dc Talk
Solo
Forefront Records
2001

Seven songs. Three artists. One band. But does 1 + 1 + 1 really equal solo? Is this a new dc Talk album, or an advertisement for something else? Maybe it's a little of both. The solo careers of the three main members of dc Talk have been whispered about for a few years. I swear I've heard rumors that "Kmax's album is coming out this fall" for the last three years now.

Well whisper no more, it's time to shout it. Toby, Mike, and Kevin have all decided to do a new thang--or rather their own thang--for a little while. Is it permanent? That's doubtful, but after they've just released a greatest hits album and a teaser for their upcoming solo projects, I don't think we'll see a bona fide dc Talk album for quite a while.

That said, it seems fair to split up the review into four pieces since that's how the album itself is divided. The first track on the disc is a live performance of '40,' a song written by U2 (with lyrics taken from King David's 40th psalm). The next two tracks are Tait's solo samples, followed by two from Max, and then two from McKeehan to finish off the album.

dc Talk (non-solo)
I'm not ashamed to admit '40' is my favorite track on the album. The harmonies are rich, the instrumentation is moody, and they do the song justice. I only wish I heard more harmony from the following six tracks. That's not to say I don't enjoy the rest of the music, but after hearing how great dc Talk can be over the past few years, it becomes readily apparent why they need each other when they go it alone. The one thing I can't figure out about this song is why it wasn't the last track on the album.

Michael Tait
Michael's two songs begin the solo section of the disc--which is an interesting contradiction because Tait isn't going solo. He's formed a band (called Tait) featuring guitarist Pete Stewart (formerly of Grammatrain), bass player Lonnie Chapin (formerly of Petra), and drummer Chad Chapin. In true-to-life fashion, his songs seem the most "normal" of the three dc Talk members. I'm not saying Tait can't be exciting, but when you have McKeehan and Max to compare to, almost anyone would seem commonplace. That's really how the songs strike me: ordinary. Nice vocals, nice melody, nice thought, nice background music. With lyrics like "Everybody needs to know how much they're loved," from 'All You Got' it's difficult to give it much more than generic respect. Tait is a solid musician, but seems to need a bit more uniqueness.

Kevin Max
One might fault Max for just the opposite if one wasn't too busy dancing. 'Return of the Singer' really woke me up mid-album like an aural slap upside the head. The lyrics might give you a clue as to the energy within: "I'm coming out like a .45 / Spinning like a Wurlitzer on overdrive / Feeling like electroglide / Touchdown satellite, feel alright." It seems one thing Max might need from time to time is someone who can pull his satellite back down to earth.

Toby McKeehan
McKeehan's solo section is easily the most internally diverse of the three. His first song on the disc, 'Somebody's Watching,' is full of R&B grooves and smoothly rapped lyrics (yes, he still loves rap music). The song seems to be partially about people's speculation on the breakup of dc Talk. McKeehan raps, "Suggestions, questions / People want to know / Is there life after talk / Cause there's talk on the road." The second song, 'Extreme Days,' (recorded for the movie Extreme Days, which will be released September 28, 2001) brings the listener into a guitar-laden head-banging mosh pit where McKeehan urges his listeners to see that "We're livin' in extreme days."

This album is a must for any hardcore dc Talk fan. Listeners who aren't as big on dc Talk should sample it before buying it, and check their respective websites for more information. It's interesting to see how each performer's own personality shines through in their own solo songs. In a way, it's also comforting to see that none of the three is able to be dc Talk without the other two. The question now is simple: which is better? (Josh L!)