Revival Dear - Revival Dear [Album]

U Spin records

October 8, 2008, 05:13 PM

I did my best to give this album a fair go, I honestly did. Having listened and looked at their Myspace before receiving the album, I thought it would be a nice, pleasant listen.

The first time I listened to the album I had it on in the background, while I was busy doing other stuff. It was OK, started off more upbeat than I was expecting. I remember thinking that they probably sound better live, but nothing particularly stood out; however it was just on in the background. The second time I put the album on, again, in the background, I noticed how long it was. So long that I was getting antsy (and bored) and couldn't wait for it to finish; I stopped it half way through and put something else on. I tried listening to it a couple more times, each time not managing to reach it's end. It appeared the more I Iistened to it the less I liked it. Which is the complete opposite of what should happen, surely? Eventually I decided to give it one final last go. I put it on, with the lyric book in hand, sat on my bed and JUST listened to it. I could only listen to it for about two songs before I started reading a magazine. BUT, I did finish the album (I made myself) with some forced level of concentration.

Revival Dear are an American five piece, fronted by Eddie Orso (the song writer) and Shelley Hayes. Neither vocalists voices are particularly special, and I'd even go so far to say Hayes' vocals are rather annoying. This could be because it reminded me of Charlene Spiteri, of Texas fame, with her sometimes breathy pop singing and general over imposing sound in songs, which for me isn't a good thing.

A combination of folk, country and some blues heavily influenced by Fleetwood Mac (influenced only mind, they do not sound half as good as).

Revival Dear should technically work, they've got a pretty safe formula, but in a market where there just is so much better out there in this genre, they don't cut it. Their lyrics are, well, deep south blues style lyrics without the profound meanings, full of old 'gunslinging wild west cat house' style Americanisms.

Of the entire album only one song stood out as being slightly pleasant sounding and another was possibly three percent above the below mediocre remainder. 'Give me the Blues' is a hooky, bluesy (unsurprisingly) ballad that actually suits the otherwise whining vocals of Hayes. Again, it's about nothing relevant or even of this century. 'Be back someday' is a good effort for trying to sound like Fleetwood Mac, but out of the entire album those are the only two that doesn't make me want to turn it off within ten seconds of starting it. Not that impressive really.

Instantly forgettable and utterly dull. However, saying that, I bet there are people who would love this stuff. People who buy Texas and populist country music. I guess with music there is definitely something for everyone. In this instance this has nothing for me.

Oh, for those that buy CD's; one good thing is that their CD is pretty. The actual CD has the design of vinyl on it, so it looks like cute little vinyl. It doesn't make the music any better though!