Search - Kevin Max :: Holy Night

Not a Typical Christmas Album

Noel Hadley | Long Beach, CA | 12/24/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Being a fan of Kevin Max probably means that he or she (myself included) has a bit of an oddity in musical taste, especially coming from the Christian forum, where much of it (but certainly not all) tends to be predictable and packaged. I can't think of any other reason why former DC Talk member Kevin would receive such little radio play on worldwide Christian stations such as Air One when his former band mates Michael and Toby are regularly highlighted. In fact, I can only recall meeting one other brother who ever considered himself a Kevin Max fan.



Just when I thought I had Kevin figured out after his first solo release, "Stereotype Be", he altered my expectations on "The Imposter" (an album that I'm still getting used to), and then spun me out of my chair on "Holy Night." Call his music different, unpredictable, or whatever else you want, but the fact of the matter is, Kevin Max knows what his fans want.



His newest release, "Holy Night", is stripped down of almost all the essential trumpeting and horseshoe sloshing instruments that one would expect on a Christmas release. His signature voice, however, is always present; beautifully streaming through each song and almost always backed by piano or other simple musical arrangements. So, we're missing the sweeping orchestras and who-ha hollers, but lets get our priorities straight, his unique voice is both loud and defined, and it wouldn't be a Kevin Max album without it.



I am especially intrigued that Kevin dismissed the idea of recording any new Christmas compositions, choosing instead to stick with the classics. There are no songs in here about roasting chestnuts, hanging mistletoe or kissing Santa. When it comes to the message of the season, he's not trying to fool anyone. It appears as though each song in "Holy Night" is carefully outlined to show the simple humble origins of our savior and powerful universe altering implications that has remained in the heart of every follower of Christ to this very day. While "Holy Night" certainly isn't the loudest Christmas album that I've ever heard, it certainly appears to be one of the most intimate, and that should grab our attention.



Keeping the focus of this album in perspective, I should point out that "Holy Night" is a praise album, pure and simple. It is wholly unlike his past solo efforts that addressed daily living through a Christian mind, but not necessarily outright praise and worship. Because Kevin has strayed from the typical Christmas sound, I don't seen any reason why this particular album can't be enjoyed throughout the year. Consider the fact that the celebration of the birth of Christ should never be bunched into the rear bumper of the year and ignored the rest, then I think you'll understand my point.



I certainly don't want to mislead anyone. This album deserves a particular taste (and in no way a superior taste). I recommend visiting Kevin Max's website where a thorough listening of this entire album, alongside his other new release, "The Imposter", can be attained.

"

Great 3rd Album

A. Ferguson | Albuquerque, NM | 04/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album got the most play over all of my holiday music this season.



Take Angelo Badalementi's (of Twin Peaks/City of Lost Children fame) postmodern musical stylings, 15th century gothic carols and instrumentations, and add top notch production and engineering, and you have an extraordinary Christmas disc. "What Child Is This?" and "Silent Night" are my favorites, but all of the songs are well done.



I was also impressed with Max's vocal interpretation. Though I am accustomed to his amazing range and powerful set of lungs evidence on previous and post-Holy Night projects, he exercises a lot of restraint on the more low-key traditional songs, even dipping into a low register I've not heard him use much previously, and the effect is perfect.



Excellent holiday project."