I Wish We'd All Been Ready - dc Talk, Norman, Larry
Chance - dc Talk, December, Nathan
Sugarcoat It - dc Talk, Heimermann, Mark
Mrs. Morgan (Act II) - dc Talk,
It can't be said enough that DC Talk is one of the most relevant and critical forces of change in the history of Contemporary Christian Music. They brought the sounds and words of the streets into the consciousness of main... more »stream Christianity. And musically, they've done it in the most pleasing manner. This hits package is but a mere glimpse of the brilliance Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Smith have displayed in so many styles throughout their 10-year career in DC Talk. There are beautiful ballads of forgiveness ("Between You and Me"), riveting rockers of conviction ("Jesus Freak"), and the quiet, stark realities of being role models ("What If I Stumble?"). New cuts "Say the Words (Now)" and "Chance" play up the sweet melodies these guys know so well. Older fans will enjoy the inclusion of "Luv Is a Verb" and "Socially Acceptable." As long as the group keeps its finger on the pulse of the mainstream and its heart focused on the Almighty, another decade of hits is a good bet. --Michael Lyttle« less
It can't be said enough that DC Talk is one of the most relevant and critical forces of change in the history of Contemporary Christian Music. They brought the sounds and words of the streets into the consciousness of mainstream Christianity. And musically, they've done it in the most pleasing manner. This hits package is but a mere glimpse of the brilliance Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Smith have displayed in so many styles throughout their 10-year career in DC Talk. There are beautiful ballads of forgiveness ("Between You and Me"), riveting rockers of conviction ("Jesus Freak"), and the quiet, stark realities of being role models ("What If I Stumble?"). New cuts "Say the Words (Now)" and "Chance" play up the sweet melodies these guys know so well. Older fans will enjoy the inclusion of "Luv Is a Verb" and "Socially Acceptable." As long as the group keeps its finger on the pulse of the mainstream and its heart focused on the Almighty, another decade of hits is a good bet. --Michael Lyttle
April L. from ASHEBORO, NC Reviewed on 2/28/2007...
this was really good. I love their quirky sense of humor on Mrs. Morgan.
CD Reviews
Solid Collection From One of CCM's Best
Michael Janke | San Diego, CA | 11/22/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After ten years full of growth, tours, awards, records, and conflict, dc Talk is at an intermission in their recording career. Appropriately, they have released a greatest hits project entitled INTERMISSION: THE GREATEST HITS. This 19 track album consists of 13 classic hits, two remixes, two new tracks, and two interludes (that bring back the infamous/beloved Mrs. Morgan).The previously released hits were selected with the help of dc Talk fans online. It's a solid collection, featuring classic songs like "In the Light," "Jesus Freak," "Jesus Is Just Alright," and "Supernatural." The songs cover the period from FREE AT LAST forward, leaving off the group's self-titled debut and NU THANG. There's not much to complain about with the track selection and, though anyone could point to an omission or two, the songs that were selected are worthy of inclusion. The two remixes, "Say the Words (Now)" and "Hardway (remix)" are interesting. I particularly enjoy the new "Say the Words" mix, which adds a lot of ambiance and energy to a song that I previously didn't enjoy so much.There are two new songs which close out the album. "Chance" is a cool mid-tempo acoustic-based cut with a solid hook and message. Next, "Sugar Coat It" turns it up a notch. Production-wise it could fit nicely on the SUPERNATURAL album. The lyric confronts our modern society's tendancy to "sugar coat" sin, and offers the Christian response. In a nice surprise the bridge finds Toby rapping again in his trademark (ultra-cool) style.INTERMISSION is a solid collection that any new fan of dc Talk should pick up. It offers a great retrospective of the group's main years of popularity and growth. Older fans will have a harder decision to make, but with the inclusion of the new tracks, the remixes, and a few songs from non-dcT albums ("My Will" and "I Wish We'd All Been Ready"), the pain of spending the extra $ shouldn't be quite as harsh. INTERMISSION ranks up there with the better best-of albums and is a great bridge into the next ten years of dc Talk's career. Four and a half stars."
A MUST for any serious Christian music collection
Kevin Rogers | Jackson, MS USA | 11/22/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"DC Talk is back again with a collection of their best work over their last three albums, encompassing 11 years of evolution into the most dynamic and talented Christian group today. This album is a must for any serious Christian music collection, but because of the quality of the songs, would be a great buy for someone who wants to know what Christian music is all about. The CD includes two remixes, the first of which is a mainstream-ready dance mix version of "Say the Words," and two new songs: "Chance" and "SugarCoat It," which continue with DC Talk's 'pull no punches' theme of upfront, honest commentary on life. Also included on the album is "Jesus Freak", one of the best Christian songs ever written, and "Between You and Me", which had success in the mainstream market. The album is a unique blend of rock 'n roll and pop, with a little soul, harmony, and hip-hop mixed in. From the heavy rock of "Supernatural" to the heart-felt ballads of "What if I Stumble?", "I Wish We'd All Been Ready", and "My Will," this album contains a wide range of music that shows why DC Talk has been so successful: diversity. DC Talk refuses to shy away from social issues, such as racism, with pop hits like "Colored People," and DC Talk refuses to shy away from God with pop ballads like "In the Light" and "Consume Me." All in all, this album contains 17 songs, which are certain to give younger Christian music fans a taste and appreciation for the older music of DC Talk, and music fans in general a chance to see what Christian music is all about."
How can you go wrong with this?
John V Smith | Gulfport, MS USA | 11/22/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"You get all the great songs by dc talk in one great cd. I enjoyed the remix of "Say the Words" and the inclusion of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan as the next-door neighbors (from the "Jesus Freak" album). While the new songs included don't reach out and grab you, they do grow on you (so listen to them a few times before you decide if you like them or not). My only complaint with this album is they claim to celebrate 10 years of dc talk, but only cover seven with the selected music. While the first two records weren't smash hits like Free at Last - Supernatural, they could have at least included one song from the first two, say "Heaven Bound" and "Walls". I think by including early material you can fully appreciate the rest of the body of work. Other than the oversight of "DC TALK" and "Nu Thang", this album transitions smoothly between songs. Put this on your wish list."
Dc Talk serves up hits
Matthew Dunlop | Coral Gables, FL United States | 11/22/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have been a die-hard Talk fan for several years now. One thing I admire about the band is that they don't feel that it is necessary to release an album a year, but rather wait until they feel they have enough quality material to make a killer album. To keep us happy though, the boys do release a package every couple of years, such as their numerous videos, live cd, and now the greatest hits. Not much to say about the songs here, if you're a long time fan, then this will all be familiar. Unlike other bands the Talk have no need to repackage all of their "hits" (*read*, the singles that they worked on really hard but surrounded with not-so-great material). The new songs include a nice little light pop ditty w/Toby's incredible rap stylings called Sugar Coat It. Change is another medium rock/ballad emphasized by Kevin's incredible chops. And Say the Words (now) is a dance/techno remix of what is probably my favorite pre-Jesus Freak song, (well either it's that or it's "Heavenbound" :)."
Great trip down Memory Lane
sarrenya | 11/25/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If someone made a list of Top 100 Most Influential Christian Artists, dc Talk would be at or near the top. They continually reinvent what's expected in the CCM Industry and write top-of-the-line music with smart, intelligent lyrics that address the major issues of this day and age amazingly well. These three college boys, who started out selling cassettes of "DC Talk and the One Way Crew" door-to-door at Liberty University, now are 10 years later putting out a greatest hits record, in their 30's, yet still at it. "Intermission" is, from its beginning opening with the old Jesus Freak Intro guitar riff, a wonderful trip down the ol' memory lane of the 11-year-so-far career of dc Talk. Many of the songs have been remastered, and each track transitions faultlessly to the next, giving for a nice show and an exceptional Greatest Hits package. The two new Mr. and Mrs. Morgan tracks are a trip, and new takes Chance and SugarCoat It give you a nice long-awaited fresh dose of the lax dc Talk. In fact, if you listen completely to the lyrics in SugarCoat It (and can understand Toby's funky-smart rap parts), it is, in itself, summing up their musical career in a nutshell. Smart, enjoyable, and leaving us waiting for more, the dc Talk Intermission package is a great tribute to the first 10 years of dc Talk (though the ol' skool is not seen, it has been said that an ol' skool record will come out later), and as its title insignifies, it's not at all the end of dc Talk: just an Intermission."