The Choir
Chase The Kangaroo
©1988 Myrrh Records
I remember seeing Youth Choir open up for Steve Taylor
in concert back I think in '87. They had this new wave vibe to them: swirling guitars, simplistic guitar hooks (not
unlike U2 at the time), layered.
Even the hair was new wave! I believe Dan Michaels was playing
with them as well. It wasn't deep music, but there was a melancholy, sad-like approach to the whole package. The
"stuff" of this music was right up my alley.
Being a musician sometimes lends itself towards shades of melancholy.
At least that's what I think of to convince myself. Overall, this is a strong, moody, atmospheric effort on the part
of The Choir.
From a critical standpoint, Circle Slide garnered more critical praise,
but Chase The Kangaroo is where they seemed to solidify the layered vibe in their music. Songs like "Clouds", "Consider",
and "Sad Face" stand out as melancholy and beautiful songs.
Their lyrics aren't always readily embraced by the pick-me-up-feel-good-about-yourself
mainstream themes in many churches today, though scripturally full of substance:
"There's a crystal in the window
Throwin' rainbows around
There's
a girl by the mirror
And her feet won't touch the ground
'Cause she never saw the sky so bright
Isn't that like
a cloud to come by night
Never mind the sky
There's a tear in her eye
A sad face
Is good for the heart
Go on cry
Does it seem a cruel world?
A sad face
Is good for the heart of a girl
A sad face
Derri
Daugherty and Steve Hindalong have been the tag team representing The Choir for 20+ years now. They are mostly "retired"
from touring, but they do play the occasional Cornerstone Festival. Both of them do more with The Lost Dogs now than
with their former band. Here's hoping they still have a few more "albums" left in them.
9 of 10 stars
thecannyshark
Aug 2007
