It’s here: The final piece of our Carman trilogy. In episode 16 we chat with our lovely, supporting, and baffled wives about Carman and his must-be-seen-to-be-believed music videos. Jen discusses her first time seeing Revival in the Land, and Corri discusses her experiences with church growing up. It sets the table for an episode on dungeons and dragons, hunky history teachers, demon bartenders, and alligator monsters. This one was a blast, and it confirmed the best way to properl...
20 Apr 2022
Carman: Yo Kidz! feat. Katie Johnson
For our second offering of all things Carman this month, (the “son” in our holy trinity) we look at Carman’s Yo Kidz! (1992). On this album for kiddos, Carman—the 36-year-old man that you can’t believe isn’t 50—introduces us to Lawrence, a big, purple, rapping cat. Lawrence and his gang of cats are on a doomed path of sin and debauchery, and it’s up to Carman to set them straight, through song. It’s an album about homies, chillin’, saying “straight up,” and ding dongs. My sister K...
13 Apr 2022
Carman: The Absolute Best
Did you ask for it? No! But you're GETTING it: Carman! In the spirit of his go-big-or-go-home theatrics, we are giving you THREE episodes on Carman this month. A holy trinity if you will (or won't). Consider this first episode The Father. If you aren't familiar with him, there isn't really any good way to describe Carman in a paragraph. Part minister, part Elvis impersonator, part Broadway performer, part theater actor, and whole culture vulture, Carman entertained crowds with his chari...
23 Mar 2022
Episode 13 - Heart in Motion by Amy Grant featuring Flamy Grant
This is the big one, folks. Heart in Motion is considered the biggest CCM crossover album of all time, and at over five million copies sold on the strength of 'Baby, Baby,' one of the most successful albums of 1991. We invited drag artist FLAMY GRANT on this episode to talk about it. Flamy opens up about her experiences and deep involvement in a strict, fundamentalist Evangelical church. She discusses her late blossom into the confident, queer drag artist that hosts and performs shows around...
23 Feb 2022
Episode 12 - Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace) by Bob Carlisle
Did you know what a butterfly kiss was before this song? Did you ever figure it out? Have you received them or given them out? In 1997, Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace) by Bob Carlisle went sicko mode in minivans across America. Carlisle cut his teeth with the band Allies in the 80s and enjoyed a modest CCM solo career in the early 90s. However, this song shot the 40-year-old Boltonesque crooner into the national consciousness with a loving, soul-baring tribute to his daughter's...
26 Jan 2022
Episode 11 - WOW 1998
(W)o(O)hoo (W)e're back! This week we are dusting the light snow off our winter brains to discuss the red-hot compilation album WOW 1998. 30 Christian Rock MEGA (and not quite) hits, not the least of which includes a spy-themed Eurodance track (Mission 3:16) by the infamous Carman (more on him in months to come!) We reflect on our thoughts about the 'cast so far, and John opens up a lil' more about some of his youth experiences in the church community. Then we get into the album...
1 Dec 2021
Episode 10 - Bloom by Audio Adrenaline feat. John Cullen
It's guest time! You don't want to miss this episode, as John Cullen (comedian from the podcasts Blocked Party and The P.O.D. Kast) stops by for a really fun discussion about a really un-fun band. Kelly got so excited that he forgot that he is also the producer on this show, so bear with the recording at times! Audio Adrenaline were never going to be as big as Jesus. Kelly and the Johns discuss why: they're really bad! John Cullen tells us a great story about how the hell he's heard of Audio ...
27 Oct 2021
Episode 9 - Go West Young Man by Michael W. Smith
This one's a toughie, but in a different way. Michael W. Smith was probably the most important CCM artist in Kelly's house growing up. If you're thinking he wanted to be him...that'd be strange. But you'd be right! Kelly and John discuss their general enjoyment for the songs on his 1990 album, Go West Young Man. But there's a lot going on here. MWS might be...a dum dum? With that hair, who gives a shit?! On this episode's John Joins the Fan Club, John discusses some surprising evidence ...
5 Oct 2021
Episode 8 - Conspiracy No. 5 by Third Day
Calling all Gomers! Third Day had a long, successful career in Christian music throughout the 90s and into the 2010s. After listening to the album John and Kelly try to understand: how?! Both are a bit underwhelmed by the band's second album in 1997. It has the sound of a bargain bin post-grunge act but the melodies got lost somewhere in the shuffle. Kelly discusses his breaking point with Christian music through the transformative sounds of Limp Bizkit, and John shares some surprisin...
8 Sept 2021
Bonus Episode - Steven Curtis Chapman, "Got to B Tru"
Before we leave Steven Curtis Chapman behind for a long, long while, we had to take a quick chat about the have-to-hear-it-to-believe-it duet with Toby Mac, "Got to B Tru."
23 Aug 2021
Episode 7 - Heaven in the Real World
This was a toughie. Our boy Stevie C Chapman is one of the most celebrated Christian Rock artists, with a career spanning almost 35 years and over 10 million albums sold. So where to start? In this episode, we take a look at his sixth album "Heaven in the Real World," released in 1994. Kelly remembers it as a staple in the minivan from that time. John remembers nothing about it, because he had never heard SCC until this podcast. Strap in friends, there's not much to joke about with this gu...
4 Aug 2021
Episode 6 - Going Public Part 2 feat. Kari Scott
We continue discussing our Christian boys from down under in Part 2 of Going Public by Newsboys. Here is a link to the Cross Rhythms interview with former member John James that we discuss on the episode: https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Newsboys_Exlead_Singer_John_James_speaks_about_his_fall_and_restoration/25790/p1/
26 Jul 2021
Episode 5 - Going Public Part 1 feat. Kari Scott
If you know anything about Christian Rock...you've heard of the Newsboys. We knew we had to dig into their 36(!!!) year career early on in this podcast. But with 17 albums, where to start?! Going Public, that's where. Their 1994 breakthrough album features one of the most beloved and longstanding CCM smash hits, "Shine." It snagged the band two Dove Awards (Dovies) in 1994, including Rock Album of the Year and Rock Recorded Song of the Year for "Shine." This episode features our very first ...
24 Jun 2021
Episode 4 - Jars of Clay Self Titled
Hey, Christians aren't perfect either! They get horny and sad too. Along with dc Talk's Jesus Freak, Jars of Clay's self titled debut (1995) further pushed CCM into the secular world. Their single "Flood" was all over alternative rock radio in '96. We look at some of the horny lyrics on the album and try to sing some of the melodies for each other with the help of auto tune. We also discuss some of the more recent, crazy antics of the band, like not fully opposing gay marriage (!?!?) and pl...
26 May 2021
Episode 3 - Nu Thang part 2
What IS the nu thang that God is doing?! In our lives now?
25 May 2021
Episode 2 - Nu Thang part 1
Has pro life ever sounded so damn CATCHY? AWW YEUUH, it's dc Talk's Nu Thang. If the Fresh Prince was too scary for your parents, Nu Thang was probably a mainstay in your Walkman. In part 1 we do some background investigation, including the group's early days at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, this album's relationship to Jesus Freak, and the guys' eventual abandonment of their rap affect later in their career.
25 May 2021
Episode 1 - Jesus Freak
We're going Bible shopping, everybody get in the car. John and Kelly rap about THE Christian Rock album of the 90's, dc Talk's fourth album and musical curveball, Jesus Freak. A 'skin kaleidoscope' of genre and tone, Jesus Freak imagines a world where Kurt Cobain worshipped at the altar of Duncan Sheik and Seal.
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