Velocipede - "...Sane"

Velocipede - ...Sane

1994, REX

1. Blue Skies

2. Don't You Lose It

3. The Lost World

4. I Catch My Breath/I Let it Go

5. This Way

6. Why Not Now

7. One More Time

8. Just Like You

9. Never, Never, Never

10. Sane

Velocipede sort of snuck onto the scene in late, late '94 and disappeared just as quickly. I got it originally because it was on REX and back then I bought almost everything on REX. Some of the reason this wasn't popular was because it isn't quite metal and it's not quite alternative either. It kind of treads the water between both genres. I hated it when I got it on tape all those years ago. In fact... hate is not strong enough a word - I was disgusted with it. However, that was mostly because the production on this disc is abysmal. ABYSMAL. If I didn't know any better I'd say they just recorded vocals over demo material because the vocals are pretty clear. The drums and guitars are all buried and the cymbals are tinny... it's really too bad. The guitars have that cool jet-fuzz distortion that, with proper production, could have lent a shoegazer-esque "wall of sound" characteristic to the album and made it better. Also, listening to this in my old age I actually enjoy what's going on here. I think the songs are pretty good and there's some decent hooks to be had. I love the trippy "This Way" and the vocals are passionate and powerful. Though "One More Time" and "Just Like You" sound like they share the same riff. From what I've read the few people who have heard of this disc hate it but if you're like me and you like stuff off the beaten path you should check it out. As a bonus it's dirt cheap these days.

Useless Fact: The producer is listed as "Skinny." Choir fans know that this was drummer Steve Hindalong's alias before he started calling himself "Indie Hindie." So the question remains, did Steve Hindalong produce this disc? If so why in the world does it sound like it does? It was recorded at Neverland studios so I'm pretty sure they could have done a better job. Maybe the poor mixing was done on purpose but I can't imagine why. Oh... and a "velocipede" is a bicycle. Plain explanation, but cool name for a band... sounds like a bug...

Evans, Darrell - "Freedom"

Evans, Darrell - Freedom

1999, Word

1. Trading My Sorrows

2. So Good To Me

3. Freedom

4. I Am In Love With You

5. I Know

6. You Bless Me

7. When I Pray

8. You Are My Portion

9. Your Love Is Extravagant

10. I Lay Me Down

Freedom is a bit more commercial I think. In fact, I think this was one of the first albums to really start the whole "worship is now a defined style of music" nonsense that I completely despise. I don't think the collection of songs here is nearly as strong as they are on Let the River Flow. "Trading My Sorrows" was the biggest "hit" I guess you could say as it has been played in just about every church's contemporary worship service. This also makes me pretty much hate it by this point. Also Darrell gets a little rowdy...well as rowdy as "worship" is allowed to be with "When I Pray" which is kind of a rocker. Rockier than the rest of the album but with someone who has Mortification, Megadeth, and Devin Townsend in his music collection, "When I Pray" is just turned up a bit louder (like turned up to 6 instead of 5) and Darrell hit the "overdrive" switch on his amp. I do like "Your Love Is Extravagant" though. Actually, at the time I pretty much loved this disc but now I can't listen to it without thinking about how worship doesn't really mean "being consumed with God's presence" anymore as much as it means "light rock music with Jesus romance lyrics."

Just an aside... it wasn't too long after this disc came out that everyone was doing worship albums. Since worship was the cool thing, worship bands started getting record contracts. "Worship," as I've said, has transformed into something you do to a style of music with a very specific sound. What's funny is that all these new songs have permeated the church and have almost become new hymns. Okay, I'll stop ranting now. Seriously, this isn't a bad disc, I just have issues. It's me... not Darrell. Okay everybody? :-)

Useless Fact: I think Darrell stayed on the worship scene for awhile but I don't know if he put out any new albums. I also haven't really cared to look him up and actually see if he's done anything else. Though I did see him on one of those Songs 4 Worship commercials so.... he ain't dead or anything.

Evans, Darrell - "Let the River Flow"

Evans, Darrell - Let the River Flow
2002, Sony

1. New Song Arisin'
2. My God Reigns
3. We Will Embrace Your Move
4. Let the River Flow
5. You Are I Am
6. Refuge
7. The Kingdom Song
8. Favorite Friend
9. I Surrender
10. I Am Yours
11. How Deeply I Need You
12. The Spirit of Revival

I had a period in the late 90's/early 00's where all I listened to was worship music. There was a reason for that and maybe sometime I'll share that story but it's a little too person to put up on a public blog. You can email me or message me if you're really that curious. Anyway, the only thing I was listening to was Darrell Evans and stuff that came from Morning Star Ministries. It's good acoustic worship even though I don't really listen to it much anymore. "You Are I Am" remains one of my favorite songs and "I Am Yours" has a special place in my heart for various reasons. This music holds a lot of memories both awesome and terrible. I've left it on my ipod even though, as I said, I don't really listen to it that much.

Useless Fact: I have actually played about half these songs at meetings at one time or another.

Bloodgood - "Out of the Darkness"

Bloodgood - Out of the Darkness
1989, Intense

1. Out of the Darkness
2. Let My People Go
3. America
4. It's Alright
5. Top of the Mountain
6. Hey You!
7. Mad Dog World
8. Changing Me
9. New Age Illusion

Okay I like "Out of the Darkness" and "Top of the Mountain" but the rest of the album, so far, has been kind of forgettable. That's not to say that it's not good... it's a bit more metal than Rock in a Hard Place but I don't know... nothing really jumps out and grabs me like on Detonation. I'll probably give it a few more spins but right now I think I was right to pick Bride's Silence is Madness over this one all those years ago.

Useless Fact: After this disc the band put out two live CDs that had videos with them. I got to watch one a long time ago. It was okay... would have been better if I'd been familiar with the band's catalog.

The Violet Burning - "Strength"

The Violet Burning - Strength

1992, Alarma

1. There is No One Like You

2. The Face of Beauty

3. Stay With Me

4. Undone

5. As I Am

6. Like the Sun

7. Gold

8. Song of the Harlot

9. Eleanor Rigby

10. Through My Tears

The Violet Burning's second album, Strength, could actually be considered a precursor to a lot of the modern worship stuff that's popular today. "There is No One Like You" and "Like the Sun" could probably show up in a modern service today and no one would bat an eye. That's not to say that this was trendy soft rock nonsense (like most "worship" these days). This is very alternative, very psychedelic, very emotional. It includes a decent cover of "Eleanor Rigby" as well. I remember I was listening to this a long time ago and mom popped in my room and said, "Hey, I know this song!"

Useless Fact: The band took some heat over "Song of the Harlot." Naturally because Christians get their pants in a wad with lines like, "If I could be anything/Let me be the whore at your feet." Good song... though I'm not sure how I feel about all the "unworthiness" type lyrics anymore.

Bloodgood - "Rock in a Hard Place"

Bloodgood - Rock in a Hard Place
1988, Frontline

1. Shakin' It
2. Never Be the Same
3. The Presence
4. What Have I Done
5. Heaven on Earth
6. Do or Die
7. She's Gone
8. The World (Keeps Movin' Around)
9. Seven

Remember back in the day when bands could get away with nine good quality songs on an album? These days you absolutely HAVE to have twelve or more and half of those are filler. Old man ranting aside, Rock in a Hard Place is another great hard rock/metal platter from Bloodgood. I think it's slightly more on the commercial tip than the last one. There's lots of acoustic mixed in with the razor sharp guitars, but the songs are awesome. Just the quality of the musicianship alone makes this a pleasure to listen to.

Useless Fact: A new record company, Intense Millennium, is going to be rereleasing a lot of the old Frontline/Intense catalog. This means a lot of Bloodgood is now going to be available for purchase at reasonable prices. I guess it's time for me to crack open my wallet!

The Choir - "Burning Like the Midnight Sun"

The Choir - Burning Like the Midnight Sun
2010, Galaxy 21

1. Midnight Sun
2. That Melancholy Ghost
3. Mr. Chandler
4. Between Bare Trees
5. A Friend So Kind
6. Legend of Old Man Byrd
7. I'm Sorry I Laughed
8. The Word Inside the Word
9. Should Have Been Obvious
10. Invisible
11. Say Goodbye To Neverland

Here's what I love about the Choir - every new album feels like home. Somehow they have a way of creating albums that have a distinct sonic identity yet feel so familiar. They're like a visit from an old friend you haven't seen in a long time. Some of this has to do with the lyrics of Steve Hindalong. He's got some themes that he tends to visit and inserts lines from older songs into new ones. It's cool because it ties together all the band's albums into one big tapestry. And I have to say, Burning Like the Midnight Sun is a fine addition to that tapestry. There are songs like "That Melancholy Ghost" that actually reminded me of the old New Wave days of Diamonds and Rain. Then there are tunes like "I'm Sorry I Laughed" that reminded me of "Sunny" off of Flap Your Wings. I loved the laid-back acoustic "Between Bare Trees" and the plodding "Mr. Chandler," about an airport snafu that happened to bassist Tim Chandler many years ago. I also love "Should Have Been Obvious" which sort of sounds like a better version of "I Don't Mean Any Harm" (off Flap Your Wings). But the whole album is full of that kind of stuff. You'll listen to this album and remember songs, images, and feelings from the band's past. Ultimately you'll feel like Burning Like the Midnight Sun has been your favorite for years. If you're a Choir fan you are truly in for a treat. If not... well... that's just silly. Go get it and educate yourself.

Useless Fact: The band offered several preorder packages ranging from "extra super duper cool" (an invitation to a private party to hang out with the band) to "normal" (just the album itself). I got the package that came with an "director's cut" disc which is basically the album with commentary from the band. Definitely worth listening to if you can find it somewhere. You get to hear all the cool stories about where these songs came from.

The Swirling Eddies - "The Midget, the Speck, and the Molecule"

The Swirling Eddies - The Midget, the Speck, and the Molecule
2007, Stunt

1. It All Depends
2. The Midget, the Speck, and the Molecule
3. Madonna Inn
4. Giants in the Land
5. Salton Sea
6. My Cardboard Box
7. Snow in a Can
8. Medley of Our Hit
9. Tremolo
10. A Humble Man Rises
11. This is the Title/The Old Hitchhiker

I waited forever for this disc to finally arrive in the mail. I relentlessly emailed the poor guy who runs the Daniel Amos webstore for weeks. He probably hates me by now. Yeah... it's kind of a headache ordering from them. But you know what? It was totally worth it. The sound isn't as dense or challenging as Zoom Daddy nor is it the romp that Outdoor Elvis was. It seems like a happy medium. I was able to pick out some favorites immediately like "Giants in the Land" with its cool guitar groove and "My Cardboard Box" with lyrics that tickle me every time I listen to it. Speaking of lyrics, I think these are some of the best Terry's written. Maybe I should rephrase that - I was surprised at just how clever and unique they are. They always help the rhythm of the song and make me smile. Stuff like, "We'll do everything righteous that your mamma calls sin" ("Madonna Inn") and "Cut out nice pictures of food and drink/ Wash our little paper dishes/ In the photo of a sink" ("My Cardboard Box) are great because you've never really heard anything like it - even on other Eddies, DA, and Lost Dogs discs. The lyrics on this disc are wholly their own. The music is its own beast too, sounding like a fusion of DA's Mr. Beauchner's Dream and Outdoor Elvis and just a dash of the spy-type sounds of Zoom Daddy. Yeah, it might be a chore to order from the DA webstore, but do it anyway. As I said, it's totally worth it.

Useless Fact: As I understand it "Medley of Our Hit" was written in response to people who got nasty about delays on the album. I guess they were upset that they weren't getting their preorders when they thought they should.