Bringing Down the Horse by The Wallflowers, on the whole, will not be found offensive by most Christians. The lyrics are not always what one might play at a youth group meeting, but they are not Marilyn Manson either. Only those Christians who believe that every song is either a hymn or a sin will be displeased. Could any new singer/songwriter possibly stand up in a comparison with a singer/songwriter who is not only a musical, but also a cultural legend? Apparently the answer is yes. Jakob Dylan holds his own, as Bringing down the Horse turns our thoughts to his father, Bob Dylan. Writing credits for all the songs on this, the Wallflowers breakthrough album, go to Jakob Dylan. It is rare for a new songwriter to come forward with a collection this strong. The album starts off with a song that is powerful enough musically to be a top forty hit and challenging enough lyrically to make one wonder which Dylan wrote it. One Headlight is one of the best of a great offering from The Wallflowers. This album contains several songs we would rather hear than almost anything playing on VH1 these days. With 6th Avenue Heartache the album's quality is undeminished. The influences of the elder Dylan are evident in the phrasing and thoughtfulness of this song, which was the first hit off the album. The third offering, Bleeders, doesn't hold our interest like the first two, but then the album comes back with what may be the best effort of the collection. Three Marlenas is so Dylan it could have been off the Highway 61 Revisited album. The organ in particular brought back memories of another era, and the breathing rhythm must be inherited. The Difference may be the most clever song on the album lyrically, and the driving beat shows off Dylan's ability to write the kind of music that pleases young people of any generation. Invisible City is one of the deepest songs on the album and may prove to be the fifth hit single. The music is hauntingly attractive and the more you hear it the more you like it. Laughing Out Loud is not a bad song, but it can't keep up with the five great songs that appear early on the album. Josephine, however, does keep up. It is a sixth great song and possibly the most "Dylanesque" of all. Again we hear the organ and the phrasing that give us a sense of recognition. God Don't Make Lonely Girls and Angel on My Bike are good but not likely to score the air time of the earlier hits. I Wish I Felt Nothing has a sound that is almost country and words that could put a tear in your beer. The music on Bringing Down the Horse is exceptionally well written and very well played. The Wallflowers are more than a backup band. But the fact remains, Jakob Dylan is out front. He has reminded us of his father without copying him. He has a similar style but has managed to make it his own. If he can continue to write with the deep feeling and clever expression that he has shown on this album, he will one day have a place beside his father.