1. Good Kings Highway
2. Light Me Up
3. Just As I Am
4. Clear
5. When We Were Young
6. That Was Then And This Is Now
7. White Horse
8. Another Big Mistake (derek Webb Remix)
9. Going Clear (derek Webb Remix)
10. Infinite
Starting with a chiming riff that makes me want to put my arms in the air, Kevin Max offers me a hand up onto the Good King’s Highway. If the opener is anything to go by it’s a good place to be. Up there, and further along the road, I discover he's singing about strayed paths and aftermaths, but clearly he's no longer in that status. Instead he's offering some wisdom from experience.
And that’s what keeps this album upbeat and in the clouds. He's talking about down times, but the words are sung from a position of... Read More Starting with a chiming riff that makes me want to put my arms in the air, Kevin Max offers me a hand up onto the Good King’s Highway. If the opener is anything to go by it’s a good place to be. Up there, and further along the road, I discover he's singing about strayed paths and aftermaths, but clearly he's no longer in that status. Instead he's offering some wisdom from experience.
And that’s what keeps this album upbeat and in the clouds. He's talking about down times, but the words are sung from a position of height, with an overall sense of been there, seen it, got the t-shirt, and possibly a bumper sticker thrown in for good measure. These experiences might not have been great at the time, but the lyrics suggest that on reflection they've been character building and relationship strengthening. All through the album, a verse raises the questions, but the chorus consistently lifts the spirit.
A song with a title of "That Was Then But This Is Now" must always be investigated, and indeed uncovers some further clues into what's been going on: "I’ve grown somehow, and I’m living now”, "I've buried the doubt deep underground", with some tasteful guitar answering the lyrics.
Musically, Broken Temples is wonderfully accessible pop with retrospective nods to 80s guitars and drums (I was there), respectful winks to more modern synths and rhythms, and plenty of sing-a-long woah-ohs. The only moments I found myself pressing "next track" prematurely was a couple of remixes near the end, but Mr Max has earned the right to experiment. The closing "Infinite" leaves no doubt in my mind that Kevin's head, heart, soul and spirit are in good shape.
Overall the track “Clear” sums up the set eloquently: “It’s only in the silence I can hear”. I’m glad Kevin Max took the time to capture what he heard, so we can listen in.
Review by Philip Aldis
LTTM Rating 4 Out Of 5 Stars Standout Tracks Good King's Highway
That Was Then But This Is Now
Light Me Up
