VARIOUS ARTISTS I PREDICT A CLONE (R.E.X.)

The Lighthouse
June 1994 Volume 3 Number 6
© 1994 by Polarized Publications
Page 15

Calling all clones! Here's the album to honor one of the pioneers of Christian alternative music--Steve Taylor. While Taylor had nothing to do with the project, he admits that he is pleasantly surprised with the results, except, "The problem with these new tracks is they're better than my original versions were!" Don't expect true covers, though. Most tracks are worlds apart in style andarrangement.

Be prepared for a listening experience that will take you across the entire realm of alternative styles and rescue many of Taylor's songs from (as he puts it) "the trash bin of obscurity."

Circle of Dust brings an industrial edge to the original arrangement of "Am I In Sync?" with some catchy screaming vocals. Hot Pink Turtle turns "A Principled Man" into a much more upbeat rendition than the original, with an aggressive guitar-driven feel. They keep most of the vocal arrangement intact, but the musical background changes rather radically at times. "Sin for a Season" is a slow, dark, shoegazer/grunge twist performed by Starflyer 59. Sixpence None The Richer lightens the experience with a light, acoustic alternative cover of "Bouquet."

Dig Hay Zoose's extensive medley of "Steeplechase" and "I Want to be a Clone" clocks in at well over seven minutes. The first is a schizo-phrenic collection of styles. It's intriguing, but hard to describe. After a heavy Zeppelin/Zappaish bridge, they do a rough alternative rendition fairly close to the original "...Clone," which is something I could imagine coming from The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Fleming and John's "Harder to Believe Than Not To" is a more melodic take on the original, while still including the operatic pieces. "Drive, He Said" by Argyle Park is the most radically changed tune. With an excellent techno feel, it mixes samples from the original with others. Musically, it's my favorite, but it kept so little of the story intact that the point of the song was completely lost.

Deliverance adds a cover of "On the Fritz" with grunge/metal/industrial vocals, heavy guitars, and extra effects. "To Forgive" is light alternative rock--an expressive cover by The Wayside. Bride seems to hold to the tame side of a metal attack of "Color Code." For me, it was the only disappointment, because they were the only band to alter lyrics, and they distorted the words "color code" into something like "cholor chode."

Probably the most unusual rendition is the last, the Sanctified Glory Mountain Revival Family's "Guilty By Association." It is a bluegrass, banjo-laden tune--think "The Beverly Hillbillies."

Taylor has designated that all royalties from the project will go to Jesus People USA's Cornerstone Community Outreach program to help provide services for homeless and low-income senior citizens in Chicago.

Be prepared for some totally unique interpretations of Taylor's work.

Roger Appelinski