Discovering DC Talk

Dc Talk isn’t a band that I would normally write about. Christian rock acts aren’t my thing and even though some are good I don’t pay attention. Dc Talk started in 1987. If they weren’t a Christian music band, this band would not be interesting. The Beastie Boys started as a punk band mostly due to lack of ability. They lived in an area with a lot of rap and hip-hop so they incorporated that into their act. The Beastie Boys of the 1980s became  more the hip-hop act than anything. I’ve been told that Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth asked them what happened to the punk music you started with? In response they put out a lot of great music in 1990s. They mashed up the rock and the hip hop in ways late 90s nu-metal bands wished they could. 

I bring up this comparison because at first glance you think that would also apply to DC Talk. I listened to a lot of their songs before writing this so I could write a fair story about them. 

DC Talk looks like they followed whatever trend worked. Their greatest hits are a disc of hip-hop and a disc of pop rock. To be fair, I’m listening to their greatest hits as I write this. 

“So Help Me God” is a blend of pop rock with a great sounding guitar pedal music. It even sounds like an attempt at Tom Morrello guitars. 

“Jesus Freak” is that kind of Beastie Boy rap/rock. It’s got the punk ethos in lyrics like “so what if I’m a Jesus Freak.” Do your own thing. It’s not as gritty as a Beastie Boys song. 

“What if I Stumble” is a ballad, a bland ballad. 

“Say the Words” is so catchy, it’s hard not to want to hear it through. 

“Supernatural” has this bubbling under the surface bass and synth that adds atmosphere to this very 90’s guitar rock song. 

They did a remake or reimagine version of Doobie Brother’s “Jesus is Just Alright.” It’s enough of a twist that the chorus and fills are enjoyable. If they left off the silly rap parts. 

Stop Remaking Bill Wither’s “Lean on Me” everyone! Wiither’s version is the one and only. The hip hop updates are terrible. 

So it feels like the members of DC Talk listened to pop radio and said “we can do that.” They do make fairly enjoyable music. But then I could just listen to whatever they heard first and follow those bands.