EP REVIEW: Made In Muscle Shoals Vol. 2 – The Revivalists
The wonderful thing about music is it’s full of variables. If the tuning of an instrument drops, it could change the entire song. Perhaps an electric guitar gets swapped out for an acoustic or steel guitar to give it a closer feel. The possibilities are endless. This is perhaps why re-imagined material has always proved popular for die-hard fans of particular bands. Paying their due diligence to fan service, THE REVIVALISTS release Made In Muscle Shoals Vol. 2.
Returning to the FAME Recording Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the eight-piece rock ‘n’ roll band pull fan favourites from 2018’s Take Good Care into their experiments. This results in an emotional whirlwind of a six-track EP, something which wastes zero time sucking us in with You Said It All. Opening with a slow and sad intro, David Shaw’s vocals are simply sublime. The instrumental becomes lathered in moroseness as they swell into an almost ominous tone. While the chorus may not have the typical punch it should, You Said It All is still incredibly charismatic as we accompany Shaw “walking through the garden of my yesterdays”.
It becomes apparent THE REVIVALISTS feel most at home nestled within the warm tones of 70s rock influences. “If you wanna play some games, I break the rules” Shaw states with a mischievous undertone the 70s were notorious for. Got Love’s sizzling muted bass and guitars make for a salacious intro. We’ll fully admit we fell into the trap of expecting stripped back versions of these tracks for a studio EP. Got Love is an occasion where it’s not always a bad thing to be wrong. This song is also an indication that brass sections are always welcome within the realms of rock. Michael Girardot’s trumpet sits nicely within the chorus and paves the way for Rob Ingraham’s saxophone solo which has us “dancing through the room like a hurricane”.
This EP is also incredibly deceiving. While Hate To Love You is sonically warm, it’s a lyrically sad tale of wanting to be with someone we know is toxic for us. PJ Howard’s ticking percussion sets the stage for a deceptively comforting song. Ed William’s steel guitar slips beneath Shaw’s vocals to add a watery tinge of sadness which blooms throughout the song. “Somebody up and took my love away” is gorgeous within its despondency ripping out our still beating heart. Setting lyrics such as these against a contrasting instrumental carries on into Next To You which tips the scale the other way. “Every time I lose my mind, you’re never far away” should be a sentence of good connotations but when laid on a foundation of cool toned instrumentals and a slower beat, it pulls the mood down. Where some bands may have struggled with rearranging the composition of their material, Next To You is just one example of how effortless this record feels.
The most prolific example comes with the EP’s closer, Other Side Of Paradise. A masterclass in song composition, the track begins with vocal harmonies which soar above a shaker. As we become “free from complications” subtle guitars sweep in at the 30-second mark. Each element gets a moment to breathe before another gets introduced to the mix. The picture of a weary soul toward its end is divine in its simplicity. It’s when a band can strip a song to its bones and still give a smooth full-bodied performance that they become one we should all experience.
Made In Muscle Shoals Vol. 2 may be primarily a fan service EP but it’s more than enough to draw in casual listeners. We’ll even argue the point this is an EP which will win many people over. It’s clear THE REVIVALISTS have taken time to curate this EP, not only for the fans but for themselves. In taking that time, they have created something special. It may not quite be lightning in a bottle but there are a few sparks within the vessel.
Rating: 7/10
Made In Muscle Shoals Vol. 2 is out now via Concord Records.
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