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“In the 90s you were able to create out-of-the-box music, and people would really be interested. Radio kind-of put their arms around bands getting out there more and experimenting,” Max remarked.
It is important to recap just how much of a transition Jesus Freak was on dc Talk’s previous releases. Their self-titled record was a gospel/rap album. Nu Thang followed suit as more of an old-school/golden-age rap record, while Free At Last incorporated those elements in addition to adding more R&B, soul, dance, and rock.
Traditionally, McKeehan would create the core of the band’s songs centered around hip hop-style verses, and then carve out a singing chorus along with the producer—which, early on, those foundational sessions were almost exclusively under the guise of acclaimed producer Mark Heimermann. As we will hear from co-producer Todd Collins later (stay tuned to CCMmagazine.com for a track-by-track recollection from Collins and Max), the tag-team of Heimermann and Collins prior to Jesus Freak generally worked on elements of the recordings separately, and at different times.
Those records definitely had more of a TobyMac with his back-up singers, Max and Michael Tait, feel—versus the featured trio each carrying equal weight (the sound that most of us are familiar with). Regardless, at that time, they were still pushing the envelope in the Christian market. Restructuring the way future dc Talk albums were made would be a key part in ushering in a new sound for the band. Max did note in retrospect, that he felt McKeehan would have liked to have executed the majority of this differently, with more of a collaborative effort, perhaps bringing about new sounds even earlier in the band’s tenure.
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I dunno, “what better a way” is there?
EDITORS! EDITORS! EDIT PLEASE
Not a fan of a blatant ripoff of Smells like Teen Spirit. Mighta made Kevin and the boys some money but you act like it changed lives like “Yesterday” by the Beatles or something.
As much as I would love to see an actual dct reunion more then just being on each other’s records. I don’t believe it’s ever gonna happen. I don’t believe we will ever see another dct record or tour. I think all 3 guys have just decided they are more happier to leave things the way they are. I think they only keep saying “It’s gonna happen, we want it” only to keep the dct fans happy that can’t accept that this band is done for good and has been since like 2000-2001. I am for one just happy to have their albums and some concert videos and that I got to see them in concert at least once before they disbanded.
As a Washingtonian I was delight to hear a GO-GO song on the Nu-Thang album over 20 years. That’s just one of the many delights I’ve experienced since their debut album in 1989. I’ve been a fan of their evolution through five albums. If a reunion happens, I’ll be ecstatic but I am grateful for what God has done through K-Max, Tait, and Tobymac when they were together.