Has it really been over 10 years?!

So I'm waiting for a piece of hardware at work to finish backing up and it's taking all my computer's resources so much that all I can do is surf some web and maybe check e-mail. I thought this would be a good chance to update faithful readers about random thoughts in my head.

So next Tuesday a compilation called "Freaked!" is being released which is a 10-year tribute album to dcTalk's ground breaking "Jesus Freak" album. That album not only shaped my junior high years, but also defined our generation of Christian music. The innovations and advancements on that record set new standards and opened gateways to Christian artists today. Safe to say, I don't think a record that perfect overall had ever been released before nor has ever since then from the Christian market. It's kind of weird, but all in the same time frame these three albums released while I was a church youth group goer: "Jesus Freak" by dcTalk, "Take Me To Your Leader" by The Newsboys and "bloOm" by Audio Adrenaline. In that order, I think were the top 3 Christian albums ever as a whole and no one since then has quite matched the artistry mixed with commerical flavor those records did. Granted there have been some great albums, and those artists put out some records that our youth group went crazy over, but those three were iconic. Maybe that's why Christian music has faded in my eyes. I really haven't listened to much Christian music the past few years and it's been mostly due to the fact that I'm very unimpressed as a whole. Granted, Sixpence None The Richer was a band that made music critics take the edge of their seats and Michael W. Smith always made a print on my soul...I'm even to this day an avid Rebecca St. James fan (her album "God" made it close to the three classic albums I named.) Smitty and James I'm more a fan of their actual talent and specific songs rather than records though. Sixpence had a couple good records too...

Speaking of Audio Adrenaline's "bloOm", I just saw that Audio Adrenaline is releasing their farewell record and accompanying it with their final tour. I can't believe that is coming to an end as well. Also, I read that Out of Eden is ending their 13 year run as a musical group. Wow...13 years?! I remember when Out of Eden was first coming together and they did the cover of Bill Wither's "Lovely Day" and then their second record came out with "More Than You Know", "You are the Sunshine" and "Then and Only Then" and I saw them with my youth group on tour with Big Tent Revival - the band, I know it sounds like some church labor day event doesn't it? I also remember "Jesus Freak" coming out a little over 10 years ago and it changing my life (I bought 3 copies of that CD because I wore out 2 of them!). And Audio Adrenaline, holy cow, where would have my junior high years been if not for "Big House", "Never Gonna Be As Big As Jesus", and that song about "13 kids in an old church van!"

I can't believe it, the walls of my history are slowly being torn down...but I guess that's what makes it history, it was and not is. I guess now at least I can hold on to the memories, I plan on getting "Freaked!" the day it comes out and soaking in the music like I did so many years ago. I've heard clips of it already, and so far I think it stays true to dcTalk's original creation with a couple new voices...there are a couple exceptions in there, but otherwise, a worthy tribute.

Ah the years go by...Russ and Ginger, who would have thought rocking out to Jesus Freak, Big House and Breakfast so many years ago would still feel great just thinking about? I think I'll have to dig up those CD's tonight and drive to Taco Bell with the stereo blaring...yeah that sounds like a plan...

-Rod

P.S. Russ, I still have that Stryper poster, it was in my bedroom in High School, it moved with me to every dorm and apartment in college, and now it is framed in my apartment in Delaware...Ginger, I still have my Scott Blackwell techno mixes and Susan Ashton greatest hits albums, every so often, I jam along with "You Move Me" or "All Kinds of People" haha...hope to talk to you guys soon...