Albums 21: Jesus Freak
Jesus Freak
Richard Newton
I wanted this essay to be about a different album, Pearl Jam’s superior sophomore effort, Vs. (1993), Zach Braff’s masterful Garden State soundtrack (2004), or Metallica’s beautifully risky S&M (1999). The playlist in my head shuffled through all of these, but none of them stuck with me long enough to write this essay.
The problem wasn’t the music. For a decade those albums have had a secure place in my rotation. Their lyrics always inspire. I’ve talked about all of them with complete strangers. Simply put, I don’t need a reason to listen to them.
But this essay needed to be about an album I’ve struggled to listen to. This essay is about the songs I can’t stand because they know too much about me. This essay is for the record that saw me through the times I could never forget and thus, choose not to return.
This essay’s for DC Talk’s Jesus Freak (1995). (more…)