Lordy, lordy, lordy. Over twenty-five years into their career, and this band releases their White Album, their Zen Arcade, their Sign O' the Times, maybe even their London Calling. Not since the swanky space-funk-wave-rock of Darn Floor, Big Bite has this seminal alternative rock / country-inflected / avant-pop band sounded so deliciously full of potential. And that album released in the 80s just hinted at what this group is capable of now. This sprawling double album is so unique, so full of life, so slobbered over with creativity, so packed with crazy good songs, and new things to say, it's impossible to review adequately without sounding like a raving fanboy.
Just so you know, I had pretty much given up on Daniel Amos. For all of my adoration of Terry S. Taylor (the band's visionary songwriter and singer / guitarist), I can admit that to me his role in the Lost Dogs and his solo work in the past ten years was far more compelling than what he had been doing with this, his primary band. It's totally subjective, I guess, but the last DA album I truly loved was Kalhoun, from 1991. Sure the DA albums released after it may have had occasional brilliant songs, or deeply affecting moments, but they lacked both the coherency and the ferocious thrill of prime Daniel Amos.
If you dabbled in this band's work in those years and wondered what the commotion was all about from the older critics and fans, do yourself a favor and start here. You don't need a history lesson. Just dive in and enjoy the resplendent and divine-fixated lyrics, delivered with Taylor's best vocals, ever (he is truly in top vocal form on this album). Mr. Buechner's Dream is invigorated with refound purpose, overflowing with neo-psychedelic rhapsodies and gritty stompers, sounding like a great lost 60s garage band with an eccentric theologian-poet for a lead singer. An evanescent thirty-three tracks flow by, from the amazing candy smart bomb pop of "Ribbons & Bows" to the fragile art song of "Rice Paper Wings," to the soft Tom Petty balladry of "Pretty Little Lies," to the haunting rock of "My Beautiful Martyr." This album is the culmination of every promise this band has ever made.
If you're a fan of The Beatles, Poor Old Lu, Elvis Costello, Robyn Hitchcock, or other artists and bands with passionate, idiosyncratic pure but challenging pop styles, don't miss this. Easily one of the best albums of the year.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Chris MacIntoshThere has been a lot of talk about this latest installment from the band that, for the most part, defined what great Christian rock 'n' roll could and should be. Some have said that it is DA's best release since The Alarma Chronicles. Spanning two discs with thirty-three songs and almost two hours of playing time, I humbly submit that Mr. Buechner's Dream is their best work yet. Daniel Amos is…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Brian A. SmithAfter a six-year hiatus, legendary Christian rockers Daniel Amos have come together once again and released a double album entitled Mr. Buechner's Dream. The title refers, of course, to minister and author Frederick Buechner, who is the subject of two songs on the 33-song project. DA has been through a lot recently - with the death of Gene Eugene and of several others close to band members. And…Similar sounding releases
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