Music Video Monday: Moonracer

Welcome to an all new edition of Music Video Monday. There are no classic videos this time around, so it is an all new edition this time around. We have a couple of lady legends in the making and one guy who is definitely a legend already, both from his part in a legendary Christian Band and a legendary solo career afterwards. But, as they say, ladies first.

First up we have Sarah Reeves, who has been quite active as of late. First with an EP entitled Easy Never Needed You and now with a steady Stream of single releases. This is the video of one of those single releases Just Want You.

Next up is one of our favorite local artists, Lauren Daigle. (Actually I don't know, but we knew a family named Daigle, and they did have a daughter named Lauren, and the times might coincide, but there is no evidence the singer was born in Massachusetts. It's a nice story though). This is the video for You Say.

Our male legend is Kevin Max, formerly of the legendary Rock/Hip Hop act DC Talk. He has done very well on his own since going AWOL. This is Moonracer, which has a James Bond sounding name (That was Moonraker by the way).

That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. We return to our 3rd Quarter Wrap. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: June 2018

Welcome back to another edition of Night Beat Rewind. We are back at Night Beat HQ after our Independence Day Holiday. That is the 4th of JULY to the rest of you. Yes, July. And with the end of June also ends the 3rd Quarter of #PlatVnyl9. Yes, we have only three months to go. It is partly due to how big this year has been that we are way behind on #PlatVnyl8. Partly.

We begin with those songs released during the month, or as we like to call it:

The Singles Scene

• Austin and Lindsay Adamec - Streams 4.75 Emeralds
• As I Lay Dying - My Own Grave 5 Emeralds
• Francesca Battistelli - The Breakup Song 5 Emeralds
• C Boss - Summer Fun 4.75 Emeralds
• Mack Brock - Into Dust 4.75 Emeralds
• Aaron Cole - Off My Back 4.75 Emeralds
• Color Theory - In Space No One Can Hear You Cry (Will Rock Remix) 5 Emeralds
• Emasound - I Know 5 Emeralds
• Austin French - Good Feeling 5 Emeralds
• Tom Golly - His Name Is Jesus 4.75 Emeralds
• The Gray Havens - Forever 4.75 Emeralds 
• For King and Country - Pioneers 5 Emeralds
• Edu Linares - One In A Million (ft Goshen Sai) 5 Emeralds
• Marshall Marshall - One of Us (IAIRVS DJ Remix) 5 Emeralds
• Leigh Nash - Don't Get Me Wrong 4.75 Emeralds
• North Point Inside Out - Unshakable Love ft Brett Stanfill 4.50 Emeralds
• North Point Inside Out - Changed ft Heath Balltziglier 5 Emeralds
• Sarah Reeves - Easy 4.75 Emeralds
• V.Rose - S.O.S. 4.75 Emeralds
• Jay Sanon - Swerve Off 4.50 Emeralds
• Scandroid - Red Planet 4.75 Emeralds
• Tony Tillman - Tryna Get It ft Byron Juane 4.25 Emeralds 

On to the albums. We have a critical ear here at Night Beat HQ. We don't just hand out 5 Emerald ratings like candy, though you may wonder in just a moment. These are the releases that don't make the cut.

Missing The Mark

• Antioch Live - History's Anthem 4.25 Emeralds
• Xay Hill - Red Ranger, Part 2 3.75 Emeralds
• John Mark McMillan - The Mercury Sessions 4.25 Emeralds
• Nobigdy - Solar 3.75 Emeralds
• Peabod - Healthy Snacks 3.50 Emeralds
• Corey Wise - 4 Ever is Now 4.25 Emeralds

Now to the perfect albums. The Candy Man Can.

Pure Platinum Perception

• Chris August - Seasons 5 Emeralds
• The Choir - Bloodshot 5 Emeralds
• God's Chosen - God's Chosen 5 Emeralds
• Hillsong Young and Free - III 5 Emeralds
• Jeremy Johnson - Legendary 5 Emeralds
• Kevin Max - AWOL 5 Emeralds
• Chris McClarney - Breakthrough (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Jasmine Murray - Fearless 5 Emeralds
• Plumb - Beautifully Broken (Remixes) 5 Emeralds
• Somniscape - Calm, Volume 1 5 Emeralds

10 Perfect albums in a month. Talk about candy store. Though a 6/10 ratio is fairly balanced, though slightly sugary. The big amount, as usual, is in the middle.

Semi-Precious Metal

• Amman/Josh - Pieces EP 4.75 Emeralds 
• Marqus Anthony - Walking By My Faith: Through The Storm EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Cory Ard - The Blackout 4.75 Emeralds
• Jonathan Cain - The Songs You Leave Behind 4.75 Emeralds
• Circle of Dust - alt_machines 4.75 Emeralds
• John DeGroff - Salt 4.75 Emeralds
• Jonny Diaz - Sweetness and Sorrow EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Enterline - Kingdoms 4.75 Emeralds
• Fades Away - Resurrection, Part 1 EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Heartsound - Heart Sound: Live From Vineyard Boise 4.75 Emeralds
• Here Be Lions - Only a Holy God 4.75 Emeralds
• Highland Worship - Vol 2: Jesus You Alone EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Impending Doom - The Sin and Doom Volume 2 4.75 Emeralds
• Javen - Grace 4.75 Emeralds
• Lecrae - Let The Trap Say Amen 4.50 Emeralds
• Lexi - Just Listen 4.50 Emeralds
• Kevin Max - AWOL Deluxe Demo Sampler EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Steven Malcolm - The Second City, Part 2 4.75 Emeralds
• Owl City - Cinematic 4.75 Emeralds
• Teresa Peterson - Faithful EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Plumb - Beautifully Broken 4.75 Emeralds
• Sareem Poems - Mind Over Matter 4.75 Emeralds
• Prafitz - Nazarene Movements EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Leon Timbo and Northern Lights United - Invitation to Worship, Volume 1 4.75 Emeralds
• United Pursuit Band - Garden 4.50 Emeralds
• Joey Vantes - The Vantes Project III 4.75 Emeralds

What a month. A great way to close a quarter. The 4th Quarter Awaits. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply

Music Video Monday: Speak To Me

Welcome Back to Music Video Monday. We have been on an irregular schedule these days, but we are slowly getting regular. The best way to do these things is one day at a time.

We begin with a Lyric Video from Ashes Remain. They will be kicking off #PlatVnyl9 with the release of Let The Night In on October 27. This is RISE.
You RISE in the Morning, when there is Lights. Val is back with Skin and Earth, and she  took the Kevin Max route by combining a Graphic Novel with an Album in a concept album. I have been posting the videos as I find them. This is New Fears. Skin and Earth dropped last Friday. Go get it.
And finally, our favorite goth girl is back.  Amy Lee (aka Evanescence) is coming out of retirement once again. While the band will be back for a best of String sessions entitled Synthesis this November, Amy has been busy on her own. The video is Speak To Me, and it is the end title sequence song for the movie Voice From The Stone. Now the Movie was back in April, and it was the end of the movie, but if anyone left the theater while Amy was singing, I just don't want to know you. You just have no music appreciation. Check it out.
That's the end of this edition of Music Video Monday. One step at a time. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

MVM Special Edition: #PlatVnyl7 Alternative Video of The Year Nominees

We are slowly continuing our announcements for the final nominees for this years genre based Video Of The Year Awards. We move on to Alternative Video of The Year. And sometimes with this category we mean both the musical genre and, well, if you watch the video you will know what I mean. To the nominees: Blankets of Night by Hammock; The Girl With The Tiger Eyes by Kevin Max; Monument by Mutemath; Take Me by The Ember Days; and Wow To The Deadness by Steve Taylor and The Danielson Foil. As always we package things nicely in a playlist. No errors this time.
That does it for Alternative Video. I will be off tomorrow. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Ceasefire

We may be on an erratic schedule, but we keep plugging away. Welcome back to an all new edition of Music Video Monday, and I mean all new. These videos are really fresh.

We begin with one of my favorites, the +Annie Moses Band . Now I know that Annie Wolaver is the lead by virtue of her first name (I Mean, there had to be an Annie fronting The Annie Moses Band, didn't there?) but personally I have always liked Gretchen the best. And now they recognize it. From American Rhapsody, which is nominated for #PlatVnyl6 Pop Album of The Year, this is Where You've Always Been, which proves to me Gretchen should split lead some times.

Next up is the return of Kevin Max. He released an album with such little fanfare that it totally slipped in under my radar. The title of the album, out in April, was Playing Games With The Shadow, this is Girl With The Tiger Eyes.
Finally, we close with our teased video, from +for KING & COUNTRY . The video is called Ceasefire, and it is being tied in with the upcoming remake of Ben Hur. Now this is one of those movies that I think I am going to make an effort to see even at Full Matinee Pricing. I loved the original, and the original story is written by a soldier. The novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of The Christ came out in 1880. By that time Lew was already a Lawyer, Soldier in the Mexican and Civil Wars, where he became a general, presided over the trial of Henry Wirz of the infamous Andersonville Prison, and territorial Governor of New Mexico. Then he just pens the most influential Christian Book of The 19th Century. Based on this video, I think I'll check out the movie. Ceasefire.
Well that does it for this week. We shall return next week with another rotation of Music Videos. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Misteltunes: The 2016 1st Quarter - Adult Contemporary

We are down to the final three posts. Going from least to the grand winner. The least in this case is Adult Contemporary with 10 entrants in the pool. Let's get to it.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• Consumed By Fire - Lean On Me - EP
• Phillip LaRue - You
• Kevin Max - Starry Eyes Surprise
• Michael O'Brien - Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs
• Phillips, Craig and Dean - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best Of Phillips, Craig & Dean
• Sanctus Real - Best Of
• Stu G - Have You Heard: 20th Year Anniversary (Remixed and Re-Mastered)
• John Tibbs - Dead Man Walking - EP
• Tim Timmons - Awake Our Souls
• Jean Watson - Steady My Gaze

Of the ten entrants, it is quite stacked with veterans. Phillip LaRue was part of LaRue back in the turn of the century backing up Rebecca St. James, Sanctus Real is a mainstay in the genre, as is PCD. Stu G might not be a household name, but he should be. He was the Backing Vocalist and main guitarist for Delirious? from 1994-2009. That's saying a lot. The newbies have got a high bar to reach. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

#PlatVnyl6 v. #WLCMA4 - The Album Awards, Part One

The matchup begins. As we mentioned in our last post, the +We Love Christian Music Awards recently announced their nominee pool, and we here at the +The WENC Night Beat were pleasantly surprised to find we are pretty much on the same page. We go now to the actual nomination comparisons. We start with the Album Awards. One slight Caveat. We have not yet finalized our nominees yet, so I can only speak with possibilities except in the case of Perfect 5's, which are considered Automatic Qualifiers for the finals.

The Hook Awards correspond to our Pop Album of The Year. Our biggest problem with this bunch of picks is we seem to have a difference of opinion on our definition of "Pop". Their nominees.

• Blanca - Blanca 4.75 Emeralds
• Jonathan Thulin - Science Fiction 5 EMERALDS 
• Kevin Max - Broken Temples: Deluxe 5 EMERALDS
• Mat Kearney - Just Kids 4.75 Emeralds
• Ryan Stevenson - Fresh Start 4.75 Emeralds 

We agree with Blanca and Stevenson, and at 4.75 we shall see if they make the finals in Pop. Jonathan Thulin and Kevin Max, however are automatic qualifiers for Alternative, not pop, and Kearney is in the mix in Rock. I wish to suggest the following Pop Albums for Consideration. 

• Annie Moses Band - American Rhapsody 5 EMERALDS
• JJ Heller - Sound of A Living Heart 5 EMERALDS
• Plumb - Exhale 5 EMERALDS
• Kerrie Roberts - My Hearts Lifted 5 EMERALDS

The Softlight Award correspond to our Adult Contemporary/Inspirational Album of The Year. Again we seem to differ in our genre interpretation. Their nominees

• Chris August - The Maker 4.50 Emeralds
• Jeremy Camp - I Will Follow 4.75 Emeralds
• Lauren Daigle - How Can It Be 4.75 Emeralds
• Plumb - Exhale 5 EMERALDS
• Sidewalk Prophets - Something Different 5 EMERALDS

Of the five Daigle and August are in the right genre in our opinion, though August most likely wont get in the finals at only a 4.5. Plumb isn't her usual dance, but AC? Please. It's Pop. And Jeremy Camp and Sidewalk Prophets are both Rock. Only Two AQ's for AC from us for your perusal.

• Big Daddy Weave - Beautiful Offering 5 EMERALDS
• The City Harmonic - We Are 5 EMERALDS

The Prose Award, which they say is for Singer/Songwriter Album of The Year, would seem to correspond to our Folk/Folk Rock Album of The Year. You can check my latest rant to see what I think of the Singer/Songwriter label. Anyway, their nominees.

• Andrew Peterson - The Burning Edge of Dawn 4.75 Emeralds
• Cindy Morgan - Bows and Arrows 4.75 Emeralds
• Jon Guerra - Little Songs 4.50 Emeralds
• Josh Wilson - That Was Then, This Is Now 4.75 Emeralds
• Sara Groves - Floodplain 5 EMERALDS

We have a number of problems to sort out here. One is misplaced genre, as Wilson and Morgan are Pop. Guerra is AC/Insp. Except for Guerra's 4.50 I Think they would make a fine finals. Our biggest problem is the meshing of eligibility years. Ours run from Oct 1- Sept 30, so Andrew Peterson and Sara Groves, while excellent choices, are in the running for #PlatVnyl7, not the current #PlatVnyl6 year. Again, not much for Folk AQ's but here are ours.

• Jennifer Knapp - Set Me Free 5 EMERALDS
• The Vespers - Sisters and Brothers 5 EMERALDS

I can hear the peanut gallery screaming "Jennifer's Not Christian Anymore". I never heard her renounce Jesus. These two are in big time.

As to picking, here goes. I think Blanca should get the Hook Award, Daigle the Softlight and Sara Groves the Prose Award. We'll hit another bunch next time. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Shemita Songs: The 2015 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Alternative

As we begin our single genre postings, tied for 6 entries, which is the lowest of this quarter, is Alternative (or Alternative Rock, if you prefer). It was tied with Live Recorded Album, which, though not an official genre, I have included it in the mix for the first time, and it is among the genre based albums in the finals, and not in the General Field. Let's get to it.

Alternative Rock

• Anberlin - Cities: Live in New York City
• Jon Foreman - The Wonderlands: Darkness
• Jon Foreman - The Wonderlands: Shadows
• Gungor - One Wild Life: Soul
• Kevin Max - Broken Temples (Deluxe Edition)
• Switchfoot - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best Of Switchfoot

Anberlin gets to double dip with a listing here and in Live Recorded Album. Gungor just continues to excel at everything and Kevin Max is as steady and excellent as ever. Next up is Rap and Hip Hop. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Ol' Starry Eyes

There is a shakeup in the Board, folks. It's official, we have a new Chairman. It's a good thing too, there is a woeful supply of true crooners in music today. Who knew the new Chairman would come from Christian Music? Yes you heard that right, Christian Music.

Kevin Max has blazed quite a trail since the breakup of DC Talk. In my opinion he has been the most successful solo act of the three. Sure TobyMac made the biggest splash and being the lead singer of Newsboys is nothing to poo poo. Still Kevin Max has blazed his own path. Author, Actor, and Singer, his shimmering vocals have proved a difficult fit for most pop music. While I was a skeptic when Audio Adrenaline picked him as lead singer for their reboot, it worked because they tailored the music around Max and not the other way around.

No tailoring needed here. Kevin Max is a crooner at heart, and his recently released album Starry Eyes Surprise is evidence, complete with Kevin Max decked out in a tux on the cover. The songs are all what we at the Night Beat call "Clean Secular", nothing to be ashamed to hum here. His voice is made for Stranger in the Night and Sunglasses at Night, and especially the closing Moon River

I have been playing this continuously since I found it on Soundcloud, and I think everyone should have this blessing. There is no way that this doesn't rate a perfect 5 Emeralds. As befitting the "old school" theme this is no Digital Download. We have a CD Only release folks, at least via Amazon. The link to purchase and support the Night Beat is here. 
Kevin Max Starry Eyes Surprise

I would only be repeating myself again and again if I said anymore. This album is a great deal. You'll kick yourself if you don't get it. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Running on Adrenaline

Well it is true, the Zombie Apocalypse is here. Unfortunately it is in the music industry. I never thought you would hear me say this, but sometimes a band has to know when to hang it up. It's especially hard when it is a band that I have been with from the start.

The Year was 1993. The place was Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Worcester, MA. A Hip Hop radio station out of Boston, Jam'n 94.5  FM was the sponsor. The Headliner was this little unknown band by the name of DC Talk. I know that sounds strange now, but they were a relative unknown at the time. This was the tour that made them.

Opening for the trio was a real unknown. They were about to release their sophomore album which was to be called "Don't Censor Me". In addition to the title cut, the big hit off that album was "We're a band", which really rocked down the house. Of course the fan favorite that would go down in history was called "Big House". That band was called Audio Adrenaline, or in New England vernacular Wicked Loud.

Audio Adrenaline lived up to their name, and that was a good and a bad thing for the band. Every kid loves loud music, but it does take a toll on the voice, and it did to Lead Vocalist Mark Stuart. Considering that the name was Audio Adrenaline and not the Mark Stuart Band, you would think that they could have plugged a new Lead Vocalist into the mix and kept on going. They chose not to do that, so after a run of eight studio albums in 13 years, plus a few live albums and compilations, the band broke up in 2007. Music Trivia Fact: They outlived their headliner that day by 7 years, as DC Talk broke up in 2000. 

Here at +The WENC Night Beat we put a hiatus limit of 5 years on a band. If there is no activity within that time they are, at least unofficially broken up if there has been no official announcement. There was an official announcement, but just about the time we would have done it anyway, in 2012, there was movement. The band was 're-forming', but without Stuart. Former DC Talk crooner Kevin Max was the new lead, and we were skeptical to say the least. Kings and Queens dispelled the skepticism as the band was tailored to his "shimmering vocals". It did very well at the Platinum Vinyl Awards. Unfortunately it was a one and done for Max. 

Now it is time for Version 3.0, one too many for my taste. Nobody from the original is left, and we are breaking up bands left and right. Abandon, Stellar Kart. Time to put the zombie out of its misery. The sound, just like any other band, and that's a shame. Let us remember the good old days with nostalgia before even that is gone. I am Awaiting Your Reply.

God Save The Kings and Queens

Reboots are all the rage these days. Sometimes they work. Take Batman for example. The Dark Knight may be a little tough to take for some, especially when your first introduction to the superhero was the Adam West TV Show. Still, if you've ever gotten ahold of some of the early comics, and I saw them in a library book a long time ago, Superman was a vigilante who really wasn't all to concerned if the police got to arrest the criminal, only that he was stopped. So it actually is closer to original intent. Then there are times that it doesn't work. Take the new Spiderman. Now, I admit, Emma Stone is cute, but how can you have Spidey without Mary Jane. Plus it really got bogged down in back story, IMHO.

Which brings me to Audio Adrenaline. When the band broke up back in 2006 it shocked a lot of fans, and we pretty much despaired of ever seeing Audio A. again. It was strike two for anyone who liked DC Talk. Combine with that a big Breakup in the punk world with Bleach a few years before that and it seemed that Christian Rock was in a big time decline.

The only thing that died was DC Talk, but the band has, by its death, Resurrected Christian Rock. First came the solo act known as TobyMac, bringing the Rap/Rock sound mainstream, and incidentally killing Rap Music by making it an offshoot of Rock. Michael Tait had a brief solo career as well but that quickly fizzled. But now he has come into his own as lead vocalist for Newsboys. Then there was the third member of the group. Kevin Max. Like Toby Mac he seemed to have a thriving career as a solo artist, and that unique "shimmering" voice seemed to be a good fit for alternative. No one would have called him a rock singer. But they would be wrong.

The Audio Adrenaline reboot, entitled Kings & Queens [+video]  is pure genius. Surviving original member Will McGinnis knew they couldn't sell a reformed band singing old songs for long, so he blew it up. Recruiting former members of Superchick and Bleach and K-Max on vocals, the new edition has been tailored to Maxes voice. By way of comparison, go to my Flashback Friday post on the band for a look at the "Classic" sound.

This album got my "Wow" Meter Broken. The only thing linking the two Audio Adrenaline's is the name, and that's a good thing. Both are superior products so there can be no comparison. In retrospect 5 Emeralds seems too low, but that's as high as the meter goes. Kings and Queens is lacking in "adrenaline" but Kevin Max isn't a screamer. The lyrics shine here. There's even a bit of snark.

"A new face, all new friends, a new medicine. I don't need a big big house, a new job, with the same benefits."
"It's a Christian ship but she's sinking quick. Now my life's a mess and I want to change it".

Now don't tell me that it's a coincidence that Audio A's first hit was Big House. Or That Kevin Max had a poem at the end of Supernatural that was called "there's a treason at sea". A little bit of attitude prevails.

Click on the highlighted album title to get the download through Amazon and support the Night Beat at the same time. Welcome Back Audio Adrenaline. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Flashback Friday: Taking it Worldwide

Dictionaries are completely useless things. Case in point, I turned to Webster to help define our latest band, and it wasn't in there. I decided to break the name into its constituent parts and try that way, and this is what I got.

• Audio: adj. of or relating to sound or its reproduction and especially high-fidelity reproduction
• Adrenaline: noun. Epinephrine (Okay, so that was useless. What's epinephrine?)
• Epinephrine: noun a colorless crystalline feebly basic sympathomimetic hormone C9H13NO3 that is the principal blood-pressure raising hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla and is used medicinally especially as a heart stimulant, a vasoconstrictor in controlling hemorrhages of the skin, and a muscle relaxant in bronchial asthma —called also adrenaline

ZZZZZZZZZZZ. Oh, Sorry, dozed off there for a second. Like I said, completely worthless. Never let a dictionary do what you should do for yourself. Ladies and Gentlemen, Audio Adrenaline.

You've got to love a band whose name means, basically, Loud Music. Formed in 1986 as A-180, the original lineup was Mark Stuart, Barry Blair, Will McGinnis, David Stuart and Phil Vaughan, who all went to Kentucky Christian University. By 1991 they had gotten the attention of Toby MacKeehan (TobyMac) of DC Talk and Signed to Forefront Records.

I came to the attention of the band in 1992, they were the warm up act for DC Talk on their Free at Last Tour and came to Worcester Memorial Auditorium (no longer in existence). I proudly consider myself an Adrenaline Junkie (the bands term for their fans). The Classic Audio A lineup was:

• Mark Stuart: Vocals, Guitar
• Will McGinness: Vocals, Bass
• Bob Herdman: Guitars, Keys
• Ben Cissell: Drums
• Tyler Burkum: Guitars

They produced eight studio albums in their first go round

• Audio Adrenaline (1992)
• Don't Censor Me (1993)
• Bloom (1996)
• Some Kind Of Zombie (1996)
• Underdog (1999)
• Lift (2001)
• Worldwide (2003)
• Until My Heart Caves In (2005)

Some of the songs had a sort of demented humor to them. Take DC-10, one of their early songs, which I discovered on Underdog.

"A 747 Fell out of heaven, crashed through the roof of a 7-11
You're working on a slurpee, things get hazy
reach for a twinkie, now you're pushing up daisies
Do you know where you're gonna go."

Who knew that they would survive Hostess?
Audio Adrenaline is one more example among many of one of my musical facts of life. If you want to have a great soft ballad, have a hard rock band write it. Rock bands know how to slow it down very nicely. On the other hand AC and soft bands seem silly when they try to rock it out. Pierced, Leaving Ninety Nine, Hands and Feet, Good Life. All of these are excellent ballads by Audio Adrenaline. They also did one of the best versions ever of It is well with my soul (a duet with Jennifer Knapp). How that song turned into a morose funeral song I'll never know. It always made me wonder "Is it well with your soul?" I give you one of my favorite Audio Adrenaline ballads, Ocean Floor.

Mark Stuarts voice shot to you know where, the band broke up in 2007, but that is not the end of the story. The band recently reformed with only McGinniss among the original members. The new Audio A is filled out with Dave Ghazarian of Superchick, Jared Byers of Bleach and, at Lead Vocal, Kevin Max of DC Talk. Now I love Kevin, but I'm not sure he's the right fit for this band. You saw some of Audio A, but this is Kevin Max. You decide.

We shall see how things turn out for the new Audio Adrenaline. I myself am eagerly awaiting the new album.

I hope that you enjoyed this look at one of the great Alternative Rock bands of Christian Music. We have completed another rotation. Next Friday we return to The Commonwealth of CCM and the land down under as we cover Rebecca St. James. Tomorrow we return to the Christmas Parade. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Flashback Friday: Jesus Freak

"What will people do when they hear that I'm a Jesus Freak?
What will people do when they find that it's true?
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus Freak
Cause there aint no disguising the truth."

(DC Talk, Jesus Freak)

If there ever was a supergroup in Christian Music, then DC Talk was it. Christian Music is itself a niche in the Music Industry, and Hip Hop is a small (though growing) niche in it. While Hip Hop and Rap have a lot of fans, I don't think, at least in the CCM world, any would deny they are a fringe group, compared to the vast AC/Pop/Country contingent. (Nothing against the fringe, Industrial, Techno, Metal, Folk. All of them are pretty much fringe niches.)

That being said, the thought that a rap trio from Jerry Falwell's Liberty University would rise to the top of the Music Industry would have been summarily dismissed as insane, but facts are stubborn things. Kevin Max Smith, Michael Tait and Toby McKeehan. To Millions of Christian music fans as DC TALK.

The name originally stood for Decent Christian Talk, and rap was originally the sound. The group (can't say band because none of them played instruments) released 5 studio albums in a career that stretched from 1989 until the turn of the century.

• DC Talk (1989)
• Nu Thang (1990)
• FREE AT LAST (1992)
• Jesus Freak (1995)
• Supernatural (1998)

Free at Last (1992) was the dividing point between phase one and two of the groups existence. Phase One: Rap Phase Two: Rock. I was introduced to the group at this point. They were headlining a tour where the warm up act was some group that never seemed to catch fire in the Christian World. I think their name was Audio Adrenaline. (Yes that was sarcasm). Also a warm act was East of Eden ( I believe that was their name). This is the video for Luv is a Verb from the album.

Jesus Freak (1995) launched the group into super stardom, and the hip hop laced rock group had their album go double platinum and got signed by Virgin Records. There is no better way to describe it than show it. This is Jesus Freak.

Finally we came to Supernatural (1998). The group went its separate ways after this, and hopes for a reunion are dead. Michael, Kevin and Toby all went into solo careers, though not much came of Tait the band, and Kevin Max was more of an artiste. Only TobyMac achieved solo stardom. This is consume me from the album.

The epilogue to the band. Michael Tait became the lead vocalist for Newsboys, and Kevin Max has signed on to a reformed Audio Adrenaline. As to the latter we shall see, because Audio Adrenaline's style doesn't exactly fit with the "shimmering voice" of Max. I hope you all enjoyed this edition of Flashback Friday. We begin a new rotation next week as we cover one of the bands mentioned in this post, that of the Australian Pop Rockers Newsboys. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

High Concept

Once Upon A Time, A long long time ago (1987) in a city far far away (Lynchburg, VA), three friends started a band that took the Christian Music world by storm. Michael Tait, Kevin Max Smith and Toby McKeehan were the friends and the group was DC Talk.


DC Talk broke up in 2001, but the members have continued to make an impact on the CCM world. Michael Tait (the singer) followed up his solo act (TAIT) by becoming lead singer of Newsboys (you may have heard of them). Toby McKeehan (the rapper) dropped his Irish name and went on to Rock success as Toby Mac.

And then there was Kevin (The Poet). Even while a member of DCT he dropped the Smith and was just Kevin Max. His solo debut was Stereotype Be (2001). I guess in my own way I have stereotyped the former DC Talk Members, but that is the way that things worked out. Toby started out in the Rap/Hip Hop arena, though that has blended into Rock for most artists these days, and Michael "wanted to do the Rock thing" (one shot, Newsboys Born Again). Spoken Word poems like there is a treason at sea on Supernatural were Kevin's forte. And now, it seems, so are angels.

Fiefdom of Angels: Side One is Max's latest, and true to form it is beautiful, very middle eastern sounding, and very esoteric. This time around he is exploring the origins of angels and the devil and dragons, and has a Graphic Novel paired with the release. The graphic novel is the idea of Max along with a few collaborators, notably Mike Bullock (The Phantom), Tyler Walpole (World of Warcraft Trading Cards), Peter Mohrbacher (Kabam Games), Josh Aitken (Gladiator), and Rob Schwager. He certainly didn't skimp on the talent. Of course, from the download, it is a teaser. The story goes on only for about 5 pages or so and the rest (23 Pages) is description, maps, bio. I was somewhat disappointed on that front. I would like to have seen more on the Graphic Novel front.

I was more impressed by the EP (Side One). The EP kicks off with Send Me An Angel, which seems to be about love and dating. We don't seem to really switch to the theme of the Angel Wars until End of The Beginning. Thanks to Soundcloud I can embed the player allowing you to listen to Shadowplay and Dragon Attack, cuts three and four on the EP. Sorry, Dragon attack isn't allowed to embed, click on the link for listening on soundcloud.  

I am going to give Fiefdom of Angels: Side One a preliminary rating of 4.5 Emeralds. I don't usually promise to readjust a score, but I am going to do it in this case. I want to hold out for side two if I can. It could be equal to side one or it could be an Impostor. Who knows. It is promising, however. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.