Publisher's Weekly Review
Few would deny the social and political power that evangelical Christianity wields in the United States. But still fewer would have guessed that the genesis of this surge of influence was so closely tied to rock and roll music. Stowe, professor of English and religious studies at Michigan State University, offers a serious and impressive examination of how rock and roll music, once derided as evil by conservative Christians, was slowly integrated into their religious agenda. The advent of Christian rock, with roots in the Jesus Movement of the 1960s, provided a space within popular culture for Christian discourse. Such high-profile mainstream musicians as Bob Dylan, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye helped cement an evangelical influence on popular culture with their highly publicized Christian conversion stories and song lyrics infused with religion. The author argues persuasively that Christian rock helped moor baby boomer Christians to their evangelical roots by making their religion more individualistic and less judgmental. Anyone even remotely interested in American or religious studies will be captivated by this study. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Choice Review
Stowe (English and religious studies, Michigan State Univ.) ties the rise and development of Christian rock from the Jesus Movement to the growth of the conservative evangelical movement of the late 1970s. Not only did Christian rock transform the way that the evangelical church worshipped, it also presented themes that were prominent in the New Christian Right, especially regarding end-times prophecy. Enlightening are the portraits of Lonnie Frisbee, Larry Norman, Johnny Cash, Keith Green, and Bob Dylan, as well as accounts of events like Explo '72 and Jesus Christ Superstar. While illuminating the relationship between Christian rock and the growth of the Calvary Chapel and Vineyard churches, Stowe fails to examine other evangelical denominations like the Assemblies of God. He briefly mentions conservative critics of Christian rock like Bob Larson (who later became a supporter) and David Noebel, but he does not examine how foes of the music were handled. The biggest battle over Christian rock would come in the 1980s with the emergence of Christian heavy metal groups like Stryper. This fight would also involve Pentecostal critics like David Wilkerson and Jimmy Swaggart, in addition to conservative ones. Summing Up: Recommended. Most levels/libraries. W. T. Lindley Union University
Library Journal Review
Stowe (English & religious studies, Michigan State Univ.) traces the development of Christian pop and rock music from the counterculture San Francisco hippie scene of 1967's Summer of Love to the election of President Ronald Reagan in 1980. He delves into the contributions and the lives of some songwriters and performers who, because of their lifestyles or religious stances, found themselves at odds with the evangelical community and were therefore exorcised from "official" histories of Christian pop music. Stowe ties together the music, the Sixties counterculture scene, the rise of evangelical Christianity as a political force in the 1970s, and the startling move from liberalism to conservatism of former hippies over the course of 1967-80. VERDICT The exploration of musical/social/political connections is perhaps the greatest strength of this well-written, carefully researched book. Stowe explains the early development of Christian pop and rock music more thoroughly than perhaps any other book available. Highly recommended.-James E. Perone, Univ. of Mount Union, Alliance, OH (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
