Daniel Amos Message Board | Print: Bibleland Appreciation Thread

Posted by James on 03-05-2008 at10:28:

Bibleland Appreciation Thread

I dusted Bibleland off yesterday and gave it a listen. Man, it sounded better than ever. I always thought it was a good album. But there were things that bugged me. First, I thought the production and guitar tones were a bit too abrasive. I also thought that, in their quest to be more "rockin'" (some might even say, "grunge"), they sacrificed some hooks and melody. Well, after a fresh listen, I've completely changed my opinion. All the things that previously bugged me about it were now things I loved. This album really does stand alone in the DA catalogue. They had never sounded like this before and they haven't since (although some of MBD comes close).

I'd just like to show some love for the bass playing, in particular. Tim's playing is always great, but I think he did some of his best work on this one. Listen to "Broken Ladders". That's signature Tim Chandler right there. Listen to the way he's sliding into the notes. There's some crazy stuff going on there. Also, the bassline on "Out in the Cold" is just killer. So ominous, yet groovin'. Nice job, Mr. Chandler. In a perfect world, you'd be a household name (or at least adored by all the bass geeks).

So join me, won't you, in celebrating this very special album with heaps of praise and ten dollar words. Let the Bibleland blabbering begin!

Posted by jiminy on 03-05-2008 at12:18:

call it what it is

if DA ever had an "angry young men" phase- this is it.

Look at the scenario- DA has done its time-paid its dues- and it aint happening.

With Motorcycle- I think they hoped there was some kind of a chance for this great band.

How do you express your frustration??
well - look and see. (or listen as the case may be)
raw-fast-energetic, yet lyrically sad and somewhat depressing.
Shaking their own tree (IMHO)

I will admit that knowing this makes the warts seem a part of the same hand

Posted by jiminy on 03-05-2008 at12:19:

oh and as far as the basslines-
they drive a lot of these songs like no other work.

Posted by James on 03-05-2008 at14:14:

Now that's some primo Bibleland blabbering! Thank, jiminy!

Good call on the lyrics. Very downtrodden and cynical, even angry (Check out Pete and Repeat or Theo's Logic. Man, I don't know who Theo is, but he sounds like a real jerk. Maybe I'll "give him the bird" Tongue

)

Interesting to think that Terry recorded Bibleland and Zoom Daddy pretty much simultaneously. Very different albums lyrically.

Let's the keep this Bibleland bash in full swing, people!

Posted by Audiori J on 03-05-2008 at14:46:

I think that album, to me, sounds a lot like how I heard DA when they played live in the 80s. Terry screams more live than he does on the albums usually, and songs usually seem a lot harder when played live.

There are other differences between MotorCycle and Bibleland, one being Motorcylce had 6 band members and could be fleshed out more. Two lead guitars and I believe Rob played on it as well, to add in a ton of orchestration. Bibleland was a four piece band and ended up more like a rock n roll live band. That could also be why it may at times seem similar to Buechners, which was also a four piece band.

Posted by James on 03-05-2008 at15:07:

I mentioned the "abrasive" production before. I realize now that it's perfectly mated to the lyrics and overall tone of the album.

Check out the inside cover. Loaves, fish, and a bag of popcorn. Man, this has got to be the most cynical album Terry ever did. Big Grin

Posted by jiminy on 03-05-2008 at15:09:

well ( again MHO)
Bibleland is in some ways the antithesis of MC
MC (whether it did or not- though I think it did) took time - as it shows in the layered-full rich sound that permeates it (Its one of my faves)

Bible land was mostly one take- recorded in a live setting (I read- is that correct?)

and as Audi said - it sounds it

Posted by jiminy on 03-05-2008 at15:21:

also from a personal standpoint

I dipped off the radar from DA during this period.
I did a bounce from OE to SOTH (which I acquired within a year or so of its release in the mid 90s)

So MC - BL and ZD were not in my ears til after the event (by a few years)
I immediately felt the change in vibes from MC- to ZD and then to Bibleland

SOTH has elements of Bibleland..its weird- it gets a bit noisy- (aloha!) but then contains some songs quite reminicent of earlier stuff..and things one might see revisited later.. (on BDream)

I know people other than the WFan rank it low on the list- wish I'd have heard BL when it came out- I may have had a diferent reaction ( OK - I was listening to PFR at the time..n don't regret it!)

Posted by James on 03-05-2008 at15:25:

There was a great interview with Terry in True Tunes when Bibleland and Zoom Daddy came out. Terry gave a lot of insight into the making of both albums. I also remember him talking about the "blooming money at the gas pump" story from Theo's Logic. He made a joke about how he was going to pull a gold bullion out of his salad and that's how he was going to pay for lunch. Tongue

Posted by dennis on 03-05-2008 at17:19:

quote:

Originally posted by Audiori J
I think that album, to me, sounds a lot like how I heard DA when they played live in the 80s. Terry screams more live than he does on the albums usually, and songs usually seem a lot harder when played live.

There are other differences between MotorCycle and Bibleland, one being Motorcylce had 6 band members and could be fleshed out more. Two lead guitars and I believe Rob played on it as well, to add in a ton of orchestration. Bibleland was a four piece band and ended up more like a rock n roll live band. That could also be why it may at times seem similar to Buechners, which was also a four piece band.

Didn't Jerry play on this cd too?

Posted by Strange Animal on 03-05-2008 at17:26:

Mad

RE: Bibleland Appreciation Thread

I’m getting my money back tomorrow! I’m sick of having to make an effort to like any of your music. And it is time for you to record something encouraging and less muddled sounding Christian.......... Red Face

nah.... it's good.......... not GREAT like Da in the 80s... but good... Cool

Posted by dennis on 03-05-2008 at17:54:

I love the BibleLand! It makes me happy, like The Who Live at Leeds happy.

Lotsa noise and lotsa heart. Just a great record! Pleased

Posted by dennis on 03-05-2008 at17:54:

Bibleland is the title of a 1994 album by rock band Daniel Amos, released on BAI Records.

Bibleland is a rough and gritty rock record with lots of noise and distortion recorded mostly live-in-the-studio.

The title song pokes fun at cheap religious merchandise in the form of a fictional Amusement Park (although based on several real parks) called "Bibleland." The album's artwork includes a "Circus" style gatefold illustration by Douglas TenNapel.

Posted by DwDunphy on 03-05-2008 at17:56:

Was there any official statement as to why J. Chamberlain's input became so diminished immediately after Motor Cycle and what he's up to now?

I always dug his contributions to the Misery/History discs.

Posted by dennis on 03-05-2008 at18:18:

Looks like six people playing on this record to me!

BibleLand

Daniel Amos Is:
Terry Taylor: Vocals, Guitars
Jerry Chamberlain: Guitars
Tim Chandler: Bass, (Rhythm Guitar on "Bibleland")
Greg Flesch: Guitars
Ed McTaggart: Drums

(Gene Eugene: Piano on "I'll Get Over It")

View Liner Notes

Engineered by Gene Eugene and Terry Taylor
Recorded at The Green Room, Huntington Beach, CA
Mixed by Gene Eugeneat Mixing Lab A and 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

Thanks to: Gene, Joe & Marie for the good years at BAI, Tony Shore, Judth Cotton and everyone at WAL, Tom Gulotta and Court Patton with a special thanks to God, our fans, families and friends for allowing us to do another one. We love you.

All songs 1994 Twitchen Vibes/B-1 Music/Chenka-Chenka Music/Word Music, ASCAP. Used by Permission.

Posted by Strange Animal on 03-05-2008 at18:20:

quote:

Originally posted by DwDunphy
Was there any official statement as to why J. Chamberlain's input became so diminished immediately after Motor Cycle and what he's up to now?

I always dug his contributions to the Misery/History discs.

i assume just because he moved to nashville......... a townsend may have more info....... Confused

Posted by James on 03-05-2008 at18:42:

Maybe Jerry was the inspiration for Theo's Logic! He and Terry just don't philosophically connect! Shocked

Just kidding. Happy

Posted by DwDunphy on 03-05-2008 at18:48:

Although Jerry is credited on both Bibleland and SOTH, he wasn't writing anymore, you never heard his voice and many of the guitar lines sound Fleschy...

Posted by jiminy on 03-05-2008 at21:37:

since we are here...
I loved the boys "State of mind"
to me this sums it
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daniel Amos
Bibleland
1994 WAL, a division of Word Records
Produced By Terry Taylor for Stunt Productions
Executive Producers: Ojo Taylor & Gene Eugene

Broken Ladders to Glory
A climb up the shaky ladders of our humanity towards the Hope of Glory. We are fallen emperors wearing no clothes until Christ cloaks us in His righteousness. Oh rapture!

Bibleland
Behind the shabby Bible scenes in the amusement park called Bibleland, lurks something beautiful, something real. Watch for it. It's coming to a heart near you.

Theo's Logic
The new world order vs. the kingdom of God. The unholy work, yer little gawd and the tower of Babel all rolled up into a great big cowpie with a surprise center. It's a message in tongues with no interpretation. It's religious Fahrvergnugen. We all love to say it, but what the heck does it mean? It's every "ism" mankind has ever mindlessly embraced. Yeehaw! Somebody stamp me and pass the jello salad.

Low Crawls and High Times
Adressed to a nation of whining crybabies, raised on fast food, action drinks and how-to books. Misguided expectations for the quick fix. Jesus is coming, and boy is He.

Bakersfield
Bleak human landscape, flat-roofed houses, bad breath, vacant lots and murder evidence. God saves and leads a remnant of scraggly, faithless people, in spite of themselves and just because He feels like it.

Constance of the Universe
Spiritual warfare. Mystery Babylon. Madonna. Take me to your leader.

I'll Get Over It
Spiritual revelation lost in the humdrum of life. A prayer for restitution.

Pete and Repeat
The gossip power base. Wheat and tears. Stinkweed in the bouquet. Patty rolled over and Skinny was dead. You tell Pete, he tells Repeat, she tells two friends and so on...

Out In The Cold
Broken relationships and wounded hearts looking for some grace to pull them through. The cross casts it's shadow over the fray.

The Bubble Bursts
God is faithful, we suck. We're prone to breaking our promises and letting each other down, because our expectations are too high.. or too low. Love to the rescue.

She's Working Here
Sexual harassment in the workplace. Off color jokes emanating from the good ol' boy network. Woman, good. Man, bad. God, good. Devil, bad.

Stone Away
Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.