Description
Bibleland is the eleventh studio album by the American alternative rock band Daniel Amos, released by Brainstorm Artists International in April 1994, under the WAL (Word Associated Labels) umbrella, a division of Word. The album was recorded by Gene Eugene of Adam Again fame and band member Terry Taylor at Eugene’s The Green Room in Huntington Beach, California; with Taylor producing for Stunt Productions. Mixed by Eugene at The Green Room and at The Mixing Lab A in Garden Grove, California.
Their previous album, MotorCycle, was a production thing, so for the new album the band decided to go back in and do some really sloppy “four-piece band” stuff. And thus Bibleland is a rough and gritty rock record with lots of noise and distortion recorded mostly live-in-the-studio (most of the tracks are first takes). The title song pokes fun at cheap religious merchandise in the form of a fictional Amusement Park called “Bibleland” (though BibleLand is an actual amusement park close to Palm Springs). The album’s artwork includes a “circus style” gatefold illustration by the American animator and illustrator Douglas TenNapel, the man behind Dreamworks’ Neverhood video game.
“Rage” is the word that describes Daniel Amos’ 1994 release, Bibleland, coming on the heels of their psychedelic masterpiece Motor Cycle. Fans who were hungry for Daniel Amos’ signature complex songwriting style and poetic lyrics were put off by simple scorchers such as «Theo’s Logic» and «Low Crawls & High Times». Loud, angry, harsh, and abrasive; nowhere is this more true than on the album’s premiere track, «Bakersfield», a song with references to the wrongful death of a close friend expressing anger toward public officials, incompetent hospital personnel, and an evil society. Other songs cry out about rejection and loneliness (e.g., «Low Crawls & High Times», «Out in the Cold») or poverty («She’s Working Here»). «Pete and Repeat» is the loudest track here, with simple two-beat punk drumming and blaring feedback guitars. Some peace and quiet (so to speak) can be found on the album’s bookends; the opening track, «Broken Ladders to Glory», and «Stone Away» feature lead vocalist Terry Taylor’s subdued voice communicating brokenness and honesty. Recorded live in the studio, mostly with first takes, a seasoned Daniel Amos fan will need to take some time to get into this one, but a persistent listen will be a rewarding one. Bring earplugs. [Mark Allender, AMG]
For those of you who wondered what Christian Rock’s resident curmudgeon has been up to, Terry Taylor has re-grouped both his bands to release a whopping 26 songs (between two albums). Taylor writes mostly about how he views the church (that’s us, folks) responding or not resonding to society. But he’s always quick to first lay blame at his own doorstep. BibleLand opens with a track called «Broken Ladders to Glory», wherein Taylor refers to what might well be himself and his wife as a “ravaged nun” and a “greasy priest;” the flaws begin at home, in other words. In «The Bubble Bursts», Taylor issues a reminder to those who would deify him that “I let you down and I’ll do it again” but asks forgiveness “If my humanity causes you some pain.” On the title track, Terry uses the metaphor of a dilapidated religious theme park to poke contemporary Christianity in the eye; among other things, this twisted playground includes “a leper and a Christian book store” and “a Christian rock band by the Wailing Wall.” To underscore the incisive lyrics, DA offers a musical attack that’s extremely raw and grunge-y in spots; excellent engineering by Gene Eugene plays up the tripple guitar attack of Taylor, Greg Flesch and Jerry Chamberlain.
Zoom Daddy – well, it’s just a leetle strange/weird/unusual (insert your own adjective here). Musically, the album veers between surf music from Mars and the soundtrack to a James Bond film. I’ve always thought of Terry’s humor as floating somewhere between Monty Python and the National Enquirerl; song titles like «Nightmare at the Elk’s Lodge», «Art Carney’s Dream» and «Disco Love Grapes» would seem to support that hypothesis. But Taylor never lets satire get in the way of making some serious points. «God Went Bowling», for instance, while offering a silly set-up, nails you in the last verse – “We want an infinite meddler/ A fix-it-quick man/ But he gets off His hight horse/ Gets dirt on His hands.” «Some Friendly Advice» may be the apex of Taylor’s mix of puns and poignancy; over a herky-jerky beat, Terry recites suggestions like “Read the Good Book/ Try a sly hook/ Go to confession/ Learn a lesson” and of course, “Do your duty/ Shake your booty.” And to what does the title track refer? It’s a clever metaphor for the Rapture, with the children’s cry of “Olly Oxen Free” our trumpet call. So, this musical medicine comes Taylor-made in two flavors; choose the one you like best – either way, you’ll feel better for having taken it. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, September 1994]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/bible-land/597082932)
CD tracklist:
01. Broken Ladders to Glory
02. Bibleland
03. Theo’s Logic
04. Low Crawls and High Times
05. Bakersfield
06. Out in the Cold
07. The Bubble Bursts
08. Pete and Repeat
09. Constance of the Universe
10. I’ll Get Over It
11. She’s Working Here
12. Stone Away
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Brainstorm/WAL.
CREDITS. Produced by Terry Taylor for Stunt Productions. Executive Producers: Ojo Taylor and Gene Eugene for Brainstorm Artists International. Recorded at The Green Room, Huntington Beach, CA. Engineered by Gene Eugene and Terry Taylor. Mixed by Gene Eugene at Mixing Lab A and at The Green Room. Mastered by Doug Doyle at Digital Brothers. Art Direction, design, photography, digital chicanery, etc by Tom Gulotta and Court Patton, Patton Brothers Design, San Diego, CA. Scanning, color proofing and film output by Ed McTaggart at The Color Edge, Costa Mesa, CA. Band photo by Trisha Kluck. Illustrations by Doug Tennapel. All songs written by Terry Taylor except “Stone Away” featuring music co-written with Tim Chandler and Ed McTaggart.
Musicians: Daniel Amos – Terry Taylor (Vocals, Guitars), Greg Flesch (Guitars), Jerry Chamberlain (Guitars), Tim Chandler (Bass, Rhythm Guitar on track 2), Ed McTaggart (Drums). Additional Musician: Gene Eugene (Piano on track 10).
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