Album Reviews
Notebored Magazine March/April 1992
by Brent Hershey
For some, the initial listen of
Scenic Routes will evoke a strong sense of deja vu. Think back to a time, probably not that long ago when Daniel Amos - a.k.a. DA, Da, da or Swirling Eddies - meant alternative music with a Christian twist. Many were no doubt reared on the strains of "Home Permanent," "Walls of Doubt," or even "I Love You #19." So, after hearing that the groups first wo albums were re-released on CD, you did what any fan would - rushed out to purchase
Daniel Amos and
Shotgun Angel. You ignored the sheriff's badge and studebaker, plucking down the bucks to expoerience the seed of this creative outfit. Expecting thoughtful new-wave quirkiness, late 70's style, you popped it intot he CD player and pushed "play." And then you picked your jaw up off the floor.
Much the same could conceivably happen with a copy of
Scenic Routes by the Lost Dogs. The group brings four of alternative music's greatest minds - Terry Taylor (da), Gene Eugene (Adam Again), Derri Daugherty (The Choir) and Mike Roe (the 77s) - together in one place. But this is an alternative album only in the turest sense of the word - mainly the part about rebelling against the norm.
Lost Dogs try to stretch your boundries as the primary medium is country, with some tangents into country-rock, country-blues and down-and-out crying-in-your-Kool-Aid country-whine. But after the style shock wears off, it is actually quite easily appreciated.
Distancing oneself from the rule that you'll never litsen to country, an objective survey might find the four singers quite capable. Taylor, of course, has done it before, as evidence on the first two Daniel Amos records. Eugene has that sideways whine perfected, albeit for the soul/funk backdrop in Adam Again. And Roe, meanwhile, has shown he can do whatever he wants with his voice, so he's no concern either. Only Daugherty would seem to be vocally out of place in a country setting, although his handling of the title track seems to improve with repeated listenings. So the singers are here.
Which is apparent not very far into
Scenic Routes. The four take turns singing lead, often within the same cut, and join in on most of the choruses. The harmonizing background vocals are one of the album's strong points, and they probably were a heck of a lot of fun to sing. The songs have a variety that keeps the listener from getting bored."Built for Glory, Made to Last" sounds like it belongs on
Shotgun Angel. "The New Physics" and "Smokescreen," both sung by Roe, would not be out of place along other 77s tunes. And "Bullet Train" carries a country-blues rock that is reminiscent of John Hiatt.
What's also noticeable is the Dogs' mix of country and alternative attitudes in the songwriting. For instance, these songs titles twang of country itself: "Old and Lonesome," "The Last Testament of Angus Shane," and "Hard Times Come Again No More." But with elements of songs like the political "Bush League" (Think George) and catch-all closer "Breathe Deep," the quartet surely doesn't abandon the subtlety, perspective pointedness of their individual lyrical roots. The best examples are "The New Physics," which takes to task those who speak of suffering without realizing their own luxery (i.e., all of us), and "Why is the Devil Red?," which is a hilarious Charlie Daniel-ish parody about spending time creating a satanic myth for one so unworthy.
The striking harmonies of "I Can't Say Goodbye" and the a cappella "Hard Times Come Again No More" are what makes
Scenic Routes such an enjoyable album. Yes, there's the country instrumentation, complete with steel guitar, banjo and violin... er, fiddle. And many will undoubtedly agree with Daugherty as he sings in "Built for Glory, Made to Last" that "We're all fish out of water/Strangers in a foreign land." But like the 3-sport letter winner in high school these four can seemingly succeed at whatever they want. Even when it's country music, the Lost Dogs are right at home.
CCM Magazine April 1992
by Brian Quincy Newcomb
Yowsa. I'm suddenly at a loss for words. Go figure. Well, actually that's not entirely true. But I must confess I never expected to be using words like "cornball country" and "rootsy acoustic blues" in a review of a combined effort featuring the lead vocalists from four of the best-loved and critically acclaimed bands on the alternative edge of Christian rock. But sure enough, da's Terry Taylor, The Choir's Derri Daugherty, 77s Mike Roe and Adam Again's Gene Eugene have come together as the Lost Dogs, and the result is a homespun acoustic outing that recalls the concept of Traveling Wilburys and the spirit of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. By todays pop sales standards it would be presumption to refer to this loose conglomeration as a Super Group in the same way as the joining of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne, but by any artistic standard this talented bunch is a super group.
On 17 tracks (some rather brief) these four recognizable voices blend their creative efforts in pursuit of a good time, a fun sound and an immediate presentation. The effect is a rather contagious good feeling on songs like the title track, the Dylan-esque speak rhymes of "Breath Deep," and a sing-along country/blues feel on tracks like "Built for Glory, Made to Last," "Bullet Train" and "The Fortunate Sons." While the setting offers a unique opportunity to say traditional things in an authentic fashion (i.e. the gospel song references in "Built for Glory," and the hymn-like arrangement of Stephen Goster's "Hard Times Come Again No More"), what stands uot are the quirkier lyrics that reach beyond the somewhat sentimental forms.
"Amber Waves Goodbye," written by Taylor, uses a lost love song format to challenge the pollution of our homeland, while "Bush League" outspokenly chastises the failed economy of our President's military-backed new world order: "Your points of light are almost gone" and "Will you give me a job?/I doubt it." Elsewhere these Dogs ask important theological questions like "Why is the Devil Red?" "Bullet Train" looks at unfortunate deaths by gun shot, and "Smokescreen" deals with tobacco as the addictive drug and health hazard it is. The blues classic, "You Gotta Move" gets covered, recalling the earlier Rolling Stones version, a Jimmy Reed song gets reworked into "Old and Lonesome," and Dylan's "Lord Protect My Child" becomes a compelling rock prayer that will be familiar to any parent.
On the whole,
Scenic Routes from Lost Dogs is unlike anything Eugene, Roe, Daugherty and Taylor have done in their respective bands (with the possible exception of Roe's bluesy experiments as 7&7 Is), which makes it all the more fun. Cornball country at times, sure. And definitely in a decidedly rootsy acoustic blues vein at times, but a delightful listen for all kinds of music fans nonetheless. These Dogs will find their way back to the bands they front, but heres hoping they get Lost again from time to time.
