Search - Steve Taylor :: I WANT TO BE A CLONE

From the start he was witty, sarcastic and ahead of his time

David E. Scott | 12/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Steve Taylor got my attention (and became an instant hero) when I first heard his music on a Christian countdown radio show. He was unlike anything in Christian (or secular) music and was a breath of fresh air. Way ahead of his time musically (one of the first white people to "rap" on a record, for example), and all over the map, this album gave a taste of what was to come.



What really set him apart was his deep, and clever lyrics. At a time when CCM had turned into a sickly sweet, "Jesus loves me and life is perfect" lie, Steve was brave and stupid enough to tell the truth and say that "the emperor has no clothes". He didn't just "preach to the choir", he preached AT the choir. He lambasted and ridiculed fakes and phonies inside and outside the church. He took on fake Christians keeping up appearances, rigid legalists squeezing new Christians into their mold, panderinging politicians, the newly emerging negative "rap culture", "liberal" Christians cheapening grace and declaring "all things permissible", people running the "rat race" who didn't know why, the reality of death and more, all in a 6 song EP! He told the honest, sometimes ugly truth in a snappy way. Even this early on, no one could "turn a phrase" like Steve. And though much of his later work is more well known, and maybe not so 1980's sounding, THIS IS STILL MY FAVORITE from Steve.



It is amazing this rebel, or should I say MODERN DAY PROPHET, survived, and almost thrived for awhile. He made me feel that there just might be a place in God's kingdom for a believing but disillusioned smart-elick PK like me. 20 plus years later, I'm still telling the truth to saint and sinner alike and pointing folks to the truth of Jesus. Thanks Steve. May the frustrated idealist in Steve and us all never die (this side of heaven) and may he give us some new musings in lyrical form either on his own, with the Newsboys, or with someone else! Whether he's being a roaring lamb or roaring at the lambs, we need a new word (though the old words have aged well and need to be reheard).



P.S. HEY CHRISTIAN RECORD COMPANIES, WHY NOT REISSUE THIS CLASSIC, SO POOR PEOPLE LIKE ME DON'T HAVE TO SPEND $50 FOR IT?"