin Max and Tait singing, and Toby Mac providing some rapping to a song questioning what we have degenerated to as a society, Christians included, and citing some stark examples.
`Minds eye' is a beautiful mid tempo rock song about the overwhelming evidence of God's existence all about us. The fact that we can't see Him does not deny his existence.
Finally, after a silence of about 2' 20" minutes comes (in my opinion) the highlight of this superb CD; a dramatic string-laden narration of a poem by Kevin Max, with cryptic lyrics alluding to Christ's crucifixion. Delicate guitars enter the fray about half way through and some percussion and swirling strings at the end of the narration. This song never fails to move me and conjures a visual image of that dark night.
What can I say? This is simply a masterpiece, one of my all time best albums.
Free Music Review: Excellent Rock Album
Hit: 5 Stars
Jesus Freak is one of the best christian rock album's ever made. It's title song is excellent and will have you humming it for months. Toby Mac's rapping abilities are used to their fullest, and the grunge guitar is simply awesome.
A must have album for all of the freaks out there, "like me."
Free Music Review: ..............what?
Hit: 2 Stars
I cringe whenever I read a review on here (or elsewhere), proclaiming that this is one of the best Christian albums ever. I cringe because, quite simply, this album is horrible, and, as arguably the most present dc Talk album in the general market, it symbolizes the one-sided support this band / group / whatever has received from the church.
Is this what the apex of Christian artistry has come to? C.S. Lewis said that we are far too easily pleased. Although he was speaking of spiritual yearnings, this axiom is incredibly applicable in this case.
I do not like this album because it represents everything wrong with the Nashville-CCM industry: safe, undaring, deathly dull music by the church, for the church. Play this CD for any music fan with a modicum of sensibility and they will laugh you out the door. It's greatest asset, it's "diversity", falls directly flat on its face. Throwing together a cadre of genres onto one CD isn't any more "diverse" or "original" than a canvas with random paint splatters, with barely any rhyme or reason.
The church once lead the way in music, in the middle ages through Renaissance; we were the innovators and border-smashers, not the followers.
If you really want to get involved with somewhat groundbreaking music from a Christian worldview, check out these albums. I come from a metal / hardcore background, so this list is biased. However, outside of metal and jazz, there's no other genre that bothers to push the envelope of artistry, especially not disposable pop. THIS IS WHAT THE CHURCH SHOULD BE DOING, not following the latest trends outside of the church. This is by no means an exhaustive list...just what I can think of at the top of my head, so take it for what it's worth:
Strongarm - Advent of a Miracle
Zao - Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest
Extol - Undeceived
Eso-Charis self-titled
Element 101 - Stereo Girl
Tourniquet - Psycho Surgery
Maria Solheim
Further Seems Forever - The Moon Is Down
Believer - Dimensions
Underoath - Changing of the Times
Hopesfall - No Wings to Speak Of / The Frailty of Words
Life In Your Way
Eisley - Room Noises
I gave 2 stars instead of 1 because, although the lyrics are incredibly trite, I do appreciate the fact that they were clear in what they believed. Gotta hand it to them there.
Explore. There's lots going around this here internets these days, and for God's sake (literally!), find another band to uphold as Christian art!
Free Music Review: The best I've found in Christian music!
Hit: 5 Stars
This CD and Supernatural are the two best Christian CD's I've ever listened to. I went through a big conversion experience in '98 and this is the album that I listened to after I dropped my secular rock (it just seemed too evil during that time)! I've been looking for something as good in Christian music ever since and never really found anything that compares, except Switchfoot, maybe. I mean, I liked DC Talk and Switchfoot because they were just good straight up rock musicians but with the "Truth". That's all I want, I don't want that bubblegum Michael W Smith clone crap, it makes me wanna puke. CS Lewis once mentioned that he didn't think we needed more art about Christ we need more people with artistic talent that had the Truth. What you get in Christian music alot of times is alot of emotion but little talent. It was refreshing to see talented bands like DC Talk and Switchfoot spread the Truth.Free Music Review: Just a great collection of tunes...
Hit: 5 Stars
An awesome Christian Rock CD. I originally bought it on the strength of the title track, and now it's one of my least favorite on the disc, (which is just to say it's an absolutely great song amid a collection of unbelievable stuff). But don't be fooled by the driving nature of "Jesus Freak" and "So Help Me God;" so many of the other songs are notable for their soulful melodies rather than their catchy guitar riffs. "Colored People" starts out with a line from The Simpsons, but don't hold that against it. "In The Light" is very moving and is the tale of probably most Christians, but the first among equals is "If I Stumble." It's soaring chorus and musical simplicity is just stunningly beautiful.
If you're looking for something really moving in Christian Rock - and isn't that the point - you need to have this one in your collection.