Review #163: Danielson-Ships
Years ago I went to see Low play in San Francisco with my best frined KC. Opening for them was a band called The Danielson Familie. I’m sure we made fun of how they spelled it, but after hearing them we were nothing but in awe of them. I have since heard nearly all of their albums. They have changed the spelling of “family” a couple of times, Daniel, the lead man, put out a solo album under Brother Danielson, and now they dropped the “familie” altogether.
The last album I bought was the Brother Danielson one wich, while good, I didn’t like as much as the others. Still, when I saw Ships in the store the other day I felt compelled to buy it and boy, I’m glad I did.
I’ve known from the start that these kids are heavily influenced by their faith, but it’s rarely noticable. Once in a while there is a standout line about the Lord, but mostly it’s hard for a layman to put the lyrics in any Christain context, or any context at all for that matter. I just think the arrangments come close to some of the most beautiful music I’ve heard. My favorite of their albums is Tri-Danielson Alpha. My next favorite is a tie between this and their first album. “A NoNo” from the first album is my favorite song of theirs not only despite, but because of, the bellowing end chorus of “I LOVE MY LORD, I LOVE MY LORD, I LOVE MY LORD, I LOVE MY LORD!”
So here is a sample of these kids singing their hearts out in uplifting ways that can be, at times, haunting. There is also a documentary about them that I have yet to see. I should get on that. (I DID! see review #169!)