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Music Review: Lost Dogs - Nazarene Crying Towel
"Hear the voice of my troubled heart
When I lift my hands to thee
Be my hiding place in times of trouble
Compass me about with songs of deliverance"
The Lost Dogs are getting older. On Nazarene Crying Towel, their sixth album, one gets the feeling that time is slowly running out
and the Dogs are weary for home. This album could almost be considered a concept album on the theme of desperation. Most if not all
of the songs deal with this theme in some way. Songs like "Come Down Here" which begs God to show himself to humanity, "Crushing Hand"
which echoes the same sentiment but asks God to make sure he lowers "crushing hand, Your mighty hand on me gently", "Mercy Again"
which is asking God to show just that, and "Cry out Loud"; a Mike Roe blues-rocker that reminds us (like numerous psalms) that it is okay
to cry out to God sometimes.
If you are a Lost Dogs fan, you will enjoy this album. A warning though, the Dogs' trademark humor and wit is glaringly missing from
this recording. That can be a detraction if you're looking for that, but it really makes for a stronger album. A throwaway gag song
would have been terribly out of place in this collection of songs. Also gone on this record are the big rock numbers, at least for the
most part. On "Deeper in the Heart", Terry Taylor literally channels Tom Petty for one of the best songs the Dogs have ever done. This
song rocks as hard as anything the Dogs have ever done. After this though, it is a strictly acoustic affair. That is probably the only
complaint to be made about this record... after awhile, some of the songs kind of start to sound alike.
Lyrically, the Dogs have never been better. Terry Taylor handles most of the songwriting once again but that is for the best.
The story of the "Nazarene Crying Towel" found in the liner notes, explains where Terry was coming from as he wrote the lyrics to
these songs. They are for the most part, poetic and gutwrenching at the same time. Great stuff.
This isn't the best Lost Dogs CD ever. I still don't know if the Dogs will ever recover from losing Gene. But, on their second disc
without him, the Dogs just may be finding a new stride.
Review by Greg Adkins
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