Daniel Amos

Doppelganger by Daniel Amos

Moving into the age of leisure
Where east meets west in a maze of pleasure
And why do we feel we can live forever?
Cos' they've piped in music of religious nature...

How come you're sad, how come you cry
When golden arches 'cross your sky?
They're reminders of sweet bye and bye
This could be heaven when we die...

from Mall All Over the World written by Terry Taylor

The second installment in Terry Taylor's ambitious 4 album concept/story The Alarma Chronicles is also my favorite. It used to be volume one, Alarma, but as the years go by I find myself going back to Doppelganger more than the others. Released in 1983, this record was very much ahead of it's time. As cutting edge as anything out at that time and drawing from influences as varied as Cheap Trick and the Talking Heads to The Cars and XTC. This album is alternative music influenced heavily by new wave and power pop, yet it's amazingly fresh and original. There's nothing quite like it.

Terry Taylor is one of the best lyricists out there, so when I tell you that Doppelganger contains his best work lyrically, don't take it lightly. The verses quoted above from Mall All Over the World have stuck in my skull and I'm constantly thinking of them. This is good stuff. It's a poke at the evangelical Christian sub-culture. It's a look into the failings of the western Church in it's attempt to create it's own little world where everything gets labeled "Christian." This theme is carried on throughout the album and it really makes you think. Lyrics that challenge you and make you think. What a concept!

If you've never heard this record, do yourself a favor and get it now. Many critics list it in their top ten of all time. For credits, lyrics and more information on this record go to: www.danielamos.com

Tony Shore

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Comments

By DaLe

:-( This review is down right mean...

not to say tony shore is a mean Guy, I have met tony & he is one of the nicest guys in the world.
In fact I just saw him from a distance last night at a Lost Dogs show...

but this CD is OOP!
I know many (o.k. a few) who would Love to get this CD but do not want to pay $30 or more on ebay & not have a cent go to DA or TST...

unless you know something we don't Tony?

By Jevon

I think it's great that an album like this has managed to have such a profound impact on people. I would agree with Tony that this is indeed one of the great albums in my collection. DA has not rested on their laurels either - although they aren't the favourite flavour of the month, their most recent work, a double cd no less, shows them at the height of their creative prowess. If you've lost track of these guys, you should revisit them.

By marty

what a shame that the trailblazers of great Christian music live in virtual obscurity to most of the listeners of today's modern Christian music. Daniel Amos/Terry Taylor led the way, along with some others of course and you younger folk would do well to take a listen to the old school alternative Christian offerings. In many ways it was ahead of it's time when compared to what was going on in the mainstream at the time. This truly is a great album and Terry's lyrics are eerily relevant today as they were decades ago.

By NationYell

I only have this album by DA and it rocks!

I bought the Record (not CD) at a thrift store for 50 cents... I wish they were cheaper as well, I don't like paying 15+ dollars for a CD

By stephen sarro

Great album!
I must say though, I have to go with Fearful Symmetry (chronicles #4) i listened to that album today 2 times all the way though, it never ever gets old!!!

I must also say that one of their under-rated best is Songs from the heart.

I met TT recently at a LostDogs show, he informs me that the swirling eddies are doing a new record. whoohoo!!