If you’re in the mood for a quirky, different style of music you’d do well to check out Danielson’s Ships. Daniel Smith, the group’s principal member, has been making music in one form or another since the mid-90s. The first group he gained notoriety for was known as the Danielson Famile, which was comprised of Smith’s brothers and sisters, some of which were barely teenagers.
The group’s first recording, A Prayer for Every Hour, consisted of songs Smith had written for his senior thesis statement while at Rutgers University. The band took influence from indie pop, country, gospel, and some of the more weird folk groups to come from the 60s and 70s. Smith’s chirpy, falsetto singing voice also added to the band’s uniqueness. A Prayer for Every Hour was eventually released by Tooth & Nail Records in 1995.
The album won them a small, albeit loyal, following in the underground music community. Their spiritual lyrics made them appeal to Christian rock fans, and, their abstract style made them appeal to the secular independent rock community. The band performed together for several years, but, eventually jobs and marriages pulled the group apart. Daniel still wished to make music, though, so he reformed the band and dropped Famile from the name. Now he has a dedicated lineup performing as Danielson.
Danielson’s most recent album, Ships, was released by Indiana based Secretly Canadian Records in 2006. Smith’s signature style is still firmly intact, but, it has been polished enough to appeal to a wider audience. But, even with the polish, the band still falls within the “Either you’ll love it, or hate it” category.
Smith’s flare for the visual is evident in the band’s live concerts While performing as the Danielson Famile, the group often performed in doctor and nurse outfits that they crafted themselves. While touring to promote the Ships album they, of course, wore sailors outfits that also looked homemade. Smith sometimes performs material as Brother Daniel, and, at those concerts, he sings and plays his guitar while dressed as a giant tree. I also managed to catch a Brother Daniel show and can testify to the fact that it was really something to behold.
Those wishing to gain insight into the crazy world of Danielson should view the film Danileson: A Famile Movie, which is also available at the library. It contains footage from the group’s early career, lots of interviews with fans, family, and friends, and live performances. The Youtube clip below is the official trailer for the film. Danielson: A Family Movie is not rated, however, some of the interviews with secular fans and musicans contain minor profanity. I’d say the language level lies somewhere between a typical PG to PG-13 film.
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