What Are You Listening To?

[Ruby]

The Revivalists

Album Review - City of Sound (2012)



Band members for this release:-

Ed Williams (Pedal Steel Guitar), David Shaw (Vocals), Zack Feinberg (Guitar), Rob Ingraham (Saxophone), George Gekas (Bass), Andrew Campanelli (Drums), and Michael Girardot (Keys/Trumpet)

This is an indie rock band from New Orleans who first got together in 2007. They have an eponymous EP released in 2008 and one previous full length album, Vital Signs, from 2010.

The instruments listed above go a long way to describing this ‘rock’ band’s semi-jazzy, not-quite-big-band feel, which also somehow manages to sound current. They have an immense amount of energy and enthusiasm and do ‘rock’ entirely their own way; loose, and yet together, with catchy melodies, well written lyrics and an interesting array of sounds not traditionally associated with a ‘rock’ band, notably, that trumpet!! I love the pedal steel guitar too - good stuff. I say bravo to them – their joie de vive is infectious and they’re confident, competent musicians.

They say they love to perform live, and it shows - something just gels. A bit of messiness now and then just adds to the charm of this fusion of rock, pop, funk and soul with odd flashes of grunge. They have no fear, and are not at all confined by convention - most refreshing.

Their sound calls to mind Calexico and Hunters & Collectors, both of whom use/d the trumpet to memorable effect; not that they particularly resemble either of the two – just triggers.

This album maintains its impetus all the way through to the end, no fizzling out. David Shaw has a distinctive, good quality voice although I think he has yet to explore his full range and versatility and to settle into a groove firmly stamped as his own. He reminds me of a male version of Adele at times. Finally, these guys are equally listenable whether it’s only three of them jamming an acoustic number in the park, the full ensemble in studio, or playing a thumping live set (they don’t seem to be too precious about how many of the seven of them appear at any given time). I hope they carry on going, as I would like to hear them in a couple of years’ time when they’ve acquired the tight, together, comfortable veneer only experience can bring.

I’m using a five star method of grading ‘cause I’m a girl and need more variables. A simple one, two, three is way too cut and dried for me :redface:.
So, the key is *-dislike, **- tolerable, ***- I like well enough, **** - like a lot, ***** - love. (Not all these tracks are available on YouTube, but you can stream the album on Grooveshark or Spotify, etc.,)

When I’m Able **
When I Die ***
Upright ***
Pretty Photograph **** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDQsi...BuUcqPCbJM
Navigate Below **** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M5n0EFIZNg
Criminal **** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g654n_qniHs
Chase’s House ***** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsiBRCd6T0o
Masquerade **
Up in the Air ***
BTBD **

3.2 out of 5, or 6.4 out of 10 – guess that means I kinda like this album.
I see Allmusic gives it 3.5. I could probably have been a bit more generous.

NOTE - This album was re-released in March 2014 with a second disc containing over an hour of live tracks not included in the review above

[Music Head]

holy crap
see, I knew I saw potential
seriously, great job
time consuming I know
but don't you have that feeling of accomplishment

[CRAZY-HORSE]

great stuff Ruby...10/10

[jazzboCR]

During that OGWT perf of "Sultans of Swing", a mention of this perf 20 years later was flashed--and an epic performance it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jxsnIRpy2E << Even though you can't hear it, I love the back-and-forth stage chat and obvious affection shown between Mr. Knopfler and Slowhand. Thanks for the memory-trigger, Crazy-Horse. MY OTT persona asks, "How about an hour of Mark Knopfler"?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGlGBIzN2ls << not exactly a pretty boy anymore--but then he never really was.
BONUS 1: With Chet Atkins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSdThfseSkQ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIZ99oQ1piE << this last in an informal setting
BONUS 2: add in the Everly Brothers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkFcQRiFL68
These 2 guys did an album together 24 years ago: http://www.allmusic.com/album/neck-and-n...0000316485

[jazzboCR]

About The Revivalists: What a great gift Ruby has shared with us. Love this band. BTW City of Sound is available on vinyl for you old-skool types. See the Usual Suspect for details.

[SteveO]

I agree ! The Revivalists are great !...thanks Ruby!

[SteveO]

I once heard that Dire Straits was a boring live band ...I don't think so...I read an article about Mark....I was trying to get a handle on his unique guitar sound...pretty much plectrum free, unusual hand formation at the bridge, thumb and two fingers, seems to circle around the D B G strings on the higher frets mostly...very interesting,,,and he never took a guitar lesson in his life,,,didn't reach notoriety until he was 29! Your observation is dead on Crazy ! Remember Mark worked with Dylan on Infidels as a co-producer and guitarist! He remarked in his article that he was a huge admirer of Dylan!

his guitar looks very familiar....lol

[video=youtube;GO0jK0udNTo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO0jK0udNTo[/video]

[URL="http://www.music-discussion.com/wiki/File:DS_Dire_Straits.jpg"]
[/URL]
DIRE STRAITS "dire straits" cd, 1978

career stats:
studio albums........6
"eps"....................2
singles.................23

this album stats: #5 UK, #1 AU, #2 US, no Canadian stats available
singles:
"sultans of swing".......#8 UK, #6 AU, #4 US, #6 CAN
"water of love".....................#54 AU.......................

Knopfler and Co's debut set....
i think looking back on them now they have a lot more in common with Bob Dylan than they do with rock music as their music,
contains all their trademark jazzy/bluesy-rock/pop-finger pickin country infused sounds andintelligent storyteller lyrics...
,its Dire Straits, they have their sound and you either like it or you dont...tens of millions obviously do, and so do i...
one of the first 7" vinyl singles i ever bought as an eleven or twelve year old was "sultans of swing" and i never looked back...awesome stuff,
also noticed on Wikipedia(for chart info), that Australia was the first country that gave them a #1 charting album, we were also the first country to give them a 'platinum award' for sales...
not saying we were on the ball ahead of you guys in the US and Europe, just saying we were immediately hooked on these guys from day one...
anyway,
a very good debut album,one of the best probably, that showed the talent these guys definately possessed.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

worst track: six blade knife
best track: sultans of swing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX0Bhga_2vs tv performance

tracks:

1. down on the waterline ***
2. water of love ***
3. setting me up **
4. six blade knife **
5. southbound again **
6. sultans of swing ***
7. in the gallery **
8. wild west end ***
9. lions **

3s=4
2s=5
1s=0

rating: 2.4

[SteveO]

Mark sounds more like Tom Waits on this fabulous performance!


[video=youtube;QVGumxRz3Oo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVGumxRz3Oo&amp;list=PL0C68BA49AF2C7F44[/video]

[SteveO]

YES indeed Ruby,,,great review ! I especially enjoyed Navigate Below ! and such a great vocalist and a great live band !

The Revivalists

Album Review - City of Sound (2012)



Band members for this release:-

Ed Williams (Pedal Steel Guitar), David Shaw (Vocals), Zack Feinberg (Guitar), Rob Ingraham (Saxophone), George Gekas (Bass), Andrew Campanelli (Drums), and Michael Girardot (Keys/Trumpet)

This is an indie rock band from New Orleans who first got together in 2007. They have an eponymous EP released in 2008 and one previous full length album, Vital Signs, from 2010.

The instruments listed above go a long way to describing this ‘rock’ band’s semi-jazzy, not-quite-big-band feel, which also somehow manages to sound current. They have an immense amount of energy and enthusiasm and do ‘rock’ entirely their own way; loose, and yet together, with catchy melodies, well written lyrics and an interesting array of sounds not traditionally associated with a ‘rock’ band, notably, that trumpet!! I love the pedal steel guitar too - good stuff. I say bravo to them – their joie de vive is infectious and they’re confident, competent musicians.

They say they love to perform live, and it shows - something just gels. A bit of messiness now and then just adds to the charm of this fusion of rock, pop, funk and soul with odd flashes of grunge. They have no fear, and are not at all confined by convention - most refreshing.

Their sound calls to mind Calexico and Hunters & Collectors, both of whom use/d the trumpet to memorable effect; not that they particularly resemble either of the two – just triggers.

This album maintains its impetus all the way through to the end, no fizzling out. David Shaw has a distinctive, good quality voice although I think he has yet to explore his full range and versatility and to settle into a groove firmly stamped as his own. He reminds me of a male version of Adele at times. Finally, these guys are equally listenable whether it’s only three of them jamming an acoustic number in the park, the full ensemble in studio, or playing a thumping live set (they don’t seem to be too precious about how many of the seven of them appear at any given time). I hope they carry on going, as I would like to hear them in a couple of years’ time when they’ve acquired the tight, together, comfortable veneer only experience can bring.

I’m using a five star method of grading ‘cause I’m a girl and need more variables. A simple one, two, three is way too cut and dried for me :redface:.
So, the key is *-dislike, **- tolerable, ***- I like well enough, **** - like a lot, ***** - love. (Not all these tracks are available on YouTube, but you can stream the album on Grooveshark or Spotify, etc.,)

When I’m Able **
When I Die ***
Upright ***
Pretty Photograph **** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDQsi...BuUcqPCbJM
Navigate Below **** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M5n0EFIZNg
Criminal **** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g654n_qniHs
Chase’s House ***** - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsiBRCd6T0o
Masquerade **
Up in the Air ***
BTBD **

3.2 out of 5, or 6.4 out of 10 – guess that means I kinda like this album.
I see Allmusic gives it 3.5. I could probably have been a bit more generous.

NOTE - This album was re-released in March 2014 with a second disc containing over an hour of live tracks not included in the review above

[CRAZY-HORSE]

I once heard that Dire Straits was a boring live band ...I don't think so...I read an article about Mark....I was trying to get a handle on his unique guitar sound...pretty much plectrum free, unusual hand formation at the bridge, thumb and two fingers, seems to circle around the D B G strings on the higher frets mostly...very interesting,,,and he never took a guitar lesson in his life,,,didn't reach notoriety until he was 29! Your observation is dead on Crazy ! Remember Mark worked with Dylan on Infidels as a co-producer and guitarist! He remarked in his article that he was a huge admirer of Dylan!

his guitar looks very familiar....lol

[video=youtube;GO0jK0udNTo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO0jK0udNTo[/video]

yeh...like a lot of great muso's he cannot read nor write music...thats why its so good IMO...comes from the 'soul', so it has "feel".
love the "indfidels" album, Jerome and myself dont agree on a lot of music with our different tastes but we both agree that without a doubt its Dylan's best album.

i think people refer to Dire Straits being "boring" live because they do extend their songs a fair bit sometimes with lengthy overblown guitar solos.