"Rage" is the word that describes
Daniel Amos' 1994 release,
Bibleland, coming on the heels of their psychedelic masterpiece
Motor Cycle. Fans who were hungry for
Daniel Amos' signature complex songwriting style and poetic lyrics were put off by simple scorchers such as "Theo's Logic" and "Low Crawls & High Times." Loud, angry, harsh, and abrasive; nowhere is this more true than on the album's premiere track, "Bakersfield," a song with references to the wrongful death of a close friend expressing anger toward public officials, incompetent hospital personnel, and an evil society. Other songs cry out about rejection and loneliness (e.g., "Low Crawls & High Times," "Out in the Cold") or poverty ("She's Working Here"). "Pete and Repeat" is the loudest track here, with simple two-beat punk drumming and blaring feedback guitars. Some peace and quiet (so to speak) can be found on the album's bookends; the opening track, "Broken Ladders to Glory," and "Stone Away" feature lead vocalist Terry Taylor's subdued voice communicating brokenness and honesty. Recorded live in the studio, mostly with first takes, a seasoned
Daniel Amos fan will need to take some time to get into this one, but a persistent listen will be a rewarding one. Bring earplugs. ~ Mark W. B. Allender