Danielson Family
Tell Another Joke at the Ol' Choppin' Block
Reviewed by Jamie Lee Rake
With his debut, Danielson provided the Christian market with one of its most endearingly primitive albums. Some of his scattered mainstream airplay caught the attention of Kramer--not the Seinfeld character, but the avant garde New York musician--who also heads the New York City-based Shimmy Disc label. For Danielson Family's Tell Another Joke at the ol' Choppin' Block, Kramer is in the producer's chair; and, with several of his siblings joining him in the studio, Danielson's one-man vision has given way to a slightly slicker production values. This is not a bad thing, since the upscale approach only serves to accentuate Danielson's singular way of expressing his applications of biblical truths. Besides, don't get the idea that, in this instance, "slick" means anything like the cookie-cutter mentality of many Christian producers. Family members--ranging from age 12 to 24--add banjo, glockenspiel, drums, piano and other keyboards, to create what one might call "modern psychedelic music." Although "Jesus Music" was born at the time of the hippie movement's conquest of contemporary culture, Christian music has never had much use for the mind-expanding characteristics of psychedelic rock, even when it had a like effect on our spirits. But Danielson Family's ...Choppin' Block addresses subjects such as death, monogamy, motherly love and devotion to the Most High--all without benefit of hallucinogens. Even if Danielson Family remains an acquired taste, it won't be for lack of originality or talent.