Steve Earle
The Revolution Starts Now
On Sale Now
For $13.48

Steve Earle’s latest, The Revolution Starts Now, is not the song-for-song masterpiece I eagerly anticipated after becoming an avid fan with his last effort, Jerusalem. But it’s still a striking effort that will please die-hard fans and give the freethinking democrats something to shout about. Any politically-driven record that leans more to the liberal left is bound to strike chords with anyone eager to get to the voting booth in order to trim the bush. Earle is happily preaching to the choir and offering support in the best way he knows how, through guitar-driven simplicity that rocks as hard as it rolls. Earle’s laid-back homegrown songwriting style settles in for a brisk, fuming record that is concise, passionate and honest. If there has been one artist that manages to evoke punk, country and politics without a shred of doubt or inconsistency, it is quick-draw Earle. The next few months without a record from Earle would’ve been as hard to grasp as Michael Moore not releasing a film chastising and criticizing our current President.

Earle doesn’t necessarily branch out like he did on Transcendental Blues; but rather, he chooses to hone his strengths from Jerusalem, mixing up standard rockers with political sonatas that make the ears flinch and the body groove. “The Revolution Starts Now” is not as strong as an opener as “Ashes To Ashes” but sets the tone with lyrics that are straightforward and worthy for movement. The revolution starts now/when you rise above your fear/and tear the walls around you down/the revolution starts here.” "Rich Man's War" does the same thing for soldiers based in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as a suicide bomber in Gaza, recalling the incredibly audacious and notorious “John Walker’s Blues.” “Home to Houston” is the perfect antidote to that roof-is-on-fire scene in Fahrenheit 9/11, and it’s still a bit of surprise that Moore didn’t utilize some of the tracks here or on Earle’s last offering. "F--- the FCC," is the other sure-fire keeper here, which fuels our version of a rebellious time against corporate-logo America and will undoubtedly start up crowd chants at future shows. Picture a bunch of Moveon.org volunteers getting fired up to electioneer, cranking the car radio, and singing along to a searing admonition of the recent attack on civil liberties. Here’s an act from a true patriot: "F-- the FBI!" they howl. "F-- the CIA! We're living in the motherf---ing USA!" It’s easily one of the catchiest choruses of 2004.

What's a bit out of place is the sweet stuff that slows down the political backdrop, the track he deems as "chick songs," with his compressed running time not necessarily producing any winners in terms of ballads. There is elegance to the two-chord "Comin' Around," but it has string swells and needs a bit more of a buildup instead of relying on ho-hum country principles. There are two absolute clunkers: "Warrior," a horrendous spoken word Jim Morrison magazine poem set to a bland elegy, and the playful but truly out of place "Condi, Condi," which comes on to the National Security Adviser in sly reggae calypso ("people say you're cold but I think you're hot"). These are easily skip-able but Earle’s simple and zealous approach to rock and roll is unabashedly endearing and easy on the ears. He’s not reinventing the wheel but rolling with the punches of life, love, the government, and everything in between. The sentiment is as strong as Born To Run-era Springsteen and it’s the perfect record to listen to while floating over the open road… on the way to a rally or a protest. Keep them coming Steve, we’re all listening.

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