Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review




dc Talk
Solo: Special Edition



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 7 tracks: 26 minutes, 46 seconds
Street Date: April 24, 2001


After you have a few albums go platinum, one double platinum, a ton of hits, including your own greatest hits album, have started your own record label, and have headlined a few highly successful tours, what do you do next? For dc Talk, the answer is simple... release solo projects. Each member has decided to do their own separate solo project in their own style. To prep their fans with a little something extra before the albums' releases, they've put together Solo: Special Edition. Solo features two tracks from each solo project and a new live song from the band as a whole.

The CD opens with dc Talk's live rendition of the famous U2 song, "40." It's a good live recording and a good praise song. It was cool to finally hear their rendition recorded because when they played it live when I first saw their concert in 1995 before the release of Jesus Freak. I was disappointed it wasn't on the album and am delighted it has finally been recorded. The short song fades out and Michael Tait's band Tait follows with their pop/rock tunes "Alibi" and "All You Got." While the latter is more of a rock ballad, the prior is a catchy, more upbeat song. With the talents of Pete Stewart on guitar, Lonnie Chapin on bass and his brother Chad Chapin on drums, Tait has a strong musical backdrop for his irresistible voice that makes his solo work the best of the three men's efforts.

Kevin Max steps up to the solo batting plate next. "Return of the Singer" opens as if it were about to turn into a techno dance song, but K-Max's voice kicks in and before long drums and bass join him to form a techno/pop/rock blend. When the chorus drops, it almost completely is pop/rock song with the techno sensibilities fading to serve as a musical railroad track to carry the song along. Kevin's voice fits and the music fits his eccentric personality perfectly. Such is true with the slow, calm groove of "Be," a song that encourages the listener to be themselves and to try to be real. This song is almost dc Talk-like but is different enough to stand alone as a Kevin Max original. The songs all have a tiny tinge of dc Talk to them, which of course is expected, but are all good in their own uniqueness as works outside the dc Talk label.

Toby Mac's tunes are no surprise. "Somebody's Watching" is a rap/hip hop tune which pulls a chorus influenced by the famous song from the 80s by Rockwell called "Somebody is Watching." Toby's song features female vocal support by Joanna Valencia and pulls off nicely as a well-structured hip hop cut. The disc ends with Toby's "Extreme Days" song, which is also featured on the movie soundtrack by the same name released 2 months prior. For the fans who have yet to hear this one, Toby slams at the listener with this Kid Rock-like tune which blends modern rock and hip hop with the end result delivering quite the powerful song.

Solo is an excellent way of introducing fans to the solo careers of the members of one of the most popular Christian acts around. Solo is definitely worth a listen.

- Review date: 4/4/01, written by John DiBiase



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

Solo CD

Buy This CD Online


. Record Label: Forefront Records
. Album length: 7 tracks, 26 minutes and 46 seconds
. Street Date: April 24, 2001
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. 40 live - dc Talk
  2. Alibi - Tait
  3. All You Got - Tait
  4. Return of the Singer - Kevin Max
  5. Be - Kevin Max
  6. Somebody's Watching - tobyMac
  7. Extreme Days - tobyMac
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, November 19, 2024
SINGLES
Mat Kearney Certainty - Single (independent)

This Wednesday, November 20, 2024
ALBUMS
1K Phew Let Go Let God: The EP [Reach]

SINGLES
Drew & Ellie Holcomb High Seas - Single [Magnolia]
Sleeping At Last Let It Snow - Single (independent)

This Thursday, November 21, 2024
ALBUMS
The Choir Translucent (independent)

SINGLES
Wilder Woods Curioso [Dualtone]

This Friday, November 22, 2024
ALBUMS
Coqui I'll Still Have Christmas Day - EP [DREAM]
for KING & COUNTRY A Drummer Boy Christmas (LIVE) [Curb]
Hope Through Grace John 20 EP [Southwest Hardcore]
The Kingsmen Decades: Vol. 3 & 4 [Horizon]
Kresher The Adventures of Sylas Spin EP (independent)
Jonathan McReynolds Red & Green - EP [Capitol CMG/Motown]
mewithoutYou Live (Vol. One) (independent)
NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1 (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
NEEDTOBREATHE Live From The Woods (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
nobigdyl. nobigdyl. Unplugged, Vol. 1 [indie tribe]
Josiah Queen The Prodigal (Deluxe Edition) (independent)
R.kitect Vicious Circles - EP (independent)
Run51 Let's Celebrate - EP [DREAM]
Since The Death His Heart Hates - EP [The Charon Collective]
Van Zant Always Look Up [Frontiers Music]
Various Artists Sunshine Acres Benefit Compilation, Vol. 1 [Thumper Punk Records]
Various Artists Sunshine Acres Benefit Compilation, Vol. 2 [Thumper Punk Records]

SINGLES
7eventh Time Down I Speak Jesus - Single [BEC]
99 APEX Find A Way Freestyle - Single [Syntax]
Cory Asbury You're Still The One - Single [BEC]
Ashes Remain Lost Light - Single [BEC]
Paul Baloche Angels We Have Heard On High/Glorious (feat. Sarah Kroger) - Single [Integrity]
Paul Demer Let All Things Now Living - Single (independent)
Elan Brio Sun Rays - Single (independent)
ELEVATION RHYTHM At the Altar (Acoustic) - Single [Elevation]
Happy Powers Garden Song - Single (independent)
Sam Hauge Fame You Can Buy - Single (independent)
Hollyn & Weathrman Trees - Single (independent)
Amy Jay And So It Goes - Single (independent)
Jericko Holy Ground - Single [Syntax]
Reece Lache' Energy - Single (independent)
Vic Lucas Presha - Single [Syntax]
Memphis May Fire Shapeshifter - Single [Rise Records]
MŌRIAH Winter Wonderland - Single (independent)
The Myriad Time - Single (independent)
Cliff & Antoinette Murray O Emanuel - Single [DREAM]
Katy Nichole When I Fall - Single [Centricity]
Makenzie Phipps O Holy Night - Single (independent)
Procyse, Dave A. You’re Not Free - Single [Polished Arrow]
Ravenhill The Shakes - Single [Honey Gold Records]
River Valley Worship This is Our Jesus (feat. Moriah Christian) - Single [BEC]
Scapegoat Solace (feat. MajesticGhost) - Single (independent)
Seph Schlueter Stay (Gonna Be Okay) - Single [Provident]
Jordan Smith How Great Thou Art - Single [Gaither]
TKE3 Found (feat. Leya) - Single (independent)
Vineyard Worship Royal Son - Single [Integrity]

VINYL
NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1 (Vinyl Reissue) [Omnivore]
NEEDTOBREATHE Live From The Woods (Vinyl Reissue) [Omnivore]

Next Thursday, November 28, 2024
VINYL
Van Zant Always Look Up Vinyl [Girder]

Next Friday, November 29, 2024
ALBUMS
Sixpence None the Richer Dawn of Grace (Deluxe) [Flatiron]
Thrive Worship Christmas, Vol. 2 - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
ICF Worship Light of the World - Single [Integrity]
Selah Glory Hallelujah (feat. Mike Weaver) - Single [Integrity]
Slow Salvation The Ghost of Christmas Past - Single [Velvet Blue]
Uche Agu, Revival Today Worship Medley of Hymns - Single [DREAM]

VINYL
Sixpence None the Richer Dawn of Grace (Deluxe) Vinyl (Record Store Day Exclusive!) [Flatiron]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images