Customer Reviews

Fetch The Compass Kids [Vinyl]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I would say that this is probably the best Danielson record. It is a bit more accessible than earlier albums, but no less innovative or challenging. The music and lyrics seem childlike and innocent, but silliness belies a sophistication that borders on brilliance-both musically and philosophically. If you give this album a fair chance, you'll find that the usual comparisons to Ween or They Might Be Giants are ridiculous; Daniel's work has more in common with Jackson Pollock, Kids' Praise, and Louden Wainwright III. Like "Pet Sounds" or the early albums of the Talking Heads, "Fetch the Compass Kids" oozes with creativity. But comparisons to other artists or pop culture phenomena fail to capture what's going on here. The music exists on its own terms and seems to have an appropriately supernatural quality. The problem with Danielson is that it is too hip/obscure for its own good-only the avant-punk with a Master's of Divinity degree and an ironic sense of humor can appreciate this fully. The rest of us can only scratch our heads and smile.

I don't care if god exists but damnit I'm glad the Danielson Famile do! this is music that reaches down into the center of you and makes its home there as if it always had been there. it's that good. You'll like this if you like the Black Heart Procession's first album or Tom Waits' "The Black Rider" or "Franks Wild Years".

The most mind blowing psychedilic rock band of the new millenium is comprised of a nice christian family from New Jersey! If you like the idea of the Flaming Lips recast as Muppets you should buy this immediately. If you don't like that idea, stay away. They just keep getting better.

Danielson have made themselves easily the most creative project in the post rock music cycle, mostly teaming from the brainchild Daniel Smith and his brilliantly simple lyrics. The album, as all previous danielson albums, approaches many of the well-versed sunday school lessons with cummings-esque modernity--everything about this album is interesting and exciting. This is easily the strongest effort by the famile thus far, adding new dimension to their sound through the addition of richer keyboard accompaniment (broken pianos and pianosauruses).
4 stars are here given because, though this is a great album, it points towards greater music in the future--it is obvious with a simple listening that the famile is well on their way to establishing a new genre in post rock.
check them out live too--daniel wears a big tree costume.

honorable tracks:
2. let us a.b.c.
4. fetch the compass kids
6. sing to the singer
12. farmers serve the waiters

The Danielson Famile will never cease to amaze, as their latest album proves with unyielding harmony. To describe Danielson is as if to describe an elaborate painting by Salvador Dali; You could look at it at face value and say that it is a string of confused imagery and clutter, but if you truly look deep into it you find incredible symbolism and perfectionist detail made to each aspect, bringing the painting together to create what is a truly incredible work of art. Such is Danielson.

With Danielson, in each of their albums, I find that you can not just listen once and judge whether the music is incredible or not. To be honest, when I first had my hands on the CD and took it for a spin, only a handful of the songs really grabbed at me as being moving. But with each new spin (and trust me, I've had it playing several times a day now since), each song gains awe-inspiring movement and a new depth of detail. This album is somewhat less dark than "Tri-Danielson!!! (Omega)", but it's depth has incredible gain over their previous releases, making it as an incredible music shift as "Tell Another Joke" (their second release) was.

"we don't say shut up" is surprisingly upbeat and catchy in tune, very likely to arouse your dancing muscles... but don't worry! It's quite natural to have an urge to dance whenever you hear the rousing sounds of their music. "let us A.B.C." is an incredible play on rhythm with guitar and piano playing against each other, carrying Daniel's incredible falsetto ringing truer than ever, the famile backing harmoniously to move your hart + mind. "good news for the pus pickers" is classic Danielson at it's best, full-blown symbolism and all, which blows into an incredible dark refrain of "they call me chief, they call me hoss... 'you call me son, so i am son'". "fetch the compass kids" is a moving piece set to acoustic guitar with Daniel passionately singing "the compass kids run to the compass passion". "rallying the dominoes" is a fantastic set that was released on a small production comp cd quite a few years back and now is available for all to hear. Most notable is the utilization of the toy piano in the song, which isn't that odd seeing as they'll use just about anything to get the perfect sound, down to grandma's egg timer! Also of note in this song is the use of violin by Daniel's new wife, the incredible Elin (who also provides her voice on the album). "the wheel made man" is a beautifully moving song done on piano, almost even reminiscent of George Winston. "fathom the nine fruits pie" is a true example of the union and harmony that only the danielson famile could present in a single cd, presenting the Nine Fruits of the Spirit in unfathomed wonder.

I could go on for pages about each of their songs, but I'd rather not take more of your time away from picking up this masterpiece of heavenly sounds and unbridled display of truly passionate faith. If you were disillusioned by their first album, don't you be the judge! They have grown leaps and bounds and this work will leave you with chills of amazement. And like I said earlier, don't be afraid to let those feet go a'dancin! Let the music take over, sit at the feet of danielson, and open your hart + soul.

This is the album that really got me liking Danielson. It's different but it is truly delightful. It has some of the most amazing melodies and rhythms. "Sing To The Singer" is probably my favorite Danielson song.

If you have not heard the unbelievable sound of Danielson/Br. Danielson/Danielson Famile or at least the whimsical and soothing chirping of Daniel Smith, then you haven't lived properly.

I absolutely love Danielson's earlier work, especially the alpha and omega albums, and so it took a while to figure out what was wrong this time around. Yes- Danielson is an aquired taste, yes- its not for everyone, yes- you either love em or hate em. I love em, but I do not love this album.

My problem, and if you are a fan and being honest with yourself you too will realize, there are no catchy songs on this album. Nothing stays with me, no melodies pop into my head that I enjoy going over and over with. The effort feels forced and to use a sports term, Daniel feels like he is "pressing". I ended up selling my copy at the local used CD store...

I don't actually have the CD yet, but I saw them in concert andd they were great! I love "We don't say shut up" and "good news for the pus pickers"! They are also really nice!

An acquired taste at best, The Danielson Famile are a bizarre mix of The Flaming Lips, Victoria Williams, Violent Femmes and They Might Be Giants. I like all of the above mentioned acts individually, but throwing them into the blender of Danielson Famile just doesn't work for me. Try before you buy on this one, kids. After a couple of spins, my copy has joined the "recycle" pile.