Daniel Amos

Item: The Alarma Chronicles
Author: Steven S. Baldwin

The Alarma Chronicles

(2000)

Reviewed by Steven S. Baldwin

Discogs

Label Millennium 8 RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2000

alternative rock art rock

The Alarma! Chronicles Book Set is an impressive collection containing: four historically significant albums by Daniel Amos on three discs:

Alarma! (1981 - Newpax Records)
Doppelganger (1983 - Alarma! Records)
Vox Humana (1984 - Refuge Records)
Fearful Symmetry (1986 - Frontline Records)

nearly three hours of musical enjoyment

a 169 page companion book with: all the chapters of the original Alarma! novelette story that accompanied the albums

original and additional artwork

complete lyric sheets for all the songs

production and band credits

comments on the project by principal author and songwriter Terry Taylor

transcripts of the Alarma! and Doppelganger Radio Specials hosted and produced by Bruce Brown

a number of articles about Daniel Amos and the Alarma! Chronicles by industry folks and critics like Bruce Brown, Randy Layton, Tom Gulotta, Brian Quincy Newcomb, and John J. Thompson.

Looking back almost twenty years to when this song cycle began, some of the music now does have a dated Eighties sound and verges into art rock grandiosity at times; however, there are other musical moments that are purely timeless, extremely well crafted, and as infectiously catchy as the day they were first received by eager fans. There is a wealth of material here, with songs that are more brilliantly written and above average in quality than otherwise and a whole lot of cleverly composed, witty lyrical bits to wrap your head and worshipful heart around. One of the too many to mention highlights is "New Car," with its whimsical yet relevant stab at the health and wealth mentality of many, perhaps well-meaning, but misguided church goers:

Well, I know what I want, I know what I need
I want a miracle, I know what I need...
Give me a Johnny Jacobs (New Car!)
I'm one of the king's kids
(He wants a blessing!)

Taylor suggests rightly, however, that Doppelganger's "Youth with a Machine," is the lyrical centerpiece of the collection:

A future generation of children is in danger
Danger of being tempted by the siren song of technology
In danger of dashing itself against the rocks of its own technological revolution.

This compelling theme runs throughout the entire collection, particularly in the two middle albums.

Nevertheless, it is the very first song of the Alarma! Chronicles, "Central Theme," that, as the title suggests, provides the project's ultimate focus:

Central theme, the most important thing...
Shining in the center, my Lord in the center
Jesus in the center, revolving around Him
Always revolving around Him
Who is on the throne you find, the King of Kings
He's the one I have in mind, the central theme
Lord of Lords...

This focus on our Lord opens, runs through, and closes the collection, being revisited most obviously in the Fearful Symmetry's poetic "The Beautiful One." In the weight of such obvious and impelling evidence, it's hard to imagine now that Christians at the time thought the band had abandoned the faith. Nothing could be further from the Truth.

The complete discs, the stellar content, the pithy articles, the many extras...all of this is well worth the $39.98 asking price, and doesn't begin to touch on the sentimental value that such a collection represents for the fans who've longed to own this collection on CD. The larger question is whether those currently unfamiliar with the chronicle ought to check it out. In the included article "Here I Am...There You Are," Taylor remarks that the core of the Alarma! Chronicles is one of commercialism and consumerism compromising the Church's ability to champion truth and show compassion and love in our modern culture. This message is indeed as powerful and relevant today as it was in the Eighties. More so. And most of these delightful songs are still able to bring a smile to your face, a giggle to your heart, and a whole lot of ecstatic air band action. Consequently, in a crass and ironic endorsement of commercial consumerism, I urge you to purchase this collection. This unpaid advertisement has been brought to you by a devoted fan of the band who believes in both the sheer artistic merits of the work and the power of the Spirit to use this musical collection to inspire your heart again and again.

5 tocks