Revolution Starts Now

Steve Earle | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 24, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Artemis Records
• ASIN: B0002IQHV6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (116 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,302 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #55 in Music > Rock > Roots Rock

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Earle rushed The Revolution Starts ... Now to stores ahead of the 2004 presidential election, and given that timing and the songwriter's righteous lefty stance, the disc's topical content should surprise exactly no one. Even still, it's light on invective, allowing Earle's deftly drawn characters to make his points for him. Plainspoken people swept up by larger events, they include the truck-driving protagonist of rig-rocker "Home to Houston," who dodges rockets while running supplies in Iraq, the disaffected vet in "The Gringo's Tale," and the American soldiers and Palestinian boys whose lives run parallel in "Rich Man's War." At times, Earle is less artful, and the going gets patchy: the title cut is a guitars-blazing call to arms, but "Warrior" (a ponderous spoken-word piece that apes Shakespeare), "F the CC" (a ragged denunciation of culture cops), and "Condi, Condi" (a faux-reggae mash note to Condoleezza Rice) don't hold up as well. Interestingly, the less-pointed material finds the cantankerous crusader at his best, as on the aching Emmylou Harris duet "Comin' Around," a late-night barroom blues called "I Thought You Should Know," and the hopeful closer "The Seeker." There, Earle slips in one last, subtle message: "There's a new day tomorrow and maybe I'll hold, something brighter than gold to a seeker." --Anders Smith Lindall

Product Description

With more than 20 years as a recording artist, Steve Earle is one of America's most acclaimed & respected singer/songwriters. All four of his ESquared/Artemis studio albums have been Grammy nominees, with his production of Lucinda Williams' Car Wheels nabbing best Contemporary Folk Album. Now Earle returns with his most topical record to date. Much of The Revolution Starts Now is written like a newspaper, with impassioned political protest songs like the title track, "F the CC", & "Condi, Condi" (written for our National Security Advisor).

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 27 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Gritty Rough & Tough August 24, 2004

By [e-mail]

Format:Audio CD

As a previous reviewer (and Steve himself) have said, this album was rushed a bit. Which is not to say it does not have its share of fantastic Steve Earle tunes. It does, and the first 5 songs are all 5 star Earle songs, with great political importance, some classic Earle style, and the spoken word pleasant surprise of Warrior. Warrior is Steve speaking pure gritty poetry with some rocking guitar in the background. A great tune. Rich Man's War is true to the times, and I'd put it up there with his last tunes of John Walker's Blues and Jerusalem, and even though it has names of places, it'll probably ring true for a long while, much like Talking Heads' "Listening Wind". Condi, Condi is the odd-ball tune out of all of them. Amusing, but sorta off a bit. F the CC has good lyrics, but the delivery seemed a bit lacking to me. The rest, however is quite amazing. But those two ones are the reason for the ****/*****, but I'd probably give it closer to a 4 1/2 stars.

I've been a fan of Steve Earle since I was 10, so 9 years now. I've yet to be disappointed. Steve is without a doubt one of the best song writers of our time.

I also feel that while yes, there is a political bias on this album, it is strong, honest, and sincere.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars It Depends..... August 24, 2004

By G. A. Piva

Format:Audio CD

This is an important record, no matter which side you are on. It is unfortante that this country is so split down the middle, as most will be on this record. When it comes down to it, these are just flat out good songs. They happen to have a message attached, which in not a bad thing. Steve Earle is a true American, and i feel as he does, that we all need to work together to make this country work. The last three songs are amazing, "Comin' Around", "I Thought You Should Know", and "The Seeker".

The revolution does start now, indeed.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Is it good? Is it important? It's Steve Earle August 25, 2004

By Tore Skogseth

Format:Audio CD

So let's start with the obvious: This is a political album. Whether one likes it or not may be heavily influenced by political stance - although there is no guarantee that you'll like it even if you're on the left side of politics. I happen to be on the same side of the fence as Steve Earle, so I don't mind the politics in it - but more important is the fact that I believe that anyone with a conviction has a right to find his/her own soapbox and blurt it all out. Steve Earle's soapbox happens to be a recording deal and a solid fanbase, and kudos to the man for running the risk of further alienation of part of his fanbase (read the reviews of Jerusalem here on Amazon if you're in doubt as to what I mean).

One thing worth noticing, though, is that he once again tries to present both sides of the story. In Rich Man's War, probably my favorite track off the album, he presents the war from both sides - although only from the people who fight it - and not the ones instigating it. I personally find his storytelling skills to grow even further on this album, and while noone would doubt his political agenda, I still don't get the feeling that he is force feeding us his beliefs.

Now - on to the record itself. It's been playing in my car a couple of times, and while I like it, it is not a great Steve Earle album. Most of the songs are written based on the formula he seems to have employed on the last couple of album - most noteworthy are the simularities to Jerusalem as far as song structure goes - but it is all signature Steve Earle, and, to paraphrase another reviewer here, it beats most of the crap released these days, whether it is in the rock or country sections. There are a couple of exceptions - most notably Condi, Condi - which is his ode to Condoleezza Rice, a song that screams of lust and fun and joy of life.

All in all this is a solid album. It's not Steve Earle's best, but it might just be his most important.