DC Talk’s ground breaking, chart topping, legendary album Jesus Freak turns ten this year.

Could it really be 10 years already?

In honor of the date Gotee Records is releasing FREAKED: The Official Jesus Freak Tribute Project. Follow the link to hear some audio clips. The StorysideB and Reliant K tracks sound great and Sarah Kelly does her best Tori Amos impression. It’s worth a listen.

Wow, 10 years ago I was 16. I had an ’85 Mustang Convertable and I would crank “In the Light” and the title track as loud as I could. As I sang these songs I felt the immense weight and meaning behind the lyrics as they pointed me deeper into the Word and into the arms of my mighty Savior. You can’t help but be sold out to Jesus Christ when you listen to this album.

I remember how much broad appeal this album had. My friend who listen to bands like Cannibal Corpse and Tool was head over heels in love with it. The drive time DJs on the hard rock station here in Dallas would play “Jesus Freak” during their 5 at 5 as commuters headed home. The same for “Colored People” when it was released as a single. I’m not sure I would have ever given Christian music a fair hearing if this album hadn’t come out during this time in my life. In fact, I think we need another album produced as well and as creatively as the original Jesus Freak. An album that unabashedly knocks down stereotypes and reintroduces the world to my Jesus and his kingdom. Truly, that would be a real and fitting tribute.

I am pretty finicky about two things: food and music. On the food side, I tend to avoid jams, jellies, butter, tomatoes, fish, bacon, and cake. I like cheese pizza and vanilla ice cream because you can’t mess those up.

On the music spectrum though I’m all over the map. I only have one rule. If it’s out there and if it’s good, I’ll listen. However, there is one type of music that I tend to avoid like a plague- accapella pop.

You all remember the group Rockapella right? Every time their coffee commercial came on I couldn’t turn the channel fast enough.

It just wasn’t a genre that my ears tune in to. Accapella pop seemed cheap and goofy. I hadn’t listened to it since college and hadn’t planned on listening to it since. Like Nathanael I found myself asking, “Can anything good come from accapella pop?”

Along came Eric Gwin. Eric and I have been attending church together for the past three years. Eric and I hit it off pretty well because we both have a passion for great music. Although, I only listen to great music, Eric makes it.

The Calling is, flat-out, a great album. Where most accapella albums sound over dubbed (all parts are reproduced vocally), The Calling sounds natural. Where most accapella lyrics tend to give me cavities because of their sachrine sweetness, Eric’s lyrics pour forth from a heart tuned to worshipping Jesus Christ. You can hear the truthfulness of this man because the music compliments the lyrics. This is real music.

The quality of this album matches anything you’ve heard. I played some of Eric’s stuff to a group of teens. I placed my favorite track, “The Light”, in a playlist consisting of artists like TobyMac, Matisyahu, and Third Day. The students didn’t miss a beat. The accapella music held its own. Students bobbed their head, tapped their feet, and drummed on the table. The only thing that they noticed about the music was that they liked it.

You know what, I not only liked it, I loved it. I have found myself reaching for the CD time and time again. I know you will too.

So if you find yourself asking, “Can anything good come from accapella pop?” my answer to you is a resounding, “Come and see! Come and see!”