In Another Land

I don't own any other Larry Norman albums ... yet. But I've always loved this one, and the remastered version available here is even better, because the sound quality is as good as it could be [and it's pretty good] and the extra tracks are fun, too.

Some of Larry's theology and eschatology is not exactly on the money, but his heart certainly is.

There are so many great tuneful songs on this album. Every time I listen to "Shot Down" lately I think it could be dedicated to Mark Driscoll, who gets a lot of stick, but keeps on "talking 'bout Jesus, just the same."

The Rock That Doesn't Roll is a great conversion song, in the tradition of "I Was Lost, But Jesus Found Me"

Righteous Rocker no 3 is Larry's modern translation of 1 Corinthians 13: I'm sure the apostle Paul would have approved

Every time I hear Look Into Jesus, I get chills, thinking about the wonder of new life in Christ and the loneliness of life without him

I Am A Servant is a great song for singing when seeking to live wholeheartedly for Christ.

Highly recommended.

"In Another Land" is honest, raw and humble. Larry Norman, with this album, showed he was a force to be reckoned with in Christian music.

1972's "Only Visiting the Planet" had already taken root and shook the hallowed doors of CCM. "In Another Land" took it farther, producing the seminal inspiration of musicians who happened to be Christian for over 30 years.

The difference was that these were not songs meant to be played at evangelical colleges, but to be heard outside the church. Many Christians in the early 1970s found Norman to be a welcome voice to syrupy lyrics, while others dismissed Norman as a rebel chasing fame, but doing so in the name of God.

He responds here with "Shot Down."

"They say I'm sinful, backslidden,
That I have left to follow fame.
But here I am, talkin' 'bout Jesus just the same."

Songs like "I Am A Servant" belie the commercialism of today's CCM music scene. Norman himself was not glossy, and, in fact, often appeared as if he lived closer to a homeless shelter than Hollywood or Nashville.

A signature song of Norman's, "U.F.O." talks about Jesus Christ coming soon, surprising people who were spending more time looking for men from Mars.

As rock music replaced the easier sounds of Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby on the airwaves, Norman sang "The Rock That Doesn't Roll," a blues-inspired song about focusing on a more spiritual rock.

I fully recommend Larry Norman's masterpiece, "In Another Land."

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

In my opinion - Larry has had many good cds worth buying. But there are three GREAT ones:

Only Visiting This Planet is possibly the best. Rock and Pop and ballads. Amazing!

Second up for pop fans - In Another Land. More pop oriented and the production sounds a bit home made at times, but still excellent.

Second place for blues and hard rock fans - Something New Under the Son. Blues and hard edged (psychadelic at times) blues. Another killer album (if you'll pardon the expression). The song "Watch What You're Doing" impressed Frank Black of the Pixies so much that he named their first album "C'mon Pilgrim" after part of the lyrics of that song. IT IS THAT GOOD!

Other cds worth buying (check out Larry's site at guess where) are Upon This Rock, So Long Ago The Garden, Home At Last, Stranded in Babylon and Tourniquet. I own all these except So Long Ago - I liked the original version better. The one available now is Larry's preference. There may be others that are good or great but I haven't heard them.