Review Summary: Want a good Christian album? Look no further.
Ah, CCM. A genre that brought many Christians into the world of music. Its accessible, catchy rhythms have been a trademark of CCM since it's inception. The problem is that the genre's so oversaturated that you'd be hard pressed to find a feasible record to stand out. This is where Dc Talk come in.
Since Dc Talk's inception in the early 1990's, they've made an interesting mark on the Christian industry, influencing countless CCM artists yet remaining true to their overall sound. The core of the band lies with the three main vocalists; Michael Tait, TobyMac, and Kevin Max. All three have their own distinctive voices. However, the one that really stands out for me is Kevin Max. The vibratto sound to his voice adds something interesting in the mix and the way things work out here.
Basically, Intermission is a greatist-hits compilation, combining Dc Talk's old rap style with the rock-influenced sound that starts in Free at Last. What's interesting is how they execute the different styles, and that they do them so well. The group can fly through varied genres such as alternative rock, grunge, many styles of rap, pop, new age, ballad, disco, classic rock/hard rock, metal, and even some occaisional prog elements.
I'll say it now: their rock sound is much stronger than their rap era, and it shows here. It's mainly because their songwriting improved a lot during their mid-to-later years in Dc Talk. However, if you enjoy Dc Talk or Christian music in general, you will drool over this collection, seeing as it contains 19 songs in one. Most are great songs overall. There are a few misfires, sure, but many albums have some sort of shortcoming; this is simply a collection fans will not want to miss.
The album opens up Say the Words (now). This is a solid song that incorporates a nice rhythmical feel as well as nice vocals. However, the record doesn't really catch fire until the great classic rock-influenced sound of Colored People, a song with a moral message about racism. Harmonies are the generally the name of the game here, and are executed quite well.
Many of the songs continue in a great direction, but no song on this collection matches with the "Supernatural/Jesus Freak" duo on tracks 12 and 13. These songs are excellently crafted, and even have a bit of a metal edge to them. The melodies are perfect, the messages about the Lord are so clear, and the choruses just win.
The ballads can capture one's heart as well. Number 6, "Consume Me," is just so heartfelt and expertly done that one can really feel what the singers are noting. "What if I Stumble" is also worth mention, talking about God being with people even if they're losing their faith. Overall, great songs.
There are some flaws to the album, however. The biggest and most obvious one is the last track, "Mrs. Morgan(Act II)." While the first Morgan track is actually a famous tape and ties in with "Socially Acceptable," Mrs. Morgan is just... there. The whole feel of the song is just weird, and you'd be better off ending the album with number 18, "Sugarcoat It," which is a great song. The other flaw is that some of the rapping isn't implemented well in songs. While it works great in Jesus Freak, it just doesn't in "Luv is a Verb," one of the weakest songs on the album.
So there are some flaws, but is the album still a great listen? ABSOLUTELY! Intermission: Greatest Hits captures some the trio's greatest moments
