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Posted by inointernet on 06-17-2002 at22:49:

  Mr. Buechner's Dream Review

Daniel Amos
Mr. Buechner's Dream
Review by Greg Adams

In order for an allusion (a deliberate reference within a piece of writing) to work, it must be clever enough for those "in the know" to appreciate but not distracting enough to block the enjoyment of those who simply don't "get" the connection. Legendary song-writer Terry Scott Taylor and his recently reenergized band Daniel Amos teeter bravely on the edge of an allusive fence with their latest release, an impressive 33-song, double-disc set, Mr. Buechner's Dream.

After producing more than 15 albums over 25 years, and after a seven-year absence, many may have concluded that Daniel Amos reached the point where they had no more to say, no more to add to an already remarkable career. But the boys are back, and they are as ingenious as ever.

Taylor, a true wordsmith, seems to be surfing at the crest of his wit with the endless string of head-nodding, laugh-to-yourself lyrics penned for this latest project (check out the line, "She's a bad dream / Like an adams apple / On a beauty queen" from "She's a Hard Drink"); however, at first listen, some (especially younger) listeners who are unfamiliar with DA's eccentric melodies and literary lyrics might wrinkle their forehead and shrug off the music as that generated by a bunch of "old guys." The added complication of centering the songs around Mr.
Buechner--an actual Pulitzer Prize nominated author and Presbyterian minister, yet unknown to many--could serve to deter many from giving Mr. Buechner's Dream a chance. Taylor himself recognizes that Daniel Amos' music may not be instantly accessible to all. In "This Skin," he pleads
his case: "I'm dreaming in and breathing in / The metaphoric air / Designed to get your faith in motion / Or this could grow on you (my friend) / Might not knock you down / Or drag you in / But it's a place I can begin / To get under your antenna and your / Thick skin."

With touching ballads ("My Beautiful Martyr"), striking musical experiments ("Rice Paper Wings"), and well-crafted songs reminiscent of The Beatles ("The Staggering Gods"), Rolling Stones ("Fingertips" and the Beach Boys ("I Get To Wondering"), Mr. Buechner's Dream is an uninterrupted string of radiant rock consciousness. The inclusion of brilliant Bible-based tales--"Joel (from Joel, Chapter 2)," "Pretty
Little Lies (A Song of Eve)," "Pregnant Pause (A Song for Abraham and Sarah)," "Steal Away (A Song of the Flood)," "Over Her Shoulder (A Song for Lot's Wife," "A Little Grace (A Song of Job),"--pushes this generous offering of songs from Daniel Amos into the "Instant Classic" category.

For an inexperienced Daniel Amos listener, trust Terry Scott Taylor when he sings, "This Is The One."

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Posted by John Foxe on 06-18-2002 at06:31:

  Touché!

Yeah, I haven't seen a bad review yet. Everyone sings its praises. I see it as Mr. Amos getting long overdue recognition for all the brilliance of their previous works.

I recently went to my local Christian bookstore, and they had not 1 but 4 Daniel Amos titles there, but surprise surprise, no Beuchner.

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Posted by carl on 06-18-2002 at07:18:

  Man.....

Frankly, I'm more surprised they had the 4 they had. I've NEVER seen a DA title in our bookstore, and they think they've got the Christian-hipness thing DOWN.... a couple Dogs albums, and Berry Vest back when it came out, but that's it....

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Posted by Lost Canine on 06-18-2002 at10:22:

 

Uhh, the Christian Bookstore that I visit about twice a year has the Tuxedo Clad Megastar
LK-9

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Posted by carl on 06-18-2002 at10:24:

  Well YEAH..... duh....

That, sadly, is a $@#&*# GIMME....

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Posted by Lost Canine on 06-18-2002 at10:26:

 

quote:

Originally posted by carl That, sadly, is a $@#&*# GIMME....

Hey Carl, you're gonna have to learn how to really swear if God leads (well, you know).
LK-9

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Posted by carl on 06-18-2002 at10:29:

  Oh trust me, I HAVE that gift already....

....it just seems to work better as a graphical expletive.....

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Posted by Lost Canine on 06-18-2002 at10:35:

 

quote:

Originally posted by carl ....it just seems to work better as a graphical expletive.....

LOL, that one did make me laugh out loud.
LK-9

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Posted by Woggy on 06-18-2002 at11:23:

  Nice review

.......of good tunage.


Oh, and would you watch the graphical swearing, man? It scares the &(^# out of me.


he he he

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Posted by Lost Canine on 06-18-2002 at11:27:

 

quote:

Originally posted by Woggy .......of good tunage. Oh, and would you watch the graphical swearing, man? It scares the &(^# out of me. he he he

Woggy,
We know too many of your vices: smoking, drinking, Penthouse forum, and now graphical swearing??
LK-9

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Posted by arcticsunburn on 06-18-2002 at11:41:

  Mr. Buechner

Come to think of it, I had to read two of his books in college: "Now and Then", and "The Sacred Journey." One of them got really long-winded and boring if I remember correctly.

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Posted by Kaf-N-8ed on 06-19-2002 at09:11:

 

quote:

Originally posted by John Foxe Yeah, I haven't seen a bad review yet. Everyone sings its praises. I see it as Mr. Amos getting long overdue recognition for all the brilliance of their previous works. I recently went to my local Christian bookstore, and they had not 1 but 4 Daniel Amos titles there, but surprise surprise, no Beuchner.

Uh, 4 DA titles??? Which ones? ?!?!? What bookstore??????!?!?!

Heck, if it's something you can't get anywhere else,
I might call them up long distance, and ask them to mail them to me.



~Kaf

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Posted by John Foxe on 06-19-2002 at09:42:

  Titles

Hope I don't disappoint you. This was not too long ago at a nearly Family Christian Bookstore.

These titles were releases I think are generally available for sale in places other than Ebay:

- Shotgun Angel 25th Anniversary (multiple copies!)
- OPFWFH
- Live at C2K
- Bibleland (a cassette in bargain bin)

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Posted by John Foxe on 06-19-2002 at09:44:

  Freudian slip?

Sorry, in my previous post I meant to say NEARBY Family Christian bookstore, not nearly...

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Posted by Shemp on 06-23-2002 at21:33:

 

True confession here:

I must admit when I have run out and bought a DA, SE, LD or TST Album (showing my age) After the first play I think "Hmmm... I don't know if I like this onre or not." Then I force myself to listen to it a few times more, when all of the sudden, it clicks and the light goes on in my head. I'm again hooked on another of their masterpieces. MBD is still new to me. So far I like the 2nd CD more. I know I'll get the whole thing eventually. Just waiting for that light to click on again.






Pray for me.

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Posted by BigDork on 06-23-2002 at21:35:

 

quote:

Originally posted by Shemp True confession here: I must admit when I have run out and bought a DA, SE, LD or TST Album (showing my age) After the first play I think "Hmmm... I don't know if I like this onre or not." Then I force myself to listen to it a few times more, when all of the sudden, it clicks and the light goes on in my head. I'm again hooked on another of their masterpieces. MBD is still new to me. So far I like the 2nd CD more. I know I'll get the whole thing eventually. Just waiting for that light to click on again. Pray for me.

don't tell anyone but,
I still like the second disc more too

BD

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Posted by Shemp on 06-23-2002 at22:44:

 

Honesty is the best policy