I’ve been writing for this publication for a decade now. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t wanted to revisit some of my older articles and completely reassess them. It takes real courage to challenge the narrative and revisit history. It’s also a risky move that could easily backfire. But when it comes to bold artistic reinvention, industrial icon Al Jourgensen is no stranger to taking risks.
That’s exactly what he’s done with The Squirrely Years Revisited, the latest album from Ministry.
Anyone familiar with Ministry or Al Jourgensen knows the significance of the band’s early years. They formed in 1981 and dropped a single on Chicago’s legendary Wax Trax Records. Ministry soon caught the attention of Clive Davis and landed a lucrative deal at Arista Records. The promise of fame came a harsh reality—22-year-old Jourgensen found himself pressured to sell out before he’d even sell a single album.
Ministry’s debut album, With Sympathy, was more of a living nightmare for Jourgensen, even with all its synth-pop dreaminess. Everything from production and lyrics to music videos and fashion were filtered through Arista’s pop machine. Jourgensen was left with little control over Ministry’s output. After a bitter fallout and lawsuit with the label, Jourgensen returned to Wax Trax and began creating the music he’d always envisioned.
Ministry embraced a darker, industrial sound and became one of the genre’s defining acts. With a string of critically acclaimed albums, Grammys, and influence over artists like Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM, Rob Zombie, Deftones, PIG, Liars, Health, and even Gary Numan’s own later career shift, Jourgensen emerged victorious.
Fueled by his disdain for the Clive Davis-led Arista regime, Jourgensen turned his back on With Sympathy and anything that resembled synth-pop for the bulk of his career. Just mentioning that era in his presence can trigger an assortment of colorful language and a noticeable shift in attitude. Fans who ask him to autograph that album only get it after making a generous donation to a reputable charity. Fast forward to 2025, Jourgensen has seemingly warmed to the cult status of those particular years. At least enough to revisit them through the lens of what his career eventually became.
The Squirrely Years Revisited is a collection of all-new recordings of tracks from the early days of Ministry.
Despite Jourgensen’s disdain for his synth-pop, The Squirrely Years isn’t the radical reinvention some might expect. While there are chunky guitars, snarling vocals, and heavy percussion, most arrangements stay surprisingly close to the original tracks. In fact, Ministry fans will be taken aback by how synths and clean vocals feature prominently throughout!
Such is the case with the opening track “Work For Love” as well as “Same Old Madness.” Another track that keeps its darkwave essence intact is “Every Day Is Halloween.” Of course, this isn’t the first time this Twitch-era 12-inch has been reworked. In fact, this might be the fourth official version.
But there’s something uniquely somber about this rendition. It underscores the true purpose of The Squirrely Years Revisited: This isn’t a cheap cash grab or a contractual obligation to retain copyright. No, it’s a chance to course-correct these cult-classic songs for a new audience. It’s also an opportunity to revisit and appreciate art that’s long been pushed to the back of the closet.
The Squirrely Years Revisited works because these are all GOOD songs.
With post-Arista Ministry’s focus on aggression, political anger, and civil vitriol, Jourgensen’s songwriting talent has been overshadowed. Tracks like “Revenge” and “I’ll Do Anything For You” highlight his skill for crafting a solid pop hook. It’s fun to hear Jourgensen sing about a cheating lover or a stalker-esque romance, especially when compared to his later work that mostly tackles political corruption.
These songs don’t feel like relics of the 1980s. They’re timeless, relevant, and could have been written today. It’s also worth noting that Jourgensen is an underrated singer. Despite the lack of the faux-British accent, this record proves he’s still more than capable of this brand of slightly gothic, dark wave.
As an added bonus, the digital version of The Squirrely Years Revisited features 3 bonus tracks not found on the vinyl edition. While “Just Like You,” “We Believe,” and “Over The Shoulder” are fun, they weren’t exactly begging for the remake treatment. The original recordings came from a time when Ministry was already well on the path to abrasive industrial.
Yet, their inclusion speaks volumes about the project’s broader intent. It affirms my belief that truly great songs can always transcend the era in which they were created. Reworking the past can be a courageous and reckless endeavor, but The Squirrely Years Revisited serves as a compelling example that it can be done. And Al Jourgensen is crazy enough to pull it off successfully.
The Squirrely Years Revisited is available on vinyl/cd from Cleopatra Records