The Sanctified Glory Mountain Revival Family

Item: 50 Year Reunion
Author: Alex Klages

50 Year Reunion

(1998)

Reviewed by Alex Klages

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Label Bulletproof MusicThe LighthouseUnsorted 1999

bluegrass comedy southern gospel

"If John the Baptist used the King James Version, then it's good enough for me!"

The Sanctified Glory Mountain Revival Family is a self-proclaimed "pseudo-psychedelic-psouthern-gospel-alternative-techno-fusion band." Frighteningly enough, the music on their 50 Year Reunion album manages to nail most of those genres squarely on the head. But what else would you expect from a band that thanks "the Right Rev. Dr. Edward Daniel Taylor," the straw name that Terry Taylor and crew hid behind for a satire on television evangelists?

One thing is sure: the Sanctifieds, as they call themselves, occupy their own place in the musical landscape. Part southern gospel, part tripped-out bluegrass akin to Beck or the Danielson Family, part would-be synth wizards, it's hard to pin down just what they're trying to do with this album, other than pretend it's a 50-year retrospective of their work (in which case, in the last 2 they've gone completely mad). In fact, the Sanctifieds completely reinvent such songs as "Put A Little Love In Your Heart," "Put Your Hand In The Hand," and the Steve Taylor classic "Guilty By Association" in the name of pseudo-psycho-whatever, adding their own unmistakable imprint.

In keeping with this album ostensibly being a 50-year recap, there are a couple of songs constructed "in a God-pleasing manner" with the young folks in mind, such as "God Don't Need No Ph.D." and "Jesus Loves God (And I Love You Too!)." These songs reinforce why there are certain people who simply should not be allowed access to samplers and sequencers! Half the fun of listening to these tracks is trying to pick out which other songs the various sections were exhumed from (in one spot, there's even a sample of a sampled bit, I think!). Although this album is quite enjoyable the first time around, and doubly so the second time through, it does wear a little thin after the joke grows stale. After the novelty disappears, all that is left are some mildly amusing tunes, which attack the legalism inherent in humankind. Even so, the instrumental track "When We All Get To Heaven" is well-done, in a simple way, and you can tell that the band is enjoying every last minute of playing together. That is, in my opinion, largely what making music is about anyway - having fun with your friends.

If you've been looking for antidote for the overdose of Southern Gospel you were served at some point in your life, The Sanctified Glory Mountain Revival Family might have just the medicine for you. Even if you like southern gospel, their album still may be enjoyable, as it does have some catchy tunes and poignantly satiric lyrics, which make you think a little. In a rigorous sense, this album may not be "systematic theology", as the Sanctifieds claim, but it sure is fun!