Whoa dudes, former DC Talk singer, poet, and artiste Kevin Max has created a modern rock masterpiece with a bunch of oh-so-cool retro touches on The Imposter. Strap in, push play and get ready to be transported to an art-rock, power-pop wonderland with the unique vibrato-laden voice of Kevin Max to guide you. The Imposter features Mr. Max joined by The Prayer Chain's Andrew Prickett on guitar and production, nifty keyboard sounds, and lotsa great sonic touches. According to the Northern Records web site, lyrical influences include Brennan Manning and Bob Dylan, and preparation for the record "Included work with Mark Hudson (Aerosmith), Van Dyke Parks (Brian Wilson/Beach Boys/The Byrds), Dominic Miller (Sting), Warren Cuccurullo (Missing Persons & Duran Duran), and Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)." Mr. Max has been hanging with some cool folks, and the influences rub off in an interesting and unique way on The Imposter.
Instant faves are the driving current/retro fuzz-rock hooks of leadoff track "The Confessional Booth"; the industrial-tinged fun of "Jumpstart Your Electric Heart!"; driving rocker "The Royal Path of Life" featuring these lyrical touches:
Give it all you got now
Give it all for free...
Every time I try to get off
I end up getting right back on
And this is the way of it
I cannot get out of this
It's the royal path of life
The Imposter nears its conclusion with a superb, low-key rendition of Dylan's "When He Returns" showcasing Mr. Max singing his heart out accompanied by a New Orleans-sounding gospel piano. But wait! There's more! Max closes with the haunting end-times hope rocker "Fade to Red (Antigalaxy)" (starting with an eerie spoken-word intro) and a very cool hidden track that is worth the fast-forward.
Similar sounding releases
1998The NormalsBetter Than This
2001LaRueTransparent
2003downhereSo Much for Substitutes
2005Acquire the FireBattle Cry: Worship from the Frontlines
1999SwitchfootNew Way To Be Human
2004PivitplexUnder Museum Quality Glass
