Everybody’s talking about the new Springsteen album, Magic, and while I agree it’s a fine album, the new Fogerty album, Revival, which was released on the same day, deserves some love too.
This is a rockin’ album. In my opinion, it’s his finest since Centerfield. Every song sounds like Fogerty reached back to 1967 and dragged it through the swamp. Songs such as “It Ain’t Right” and “I Can’t Take It No More” feature Fogerty’s voice and distinctive guitar sound at their snarling best, and lighter numbers such as “Don’t You Wish It Was True” and “Broken Down Cowboy” set a softer mood while managing to avoid sounding treacly. There are also the obligatory throwbacks to the 60’s with “Summer of Love” and “The Creedence Song”, the latter an unabashed tribute to his CCR days. Fogerty sounds as if he’s been rejuvenated by his new relationship with Fantasy Records, which released this album. It seems like he’s let go of all the baggage laid on him by Saul Zaenz and the previous management, and while it’s a look back at the past, it’s also a hopeful look forward.
I was just listening to “Premonition” the other day. Great stuff. He’s still using the same amp onstage as he did at Woodstock.
I need to give that new CD a spin. Guess I’ll have to mosey down to Rasputin Records tomorrow.
I should have mentioned he can still turn out a protest song or two. “It Ain’t Right” takes such celebretarts as Britney, Lindsay, and Paris to task for their excessively partying ways.
*Another long weekend with your friends
I thought that party would never end
Well up to your rehab and gone again
It ain’t right
It ain’t right
Honey such a waste of life
*
“I Can’t Take It No More” is an angrier indictment of the Iraqi War than was “Deja Vu All Over Again”.
*I can’t take it no more
I can’t take it no more
Sick and tired of your dirty little war
I can’t take it no more
You know you lied about the casualties
You know you lied about the WMD’s
You know you lied about the detainees
All over this world
*
And “Long Dark Night” slams everyone from W. to Rummy to former FEMA head Mike Brown.
*
Goergie’s in the jungle
Knockin’ on the door
Come to get your children
Wants to have a war
Rummie’s in the kitchen
Messin’ with the pans
Dickie’s in the back
Stealin’ everything he can*
But when all’s said and done,
*
Hey, you can’t go wrong
If you play a little bit of that
Creedence song*
(I guess it’s just you and me, eh?)
Just a final bump: Wal Mart has a CD/DVD set for $14. The DVD has a nice interview and video from his set at Glastonbury this year. He stretches out on “Ramble Tamble” and plays a mean "Keep on Chooglin".
I bought this yesterday on eMusic. It’s really good. It sounds a bit like Centerfield, and might be a better album, other than that it doesn’t have an obvious radio hit on it.
I haven’t heard this yet, but it’s on my shopping list. It’s Fogerty, how can it be bad? I’ve seen him 3 times now, and hope to see him again in December.