[rating=8.00]
The St. Louis-based retro rocker Pokey LaFarge has updated his obsessive roots sound for his newest release Manic Revelations., just not yet into the 2000’s. While most of his past songs were comfortable in the early half of the last century, he now injects gorgeous horns, backing vocals and a sense of early sixties soul into his record.
Obviously devoted to singing and telling his stories the addition of the musical lush background works wonderfully for most of the tracks here. The excellent opener “Riot In The Streets” is a rousing cautionary tale that pushes the swinging sound to its zenith. Slapping drums and bass pair with propulsive horns all around a tale that could be about racial tensions, class strife, political elections or simply the verge of chaos.
“Must Be A Reason” keeps that same swagger with a Motown sound that is driven by the brass as LaFarge pours out his heart with weeping grace. The Carl Perkins feeling “Good Luck Charm” also receives another blast of brass midway through to propel the song forward while “Better Man Than Me” incorporates backing vocals and a doo-wop vibe.
Not all of the songs are as successful, “Bad Dreams” is a slow personal ode that drags its feet and sticks around too long even at a short length while “Silent Movie” has too many moving parts and sounds that dilute the lyrics. Tracks like the sultry “Mother Nature” with its ripping trumpet opening more than makes up for any dull efforts though.
The musician who loves to be rooted in the past has his new theme song with album closer “I Will Never Change” speaking directly to his fans both new and old, reassuring them that his sound is here to stay despite any Manic Revelations that may come.
Top photo by Nate Burrell
