Daniel Amos Message Board | Print: daniel amos VS swirling eddies

Posted by colorblind on 10-16-2008 at11:39:

daniel amos VS swirling eddies

This thread isn't about which band is better.
The question is - what are the main/biggest differences between the two bands (in terms of sound, style, and basis of songwriting) in your humble opinion?

Thanks for the feedback...

Posted by joey on 10-16-2008 at11:44:

RE: daniel amos VS swirling eddies

chandler rocks! Cool

berger bites! Shocked

Posted by jiminy on 10-16-2008 at12:37:

DA- think serious
SE- dont think

Posted by jamespop on 10-16-2008 at12:47:

Never heard me no yodelling on no DA disc.

Posted by Ron E on 10-16-2008 at14:16:

quote:

Originally posted by jiminy
DA- think serious
SE- dont think

unless its Zoom Daddy, then strap yourself in and be prepared to think.

Posted by John Foxe on 10-16-2008 at21:47:

yin & yang & yong & yung

DA has heady stuff in a more serious light.
SE has heady stuff in a more whimsical light.
TST has heady stuff in a more personal light.
LD has heady stuff in a more twangy light.

Posted by Pfiagra on 10-17-2008 at00:33:

No Yen

quote:

Originally posted by John Foxe
RE: yin & yang & yong & yung

DA has heady stuff in a more serious light.
SE has heady stuff in a more whimsical light.
TST has heady stuff in a more personal light.
LD has heady stuff in a more twangy light.

That's a good way of puttin' it. Unfortunately, there's no yen in that list.

Posted by Captain Pedantic on 10-17-2008 at02:51:

Berger is king of the bass universe.

Chandler blows chunks

Posted by jiminy on 10-17-2008 at08:06:

RE: No Yen

quote:

Originally posted by Pfiagra

quote:

That's a good way of puttin' it. Unfortunately, there's no yen in that list.

is there any yawn?

Posted by John Foxe on 10-17-2008 at09:01:

I had a bad...

Yin and yang you probably know are the Chinese equivalent of male and female.

So it seems to me DA is the yin, the serious, logical side of the art. SE is the female, heartfelt, whimsical side epitomized in "I had a bad experience with the CIA and now I'm going to show you my feminine side". I think Tim came up with the last part of that title, so I worry about him a little. Wink

Long way to stretch for a joke, but it makes a point...

Posted by jiminy on 10-17-2008 at09:10:

but is the point sharp?

(yes- that was good)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

DA- lean toward serious ( but new car?)
SE lean toward humor (but Billy?)

TST - well- it is what it is- mixbag
LD- as mentioned- add the twang.

Posted by 77'sRule! on 10-17-2008 at12:40:

I think the difference has more to do with marketing. DA's 1987 album didn't sell well, right? So who comes along in 1988? No other than the Swirling Eddies. And since they kept their identity hidden, they were able to record more controversial songs (another difference). Musically, though, they are more similar than different.

Posted by PuP on 10-17-2008 at13:07:

The entire difference comes down to one thing...

Windex.

Posted by jiminy on 10-17-2008 at13:09:

DFFB-1987
Lets SPIN 1988

yer right-
but I dunno.....

thats quite a spark to ignite a different fuse -DFFB sounds nothing like the Eddies outings (MHO)

Posted by Ritchie_az on 10-18-2008 at05:20:

What's DFFB? Darn Floor - Floor Bite?? Confused

No two Daniel Amos albums sound alike, so I think it would be unrealistic to think a certain Eddie's album would sound like a certain DA album. But I do think DA and the Eddies are not far off from each other, both musically and lyrically. I'd never really thought of the Eddies as a mere marketing ploy, but, to a degree, it makes sense. But I also think the Eddies serve as an additional creative outlet for Terry that is unique from Daniel Amos (just look at how much detail was given to the made-up charactures that make up the band).
While the Eddies have been a dynamic band, the cornerstone has been DA members, so it should not be a surprise that they are of the same vain. Terry, however, has been able to reserve a uniqueness for the Eddies that is not found in DA. It's not in every song, but in just enough of them to distinguish the two bands from each other. For the most part, one can listen to a DA song and know it's DA, and listen to a SE song and know it's the Eddies. But not always. Sometimes the line between the two of them is very fuzzy.
So I think the difference between Daniel Amos and the Swirling Eddies (aside from some different members) is whatever Terry decides should make them different. He chooses a certain creativity that is somewhat unique to each band and to each album of each band.
And you jumble them together with some of Terry's solo stuff and you get Dr. Edward Daniel Taylor. It's as clear as mud! Big Grin

Posted by John Foxe on 10-18-2008 at15:31:

The story as I remember it

It seems to me, as I understand it, that after the commercial failure of DFBB the band regrouped and was attempting to produce music under another name. They recorded a few songs under the name Crime Horse (one of which ended up on Berry Vest, two on No Sense Of History.)

However, the label wanted them to record songs that were less serious, so those songs were mothballed and they recorded Lets Spin as the Swirling Eddies. LS was moderately successful, and a year later they released Outdoor Elvis.

At some point, the Eddies seem to have evolved into a project which is more loose in who performs, and the lyrics and music have a quirkier, funnier, more good-natured edge.

DA essentially remains the same core it was 20 years ago in terms of personnel. The mood is often sharper, more cynical, more challenging.

I've learned to expect with both sides of the psyche to expect the unexpected. Each recording is different, unique, and takes time for you to dig your roots in. That's one reason I think why DA/SE/TST fans tend to be intelligent, thoughtful fanatics to the point of being a little scary.

Posted by audiori on 10-18-2008 at15:46:

To me..

DA - somewhat darker musically and lyrically - albums like Fearful Symmetry and Doppelganger almost have an eerie quality at times (which I've always liked). There is always humor and an unpredictable aspect, but it tends to be more mature overall. It seems like there tends to be a more obvious literary leaning to the lyrics.. lots of inspiration from Chesterton, Buechner, TS Eliot, Flannery O'Connor, Blake, etc. Add to all of that, DA's long history which I think plays some role in what happens in DA's future.

Eddies - Anything goes. More light-hearted musically and lyrically. A more loose band makeup with occasional guests. Yodel parties, burgers (and Bergers), Stop surfing!, and "Don't Hate Yourself"-style ramblings would never be featured so prominently on a DA record (I would guess). Potentially more in-your-face or offensive humor ("Hide the Beer, the Pastor's Here"). Everythings a little over-the-top and jokes can be taken farther than most bands would feel comfortable with.

I've always felt like its the perfect two (three, with the Lost Dogs - four, with solo projects) venues for a creative songwriter. No matter what creative mood the band is in, they can jump from one setting to another. It has to be a lot of fun to be able to do that.