Revolution Starts Now, The - Steve Earle > Reviews > The Revolution Has Not Been Televised

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it rate alongside the competition	Outstanding
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Great Country Music
Disadvantages:	Not Great If You Don't Like Country

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I love proper country music; the crofts of my home in the Highlands of Scotland are only a stones throw away from the dirt farms of the mid-west and southern US. There has always been a big country following in Scotland one could argue that the music has similar chord structures to that of proper Scots folk music or that the themes of desperation, social isolation, religion, suicide and loyal dogs that get killed in horrific accidents strike a chord in the Scottish psyche, but I am not going to go down that path here………..

This is the Steve Earle who did that song called Copperhead Road and upset a few folks by releasing a song written from the point of view of a Taliban fighter. What a bad boy but I think that if you cannot see the other sides point of view then you will never reach them, unless you blow them into tiny little bits…….

This album was released sometime in 2004 to much critical acclaim, normally a bad thing in my book. Steve comments on the immediacy of the recording and how the songs were recorded within 24 hours of the first line hitting the paper, and indeed you can hear the immediacy of the music from that. It was also written at a time when the Bush administration was still reeling from the 9/11 commission hearings, and the prisoner abuse scandal broke out so an interesting time in recent US and world history. The fact that our governments have gotten away with waging war on false pretences bodes ill for all of our futures………… anyway this is a review of a country music CD not a rant on world affairs now………………….

Before I start on the album a but more of Mr Earle’s politics, Steve also mentions that the constitution of the US is a revolutionary document that lives and breathes with the people it governs and that it needs active participation from people of all creeds to keep it alive and well. Here he differs from a lot of other artists who have either been anti or pro Bush exclusively. I think that this is a more positive outlook, the last time there was a significant anyone-but-Bush vote in the US they got Clinton and he wasn’t that great either……. but I still can’t stop seeing George W Bush as an agent of Satan sent to destroy all that is good and pure.

Three paragraphs and there has been little mention of the music in this album but I needed a rant and it was relevant as that rant was inspired by this album so it is probably more relevant than what is to follow which is me talking about the album……..

The immediacy of this record was touched on in an earlier paragraph and that is clear as soon as the first song “The Revolution Starts…” opens up, a dirty guitar drives through this great piece of country rock calling the people to start the revolution. It is great and uplifting I love it man….. “Home to Huston” is about a soldier in Basra hoping to get back home whilst dealing with the reality of his situation. This to me is what great music is about meaningful lyrics that are current; musically it is in more of a traditional blues/country vein, still great…. “If I get Home To Huston I Wont Drive A Truck Anymore”

“Rich Mans War” deals with “Jimmy” and “Bobby” joining the army cause they had no other options and “Ali” from Gaza all three of them poor boys sent off to fight a rich mans war, which lets face it is what this debacle in the middle east really is. Musically it is just plain laid back country with tons of soul.

“Warrior” is a poem about warriors on all sides who end up in forgotten graves everywhere and simply sends shivers down my spine, set to a great piece of country rock music.

“The Gringo’s Tale” is a tale of a veteran questioning what he did for the love of his country and was it truly justified? To me love of your country / flag / Government is one of the most evil and selfish loves of all, how about loving Humanity and the planet we live in as otherwise let us forget about lasting much more than another couple of hundred years. This is also a great piece of folk music with some great guitar picking I wish I could pick that good but I am a strummer and always will be.

“Condi, Condi” lightens things up with its Latin rhythms and it is a simple love song, brilliantly sequenced here as we need lightening up after the first 5 songs which whilst wonderful make you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Just look at how they affected my writing……. “Pocket Full of Money, Belly Full of Wine” is a superb line, but I have a nagging suspicion that the song is about Condaleeza Rice and I am now reeling from the shock…………… “F The CC” a rant against the FCC, the FBI and CIA all of whom want to control people one way or the other, and it slips back to Steve’s trademark country rock style. Again there is a good dose of much needed humour here and keeps everything in check. These two songs are well needed here as there is only so long you can rant a people before they shut off from you.

“Comin’ Around” is a country duet with Emmylou Harris, and has typical country themes of settling down to relieve your burdens sometime, again brilliantly sequenced.

“I Thought You Should Know” is a fantastically twisted love song, something that country music excels at the chorus is simply sublime:-

“If you’re thinkin’ ‘bout breaking my heart,
You might as well just pack up your little black dress and go,
Somebody else already tore it apart,
And I thought you should know”

You don’t really get much better than that now do you………..

“The Seeker” is about looking for answers and truth which is something we all relate to, musically a bit like Tom Petty and a bit disappointing. Even though Tom Petty is good Steve Earle doesn’t need to copy him….. The album and this review finishes off with “The Revolution Starts Now” which is the full version of the opening track so I do not really need to go over it again.

I love this album as it is uplifting and inspiring with an important message. It is also trying to reach people from all parts of the political spectrum, which is something we are all bad at. If you can’t reach somebody then you can’t take them with you to the Promised Land (1).

(1) That last line has to be one of the most pretentious statements I have ever made but I like it, I hope that I am not turning into Bono