Album Review – Eric Strickland’s “Revelate”
He doesn’t have the name recognition or touring muster of Dale Watson or Whitey Morgan. He never got the taste of the mainstream or the industry prestige of Gene Watson or Daryle Singletary. You won’t see him on the Grand Ole Opry or the Americana Music Awards. But when it comes to classic country honky tonk music, Eric Strickland and his ‘B’ Sides from North Carolina have held up their end of the bargain to keep country music alive for now three solid country music records that remind you not only that true country music is not dead yet, but there’s still emerging acts out there to discover.
I can still remember listening to Eric Strickland’s first official LP release Honky Tonk ‘Till I Die from 2012 and nearly losing my mind from how this guy had flown under the radar for so long. The album went on to be nominated for Saving Country Music’s Album of the Year, and was later recognized by Dale Watson’s Ameripolitan Awards. His followup from 2013 I’m Bad for You was a solid record as well, maybe just a little rushed after the first release, but it kept the momentum rolling. With some new themes, and allowing plenty of time for the material to mature, Strickland’s new record Revelate is a welcome sound to hungry ears looking for classic country that doesn’t just sound country and carry similar themes to the great music of the past, but also has something original to say, and is styled and executed with skill and quality.
The problem with country music today is most certainly not a lack of local bands that will turn on a phase guitar and mimic Waylon half beats while bitching about how Nashville sucks and how badass they are. The whole Outlaw and honky tonk realm has almost become like a bad parody of itself in the last few years, brow beating listeners and themselves about how country it all is like the self-mutilation rites of a Shia cleric, with only a few bands left with records worth spinning.
There’s a bad misconception that the more country an album is, the better it must be, but you still have to start off with good songs, fresh ideas or perspectives, and talent that is singular in a scene stacked to the ceiling with bad impressionists. This is where an artist like Eric Strickland comes in. He was born to sing, and The ‘B’ Sides were born to back him. It isn’t just REAL country, it’s real good.
Revelate is not a concept album by any stretch, but there is an underlying theme here, and it marks something a little different from Eric compared to his previous two records. Revelate is dark, dealing with the emotions of heartbreak, and the realities of death in a way Strickland has only touched on in passing before. The two songs in the center of the album, “Skeleton” and “Reaper’s Blues” continue the trend started by the cover art, and the album ends with an infectious, groove-laden rendition of “John the Revelator.” The pondering of mortality, both of the individual and of the World is central to Revelate.
But don’t worry that Eric Strickland has gotten too deep on us or gone all Gothic. This new record is still filled to the brim with country heartbreaks songs, shit kickers, and excellent country music in a variety of classic styles. One after another Eric Strickland serves them up, songs like “Same Old Me,” “Have a Heart,” “Already Gone,” and “Under The Bottle,” while the ‘B’ Sides easily slither between the styles of country swing, honky-tonk, and Outlaw like it’s nothing. About the only song whose magic felt a little stale was the opening number “Aces & Eights.” The Waylon phase guitar has just been ruined by too many impersonators, and the lyrics didn’t match Strickland’s standards. But there’s a great duet with Kendra Hope called “Strangers,” and every Strickland record seems to have a barn scorcher, and on Revelate it is the unstoppable “How Gone I’m Gonna Be.”
It’s the combination of Strickland’s songwriting, and his amazing North Carolina-bred country voice that give you that tingle only true country music knows how to evoke. His frequent collaborator Gary Braddy also pens some of this album’s best songs, while the ‘B’ Sides continue to be one of the coolest backing bands in country music.
READ: Eric Strickland’s “Honky Tonk Till I Die” is a Gem
Family, circumstance, age, business affiliations, an artists willingness to compromise, and all manner of other factors go into why some artists get super famous and others spend most of their time spinning their tires in local scenes. But name recognition is rarely synonymous with quality, especially in this day and age in country music. Yet from the sheer quality of his work, Eric Strickland is slowly becoming honky-tonk music’s worst kept secret. Sorry North Carolina, but Eric is just too good for you and you alone.
1 3/4 of 2 Guns Up (8/10)
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September 27, 2015 @ 4:27 pm
Just heard of and listened to him yesterday, only listened to this album so far. I love the song Strangers , I felt the girls voice didn’t fit the first listen but after a couple listens its a great match.
He is one of the better singers out there today, was shocked at the first listen.
September 27, 2015 @ 6:03 pm
Also, Trigger who do you mean by this? Can you give any specific names?
“The problem with country music today is most certainly not a lack of local bands that will turn on a phase guitar and mimic Waylon half beats while bitching about how Nashville sucks and how badass they are. The whole Outlaw and honky tonk realm has almost become like a bad parody of itself in the last few years, brow beating listeners and themselves about how country it all is like the self-mutilation rites of a Shia cleric, with only a few bands left with records worth spinning.”
September 27, 2015 @ 6:45 pm
I’m not talking about any specific band or bands, and nobody should assume I’m talking about a specific band. If there was a specific one or ones I would talk about, I would name them, though I probably wouldn’t name them in a comment, because I don’t think that would be fair to them.
Most of the bands or artists I am talking about in that comment are one’s nobody has ever heard of outside their local watering hole. They have no chance of “making it” in music, but that doesn’t discourage them from sending me their CD, proclaiming it as REAL country music, or saying things like, “Well if you want to SAVE COUNTRY MUSIC then listen to THIS, because THIS is more COUNTRY than ANYTHING.” And it’s someone who picked up on all of the sounds, but none of the spirit of Waylon.
September 28, 2015 @ 7:25 am
You knows what annoys the crap out of me? Our local bar does this exact thing…..not just with the locals, but even as they advertise touring acts coming through…..good touring acts. They put “REAL” in front of everything, REAL COUNTRY MUSIC, or call it outlaw or rockabilly (when they’re not really) and any number of things to say that this band is better than what you hear on the radio or see at any other spot in town. That whole rhetoric feels both tired and demeaning to the audience you’re trying to approach here.
September 28, 2015 @ 8:32 am
I agree.
September 27, 2015 @ 4:41 pm
I never heard of him until now. Damn fine music. There goes the bank account, thanks a lot.
September 27, 2015 @ 9:24 pm
Seriously! With the string of reviews he’s put out over the past couple days, I’m glad I’ve been working 60 hour weeks.
September 27, 2015 @ 4:55 pm
They are a truly talented and genuinely great group of guys. I’m gonna miss my local boys as they branch out and get famous. It will happen. THEY DESERVE IT. . Whoop Whoop!
September 27, 2015 @ 5:11 pm
Great review of this amazing album. So many great heart break songs, probably has to be my favorite album of this year since they all are great quality original songs. “Same Ol me” and “Hear come the Rain” has to be my favorite heart break songs this year. Skeleton was def a the bad ass of the songs lol. I think Eric’s secret is that everyone in his band are talented seasoned musicians that gives lot of these young artist a run for their money. Some giant honky monster put together. When I saw them in Austin, it was like only me and Dallas Moore and his band cheering him on and a few others. But like when I saw Sturgil with you and Keith, he may just blow up if they can ever get on tour with the right band.
September 27, 2015 @ 5:14 pm
“Same Ole Me” is just a fantastic honky-tonk song, right down to the rowdy yet tasteful steel guitar. The bro-country and metro-bro purveyors in the country music industry should listen to this track to learn how to make real country party music.
September 27, 2015 @ 5:15 pm
And Im Bad for You was a classic, I enjoyed it better than the first. No where near a rush job. “Angel Like You” was raw and real for our sad economic climate but it was sweet poetry. Made you wish you were broke and in love lol.
September 27, 2015 @ 5:49 pm
Trigger, thank you for introducing me to Eric’s music. Read your review, listened to Eric’s songs and just purchased Honky Tonk Till I Die and I’m Bad For You. The music reminded of the first time I heard Shane Worley……It grabs you by the nuts and pulls you in.
September 27, 2015 @ 6:43 pm
Wow! I’ve never heard of this guy before but I am loving Revelate! It’s so hard nowadays to find good country music. I enjoyed some bro country and I like pop country to some extent, but more and more now it’s trending towards EDM and electronic stuff and I can’t stand that. Thank god for sites like this and Country Perspective steering me towards the Whitey Morgans, Chris Stapletons and Eric Stricklands of the world. It’s so awesome to hear fiddles and steel guitars again…it’s like a damn breath of fresh air.
September 27, 2015 @ 8:58 pm
I have been looking forward to a new release.Good to see a local guy get some credit.From one JOCO boy to another keep up the good work!
September 27, 2015 @ 9:24 pm
I love this album!
September 27, 2015 @ 10:05 pm
He’s another new Waylon! How is he not getting as much attention as Sturgill?
September 28, 2015 @ 1:24 am
Yeah, great album – love, love, love that steel!! I can recommend his two previous albums too!
September 28, 2015 @ 7:21 am
So last night, I parked my truck on the side of a mountain to watch the eclipse come up over Mount Shasta. Having acquired this album earlier in the day, I was playing it in my truck while I sat in the bed, tripod and camera set up, waiting for the moon to rise. Other folks came up to this vantage to watch the moon rise as well and many of them came up to me and asked who it was that I was listening to. They all thought that Eric Strickland kicked some serious tush.
It is amazing how the internet can help spread the reach of an artist. Without it, no one out here in the middle of nowhere in far north California would have heard of Eric Strickland and the B-Sides. I, for one, am grateful.