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We're back! In this episode we discuss the Christian Rock period of Bob Dylan's discography: the trilogy of albums Slow Train Coming, Saved, and Shot of Love. Did you know that Dylan played harmonica on a Keith Green song? Also, learn how Dylan tried to convert his producer Jerry Wexler while recording Slow Train at Muscle Shoals. Is Bob Dylan still saved? Also, we touch on the Michael Tait controversy.

Bands/ Artists discussed:

Bob Dylan

Grateful Dead

Sinead O'Connor

Keith Green

Dire Straits

Conor Oberst

Elvis Presley

Steve Taylor

DC Talk

Newsboys

S.F.C.

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at [email protected].

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

We finally get to Matt and Doug's all-time favorite Steve Taylor album, 1987's I Predict 1990. We cover the first three songs, beginning with "I Blew Up The Clinic Real Good", about an ice cream salesman who blows up an abortion clinic to make sure he still has a clientele to sell to. Next, "What Is The Measure Of Your Success" skewers the big business Wall Street culture of the 1980's, and remains even more relevant today. Finally, "Since I Gave Up Hope, I Feel A Lot Better" tackles higher education (maybe?) and explores how a nihilistic worldview leads to hopelessness, despair, and ultimately the exploitation of others for empty personal gain.

Also, Doug describes his dream where he walks arm in arm with our current President and has a heartfelt conversation. Weird stuff.

Bands/ Artists discussed:

Steve Taylor

The Doors

Echo & the Bunnymen

Michael Knott

Lust Control

The Smashing Pumpkins

XTC

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at [email protected].

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

We cover the second half of Steve Taylor's album On The Fritz, focusing on two songs: "I Manipulate", which tackles the warped theology of Bill Gothard, a minister who preached strict hierarchy in the family, and "Lifeboat", which critically discusses Values Clarification, a movement in the early 80's that emphasized personal values over values given from authority figures like parents or the Church. Plus, are Christians the new moral relativists? Is empathy a sin?

Bands/ Artists discussed:

Steve Taylor

Documentary: Shiny Happy People, about the Duggar family and their involvement with Bill Gothard's Institute for Basic Life Principals.

Video: Lifeboat - Steve Taylor, in which Steve dresses up as an old woman and gets murdered by her students.

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at [email protected].

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

We continue our comprehensive exploration into Steve Taylor's ouvre, this time tackling his second full-length album, 1986's On The Fritz. We cover the secularization of the sacred with "This Disco (Used To Be A Cute Cathedral)". We try to figure out what "On The Fritz" means. We discuss whether "It's A Personal Thing" makes sense anymore in our current political climate. Then we go deep on one of our all-time favorite Christian Rock songs, the stone-cold classic "To Forgive", which is a reminder of what is true and beautiful about the Gospel, and makes us think of the movie Magnolia. 

Bands/ Artists discussed:

Steve Taylor

Voivod

Terry Scott Taylor

Gene Eugene

Nick Cave

Kanye West

Aimee Mann

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at [email protected].

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

We continue our ridiculous in-depth, track by track analysis of Steve Taylor's first full length album, 1984's Meltdown, covering the last five tracks. Standouts include the great song "Sin For A Season" and "Guilty By Association".

Bands/ Artists discussed:

Steve Taylor
Starflyer 59
Dance House Children
Pixies
The Smiths
Morrissey
Mountain Goats
The Weakerthans

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at [email protected].

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

We continue our track by track analysis of Steve Taylor's work. We only get halfway through his classic first full-length album, 1984's Meltdown, because there is so much to talk about. Highlights on this side include Taylor's groundbreaking song "We Don't Need No Colour Code" which boldly takes on racism in the Church, and "Am I In Sync", which is one of our all-time favorite Steve Taylor songs.

Bands/ Artists discussed:

Steve Taylor
Chicago Bears Shufflin' Crew
The Fat Boys
Run DMC
Public Enemy
Barry McGuire
Larry Norman
Bob Dylan
Conor Oberst
Pleasant Grove

Opening sketch is Bill Pullman from Saturday Night Live Season 22, Episode 3

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at [email protected].

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

We're back for a new year! This is the first in a series of episodes diving into the music of Christian alternative rock artist Steve Taylor. His music was ubiquitous in our youth, and we are going to go deep into his songwriting, both musically and lyrically. Steve Taylor was a pioneer in Christian rock, using his formidable songwriting skills to skewer American culture and Church culture with quick wit and scathing humor, starting with his first EP, I Want To Be A Clone, which was released in 1983. We do a track by track analysis of this album in this episode, and of course this spawns some great conversations.

Bands/ Artists discussed:

Steve Taylor
Chagall Guevara
Larry Norman
Russ Taff
Petra
Silver Jews
Sugar Hill Gang
Grandmaster Flash
Blondie
Eminem
Pedro the Lion
Dire Straits
Sixpence None the Richer

Book: God Gave Rock and Roll To You: A History of Contemporary Christian Music, by Dr. Leah Payne

Podcast: Rock That Doesn't Roll: The Story of Christian Music

Thanks to @christiannightmares for the ad clip at the cold open.

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at [email protected].

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

We continue our conversation with comedian Jeremy Alder. He describes how his preaching stints at Mennonite services primed him for standup, and how his divorce led him to find a connection in the stand up comedy community. He discusses the art of "clean comedy" and how his negotiations with the faith of his childhood have provided a source for his work.

Bands/ Artists discussed:

MC Hammer
Pleasant Grove
Silver Jews
Purple Mountains
Drive By Truckers
Jason Isbell
Ghoti Hook

References:

Book: Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger - Ronald J. Sider

Jeremy's Instagram: jeremy.alder

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at [email protected].

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

We interview the standup comedian Jeremy Alder, who draws comic inspiration from being brought up in a Fundamentalist Christian family and being homeschooled his whole life. He talks about loving Michael Jackson, then being confused when all the cool music and his TV suddenly went away. We explore the dubious science and anthropology lessons from the A-Beka homeschool curriculum, remember the great Christian musician Rich Mullins, and follow Jeremy's journey through the Tooth and Nail catalog, culminating in his forming a Christian Rock band called 9-veh.

Bands/ Artists discussed:

Fleetwood Mac
Michael Jackson
Russ Taff
DeGarmo & Key
Keith Green
Rich Mullins
Carman
Stryper
One Bad Pig
Lust Control
MxPx
Stavesacre
Value Pac
Ghoti Hook
P.O.D.
S.F.C.
Scaterd Few
Poor Old Lu
The Prayer Chain
Larry Norman
Joan Osborne
Black Eyed Sceva/ Model Engine
Gin Blossoms

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at [email protected].

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

We diverge from our usual discussion about music to touch on the intersection of Christian faith and politics. Using Lee C Camp's recent book Scandalous Witness  as a starting point, we discuss the various attempts by Christian religious movements to co-opt U.S. politics from the left and the right, and try to articulate a proper Christian response to political action in a pluralistic, secular democracy.

Sounds like fun doesn't it? We think so..

Bands/ Artists discussed:

Sean Feucht
Danny Gokey
Lost Dogs
Swirling Eddies

References:

Podcast Episode: Faith For Normal People - Lee C Camp

Book: Scandalous Witness - A Little Political Manifesto for Christians by Lee C Camp

Short Film: For Our Daughters

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at [email protected].

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com