Revelator
by: Tedeschi Trucks Band
(Sony Masterworks)
Recorded at their Jacksonville, Florida, home studio, married duo Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi formed a new 11-piece band for Revelator. Between Trucks and Tedeschi, they've played with everyone from Bob Dylan to Buddy Guy to the Allman Brothers Band. They're one of the most talented married couples in the music industry, and they have a formidable group of musicians to assist in Revelator's electric-soul sound.
"Come See About Me" opens Revelator with a high-powered slunky groove, a Stax-sounding horn section and Tedeschi's spirit-stirring vocals. The Jayhawks' Gary Louris co-wrote "Don't Let Me Slide", a laid-back soul song. Comparisons to Delaney & Bonnie are obvious, but there's a deep R & B groove pulsing in this recording that also evokes Sly & The Family Stone.
"Midnight In Harlem" demonstrates the power of Tedeschi's voice and how her husband's guitar playing compliments the emotive qualities of the tune. "Bound For Glory" captures the essence of this amazing collection of players, and one can only imagine how uplifting this music will sound to a live audience.
"Simple Things" counts as one of the 'stripped' songs on Revelator, but a real strength resides in this number. Tedeschi sings: "Looking for love without sorrow/Love without pain/Now I've opened up my window/Hear the children on the street/Love has stolen all the bitterness", and the positive ions activate. "Until You Remember"--laced with a somber brass-section and sad guitar--represent a fine example of soul music, and this one should appear on R & B charts. "These Walls" contains a middle-eastern musical flavor mixed with an Appalachian spirit that counts as one of the strongest songs on Revelator. Tedeschi really makes every note count on this number.
Trucks reminds the listener on "Learn How To Love" that his style can be gritty and guttural as any other guitarist on the scene--he's in gunslinger mode on this one, yet he doesn't allow his playing to overshadow the song or the band. The jazzy-funk instrumental interlude called "Shrimp and Grits" serves as an essential ingredient to this soulful musical stew. "Love Has Something To Say" makes me think this is what Ann Peebles would have sounded like if she sang with Funkadelic and Willie Mitchell produced the sessions in Memphis.
The final cut, "Shelter", contains a quiet, zen-like, quality in the deft-playing of this fine love song. The hidden track at the end of this album is worth the wait. Revelator is a potent dose of timeless soul, indeed...
James Calemine
EXPLORE FURTHER INTO SWAMPLAND...
Swampland Review of Derek Trucks Band: Already Free
Swampland Review of Derek Trucks Band: Already Free Live
2006 Swampland Derek Trucks Interview
Six Degrees of Swampland: The Allman Brothers Band
(Swampland's hub page for all of our ABB-related content including links to our interviews, reviews, and features)
Six Degrees of Swampland: Delaney & Bonnie
(Swampland's hub page for all of our -related content including links to our interviews, reviews, and features)
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