John Fogerty - Revival

John Fogerty
Revival
Fantasy Records
Grade: A-

In the years since Creedence dissolved, John Fogerty has been a tortured rocker – trying to work outside the shadow of Creedence, create a new sound, and not try to trample over his “swamp rock.” After decades of difficulty, Fogerty returns to form and offers up Revival – his best record since CCR. Over the past few years Fogerty has come to agreement with the contentious split with CCR and reembraced the power of swamp rock; so much so Revival is being released on CCR’s initial label Fantasy Records (under entirely different ownership). It is quite possible that Fogerty reserves his best work for times of turmoil in America – as original demonstrated with CCR and now with regard to the Iraq War, War on Terrorism, and the Bush administration. Like other classic rockers getting invigorated by the current environment, Fogerty launches out against politics, culture, and society in a wave of spectacular tracks including “Don’t You Wish It Was True,” “Gunslinger,” “Long Dark Night,” and the punk rock “I Can’t Take It No More.” Revival certainly isn’t all geared to speaking out against politics – as Neil Young’s Life in War was – and there are a smattering other motivated songs including “Broken Down Cowboy,” “River Is Waiting,” and “Somebody Help Me.” In a nod to his settlement with CCR, Fogerty indulges his past with “Creedence Song” with the choice repeated line of “can’t go wrong if you play a little bit of that Creedence song.” If you are a fan of CCR, and really who isn’t, you will love Revival.