Lost Dogs

Item: Gift Horse
Author: Michial Farmer

Gift Horse

(1999)

Reviewed by Michial Farmer

Discogs Bandcamp Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label BEC RecordingsThe Phantom Tollbooth1999

alternative country country roots rock

By now, a new Lost Dogs album is like an old friend's tearful homecoming. That should come as no surprise--over the past twenty-five years, Terry Taylor, Mike Roe, Derri Daugherty, and Gene Eugene have recorded some of the most honest and personal music Christian rock has ever known. With their respective bands, Daniel Amos, The 77s, The Choir, and Adam Again, they've changed the face of CCM in ways too numerous to count. And together, these four singer/songwriters formed the Christian music's supergroup, Lost Dogs.

Maybe some fans were surprised after purchasing Scenic Routes and hearing folk-country come out of their speakers. After all, it was a far cry from the U2-esque alternapop that The 77s and The Choir had put out, the funk rock brilliance of AA's Dig, or the quirky, new wave-tinged pop of Taylor and company's Kalhoun. But the Dogs' sound wasn't that far off from its creators, when you consider that DA started off as a country band, and the other members had always incorporated some form of Americana into their music.

1993 brought the release of Little Red Riding Hood, much more varied and rich than its predecessor. Ranging from bluegrass ("Bad Indigestion") to alternative ballad ("Eleanor, It's Raining Now"), the songs hit harder and stuck longer. Three years later, Brainstorm put out Green Room Serenade Part One, a countrified collection of rowdy rock songs. The liner notes of GRS1 promised a sequel to be released in the fall of 1996, which never happened.

Gift Horse is not the much-anticipated Green Room Serenade Part Two. Rather, it stands on its own, completely different from its predecessors, yet similar enough to be easily identified as the Lost Dogs. The differences are readily apparent - Gift Horse is more country than any of the previous albums. There are no rockers, save the comical honky tonk number "If You Loved Here, You'd Be Home By Now."

The other differences are perhaps more subtle. For example, rather than having each Dog write his own songs, Terry Taylor wrote all the lyrics on the album, with his bandmates pitching in on the music. While Taylor's characteristic wit and creative wordplay are certainly enjoyable, part of the Dogs' charm was the contrast between the songwriting style of the band's members. The other downside to Taylor's lyrical dominance is the absence of covers, such as "Lord, Protect My Child" from Scenic Routes or "I'm a Loser" from Little Red Riding Hood.

Taylor seems to have taken a more serious approach to songwriting this time around. While his sense of humour is more than evident on "Ditto" and "If You Loved Here, You'd Be Home By Now," songs like "A Vegas Story" and "Blessing in Disguise" showcase the more serious side of his songwriting. The former is the heart wrenching tale of an alcoholic who sells his soul to Las Vegas for "free drinks and a dream." The latter, one of the more hopeful songs of Taylor's career, implores:

Hold fast to the hope that's in you
Don't always trust your eyes
Sometimes it takes a long time to see it as
A blessing in disguise

What's most interesting about the songwriting on Gift Horse is the use of clichés, fractured and otherwise, as song titles: "Ghost Train to Nowhere," "If You Loved Here, You'd Be Home By Now," "Diamonds to Coal," and "Blessing in Disguise." Fortunately, rather than coming across as hackneyed, Taylor manages to breathe new life into these sayings.

Another difference from previous albums is that Derri Daugherty's vocal presence is not felt as strongly on Gift Horse. Presumably this is because Daugherty lives in Nashville, while the other Dogs make their homes in Southern California. Roe and Eugene sing the most on the album, with Taylor having several songs to himself.

All in all, the Dogs have crafted a splendid album, worthy of the critical acclaim it's sure to receive. It's nice to have them back.

4 tocks