Customer Reviews

Revolution Starts Now

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Steve Earle is on a roll like no one else in recent history. Beginning with Train a Comin', Earle began a string that, in my opinion continues with this record. I'll start with the obvious; the record is short and contains 2 virtually identical versions of the same song. I have no problem with this, but it does mean the songs better be of top quality from beginning to end. He falls a bit short; the record is admittedly rushed, but along the way still manages to have a fair number of potential classics included.

The record begins and ends with Earle's statement of purpose, "The Revolution Starts Now". It's a fine, psychedelic double tracked vocal somewhat reminiscent in sound to "Everyone's In Love With You" from the "Transcendental Blues" record. It certainly sets the tone and I could see it getting some airplay on the radio, quite frankly. I wish it had been changed more for the repeat at the end (I understand an acoustic version exists and I imagine that could have been a fine closing track). "Home to Houston" follows up the opener with a typical Earle story song, reminiscent in sound to Buck Owens or early Dwight Yoakam. The story is about a trucker who finds himself driving in Iraq, over his head and hoping to return home alive. It's a solid track, but the record really takes off with "Rich Man's War". This song has some of Earle's best writing. It is basically a statement about the world that war is fought by the poor to benefit the rich. The inclusion of a verse from the perspective of a Palestinean suicide bomber really universalizes the point.

The record continues with "Warrior" a spoken word track that many will hate, but I find the groove infectious and the lyrics enthralling. "Gringo's Tale", which follows is another patented Earle story song. This one is likely my favorite track on the record. It includes a well-utilized string section in a story of a soldier who gets in over his head (possibly inspired by Abu Gharib) and is sold out by "the colonel" who got him involved in criminal behavior.

Earle shows his sense of humor with "Condi Condi" a fairly lame attempt at a calypso love song to the National Security Advisor. He continues his ranting with "F the CC" a real snarling anthem railing against the FCC's current attempts to limit what's available over the airways.

The pace changes again with a duet with Emmylou Harris, "Comin' Around", which has some success, but even better is the follow up, "I Thought You Should Know", a real country ode to an unbreakable heart. "The Seeker" is Earle's state of me song, which is reminiscent of "Jerusalem", the title track from his most recent studio release, although it is not nearly as good a song, musically or lyrically. Then Earle winds up with version 2 of the title track.

Maybe with a few more months putting this record together, it could have been the perfectly put together 40 minute classic that Earle has been able to do in the past, but as it is, it's merely another solid effort from Earle.

I'm hoping the next record will be with his buddies Tim O'Brien and Darrel Scott, aka the "Bluegrass Dukes", but for now, I'm enjoying the revolution.

I must say that Steve Earle has been a songwriting hero of mine forever. When he was writing songs about gettin on a beast and ridin into the wind, I lived vicariously. I had one wife, he's had six. He got arrested, I got a parking ticket. Steve Earle has been a rebel in my world of rather safe living.

Has anyone noticed that the nation is mad!!! At the end of Farenheit 911 the credits read "Do Something"!!! In the liner notes for this album Earle talks about the immediacy of the recording. This is Steve Earle doing something. Whether I agree or diagree, whether this is the greatest work ever, I think Earle has used his surliness to his advantage and puts his money where his mouth is.

For me, this album is awesome. Yes, warrior takes a little getting used to, but this is a little less pointed than Jerusalem, which I thought was wonderful but a little heavy handed. At the forefront of the songs stand the people in the middle of their governments decision. the soldiers, the different cultures effected by war,people hurt and disatisfied. I love "coming around" which speaks of people "coming around" to speaking up. Usually the term "Coming around" speaks to a mellowing, here it is a different idea.
Probably the most controversial pieces are highly enjoyable, the love song to Condaleeza Rice "condi Condi" and the rabblerousing :F the CC.
I really take objection to people who talk about the downfall of Steve Earle as a songwriter. What about the upswing of Steve Earle as the voice of a disenfranchised nation. How about Steve Earle who sees a necessity for action above craftsmanship. This is an amazing, somewhat quick work by someone who when the smoke clears, and he does get up there with Townes Van Zandt, Johnny Cash and Warren Zevon will look on it all, and know he made a difference
and then he"ll probably say the f word to the angels.

This is yet another supreme offering from America's bard. It can rouse rabble or soothe the savage breast. It opens with "Revolution Starts..." one of those Earle anthems featuring a hard-bass underpinning and laced with Byrdsesque guitar jangles and harmonic vocals that recall Revolver-era Beatles (think "Transcendental Blues" or "Amerika v. 6.0").

These are songs for people in tune with the news, but it doesn't talk down to blue-collar comrades who aren't so plugged to Buzzflash and Alternet. It rocks, hard, and it sometimes twangs, in the tradition of real country music. Guthrie and Seeger are saints, and their songs stand the test of time. But we (anyone under age 60) who were weaned on rock n' roll need some amplified crunchy guitar in our folk music.

While he can rock out with the hardest rockers, Earle can also twang. "Comin' Around" is a duet with Emmylou Harris worthy of the best of Gram Parsons. Indeed, Ms. Harris is every bit as crisp as was on "Sleepless Nights."

As for those put off by "protest music" -- Earle's songs are not boring, pedantic diatribes. Listeners' feet WILL tap. This is, in part, because Earle is a master of his craft, but it's mostly his songs from the heart. Earle walks his talk.

So if you've go that sinking feeling that the corporate regime is about to pull off another coup, you need a remedy to refuel inspiration. If not -- go listen to the Marine Band or the latest Nashville Inc., canned hat-music product.

Every American era has its troubadors -- average people writing songs that reflect the sentiments of, while inspiring the working-classes to get off their asses and hit the streets. Joe Hill, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger...

Our era is graced with Steve Earle.

This might not be Steve's best work to date, but it is a required listen. Tracks like Rich man's war and the Gringo's tale stand up to some of his best songs. This disc was quickly crafted so it could be released before (as Steve says) the most important presidential election in our lifetime. Steve has always been a leading voice in democracy, as we slowly allow our leaders to take it away from us. Please listen to him, the revolution starts now.

This may be the most important rock and roll record made since Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young recorded Ohio three and a half decades ago. Nobody will ever accuse Earle of being objective, but he certainly is passionate, and that's more important. He does get playful on Condi, Condi, and romantic with Emmylou Harris on Comin' Around, but the heart of this record is in the title cut, as well as within the tracks Home To Houston and Rich Man's War, both of which describe the helplessness of the men and women who have been put in the line of fire overseas. Whether you agree with Earle's idealogy or not, we ARE supposed to be living in a democracy, where the exchange of ideas is a good thing. Unfortunately, there aren't too many artists out there with the fire and eloquence of Mr. Earle.If you hear one record from 2004, this should be it.

Don't believe the baloney about Earle not paying attention to the music in his latest album, The Revolution Starts Now. First, musicianship has always been hit and miss on Earle's albums. Second, this album is Earle's attempt to graft some political content onto existing song genres - - from the trucker's lament to the "Marie,Marie" love bop. And it really works. "The Revolution Starts Now" reprises some of the dream-rock stuff from Jerusalem - - but the lyrics are so much more focused here that the song ends up being a fetching incantation of political desire and imagination. Likwise, "Condi, Condi" has got to be one of the funniest songs every penned - - with Earle imitating insouciant post-adolescent infatuation with the perpetually frowning, often growling, Condoleeza Rice. It's hilarious. Another standout track is "Home to Houston" - - where Earle evokes the long gray ribbon that runs through today's Iraq as traveled by one of the countless privately-contracted employees of Haliburton et al. It's true - - you've got to wonder what the heck Iraq's highways must feel like to these guys shipped over there to transport gas past rpg-toting rebels and bombed out villages. The album is a pleasure - - because Earle has finally figured out a way to combine his southpaw political punches with his country-rock chops. Enjoy.

Steve Earl has taken his place with artists that are able to express moral, religious and political views without wrapping it in insipid, mediocre music (think U2, Dylan and Woody Guthrie).

For those who find that this is not their cup of tea please help yourself to the other 99% pf the "product" being shoveled at us every day.