Tune-age Tuesday: Danielson A Family Movie

For my weekly Netfix I decided to check out Danielson: A Family Movie

I’ve been loosely following Daniel Smith’s output for years since the ‘96 Tooth and Nail release of A Prayer for Every Hour. I’ll admit that I’ve never been one to make Danielson as a part of my regular liesurely listening. But I’ve always really appreciated that Daniel brings together faith/music/homespun art/costume/family into one package (and the live show is great!) While there’s a sort of funny, ha-ha element to what Danielson does, it’s sincear and I think thoughtful people–Christian or not–pick up on that.

When Daniel discusses mixing music with faith with Steve Albini, I can’t help but completely agree with the notion that if there were such a thing as “Christian Music”, CDs would be made available cheaply and there would be more creatively uncatagorizable Danielson Familie-ish bands out there. Instead, there’s a whole lot of cookie cutter Hardcore….for the Lord, Ska….for the Lord, pop punk….for the Lord which always seems kind of forced doesn’t it?

It’s been about ten years or more, but my old band, Roadside Monuement played a CMJ festival in NYC with Danielson at a label showcase. At the end of the show, the family picked up their instruments, marched through the crowd and into the street as they played. Great times. A few days after the festival we crashed at Daniel’s house while en-route to another tour date and Daniel turned me onto Magnetic Fields which I should probably formally thank him for since the wife and I have gotten hours of listening enjoyment out of his suggestion ever since.

Anyway, like Danielson or hate ‘em, I think there is really something compelling here and it’s worth seeing/hearing.