Search - Steve Taylor :: Squint

Not for the Faint of Heart (or Mind)!!

ROGER L. FOREMAN | Bath, Maine | 03/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Steve Taylor challenges his listeners' minds, as well as their hearts, through his sarcastic, biting, and direct lyrics. His "heavier" musical styles on many of these songs make this a challenging CD, also. Taylor is funny, spiritually concious, and not afraid to put his message "in your face." This CD is relentless, from "The Lament. . ." right through "Cash Cow." "Sock Heaven," "Jesus is for Losers"--don't let the title fool you--and "Easy Listening." Taylor doesn't let you catch your breath, so don't even try. Pay attention and be ready to be challenged--maybe even shocked. Taylor doesn't mince words and doesn't mind making people feel very spiritually uncomfortable. His intentions are good, and, if you take his words to heart, your spiritual life can/will improve. He has been doing cutting edge work like this for years, going all the way back to his early albums (I WANT TO BE A CLONE, et al), and many have dismissed him as being crazy, fringe, or inappropriate. Don't let the sarcasm turn you off to his message . . ."

It's in the fine print

Shawn Smith | Lake Charles, LA | 03/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First off, I admit I'm not a sophisticated music critic. I enjoy many different artists and styles, but I simply don't have the vocabulary to describe them meaningfully. Thus, most of this will review will focus on Taylor's lyrics.



And wow, what a thing to focus on. Steve Taylor creates the funniest and most piercing satire I've heard in a long time. Not content to sit pretty on our "good Christians" position, Taylor targets both the Church and the non-Christian world.



The opening track is a confessional by certain Desmond R.G. Underwood Frederick IV about his shortly approaching death, backed by driving hard rock. Desmond (etc. etc.) has been very active in self-help and inner healing, but finds everything cut distressingly short. What good does all of this do him, as the chorus reminds: "Freddy, get ready to meet your maker."



"Smug", another of the jewels on this album, is about depressingly self-righteous people freely scattered about the church today. Instead of loving people and showing them the way to God, Taylor charges that many churches seem bent on creating more people just as stuck-up as they are. Despite all of this, he admits, some people are able to find their way, "Hey, get off your knees/ that part don't come till later./ God will not be pleased."



"Jesus Is for Losers" is a title bound to shock anyone who thought they were picking up a Christian album. Turning Ted Turner's comment on its head, Taylor admits that yes, Jesus is for people who are completely helpless and desperately in need. This quietly introspective tune is an appropriate follow-up to "Smug" as Taylor admits his own pride and how he repeatedly needs to be reoriented to God. "Just as I am./ I am stiff-necked and proud./ Jesus is for losers./ Why do I still play to the crowd?" As he says, if you're strong and self-sufficient, turn somewhere else. Jesus is for those who know they need him.



Taylor finishes up the album with the ridiculous, yet pointed "Cash Cow". Over a weird musical background (I could picture They Might Be Giants performing this), Taylor warns of the dangers of materialism. He carefully points out that even if you're not rich, you can still easily fall victim to greed. He wraps the song up with the admission: "I too was hypnotized/ by those big cow eyes/ the last time I uttered/ those three little words:/ 'I deserve better!'"



To keep this review short, I've skipped over several fantastic songs. If you have even the slightest interest in modern Christian music, you should pick this album up. Steve Taylor is one of the greats of the field, and this is his best work. Although he's done many wonderful things since, I'll always regret the day he stopped working as a performing artist."