• Record Label: Artemis
  • Release Date: Aug 24, 2004
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 17
  2. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Spin
    91
    His characters feel like individuals, not archetypes. [Sep 2004, p.114]
  2. A couple of songs (including the goofy "Condi, Condi") seem out of place, but the heart of "The Revolution" carries the stamp of an artist and a patriot. [22 Aug 2004]
  3. Mojo
    80
    It's a fine album, mixing lean rock anthems... with the kind of ballads lesser artists would need years to write. [Oct 2004, p.116]
  4. Rolling Stone
    80
    The rugged guitar tunes resemble a cow-punk update of the Clash, and Earle's song-to-song perspective shifts dazzle. [2 Sep 2004, p.142]
  5. For those inclined to agree with Earle's politics--at this point, does anyone else buy his albums?--The Revolution Starts Now will probably remain in constant rotation through the election.
  6. Blender
    80
    He's more vehement than ever before, and the music feels rag-and-bone honest. [Sep 2004, p.136]
  7. Q Magazine
    80
    All hail the new Johnny Cash. [Oct 2004, p.132]
  8. While the record finds Earle at his most outspoken, it also finds him treading water stylistically, comfortably wearing down the same groove he's occupied since 1997's El Corazon.
  9. Earle's polemics are much stronger than the work of your typical "protest" songwriter, and this is a better focused and more passionate work than Jerusalem.
  10. Where Jerusalem was all reaction, humanely riddled with helplessness and incomprehension, The Revolution Starts...Now is the well-honed response, a focused act of civil disobedience.
  11. Merges twang, orneriness and compassion. [6 Sep 2004]
  12. Good as some of these songs are... they're not quite enough to foment a revolution
User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 10
  2. Negative: 2 out of 10
  1. RichardH
    Jun 30, 2005
    8
    The title track alone is worth having the disc- fiery, rocking, motivating. To Kyle C., a vast majority of great artists have always been The title track alone is worth having the disc- fiery, rocking, motivating. To Kyle C., a vast majority of great artists have always been politically inclined, and generally to the left. Tell you anything? Also, I think you meant "p*ssed [you] off to no END"-not extent. Learn your grammar from W.? Full Review »
  2. PaulM
    Feb 11, 2005
    1
    Used to love this guy, since he started, in fact. His Woody Guthrie of the times act is pretty lame and his politics are very immature(see; Used to love this guy, since he started, in fact. His Woody Guthrie of the times act is pretty lame and his politics are very immature(see; Fuck the FCC).... I saw him live tonight. His voice and energy are flagging. Maybe he should run for dog catcher somewhere and just take a break from music. He left the best of his talents back in the mid-90s somewhere.... Full Review »
  3. HarlanT
    Jan 19, 2005
    9
    I cried the first time I heard "Rich Man's War." This is the finest of modern protest music.