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Posted by tchandler on 05-25-2007 at10:10:

He Exalts Thee

hi kids! it's friday! and since i have absolutely nothing of any real value to say, (actually i pretty much never do, come to think of it) let's re-read an old Doppelganger review from the album review section of this website!

this, i think, is probably my most favorite da review ever, based purely on it's entertainment value. this guy appears to have been hitting the lavoris pretty hard with berger.

"Nothings good, nothings perfect. Set your mind on things that are miserable and show no hope of improvement, says Daniel Amos in Doppelganger."

hilarious! (and i'm not being facetious in any way.) i love the wording, "set your mind on things that are miserable..." i love this review because it makes me laugh out loud! especially his "basic experiment".

Charisma Magazine 1983

by Richard Nakamoto

Doppelganger Offers Cynical Cry of Anguish

Only those who appreciate experimental music in the genre of classical composers Schonberg, Stravinsky and Shostakovich will last through this ambitious, energetic album by the Christian rock group Daniel Amos. Doppelganger is not restful. It does not lift praise with angels voices.

The first section sounds like the stereo has broken a needle on an album of Halloween chanting. Then the narration goes downhill into darkness. From there, we get harsh pop operatics reminiscent of Pink Floyd's The Wall or the Who's Tommy. The church has failed us, this album says. Nothings good, nothings perfect. Set your mind on things that are miserable and show no hope of improvement, says Daniel Amos in Doppelganger.

Defenders of artistic expression by Christian artists perhaps will be pleased by this release, particularly due to Daniel Amos' stature in the Christian rock community. Some votes of confidence will be cast by mature Christian musicians who will buy this album out of principle. But Doppelganger hurts. It's a visit to the hell of the unsaved.

Daniel Amos' members have wandered back to musical frontiers discovered long before the fairly recent birth of contemporary rock 'n' roll. And such groups as New Wave redeemed rockers Underground have proven that a good Christian message can be relayed through non-orthodoxy. But Underground's efforts are salvaged by sanctified lyrics.

Doppelganger, on the other hand, tears down -- on several levels. Only the most naive still pretends that music has no effect on the listener. If you're unconvinced, perform a very basic experiment. Yank out your most cynical anarchic New Wave album or your hardest Christian metal release, say Fortress Rock by Stronghold. Listen to the whole thing. Then put on Farrell and Farrell's Let the Whole World Know, John Fischer's Dark Horse or anything by Phil Keaggy. To be fair, don't be critical of musical styles as you listen to the albums. Ignore the words. Now to take the experiment further, put on I Exalt Thee by Phil Driscoll, Hymns by Craig Smith or anything by John Michael Talbot. I'll predict that - if you're honest - you can observe a significant mood shift.

Don't get defensive. For years your have pooh-poohed pulpit-pounding haters of rock, assuming they merely allowed their love of the Blackwood Brothers, dull choirs and twanging cowboy yodelers to affect their theology. But, alas, the truth is that there is some bad rock, just like there is some bad country.

If you like the effect of music such as Doppelganger on your psyche, prayerfully seek the Lord. Yes, this stuff is Christian, but why does it leave you hurting, empty and selfish? It is a cry from the abyss. Stones flung at the city gates. The mocking whip of a bullfrog. We don't need that. In fact, some of us consciously have to stay away from it. There is peace in the valley. We've got to quit crying in the rocks with jackals.

Posted by jiminy on 05-25-2007 at10:26:

well = thats basically the way I first heard it..
and continue to still!

awesome!

where is Charisma MAgazine now, I wonders??

(hi Tim!)

Posted by tchandler on 05-25-2007 at10:28:

"If you like the effect of music such as Doppelganger on your psyche, prayerfully seek the Lord."

it just doesn't get any better!

Posted by Audiori J on 05-25-2007 at10:31:

Anything by Phil Keaggy.... "Sunday's Child" count? How about "Crimson and Blue"? (Keaggy stonehill tour was incredible by the way. Big Grin

)

"The mocking whip of a bullfrog." That would be a pretty tiny insigificant whip slung by a tiny weak creature wouldn't it? I don't think I have ever seen a bullfrog use a whip actually. Do they ride around on lizard driven carriages?

Posted by Audiori J on 05-25-2007 at10:34:

On the "Basic experiment", the mood shift that would occur for me if someone popped out Doppelganger and slapped in Ferrell and Ferrell would be anger and probably some disgust. So does that prove anything?

Posted by SilkySmoothScrubbyMuffin on 05-25-2007 at10:42:

RE: He Exalts Thee

quote:

Originally printed by Richard Nakamoto
To be fair, don't be critical of musical styles as you listen to the albums. Ignore the words.

Like he did with Doppelganger, not being critical of the music styles.... how did you guys ever find this review?

Posted by Audiori J on 05-25-2007 at10:46:

http://www.hopechapelkapolei.org/driving.html

Posted by tchandler on 05-25-2007 at11:19:

i wonder if berger would like to send him an email or anything?

Posted by tchandler on 05-25-2007 at11:20:

quote:

"The mocking whip of a bullfrog."

yeah, that one kinda confused me too.

Posted by Lur King on 05-25-2007 at11:41:

Thumb Up!

Fortress Rock by Stronghold

I had forgot about this one Cool

awesome

Posted by jiminy on 05-25-2007 at11:44:

"But, alas, the truth is that there is some bad rock, just like there is some bad country."

As compared to "good country"

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Posted by dennis on 05-25-2007 at12:36:

Well, I for one think the review is just sad.

Posted by uvulapie on 05-25-2007 at12:52:

The Experiment

I don't have any of the albums he suggests, aside from some Phil Keaggys but those aren't here at work. Do you think I could substitute the Tom Howard album with the song about fish?

Posted by Lur King on 05-25-2007 at13:10:

RE: The Experiment

quote:

Originally posted by uvulapie
Do you think I could substitute the Tom Howard album with the song about fish?

Yes it is Friday Big Grin

Posted by SnowMan on 05-25-2007 at13:24:

It is amazing. We had disgruntled people in the congregation Easter because I didn't present The Gospel in song. What do you call: "Lord, I lift Your name on high"?? Translated, what the "accusers" meant was that I didn't sing their personal monumental sacred cow tunes (e.g. Up from the grave He arose, which incidentally I do like, but they wouldn't like the way I do it) Cool

I was talking in the hotel room last night with a friend about this very thing and said that for all the prayer-hollering we have done for so long for Revival--in this twisted day and age, the revival may come in a still quiet remote and lonely place with just a few gathered--and stay that way. Who knows.

Good heavens! What would we do without the Dark night of the soul and The Whiskey Priest.

This "reviewer" needs to reread the Psalms or Lamentations, where it speaks to that church then saying things like:

"I have seen God's people cook and eat their children."

I'd say DG was fairly tame compared to the Word of God. Wink

Okay. Now I need to get more than 4 hours of sleep. Roll Eyes

Posted by jiminy on 05-25-2007 at14:26:

SNOMAN

ZUP?
YOU MELTING YET????

Posted by sondance on 05-25-2007 at14:43:

Well there needs to be a balance for many of us. A steady diet of any one theme gets irritating.

The guy writing the review needs to recognize there are times when we want honest expressions of being saints in sinners’ clothing.

Conversely, the DaMBers of the world – how many forums get to claim a persona? – exulting in their honesty, may need to appreciate the fact that some of us have been honest for so long that we need to take a break from the “what a worm am I, and you too, and while we’re at it the church has not been smelling too good lately either” expressions. Once in awhile I need to be reminded that I and the stinky ones around me are sinners in saints’ clothing which will transform us when the Big Day comes.

It may be said in the end we all preach to the choir. We like a captive audience even if they have eyeballs painted on their sleeping eyelids. Could it be that the DAs of the world would rather box (& occasionally tickle) the ears of that special minority who can face their own offensiveness, than placate those who pretend to live on the other side of glory using false addresses?

Now if you can figure out what in the world I mean please let me know:-)

Does a worm qualify as a bullwhip of a frog... I mean a whip of a bullfrog... no, I mean a frogwhip of a bull... oh I give up.

Posted by SnowMan on 05-25-2007 at15:03:

quote:

Originally posted by sondance
Well there needs to be a balance for many of us. A steady diet of any one theme gets irritating.

The guy writing the review needs to recognize there are times when we want honest expressions of being saints in sinners’ clothing.

Conversely, the DaMBers of the world – how many forums get to claim a persona? – exulting in their honesty, may need to appreciate the fact that some of us have been honest for so long that we need to take a break from the “what a worm am I, and you too, and while we’re at it the church has not been smelling too good lately either” expressions. Once in awhile I need to be reminded that I and the stinky ones around me are sinners in saints’ clothing which will transform us when the Big Day comes.

Indeed. I just thot the guy didn't represent the fullness of the album. But there is also beauty in the world! Pleased