---

Posted by Mark on 07-11-2003 at20:06:

  Nazarene Crying Towel Review At AMG

They've posted a review of Nazarene Crying Towel at www.allmusic.com They only gave it 2/5 stars.


It would be easy to assume that the title of the Lost Dogs' album Nazarene Crying Towel was plucked from one of the Old Testament books of lamenting, such as Jeremiah or Lamentations. Instead, it is a tribute to member Terry Scott Taylor's grandmother. Stemming from her swinging of a dishtowel during moments of spiritual distress, the title reflects his grandmother's yearning "for a final end to all our troubles, for rest and safety from every harm, for immunity from the wild unpredictable ways of a world seemingly intent upon breaking our hearts." Released in 2003, the title aptly fits the project's somewhat melancholy tone, which is expressed both musically and lyrically.Musically, the album could be considered country meets 1970s Christian music. In fact, on a few occasions, the project calls to mind singer/songwriter Larry Norman. Lyrically, the release features messages of comfort, forgiveness, and mercy. Songs include "Jesus on the Shore" and "The Yearning." — Ashleigh Kittle Slater

---

Posted by HEMISPHERICALHEADS on 07-11-2003 at21:02:

 

quote:

Originally posted by Mark They've posted a review of Nazarene Crying Towel at www.allmusic.com They only gave it 2/5 stars. It would be easy to assume that the title of the Lost Dogs' album Nazarene Crying Towel was plucked from one of the Old Testament books of lamenting, such as Jeremiah or Lamentations. Instead, it is a tribute to member Terry Scott Taylor's grandmother. Stemming from her swinging of a dishtowel during moments of spiritual distress, the title reflects his grandmother's yearning "for a final end to all our troubles, for rest and safety from every harm, for immunity from the wild unpredictable ways of a world seemingly intent upon breaking our hearts." Released in 2003, the title aptly fits the project's somewhat melancholy tone, which is expressed both musically and lyrically.Musically, the album could be considered country meets 1970s Christian music. In fact, on a few occasions, the project calls to mind singer/songwriter Larry Norman. Lyrically, the release features messages of comfort, forgiveness, and mercy. Songs include "Jesus on the Shore" and "The Yearning." — Ashleigh Kittle Slater

If it was your typical country group singing the same songs the same way It probably would have got 4 out of 5. Critics..Hypocritical.

---

Posted by dorfsmith on 07-11-2003 at21:06:

 

Critics suck.

---

Posted by HEMISPHERICALHEADS on 07-11-2003 at21:09:

 

quote:

Originally posted by dorfsmith Critics suck.

Unless We are the critics right?

---

Posted by JohnGotti on 07-11-2003 at21:11:

 

Yo! what's a nazerene? nada sammy is dis one of them religious peoples things? nada what did you get me in dis time?

---

Posted by JR88 on 07-11-2003 at21:19:

 

what is going on around here......

---

Posted by Mark on 07-11-2003 at21:50:

 

Most of their other discs are rated 4/5 stars. I don't recognize this reviewer. There was a lot more consistency in the past when Stephen Thomas Erlewine did most of the reviews. The site is just too big for him to keep up with by himself. Now there are almost too many reviewers.

---

Posted by Ron E on 07-11-2003 at22:01:

 

I give the reviewer */5.

---

Posted by jiminy on 07-11-2003 at22:03:

 

I am afraid that reviewers only seem to give their opinion and some insite to the type of music. I use the All Music Site- but I cant tell you how oft I've got something- listened and enjoyed, only to find it panned by all music- or vice versa (case in point Captain Beefheart- I just simply DONT get it.-he sux pretty major- 2 me)

ON a local note
-
the review on our Tom Petty Concert last week never even MENTIONED that Mavis Staples opened for him- and I think the Staples are in the R and R hall of fame for crying out nazerene towel loud!

- I checked- inducted in 1999-

(ps- someone my son talked to thought Mavis was a man...Oh Well)

(pss- that person was THERE at the show........duh)

---

Posted by Mark on 07-11-2003 at22:05:

 

Captain Beefheart is always rated high, not just at All Music.

---

Posted by Lost Canine on 07-11-2003 at22:05:

 

Uhh, this looks like a man???

---

Posted by Jevon the Tall on 07-12-2003 at00:33:

 

I can appreciate the review. On a five point scale, especially in reviewing and most market research it is based on what is refered to as a labeled scale. With five points the obvious neutral is a three, however, you'll find that for rating product be it widgets to albums the ratings tend to follow the tried and true Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor labels. This is done on purpose and is a positively biased scale.

So here we have a 2 star review, which on the surface looks like it bites, but in reality falls into the "fair" category.

Remember that the rating is applied to the whole album. And NCT isn't a grab you by the short and curlies kind of album. It's a slow burn, and I'll tell you, if I'd reviewed the thing after the first listen, I'd have given it a two star as fair, but nothing special.

It's unfair, but unless an album has captured lighning in a bottle, very few first listens are going to generate an incredible amount of heat.

J.

---

Posted by Ron E on 07-12-2003 at08:49:

 

I'm afraid most of us look at 2 stars as below average, no matter what reviewers say. Maybe its time to just talk about the merits and dtractions of the album, and not offer subjective comments like thumbs up or down, so many stars out of so many. At the very least they need to go to 10 stars or more to make it more obvious then if the only bad albums are "poor".

---

Posted by Squidzit on 07-12-2003 at09:10:

 

quote:

Originally posted by Mark In fact, on a few occasions, the project calls to mind singer/songwriter Larry Norman. — Ashleigh Kittle Slater

They always have to compare Terry to other people. I saw a review in Rolling Stone one time and they were talking about Terry and the band's career. And as they reviewed each album they would mention a name of another band that DA was "emulating" at the time. I tried to find the article again, but couldn't.

---

Posted by Jevon the Tall on 07-12-2003 at13:48:

 

The pigeon hole is a blessing and a curse. I've gotten into tons of bands because of the comparison to other bands. Sometimes it's right on, other times it's only because the music evokes a similar emotional response.

You would be amazed at how many non Christians know anout Larry Norman. No offense but most of us here are in our 30's and early 40's it seems, and I know people in their early fifties and a little older who were chatting about the 60's and then we started chatting about music, invariably Larry's name would pop up. Still surprises the crap out of me.

So when AMG drops Larry's name, it's as a point of reference for people who wouldn't know DA from the Tuxedo Clad Megastar.

About stars, thumbs up etc, yeah it's subjective. Even the fat and skinny guy on at the movies seldom agree - but what we all tend to do is align to certain reviewers, sites etc, who have similar views.

I don't agree about 10 points. Here's what happens. You seldom get 10, rarely get 9, and the bottom three are hardly ever used - so most results fall between 4 - 8. Five points. So most research houses just cut the low hanging numbers and go with 5.

Guess who used to coordinate market research projects?

---

Posted by Squidzit on 07-12-2003 at14:41:

 

quote:

Originally posted by Jevon the Tall So when AMG drops Larry's name, it's as a point of reference for people who wouldn't know DA from the Tuxedo Clad Megastar.

Almost. But the article I read was saying things like "You can tell that Terry Taylor was listening to Devo during this time frame...". They were making it seem as if Terry was copying the sounds of other bands of the times. I see what you mean by the above quote, but that is not how the article that I read in Rolling Stone was saying it. Wish I could find that article!!

---

Posted by Jevon the Tall on 07-12-2003 at15:00:

 

I hear what your saying, and I'm not a fan of that type of writing. There's an underlying arrogance in assuming that the writer can place his or her points of reference into the artist.

Musical influence is still fairly regional, not to the extent it used to be - but for the other Canucks on the board, I hear Terry borrowing from everyone from April Wine, to Rational Youth. Does that mean I can say Terry was listening to these guy?

Not likely ...

Although in the case of April Wine, Mike Stone worked with both, and in 1976 there a riff on one of the songs off The Whole World's Going Crazy album that one would almost think came from I Love You #19. But it's not bloodly likely.

Now, are you sure it was Rolling Stone, and not CCM or another rag? RS would be good coverage. I remember reading about 77s in RS in 1989 or so and one of their albums was only give 2 stars as well if I remember.

---

Posted by Squidzit on 07-12-2003 at15:16:

 

I'm about 95% sure it was Rolling Stone. Of course I could be wrong. I have been looking for the article online, but have been unable to find it. It was an article about DA as a band, not on an album.

---

Posted by Ron E on 07-12-2003 at16:03:

 

quote:

Originally posted by Jevon the Tall ... I don't agree about 10 points. Here's what happens. You seldom get 10, rarely get 9, and the bottom three are hardly ever used - so most results fall between 4 - 8. Five points. So most research houses just cut the low hanging numbers and go with 5. Guess who used to coordinate market research projects?

Yes but the fact that you have the option makes more room the reviewer to slot them in. "Seldom", "rarely", and "hardly ever" are your words, and none of them mean "never". Its like gymnastic/skating competitions, everyone's gonna get 5.something, its subjective as to where it ends up. Ok, slightly bad comparison cause of the political end, but big business is involved in media/entertainment companies being one and the same now. That has to cloud some editors minds.

---

Posted by Stuart Pedasso on 07-14-2003 at13:00:

 

Geez, okay here's the bottom line a two star review basically says the album doesn't suck but it's nothing special save your cash.