Customer Reviews

Tell Another Joke at the Ol' Choppin' Block [Vinyl]

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

 

 

The album deals with adolescent themes, but in a way that seemingly subverts them through the execution. In other words, when one listen to this album, one gets the feeling that they are listening to Perry Farell of Jane's Addiction singing and playing an acoustic guitar around a camp fire at a christian summer camp. The songs work their way into incredibly rich grooves that are anything but conventioanl, but then are punctuated by the sweet harmonies of children. In doing so, the album invokes the sinister edge of a more punk rock driven work, but then undermines itself with an adolescent innocence, rendering the album one of the most unique works I've heard in a long time. It also gets better with repeated hearing.

If you're reading this review, it's probably because you've heard mixed things about Danielson and are trying to decide if you should buy one of their albums. I bought my first Danielson album because I read a review of their album "Omega" and was intrigued. "Tell Another Joke" is a wonderful album. The whole album is listenable. You might skip over a certain song, thinking you don't like it, and then listen to it one day only to find it seems like you've never even heard it before. Daniel Smith's voice may seem irritating at first, but once you get used to it I bet it will grow on you. I will always think of the summer of 2001 as the summer I drove around with this CD in my car, singing along with "Smooth Death" and shouting "AMEN, BROTHER!" with Daniel. Truly an inventive, fun, unconventional band that takes real joy in what they do. May they always stay so pure and uncorrupted by music industry "norms!"

ps - it is so refreshing to hear a Christian band deal with the subject of sexual temptation in a real but amusing way. This is an issue all Christians have to face and it is nice to see it dealt with frankly and honestly. Danielson, you are one of the true boasts of the visionary music world!

This record singlehandedly revived my love of music. The question among doubting indie friends was, "Are they for real?" I saw them live, and rest assured: they are the realest thing going. They believe wholeheartedly what they're singing, and it is the most refreshing thing you'll ever hear. Listen to "Ye Olde Battle-Axe" and you'll know all you need to know: chiming, childish voices; deft instrumentation composed primarily of high-school band instruments; art-rock song structures; and Christian sentiment expressed as you've never heard it before. It requires a few listens, but this record is as weird and as wonderful as music gets.

This CD is so cool! It's different, eccentric, quirky - but it's thoughtful and inspiring too! My husband and I have loved it since it came out, and now my 3 sons dance around to it as well! A must-have for Danielson fans.

I got to see The Danielson Family at Cornerstone and they rocked. You won't regret buying this CD.

Why can't Christian rock be more experimental, more challenging, and most of all, more fun? Sadly, the Danielson Famile will never break out of the underground and Christians will continue to buy the same trash.