Revelation

Sons of Sylvia (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 27, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Interscope Records
• ASIN: B003C5FMCG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,492 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. John Wayne

2. Love Left To Lose

3. Revelation

4. 50 Ways

5. Song Of Solomon

6. Give Me Love

7. Ghost Town

8. Long Beach

9. I'll Know You

10. The War Within

Editorial Reviews

SONS OF SYLVIA Ashley Clark - lead vocals, acoustic guitar, fiddle Austin Clark - dobro, lap steel, vocals Adam Clark - mandolin, acoustic guitar, vocals

"Crazy how you can have everything but time," Sons of Sylvia frontman Ashley Clark sings in "Revelation," the band's autobiographical tale of finding destiny through music and the unbreakable bond of brotherly love. "And I don't know where I'm going, but I know it's going fast," he continues, delivering the passion of truth with every line of the country-rock anthem, beginning with, "I was born the day John Lennon died."

It's a fitting introduction to the genre-defying trio whose previous incarnation, The Clark Brothers, won Fox's American Idol-inspired Next Great American Band in record time and with seemingly little effort. Granted, the three brothers -- Ashley, Austin and Adam -- individually were well practiced when auditions came around. Ashley had been playing fiddle and singing background vocals in Carrie Underwood's band, while Austin and Adam had toured with SheDaisy. At the time, all three were living in Nashville (not together), but they didn't have an actual band to speak of. "We just went down in the basement, filmed ourselves playing a few songs and sent it in," Ashley explains of the submission process. "And next thing you know, we got a call back."

"We all kept thinking, `How are we going to win a band show without a band,'" adds Adam of their lack of a rhythm section. "So when we got there, it was all a little overwhelming and I just wanted to make it to the top 5. I didn't think we were gonna get very far in it." But thanks to fan votes, not only did they make it past the top 5, The Clark Brothers went on to win the 2007 competition, beating out 10,000 contenders for the title and scoring a recording contract with 19 Recordings/Interscope Records in the process. Says Austin: "It was amazing and at the same time, humbling. We just felt very honored that from all the bands, people picked us."

Call it a fluke, but the way the brothers see their television discovery, it was all a matter of fate and faith. In fact, there are two things Ashley, Austin and Adam have never doubted: that music runs in their blood and wherever it may lead them, that's the path they were meant to take. Such has been their mantra from a very young age where the siblings, three of 11 born to preacher parents, began playing and touring North America. Over time, the brothers had ostensibly gone their separate ways, at least professionally, until Ashley orchestrated the basement reunion that would lead to the formation of Sons of Sylvia, the name change (inspired by their mother) signifying "a clean, fresh start," according to Ashley. What followed their Next Great American Band win were months of nonstop writing as the guys continued on their musical journey. Destination: unknown. "We took everything we love about country music and put it into this record," Ashley explains. "And after writing, like, 300 songs, we weren't ready to stop there, so we thought we'd take a leap of faith and do something totally new and different." The result? The hard-driving "John Wayne," in which Austin does to the dobro what autotune did to the pop chorus. Indeed, distortions abound on this track, Ashley proves his vocal range has no limits and Adam takes the mandolin to another dimension. Upping the ante on "50 Ways," the brothers deliver undeniable hooks while upping the BPMs on their stringed instruments. But it's on the anthemic "Love Left to Lose," which Ashley co-wrote with their cousin, hit maker and OneRepublic frontman, Ryan Tedder, that these Sons wear their hearts on their sleeves, while making the audience's melt. Or at least that's been the case as nightly sing-alongs have sprung up on Carrie Underwood's tour, which S.O.S. is opening.

"`Love Left to Lose' is a special song because Ashley and Ryan have a really cool history of living and traveling together before Ryan made it big," says Adam. "And now we're on the same label! It's so weird how our lives are a series of strange events like that--impossible situations over and over again, becoming possible."

From Ashley's purview, nothing was weirder than sitting in a room with his cousin-turned-Grammy nominee, and putting pen to paper. "It was surreal," Ashley says. "We were just laughing, like, `Can you believe this?' It's been a crazy road."

Recorded in Nashville, Los Angeles, and Vancouver, Canada, featuring production by Jack Joseph Puig, Ryan Tedder, Jeff Trott, Brian Howes, Gerald O'Brien, Catt Gravitt, and Mike Shimshack along with co-writes by them and Lindy Robbins, Revelation is the beginning of a newly-charted course for this immensely talented group. And Ashley, who has been on a steady diet of the Beatles, U2, Elvis and The Doors and considers himself a "late bloomer," is gladly leading the charge -- with gusto and swagger. "I think in my heart, I'm more of a rocker," he says. "For a long time, it was like I couldn't always express myself or how I really feel. Now, I want to go wild and dance around the stage."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Clark Brothers are now Sons of Sylvia.....WOW!!!, April 27, 2010

By 

iliveforhim1976 "J. G. Christian" (Kalamazoo, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Revelation (Audio CD)

First, I feel the need to bring those of you who haven't heard of "The Clark Brothers" or "Sons of Sylvia" up to speed. This group was the winner of Fox's reality show "The Next Great American Band". They started as a very powerful three piece with no drums, no bass, but TONS of heart. Since winning the competition, they have been hard at work on this album. I can understand why some people may feel that "Sons of Sylvia" have changed a lot from when they were "The Clark Brothers". It is true. They have. That is why they changed their name.

Second, this album by "Sons of Sylvia" is an amazing piece of work. Don't listen to snippets. Buy the album and listen to each song with patience and an open heart. These songs aren't just IPOD fodder. These are songs that you need to smell, taste, feel, and let touch your soul. This group has something that so many artists today strive for and never find. They have a true soul behind their music.

There is not one bad song on this album. Most albums I purchase these days have three or four good songs and six or more filler songs. I can listen to each song on this album without wondering when the song will be over but will it continue longer. I wanted this album to go on for another ten songs. That is the sign of a truly great work of art. And this album is just that.

From the beginning of this album you KNOW that this group is one of a kind.

The Songs:

"John Wayne" is a great tune to start the album off. It mixes Adam's Mandolin, Austin's Dobro, and Ashley's guitar into an awesome sound. The lyrics are great and it is a song about searching for love. "Like John Wayne baby, I won't run away, no I won't back down, like John Wayne baby"....

"Love Left to Lose" is next. Ashley sings "I'm living with an open wound, hopin that it closes soon, I don't wanna leave, but I should leave". It is a song about love, pain, and the many areas in between. It was written with their cousin Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic and the collaberation is awesome.

"Revelation" starts "I was born the day that John Lennon died, the papers said he never got to say goodbye, crazy how you can have everything, but time..." This song is a lot about the Clark's life and the journey that they are on. The resounding meaning behind this and the other songs is Love. Again, awesome song.

"50 Ways" is a whole other animal. The thing about "Sons of Sylvia" is that they have no genre. You can't put them in a box because if you do they will tear it to pieces. This song is the proof of that. It starts sort of poppy and then it explodes into a funky rock groove that has to be heard to be believed. One of the best songs I have heard in years!!

Soft rock ballad "Song of Solomon" is about keeping pure and being kind in a society that preaches the opposite to us. "Don't wake love before it's time, Don't do anything unkind". Take your time with this song. It is one that needs repeated listening.

Then the Pop/Country sound of "Give Me Love" swoops in like a U2 ballad. It reminded me a lot of some of the best U2 songs. "Broken hearts, broken dreams, people runnin out of faith it seems, Down and out, but still somehow, I can hear em all screaming out, Give me Love!!" Just some great lyrics with a great groove.

"Ghost Town" is a little on the weak side musically, but lyrically it is good. Like I said, when you think you have these guys pegged, they hit you with a whole different sound. "Vanity is a perpetual liar"

"Long Beach" is a slow drive down the Pacific Coast Highway. It is a soothing song about love and an earthquake in Long Beach. I really liked this one alot.

"I'll Know You" is also about love. It is a great theme and this song talks about meeting one's soul mate. "I'll know you when I see you". Wow.

Then after a nice slow stroll down Long Beach, a soft breeze on I'll Know You, and all the rest, comes "The War Within". I don't have the words to describe the power that this song holds. It is like a rattlesnake in a cage waiting to be unleashed. I was BLOWN AWAY by this song. It starts with a slow rumble and a marching sound. It builds to what sounds like a fog horn. Then you realize it is an electric guitar sound. Then....the guitar starts hitting some really gritty slick notes. In comes the beat straight out of the U2 Rattle and Hum album. It is SICK!! I can't get over this song! "You're so in love with yourself that you hate yourself, so there it begins, the War Within!!" What a song. My mind was blown after this one.

The "Sons of Sylvia" are not "The Clark Brothers". They are a step above. I also would have liked to have heard "Billy the Kid", "Little Light o Mine", and others from the Next Great American Band competition.

However, Austin, Ashley, and Adam have created a work of art. This album is like a fine wine. Swirl it. Smell it. Taste it slowly. It DEMANDS to be savored.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pleasing to the ears - can't go wrong with purchase!, April 27, 2010

By 

A. Gift For You "LinzInDaBurg" (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Revelation (Audio CD)

As I listen to this record I think of the first time I heard Sons of Sylvia at the Carrie Underwood Concert in Pittsburgh, PA earlier this month and how blown away I was when they first took stage. I thought they would be just some "pre-performance" but their stage presence and sound was breath taking. This record carries on that memory of that live performance and when I hear those lyrics, especially "I was born the day John Lennon died" I get goose bumps. I only could wish they included their duet with Carrie Underwood "What Can I Say" on this record as they should since it was half their performance as well. But we can't have everything! All around great record with sounds of bluegrass, rock, and of course the country we've known to love them for. Without winning any contest they would have won my praise for a great album!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, God-given, Crazy talent=beautiful music, April 29, 2010

By 

Puppluv (Florida) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Revelation (Audio CD)

I have waited so long for a release from Sons of Sylvia, formerly The Clark Brothers, I was afraid nothing would meet my expectations, my anticipation, for amazing, beautiful, heartfelt, soul-touching music...and then Revelation came along and I couldn't be happier. I have grown quite attached to the three songs from the downloadable EP - John Wayne, Revelation, and 50 ways - and Love Left to Lose which I have heard on their website, but there was a little bit of me hoping beyond hope the rest of the music would be as good-but a little afraid that my love for their music would raise my expectations too high. They are only human after all, have a record company, and producers etc... and most albums, certainly a first, has a few "hit worthy" songs that you replay constantly and then the rest. There is no "the rest" on this masterpiece. They are all unique, "hit worthy" and absolutely inspirational.
When I first saw them as The Clark Brothers on NGAB, I was amazed - I loved every performance, and I'm embarrassed to admit, they played instruments I never heard of (not a big country music fan-just some old country music) and suddenly couldn't get enough of. There's no other way to put it, they inspire me. Their music truly touches my soul. It's just the kind of music that can change your mood, make your day better, and remind you to put life in perspective-no matter how bad the day, you can be blessed with something like beautiful music and amazing God-given talent (refined and perfected with hard work and dedication) and it can make you feel better.
The songs on the album range from beautiful ballads to dark but beautiful rock and roll, with country, bluegrass, pop, and a healthy dose of faith all mixed in. A song for every mood, no genre required.

As another reviewer wrote - I agree, my husband and I will forever hope for a release of "Billy the Kid" and "Country Time", "You are Still the Same", but really every song we ever heard them sing - especially originals, but also covers, would be great to have released on an album. If you are a diehard, country music and nothing else fan, maybe this won't be country enough for you. But if you appreciate more than one genre of music, and listen to every song, from beginning to end, you will find there is so much to love about Sons of Sylvia music. I think all of their songs on this album are "hit worthy", not because they are mainstream or pop, they are neither - they are great music. Some would be hits on country radio, some on mainstream radio, and some on rock stations. If you think you are a one-genre person - you only like Rock, or only like Country, or only like pop etc., give Sons of Sylvia a listen, you will surely find something you love on this album and will most likely find that you can love more than one genre of music and that there is a band so talented, that they are capable of mastering them all.

The song writing is true-blue good old story telling of classic music, not a bunch of shock factor lines and crude lyrics...just true-blue singer/songwriter type music that anyone would be proud to sing but nobody could sing better than these guys. The vocals are that one of a kind sound that you know is someone's voice because you can feel the realness of the sound, the three brothers are so crazy on strings instruments I've never seen or heard anything like it, you can't teach that to someone without talent.

The reason I say "amazing God-given, crazy talent" is because you can take lessons for years, decades even and not be able to do what these guys can do, and multi-task the perfection! If God blesses you with talent like that, you can be lazy and do the minimum and be good or you can dedicate your life to it, sink your soul into it, and master it with hard work and dedication and be AMAZING...clearly, these guys have each, in their own right, dedicated themselves to master multiple instruments, and then mastered how to do it together, and master vocals, and write, and collaborate with other artists, and feel it, and perform it in a way that makes the rest of us feel it too.

Obviously I cannot say enough, I loved the music by the Clark Brothers, and now I love the music by Sons of Sylvia. I am thankful they took the time, and worked so hard to master their craft when they were growing up because I know I am blessed to listen to this beautiful, dark, uplifting, soul touching music.

Now that I've been blessed to see them live, I have to comment on the quality of the performance in person. I don't know about sound problems in Pittsburgh, but there was nothing more you could want from a band in Tallahassee. The vocals were perfect, like velvet, you could hear everything perfectly and sing along because the lyrics were clear. My only thought would be, all the songs have a more rock sound in person, because they have such passion when they play live and nothing is holding them back. I love that, and could see two versions of the same album - like they make club mixes in a separate release by other people, these guys could make this album 8 different ways and sell it and perform it perfectly. It was good enough to get tickets to go again and I can't wait until the whole show is theirs alone. They definitely put on a show worthy of a headliner, in every aspect.

I also want to tell everyone who doesn't know - there are three exclusive tracks -one at Amazon, one at itunes nd one at napster, all are absolutely amazing! Get them all!