dc Talk

Item: Solo
Author: Andy Argyrakis

Solo

(2001)

Reviewed by Andy Argyrakis

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Label ForeFront RecordsHM Magazine #90July/August 2001

ccm hip hop pop rock rap rock

It's a shame that three of the most prolific songwriters in the industry, Tait, Kmax, and Toby Mac, who comprise dcTalk, have been reduced to a mere gimmick with this release. Solo seems to be an over-zealous marketing strategy to hype up the respective group members' solo projects due out the second half of this year.

The album starts with an incomplete dcTalk version of U2's standard "40," based off the Psalm of the same name. The track is culled from a live performance, but is reduced to a mere snippet without the standard sea-of-crowd voices singing the "how long" chorus in the background, like they would at a U2 show. The track fades off into oblivion with minimal mixing attempts at closure. From there, it's every group member for himself, and each has two tracks to prove what they're made of.

First up is the Lenny Kravitz inspired Tait with "Alibi." Although the song is crafted with radio friendly potential, it either seems to borrow a bit of the guitar riff from the dcTalk hit "Supernatural," or was a left-over song from Phil Joel of the Newsboys' solo writing sessions. Next up is "All You Got," a soulful acoustic ballad crossing the contemplative stylings of Seal with the urgency of All Together Separate.

Kmax is second to step up to the plate, with by far the most experimental and artistically intricate tracks on Solo. "Return of the Singer" starts out with a distorted Prague disco guitar, laced with high pitched moans in the vein of those found in Vast's single, "Touched." From there, the computer programmed beat boasts Kmax's boisterous vocal range and smooth delivery. "Be" is weak in comparison, featuring more of a coffeehouse atmosphere, but it's backed up with a mild alternative southern twang.

And then there's the most outspoken and industry-active member of dcTalk, Toby Mac. His first submission, "Somebody's Watching," shows his keen influence from the hip hop and urban artists on the scene, like John Reuben and DJ Maj. For whatever reason, Mac feels the need to sample the early 80s hit, "Somebody's Watching Me," sung by the easy to forget artist Rockwell (with a little help from his friend Michael Jackson). Although the track fits the theme of the song, it's one of the last I can think of from the 'decade of decadence' worthy of resurrecting. The final cut on the disc is one that's already been released. "Extreme Days," previously featured on the movie soundtrack of the same name, shows off Mac's attempt to croon Kid Rock. At best, it can be described as a valiant but annoying attempt at jumping on the rap-hard rock bandwagon.

Although the hype outweighs the ingenuity, dcTalk has become something of an international phenomenon, and anything they put out is worth a listen.