Steve Earle 'The Revolution Starts...Now'

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Lyrics and a few tracks here. I like the fuck-the-fcc song becauase it's just like the fuck-the-fcc song your 16-year-old nephew would write.

Also, I'm glad someone finally wrote a love song for Condi Rice.

I like Steve because I like his songs and his singing, even if both have eroded. But I also respect him because I think he's trying (however hamhandedly) to keep alive a kind of American blue-collar radicalism that most Americans don't even remember ever existed.

― spittle (spittle), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 05:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I really like the production on the Ron Sexmith album he and Ray Kennedy did.

― Huck, Tuesday, 3 August 2004 05:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, they've got a nice touch. I agree with Lucinda Williams that they made her sound better than anyone else has. And they did good work on the V-roys and Cheri Knight records too.

― spittle (spittle), Wednesday, 4 August 2004 02:45 (twenty-one years ago)

goin for the johnny cash / slingblade look here:

ihttp://www.cmt.com/sitewide/assets/img/artists/earle_steve/steveearle12-426x135.jpg

― frankE (frankE), Wednesday, 4 August 2004 19:50 (twenty-one years ago)

goin for the johnny cash / slingblade look here:

ihttp://www.cmt.com/sitewide/assets/img/artists/earle_steve/steveearle12-426x135.jpg

― frankE (frankE), Wednesday, 4 August 2004 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Nice to see him drop the "front porch perfessor" look.

― Huck, Wednesday, 4 August 2004 19:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Ya know, this isn't nearly as hamhanded as I anticipated. The title song is really catchy. It the next two are surprisingly good (esp. given the title of the third is "Rich Man's War"). "Warrior" is a bit much, but "Condi,Condi!" is the best politcal novelty song I've heard in ...maybe ever? "Fuck the FCC" is nice drivin' shout out that'll do well in the clubs. Who's he doing the the duet with on "Comin' Around"?

― frankE (frankE), Wednesday, 4 August 2004 20:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I like the perspective switch in the third verse of "Rich Man's War." It's obvious, OK, but it works. Reminds me of "Copperhead Road" a little, following the song's line to its logical conclusion. On first blush (and "Warrior" aside...), it sounds like he's connecting more naturally here than on Jerusalem -- less overbearing. And more pissed off.

― spittle (spittle), Thursday, 5 August 2004 01:03 (twenty-one years ago)

(plus I just saw a rerun of his cameo on "The Wire" -- don't know how that came about, but it was pretty nice. I assume it was just his regular AA/NA speech, but he did sound like he knew what he was talking about)

― spittle (spittle), Thursday, 5 August 2004 01:05 (twenty-one years ago)

I hear he lost hella weight on the Atkins Diet.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Thursday, 5 August 2004 01:11 (twenty-one years ago)

He is looking fitter these days. Post-prison, he was one porky dude.

― spittle (spittle), Thursday, 5 August 2004 01:13 (twenty-one years ago)

NO STEVE NOT THE ATKINS DIET :''(

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Thursday, 5 August 2004 01:16 (twenty-one years ago)

I believe it said in Magnet that he saw himself in his documentary film and thought he looked like a big fat piece of shit so he Atkinsed out pronto.
He looks ready to kill every chicken in the truck right now.
I'd like to hear the new record.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Thursday, 5 August 2004 01:18 (twenty-one years ago)

I know he's lost a lot of weight, but was it really Atkins?

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 5 August 2004 01:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Guess so.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 5 August 2004 01:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, here it is:
MAGNET Feb/Mar 2004:
The film had unintended health benefits for Earle. "After Steve saw it, saw how overweight he had become and strung out on junk food, he went on the Atkins diet and lost 55 pounds," says (Amos) Poe, (the documentary's director). "He looks great now. He weighs 165 pounds and has a lot more energy."

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Thursday, 5 August 2004 01:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, that record cover looks like a cross of the last three Steve Earle album covers, Radiohead's Hail to the Thief and one of those Sing Along with Mitch albums (or maybe Abba's Gracias Por La Musica or some shit like that).

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Thursday, 5 August 2004 01:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow. This is very quickly becoming my new favorite album. Esp. "Fuck the FCC", which is embedding itself into my brain.

― frankE (frankE), Thursday, 5 August 2004 13:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Best punk-rock song of the year.

― spittle (spittle), Thursday, 5 August 2004 14:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, the title track and "Fuck the FCC" are two of the best songs I've heard all year. God, I ♥ Steve.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 5 August 2004 14:52 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

Really surprised by the lack of comments on this album, as it is great. It's a hell of a lot better and more thoughtful than that LeTigre single, anyway. Anyone else hear "The End" in "Warrior"?

― frankE (frankE), Thursday, 19 August 2004 18:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Add me to the "Fuck the FCC" love-in -- the song's on this month's Vice CD sampler.
Out of curiosity -- why the dissappointment-over-Earle-doing-Atkins talk above? Is it just cause it's a fad?

― Softly Weeping at the Oki Dog (Ben Boyer), Thursday, 19 August 2004 18:58 (twenty-one years ago)

I've never heard any of his music, but i read the interview with him in The Onion this week. What a cool guy.

― Wooden (Wooden), Thursday, 19 August 2004 19:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I had an opposite reaction. "I used to support the NRA - you know, constitutional rights and stuff - but now, you know what? It's just too darn SCARY out there, you know? I personally send a vial of urine to the Fedearl Government every week, just so they can make sure I'm not doing anything to harm myself, like not wearing my seatbelt or drinking too much. Man, I LOVE America!"

what an asshole.

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Thursday, 19 August 2004 19:06 (twenty-one years ago)

It only took 6 minutes for Roger Adultery to chime in with his "no, I'm not a Republican -- I'm just a little more conservative and I like to play devil's advocate!" offerings! Surely this is a new record for our resident contrarian!

― Softly Weeping at the Oki Dog (Ben Boyer), Thursday, 19 August 2004 19:10 (twenty-one years ago)

The only correct thing Steve Erale said in that interview was when he identified his audience as almost exclusively being made up of urban yuppies. That's about right.

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Thursday, 19 August 2004 19:15 (twenty-one years ago)

All the REAL Americans are listening to populist truth-tellers like Toby Keith, after all.

― Softly Weeping at the Oki Dog (Ben Boyer), Thursday, 19 August 2004 19:17 (twenty-one years ago)

nope - we're listening to Today is the Day - this new album is the one of the best things I've heard all year. I N T E N S E ! ! !

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Thursday, 19 August 2004 19:18 (twenty-one years ago)

The only correct thing Steve Erale said in that interview was when he identified his audience as almost exclusively being made up of urban yuppies. That's about right.

Roger, I have personally attended at least three Steve Earle shows in your new hometown, and I can attest that yuppies like me make up only half his audience. The other half is drunk hillbillies who sit in the back and holler "Copperhead Road! Gee-tar Town! Copperhead Road! Billy Austin!" between every single song.

― spittle (spittle), Thursday, 19 August 2004 19:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Toby Keith is a
registered Democrat, y'all,
with doubts re: Iraq.*

*Once again, my reading of TV Guide at the checkout stand at Woodman's pays off. Actually, it's the only time.

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Thursday, 19 August 2004 19:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Out of curiosity -- why the dissappointment-over-Earle-doing-Atkins talk above? Is it just cause it's a fad?"

No, because it's almost as unhealthy as the heroin addiction he used to have.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 19 August 2004 19:35 (twenty-one years ago)

How do you figure, Johnny? (as a dude who lost 60 pounds doing it myself and had my cholesterol drop 30 points, and who had a totally normal response to a recent physical, I am curious about your doubts)... I'm sure there have been cases - but to compare a low-carbohydrate diet to heroin addiction is ridiculous and disrespectful.

As for Toby Keith, whether or not he's a democrat,or republican, he's still the man who sings "you'll be sorry that you messed with
The U.S. of A./ 'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass, It's the American way," and is, it would appear, a full-fledged idiot.

― Softly Weeping at the Oki Dog (Ben Boyer), Thursday, 19 August 2004 20:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, dietary choice and jingoism were not part of the discussion I was hoping to revive. The album rocks and/or rolls, regardless.

― frankE (frankE), Thursday, 19 August 2004 20:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Fair enough, FrankE... I'm with you on the album rocking, anyways.
Here's the link to that Onion interview for the curious: http://www.theonionavclub.com/feature/index.php?issue=4033

― Softly Weeping at the Oki Dog (Ben Boyer), Thursday, 19 August 2004 20:14 (twenty-one years ago)

i'd like to kick his ass out of respect for Freakwater alone

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Thursday, 19 August 2004 20:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm with frankE about the wrong parts of the discussion getting revived (although I'm half guilty of doing just that). I'll just say that the two people I've known who went full out with Atkinsmania have gotten sick...not hospital sick, but sick enough to turn me off to the low-carb philosophy.

BTW, the album is the best thing he's done since Train' a Comin' imho.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 19 August 2004 20:27 (twenty-one years ago)

apparently, though, if we're not talking diet/politics, then it doesn't get discussed at all. wtf? unfortunate, since the non-politico songs are great too. i still want to know who the duet is with on "Comin' Around". also, "Seeker" is really nice.

― frankE (frankE), Thursday, 19 August 2004 20:42 (twenty-one years ago)

i'd like to kick his ass out of respect for Freakwater alone

what's the connection?

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Thursday, 19 August 2004 21:26 (twenty-one years ago)

The duet is with Emmylou Harris, FrankE --
But you really shouldn't be terribly surprised -- if you hang around ILM long enough -- that it takes personal insults and political baiting to get a thread cooking.
Have you seen the thread about the new Le Tigre single? Jesus Christ!

― Softly Weeping at the Oki Dog (Ben Boyer), Thursday, 19 August 2004 21:39 (twenty-one years ago)

for the record, i thought his choice to cover "Johnny Two Bad" was pretty awesome.

The Freakwater connection is that he made it a point to trash talk those "Freakwater bitches" a couple of years ago after a business arrangement went sour. You'll have to forgive my poor memory, but I believe it's covered in the No Depression book.

Freakwater rule in ways that some of the rulingest bands will never, ever hope to rule.

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Thursday, 19 August 2004 22:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Freakwater's great. So's Steve. Love is all around.

That "Johnny Too Bad" cover and his version of "Rivers of Babylon" are, as far as I know, the best country-reggae songs ever. "Johnny Too Bad" even has toasting.

― spittle (spittle), Friday, 20 August 2004 01:26 (twenty-one years ago)

So...basically the drunk hillbillies are the only ones there that want to hear GOOD Steve Earle songs!

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 20 August 2004 13:58 (twenty-one years ago)

"copperhead road" is overwrought. the whole self-mythologizing aspect of the early records annoys me, even though i think they can be pretty damn catchy. i like his recent records, though not passionately. he seems like a guy who has accepted the terms of his success on a basic level, which is always nice to read.

― amateur!!!st, Friday, 20 August 2004 15:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I like the one about the truck.

― the earlefox, Friday, 20 August 2004 15:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Hven't heard this one yet, but, as far as previous, JUST AN AMERICA BOY seems like a great Steve-thus-far: rocking, 'billy, solo set, brief comments, momentum and all(also rhetorical warts and all: not that I'm not an old New Leftie, but " Abbie Hoffman said,"We told an army to stop and it did"?! Uh,Steve? Vietnam War lasted 9 years min,not counting before/after most Americans started/stopped counting, and Abbie never had no "we"; we were us'n's)(Atkins shouldn't be taken too far: you need *some* carbs)(better off semi-vegetarian)

― Don Allred, Friday, 20 August 2004 19:00 (twenty-one years ago)

alright since some people don't wanna drop the Atkins stuff:
Have you guys ever read an Atkins book? You NEVER stop consuming carbs completely.
You restrict it to about 20g a day in the beginning (You WILL feel sick the first week or so, the book even says so) and then gradually increase your carbs until you find a happy medium where you can eat as much carbs as possible and still lose weight.
Atkins is only dangerous if you haven't read the books and just say, "Hey, I'm gonna try this Atkins! Guess I'll stop eating carbs!"

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 20 August 2004 19:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, Aaron, but that's what a lot of people seem to be doing. Anybody seen the JUST AN AMERICAN BOY DVD, with stuff not on CD? How is it?

― Don Allred, Friday, 20 August 2004 19:39 (twenty-one years ago)

It's not Atkins' fault that people are too lazy to read his books. Let it be known that he's more about getting people to stop eating a bunch of processed carb-heavy junk food and that you don't need bread with EVERY meal. A lot of people seem to think Atkins = eating nothing but steak & eggs or whatever but that's just plain false. Of COURSE you still need to eat the healthy carbs, anyone who doesn't realize that DESERVES to get sick.

Anyway I haven't seen the DVD yet, but the CD is tops.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 20 August 2004 19:48 (twenty-one years ago)

It's not Atkins' fault that people are too lazy to read his books.

It's easy to dodge blame when you're dead.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Friday, 20 August 2004 19:50 (twenty-one years ago)

hahaha touche
But you get the point.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 20 August 2004 19:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Anybody seen the JUST AN AMERICAN BOY DVD, with stuff not on CD? How is it?

It's alright, but it's a sloppily-made documentary, with very few performances of complete songs.

The cd is much better.

― abegrand, Friday, 20 August 2004 20:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I just saw him do an in-store and it was enjoyable, if not amazing. roger adultery's audience was there, but then, this is Manhattan. Fuck the FCC was fun. I've never listened to his stuff before (went to this b/c of a friend) but he really made me wish I could sing along with Christmas In Washington

― comme personne (common_person), Wednesday, 25 August 2004 00:43 (twenty-one years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.