CD Review – ‘Revelation’ – Sons of Sylvia

14 years ago Liv Carter 25

‘Revelation’ – Sons of Sylvia (Interscope Records, 2010)

 

 

Before Carrie Underwood invited Sons of Sylvia to collaborate with her on a song, I didn’t know much about the trio. After listening to, ‘Revelation’, their debut album, a project which tends to reveal who an artist is, I still don’t know. After several listens the album’s main problem, for me, is that it has no clear direction to it at all.

Musical diversity isn’t necessarily a bad thing but there are some quite bizarre moments on this album and the guys make it difficult for themselves. I don’t think there is a singer who can sell the, for me, silly lyrics to ‘Long Beach’ in which “an earthquake made my heart break” though we are never told if his beloved literally perished in this natural disaster or if we’re talking metaphors here.

Truly strange is closing track ‘The War Within’. The cut is bookended by the sound of a marching army with in between some doom metal drum and bass elements interlaced with mandolin and violin, all of it interrupted by slogan spouting evangelists and surrounded by lyrics which are beyond me. The end of the song screams ‘how long?’ repeatedly and had me shaking my iPod going “How long what?!” in frustration. When you start quizzing and demanding a response from an inanimate object, it’s never a good sign.

It is not all bad news. ’50 Ways’ is a quirky cut in which the protagonist seems to condemn the fact that his ex did not observe proper break-up etiquette when she left “in the middle of the night in the middle of a fight”. With its vicious drums and distorted, screechy vocals, it sounds like a full-blown tantrum, foot stomping and all. It’s one of the tracks where the lyrics, production choices and vocal performance all fit together to create something interesting.

The sweeping ‘Song of Solomon’ and title track ‘Revelation’, which with its lean yet creative production is reminiscent of Crowded House, are other standouts, though the latter has one big flaw; I am sure the bridge has lyrics but they are so immensely oversung that I could not make out one word.

There is no doubt that Ashley Clark has a truly impressive vocal range, but, like current tour mate Carrie Underwood, he likes to show it off too much. When these displays of power show up in places where they are unnecessary (opening track ‘John Wayne’ as well as ‘Give Me Love’ with a shrieking mess for a chorus) they ruin an otherwise perfectly good song for me.

‘Revelation’ is all over the place. It houses so many different styles that it is impossible to find out what the album really wants to say or how Sons of Sylvia want to present themselves. Musical talent clearly not an issue, what I think this trio needs is a strong producer who can guide their multifaceted material in a clear artistic direction. Combining these songs must have been like herding cats.

Disclosure of material connection for this review.
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Liv Carter

Liv Carter

Liv is a career coach for creatives, and the people who work with them.
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.
Liv Carter

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