Kevin Max - The Blood - a review, part deux

After listening to the album all week in my car, and reading a bunch of reviews online, which seem to all be more positive then mine, I thought I'd expound upon my thoughts a little more.

It's not that I think the Blood is a bad album, I just don't think it's as good as it could have, or should have been. I am a Max fan, and I feel he has the talent and creativity to construct a monumental record. This just isn't it. The problem I have with this release is Kevin threw his hat into the ring with the likes of Prince, Stevie Wonder, Moby, Johnny Cash, and Rod Stewart, and he didn't bring his A game. I think Kevin stepped up to the plate swinging for a home run, but at best, made it to 2nd base. When you put out a project tackling such big names as K-Max did, you should expect to be critiqued on the same level of craftsmanship as these artists, and these artists have all been at the top of their respective genres at one time or another.

I think part of the discrepancies between my review and others I have read come from different expectations. I think if we were to see Kevin reviewed in say the College Music Journal or even SPIN, we would get a more accurate assessment of where the album lies based purely on it's craftsmanship. Unfortunately the Christian community at large has created it's own sad little sub-culture and called it CCM (contemporary christian music) with their own record labels, radio stations, video shows , magazines, and awards. If I were to compare this release amongst his CCM peers, sure I'd say it's better then the last Audio Adrenaline, Newsboys, or Michael W. Smith, but in the BIG world that's not saying much.

I think Franky Schaeffer best expounds on what is going here in his book "Addicted To mediocrity". For centuries Christians were at the forefront of the arts, they were they pioneers, they were the ones pushing the boundaries, the ones to be emulated and to learn from. Unfortunately the 20th century saw Christians take the back seat, and instead of rising to the challenges that a secular society presented to the Christian artist, they chose to go the route of the sub-culture, and as a result most Christian art has suffered, and expectations are considerably lower for the Christian artist.

So, compared to Kevin Max's CCM contemporaries, yeah the Blood is a real good album. But having read Max's autobiography, I don't think he really wants to be just another CCM singer. I think his book "Unfinished Work" as well as his song selections show that he wants to be heard by the world at large, and why shouldn't he, he has an incredible voice, and the potential to make great music. So compared with the world's talents, I just feel this project was lacking, and could have, should have, been so much more.

Now indulge me a bit here. I'd like to play a little arm chair quarter back with "The Blood". Here are some changes I would have made to this project. First off I would have tried to have Kevin work with T-Bone Burnett, I think T-Bone could have fine tuned and really brought this project home, look at what he did with the "O Brother" soundtrack.

Next I would have made some different song selections. Don't get me wrong, I dig on Prince, I can still remember the first time I saw him on TV at my grandparents house in the very early 80's and I have been a fan for many years. But, the Cross was not the song to get together with DC Talk on. It's not that they did a bad job, it's just forgettable and doubtful that a year later this song is going to show up on anybody's best of DC Talk list. I think they should have gone for a little old school gospel rap and redo "It's Time" by the Winans. I know the song sounds dated now, which is why DC Talk could have totally hit a home run redoing it, i has some great room for powerful vocal expression, it's upbeat, and it even has a place for Toby to get his freak attack on. I know this song would totally work for them.

Next I would have probably had Max and Chris Sligh team up on a song like When We All Get To Heaven, or Let The Church Roll On. I can really see both of those songs working with their vocals. Run On has just been overdone lately and both the Moby and Johnny Cash versions are great.

I would have had Kevin do another number with Amy and Vince, don't get me wrong, I do like their version of Up above my Head, but I can also see them doing Jesus Walking on the Water by the Violent Femmes. I know that sounds like a bit of an odd choice, but I think Kevin and Amy's vocals would work really well together on it and I think Vince could do some serious guitar work on this song. I know it's a bit of a strange pick, but think it could work.

Instead of People Get Ready, I would have had Max team up with Erica Campbell on Billie Holiday's Strange Fruit. That is one of the most powerful songs of all time, yet a lot of people aren't familiar with it. I think Max and Erica could do an amazing version of it. I would have them sing it together instead of alternating verses.

Last thing I would do is have Kevin re-sing I Know His Blood Can Make Me Whole. Its a good song, but I think Kevin's vocal performance is a bit lacking here. I know Kevin can pack a song with grit and emotion and I'd like to hear him do that here. When he sings about being a gambler, I want to believe him, when he sings about touching the hem of Jesus' garment I want to feel it. I'd just keep him in the studio until he nailed it, which I know he could.

Anyway, it's easy to be an armchair quarter back, but I do love music, and I do think Mr. Max has incredible potential, I just would like to see him get there.