Who do I have to blame for my ignorance? Why have I never heard this name Daniel Lanois before a week ago? I am blown away by the beautiful ambient folk of his album, Shine (2003). He has an extensive catalogue of his own music (that I have every intention of digging into) especially considering he also happened to produce U2's The Joshua Tree (1987), Achtung Baby (1991), All that You Can't Leave Behind (2000), and co-produced The Unforgettable Fire (1984) with Brian Eno. As if that weren't enough, Bono suggested Lanois to Bob Dylan in the late 80's and he ended up producing Oh Mercy (1989) and Time Out of Mind (1997). He also worked with Peter Gabriel and Emmylou Harris.
Lanois' lyrics are semi-abstract but almost tear at truths and passions that are buried in one's heart. Listening to Shine has been an experience that reminds me of C.S. Lewis' The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in which Aslan frees Eustace from what he has become (a dragon!) by peeling off layer after layer of scales and skin. And as painful as self-analysis can be, the smooth guitar and brilliant production allows the process to be a most peacefully reflective one.
It is awesome to me (and I truly mean I am in awe) that an album like this would come to me at a time where I am nearly obsessed with truth and being alive. Even more interesting is that a friend of mine who helped introduce Lanois to me even claims that this album convinced him to not commit suicide a few years ago. Maybe I'm just crazy and I'm drawing too much from "small" things. Maybe I'll suck them dry. Or maybe something divine is happening.
I'd like to think the latter.
[most of the discography info was taken from the wikipedia article on Daniel Lanois. i don't retain that much knowledge on my own.]
Lanois' lyrics are semi-abstract but almost tear at truths and passions that are buried in one's heart. Listening to Shine has been an experience that reminds me of C.S. Lewis' The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in which Aslan frees Eustace from what he has become (a dragon!) by peeling off layer after layer of scales and skin. And as painful as self-analysis can be, the smooth guitar and brilliant production allows the process to be a most peacefully reflective one.
It is awesome to me (and I truly mean I am in awe) that an album like this would come to me at a time where I am nearly obsessed with truth and being alive. Even more interesting is that a friend of mine who helped introduce Lanois to me even claims that this album convinced him to not commit suicide a few years ago. Maybe I'm just crazy and I'm drawing too much from "small" things. Maybe I'll suck them dry. Or maybe something divine is happening.
I'd like to think the latter.
[most of the discography info was taken from the wikipedia article on Daniel Lanois. i don't retain that much knowledge on my own.]
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