I had to head into Lakeland today, so I borrowed CavWife’s car so I could listen to CDs. I chose Circle Slide by the Choir and John Wayne by Terry Scott Taylor.
Circle Slide is the Choir at their moody, atmospheric best. Derri plays lots of moody guitar, and Steve plays some very cool drum beats. A variety of folks help them out on bass including former bassist Robin Spurs, David Miner and Mike Sauerbrey. No Tim Chandler this time around. The music is not as aggressive as Speckled Bird, nor as pop at Wide Eyed Wonder. This is probably my favorite Choir album. The title song, Circle Slide, is a metaphor of heaven. If I Had a Yard is the longing for a better life. Both are meloncholy. Well, the whole album is.
This is just as obvious with A Sentimental Song. Sort of a human version of God singing over us, tainted with sorrow- “love endures the weather.” Merciful Eyes is about the hope for mercy when we turn from His face, a hope built up the substitutionary death of Jesus.
They return to the theme of human love in Tear for Tear:
Until by death we fade/I’ll try to trade you/grin for grin/and tear for tear.
About Love also has some interesting turns of phrase:
Sorry to call so late/ the planet turned 4 times/you’re on my mind but you’re nowhere/in my world/please kiss the little bird/God bless the cozy cage we share/you kill me/you thrill me/ you threaten my dreams girl
One of my favorite songs, period, is Restore My Soul. It is a cry of repentance, a longing for restoration. It is by far the hardest rock song on the album, and a concert fav. Booming drums and driving guitars. What more could I ask for?
On the way home I enjoyed Terry Scott Taylor’s John Wayne. I hadn’t listened to it in quite awhile. Musically it bridges the gap between Daniel Amos’ Motorcycle and Mr. Buechner’s Dream (yes, they had a few albums inbetween). On this solo album he got help from Mike Roe, Derri Daugherty, Tim Chandler, Ed McTaggert, Gene Eugene and Phil Madeira. It is full of Terry’s typically obscure lyrics (lots of metaphor), and amusing lyrics. This is not Christian feel-goodism. It is faith in the real world. The best songs are Writer’s Block, Hey, John Wayne (referring to the Airport in Orange County), Big Shot and Miniature Girl. In the country sounding Ten Gallon Hat we find these interesting lyrics:
I’ll put on a ten gallon hat/over my devil horns
It isn’t Terry’s best album, but still better than most of what is out there.
