Quick Quotes

"...while the music is a keen fusion of rock, soul, and bits of rap, JESUS FREAK'S themes are as timeless as the faith DC Talk reshapes for a generation bombarded by grunge and gangsta grooves..."
- Vibe 3/96, p.133

"...successfully...combines textured vocals, aggressive guitar, and solid songwriting..." - Rating: B+
- Entertainment Weekly 12/22/95, p.68

Notes

DC Talk: Kevin Max Smith, Michael Tait, Toby McKeehan (vocals).

Additional personnel includes: Charlie Peacock (vocals); Ronn Huff (conductor); John Painter (guitar, accordion, bass); Jerry McPherson (guitar, mandolin); Dann Huff (guitar, programming); Dave Perkins, Oran Thornton, Sean Turner, George Cocchini (guitar); Shawn McWilliams (mandolin, drums); Dennis Soley (flute); Mark Heimermann (piano, Hammond B-3 organ, Wurlitzer, keyboards, Moog synthesizer, acoustic bass, finger cymbals, programming); Otto Price, Brent Milligan (bass); Scott Williamson, Will Denton (drums); Terry McMillan (percussion); Todd Collins (drums, percussion, programming); Greg Herrington (programming).

Producers: Toby McKeehan, Mark Heimermann (tracks 1-3, 5-9); Toby McKeehan, Mark Heimermann, John Painter (track 4).

Engineers: Joe Baldridge, Todd Robbins, Russ Long, Lynn Fuston (tracks 1-3, 5-9); Joe Baldridge, Todd Robbins, Russ Long (track 4).

Recorded at House Of Insomnia and Fun Attic Studio, Franklin, Tennessee.

All songs written or co-written by Toby McKeehan and Mark Heimermann except "Colored People" (Toby McKeehan/George Cocchini), "What If I Stumble?" (Toby McKeehan/Daniel Joseph), "Day By Day" (Stephen Schwartz/Toby McKeehan/Kevin Smith) and "In The Light" (Charlie Peacock/Toby McKeehan).

JESUS FREAK won the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album.

"I don't really care if they label me a Jesus Freak...there ain't no disguising the truth." That line shows how Kevin Smith, Michael Tait and Toby McKeehan of dc Talk wear their Christianity on their sleeve. They also, as the saying goes, rock the bells. In other words, they have a message, but the music doesn't ever take a backseat. From "Help Me God" to "Between You And Me," these songs are intelligent and sincere, but are above all, powerful rock and roll tunes.

dc Talk preaches a gospel of color blindness, honesty, and simple kindness, wrapped in a guitar-based sound that mixes '70s-type strings and thick backing harmonies with '90s attitude and rhythms. It also helps that there's more than a little Red Hot Chili Peppers influence lurking under the hood.