But, then I listened to it.

Arranged with a transition into John Lennon’s “War Is Over (If You Want It),” and delivered in the manner that, for Max, is clearly an exercise in restraint, the recording provides an altogether different and heavily impactful perspective that seems to fit, both unfortunately and perfectly, with the times.

Max’s performance articulates a sense of hopeful nostalgia giving way to the perils of age, experience, and the reality of the precipice that is existence on earth in the year 2024. It seems to be apparent as the song progresses that hope is leaking out against the rising tide of doubt as to whether Christmas can continue to be a joyful season or not.

As much as I cherish my idealized childhood Christmas memories and those that my wife and I sought to provide for our children, the easily-perceived reality of this present time is articulately captured in Max’s performance, an artfully realized cover of a pair of Christmas classics and I’m more than happy to have it in the mix this holiday season.

Max’s “Silver Bells/War Is Over,” is a new addition to the vinyl release of his 2022 album WINTER WOODS due to arrive soon. In the meantime you can listen to and download the extra track through Max’s Bandcamp page.

We may feel compelled to check our pockets for some spare change to give as a token of support. We may also set our bank accounts up for automatic withdrawals from our local church on a a weekly basis, or drop an offering into the plate during a church service, not giving much thought to where it goes. 

But, what if we could also be intentional in serving those at a critical point of need in a way that recognizes their God-given dignity, that is sustainable, and that will send ripples of support and hope to their families and the community around them? 

Haiti Made is a non-profit built from the ground up with the distinct purpose of giving young adults aging out of orphan care, and other members of the high-poverty community in Grand Goave, Haiti, a chance to grow and thrive in one of the world’s most desperately poor economies. 

Since 2014 Haiti Made has steadily developed a unique line of beautiful, handcrafted leather and knit products which, through international sales, have helped to support the livelihoods of hundreds in Grand Goave, Haiti.

With political instability, gang violence, and kidnappings on the rise in Haiti over the past few years, a country that already had the poorest economy in the Western Hemisphere, the livelihoods of many Haitians are now in a catastrophic free-fall.

But, you can help.

If you would like to provide sustainable employment to young adults aging out of orphan care and other community members in Grand Goave, Haiti, go to http://www.haitimade.com and purchase one of their high-quality handmade products, for yourself or as a gift, or learn about how you can partner with Haiti Made in creating a product with your company or organization’s logo.

If, instead, you would like to invest in the care and development of orphaned and abandoned children and the reunification of families, learn about the work of The Hands & Feet Project by going to http://www.handsandfeetproject.org.

 “…Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” —Matthew 25:40

Though officially released in December of 2021, ADULT FEARS easily claimed the title of the best album I’ve heard in a long, long time. Okay, so, that’s not officially a title, but, that’s what ADULT FEARS is!

A collaboration between Kevin Max and Erick Cole, the debut Sad Astronauts LP easily surpassed expectations with delicious riffs from from Cole plowing the soil from which the lyrics of Kevin Max flourished into a catchy and fresh exploration of identity, philosophy, faith, deconstruction, and levity. It even includes a delightful track in which Cole takes on lead vocals.

Supported by the rhythm of Peter Furler, and the multi-instrumentalist/production savvy of John Mark Painter, the album is nothing short of a tour de force that is most certainly worth the attention of your ears. Once you give it a spin or two, it will no doubt have you, like me, enthusiastically asking when they’ll begin work on the next Sad Astronauts album. But, as it turns out, Kevin Max has some other projects in the work that will come to fruition first.

Surely the most prolific member of the iconic group DC Talk, Kevin Max will be launching a new crowdfunding campaign in partnership with Old Bear Records on Kickstarter on August 18 that is rumored to potentially lead to four new albums in one shot!

Tentatively titled Winter Woods, Max shared on social media that it will explore classic Christmas carols. But, other releases in the realm of fantasy and horror movie soundtrack covers and a punk rock project are also rumored to be attached to the Kickstarter campaign. On top of the music releases, the Winter Woods Kickstarter will also likely tie in to what will be Max’s fifth annual Winter Woods concert in Nashville in December.

In addition, DC Talk bandmate TobyMac has teased that there will be a DC Talk reunion featuring Max and third DC Talk bandmate Michael Tait on a song on TobyMac‘s forthcoming album.

All in all, 2022 started with the bang in the form of ADULT FEARS and it’s a wonderful sound that, thankfully, can be played over and over. But, the trajectory is still on the rise for Max. So, be sure to stay tuned to Kevin Max‘s social media accounts and to the Meanders blog for more information as it materializes throughout the rest of 2022.

Kevin Max:Twitter Facebook Instagram Web

Sad Astronauts: Twitter Facebook Instagram Web

From the first Peter Furler drum beat and Erick Cole guitar riff on “This Is Gonna Hurt Me More Than It Hurts You,” to the last Kevin Max vocal and John Mark Painter horn blast on “In Space No One Can Hear You Weep,” the songs of ADULT FEARS traverse a wide-open landscape of thought and sound. Stylistically, the Sad Astronauts debut showcases a smorgasbord of new wave, classic rock, alternative, funk, and pop influences that, together, transcend the limitations of genre or prior projects that these guys have worked on either together, or in adjunct relation to, over the years. Each track stands its own ground, baring hooks that continue to loop in the listener’s head long after the song is finished. Open borders around fluid waves of thought, journey, faith, deconstruction, hope, and relationship are threaded throughout the album, lyrically, but, all in a manner that reads more like an adventurous wayfarer’s journal than a holy text or political manifesto. The synergistic character that persists through each track on ADULT FEARS is exactly what has kept it in high rotation for me since the time it became available to those who participated in the project’s overwhelmingly successful crowd fund campaign that launched less than a year ago. Thankfully, it’s now available through all major digital music platforms to purchase and stream. More than a successful launch for Sad Astronauts, ADULT FEARS is out there!

Connect with Sad Astronauts:

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube

Website

A staple of our family Christmas soundtrack since its original 2005 release, the new vinyl version of Holy Night will find a well-deserved spot in our family Christmas LP collection right next to Christmas standard-bearers such as Nat King Cole, Burl Ives, Julie Andrews, Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby.

Pre-orders will ship in late November. You can pre-order yours here.

Enjoy a chronological journey journey through the Christmas sounds of Kevin Max.

Read my 2012 review of Holy Night here.

Preview Holy Night below…