Customer Reviews

Jesus Sound Explosion (Association of Writers and Writing Programs Award for Creative Nonfiction)

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I purchased "Jesus Sound Exposion" yesterday and became quickly captivated by Anderson's engrossing memoir of navigating his adolescence and young adulthood between the twin poles of Evangelical Christianity and Rock n Roll.

Anderson transports his readers to a parallel universe riddled with dualisms: Heaven or Hell, Jesus or Satan, chastity or making out, etc. The book presents an honest look at the conservative end of the Christian spectrum and the narrow-minded worldview that accompanies it. Picture a typical 17-year-old boy compelled to share "The Four Spiritual Laws" with his high school classmates, motivated by visions of hellfire awaiting the unrepetant.

But Anderson leavens the tale with humour and musical discoveries while dispensing grace to his parents, siblings, and Sunday School teachers. While no longer a believer per se, Anderson reveals a significant amount of personal growth and maturity, eschewing fundamentalism and black/white thinking for a catholic (little c) worldview that encompasses divorce, teaching, retail work, and the horns blaring out on Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run."

Mark Anderson's account of his life growing up in the 60s and 70s and his relationship to pop music, Christian music, God and teen sin is immensely fun and entertaining. I hope he writes another book soon!

Maybe my own fault for not fully researching the book, but was disappointed that the author was only 11 at the time of Explo '72 and too young to go. So then, I hoped it was an informative account of contemporary Christian music of the '70's and into the '80's. I found out it is another bland book of "look at me, I'm coming of age" and a few attempts at humor. I really gained nothing by reading it.

I had to read Jesus Sound Explosion in a creative writing course. This is a memoir by a guy who was raised Christian, being a pastor's son, but lost his faith. He loves rock music, and throughout his youth and young adulthood, rock competes with religion for his allegiance, eventually winning.
It may not be intentional, but the book gives the sense of a wasted life. Mr. Anderson somehow never got it. My professor believed Anderson was, consciously or not, seeking salvation by works rather than by grace through faith.
Anderson is nobody famous, but as of the publication date, teaches writing at a college somewhere--Minnesota, I believe the book said. The title of the book comes from the album collecting the music from "Explo '72"--a Woodstock of Christian rock bands.