Rating: 5 Pulses
Every once in awhile, there is an album that stands far above the rest. To start off our new year with a bang, Acoustic Revolution has done just that.
Led by the talented John Salaway and his brother Mick, Acoustic Revolution draws the line between the indie/folk rock of today to the modern rock sound of the late ’60s to the early ’70s. The music itself is very progressive, pulling its influences from Beck to the days of Pink Floyd and The Beatles’ Sgt. Peppers.
Throughout the album, Salaway delves his way through the evils of the modern recording era, detailing the plight of the average band trying to make it in the real world. Acoustic Revolution is a revolution of sorts, letting go of the typical commercial aspects of the music industry to reveal a more honest and real approach to music.
Every part of the album is planned with the utmost intricacy, leaving the listener ready for more, feeling every ounce of energy and passion.
Salaway has outdone himself, writing with impressive craftsmanship and playing with excellent dexterity and sophistication. Even Salaway’s vocals display solid workmanship, complimenting his well-structured songs with well-delivered emphasis at just the right moment. The pace of the album is almost perfect, taking the listener slowly in with the pleasantly intoxicating “There’s Always Something” to the heavy, percussive, guitar-driven sound of “Sally’s Back Door” and “The Great Escape.”
Produced with the help of DefKat Records, the album shows every facet of great recording techniques, using an amazing display of keyboards, synthesizers, guitars, bass and percussion. Heavy guitar riffs, smooth acoustic picking, steady rhythmic bass playing, and precision drumming encompass the entire album. The powerful style and artistic expression have been captured in every nuance and detail on the album, revealing more than just an album full of songs, but an album that explores some specific theories or concepts. Acoustic Revolution displays almost an obsessive compulsion to achieve the perfect sound, the perfect melody, the perfect harmony. This constant compulsion to succeed gives the band something to bring clarity to its own identity, achieving true focus and attitude.
This album is a revolution. This band is about making real music. Really damn good music that takes you everywhere, from a personal, emotional level to a political level.
This is an Acoustic Revolution that is paving the way for something real?full of great promise and hope and sure to leave you wondering about the main issues in our lives, and maybe even wondering about a girl named Sally.
