ERIC LINDELL

Revolution In Your Heart

Alligator Records

By Al Finley

It’s good to see Eric Lindell back on Alligator Records again!  Eric is a soulful performer with a loyal and affectionate following.  You can always tell that Eric loves to play as much as you love to listen – maybe even more!  He deserves the elevated profile and media attention that a major label can help deliver.

For Eric’s faithful audience, there won’t be many surprises on this record.  These are road tested songs that have already become favorites.  Hence, if you love Eric Lindell live, you are going to love this record!

For those who haven’t had the pleasure of seeing Eric Lindell live, Revolution In Your Heart is a perfect introduction to Eric’s effortless blend of funky, rhythm and blues with a hint of country sunshine. 

Revolution In Your Heart is well named because almost every song references the heart or members of Eric’s extended family like “Pat West,” “Claudette,” “Millie Kay” and “Grandpa Jim.”  Eric’s songs paint portraits so clearly; they may seem like your family or friends too before the record is over!  And if I had to describe Eric’s playing with just one word -- I would say that he always plays with a lot of heart.

Eric actually plays almost every instrument on Revolution In Your Heart except for the drums and percussion provided by Willie McMains and a special appearance by keyboardist Kevin McKendree (Delbert McClinton/Brian Setzer Orchestra) on the country flavored “Millie Kay.”  Without a lot of other musicians in the mix, you can hear what an exceptional, versatile, soulful guitar player Eric is, and he fools you into thinking this is just one exceptionally tight band playing live in the studio!

While Eric hails from the skateboard punk culture in northern California; you would never know it from the down-home country feel that permeates his Gulf Coast blue-eyed soul and the rural themes that permeate his lyrics.  How many modern blues albums include not one, but two songs about horses in “Appaloosa” and the wah-wah drenched “Big Horse”.  Granted, these songs may be about more than just horses!

“The Sun Don’t Shine” wraps up the album with an upbeat, good natured song that will just make you wish there were more songs to follow.  Luckily, you can dig up a dozen more albums if you dig deep enough and three are still easily available from Alligator Records: Change In The Weather, Low On Cash Rich In Love and Gulf Coast Highway.  All are highly recommended but Revolution In Your Heart would be a great place to start! 

Al Finley plays BoTh KiNdS of music from 1-3 p.m. CST Sundays on WNUR (89.3 FM).  He also hosts HOW THE WEST WAS STRUNG on WDCB (90.9 FM) Tuesdays 11 p.m.-Midnight CST.