After the 2022 album Nightroamer, Revelations is the second time I share an album by Sarah Shook and the Disarmers with you. The US-American artists shared her latest long-play release on 29th March 2024. I had the opportunity to have a listen beforehand.
Sarah Shook – About The Artist
Sarah Shook (now: River Shook) is a 1985-born alternative country and indie rock artist. She was born in Rochester, New York, but grew up in North Carolina. In 2014, she formed the band Sarah Shook and the Disarmers. Revelations is already the fourth album by this collaboration. Furthermore, she joined an indie rock project called Mightmare in 2022.
Sarah Shook and the Disarmers – Revelations – Track by Track
The ten track album lasts 37 minutes.
1. Revelations
The title track is opening the 2024 album by Sarah Shook and the Disarmers. The song is rather midt-empo and coming with a beautiful melody. I like the leverage between the instrumental part and the the voice of the lead singer. Apart from howling steel guitar chords, the Americana touch in this song is rather limited, though.
2. You Don’t Get to Tell Me
Right between two single releases, Sarah Shook and her band present a lovely Americana rocker. The song feels really energetic and comes with strong rock as well as typical American music elements. The chorus stays in your mind. Nice one.
You don’t get to tell me what’s real
I came all this way on my own
You don’t get to tell me how to feel
You don’t get to tell me, you don’t get to tell me
3. Motherfucker
Even though the song title might suggest a rather agressive song with a strong attitude, this one is rather having a nice country music vibe. The uptempo song has a really nice groove and a present rhythm. Sarah Shook makes me move to her music – and keep the naughty M-word in mind.
4. Dogbane
The intense sound of Sarah Shook’s voice is dominating Dogbane. However, the band is playing a nice country-like melody, which may especially be a treat for fans of rather traditional melodies of the genre. The bridge is then moving the spotlight to the instrumental part. They absolutely deserve that bit of love.
5. Nightingale
The fifth song is a bit of slower. Especially in the lovely instrumental parts, it blows out a lovely storm of blues rock to the listener. This slightly different touch is a lovely different flavor on Revelations. Together with the warm vocals by Sarah Shook, this turns the song into a lovely listen.
Pulling back the veil
Silence in the dell
Destined to prevail
Nightingale
6. Backsliders
The last single release of the album so far features some snappy country music tunes again. I love the very present contribution from the steel guitar, which matches perfectly to the strumming guitars and the steady drumming. A really enjoyable, but also rather unagitated listen.
7. Stone Door
Stone Door is another rather groovy country music listen. The guitars are the driving element of the song. It is simply fun to listen to this one.
8. Jane Doe
Sun slippin’ down low, breeze is turnin’ cold
Clutch my collar tight to my neck
When I left the car I didn’t think I’d get this far
Ima free myself from you if I have to freeze to death
The vibes are reduced for Jane Doe, which thus also gets a more emotional touch than other songs on the album. Again, the band is showing a great performance, with a nice groove, but also catching individual presence. A rather long track, which does leave a mark.
9. Give You All My Love
I waited all my life to give you all my love – ain’t that a lovely message? It is the core phrase of the ninth song, Give You All My Love. The song is more on the rock spectrum of this album. The stomping drums and clapping sounds drive the song in an impressive way. A nice one.
10. Criminal
Criminal takes the role of the chucker-out of Revelations. The song got a lot of the elements of the previous listens: there is that Americana and Western touch, but overall, the song just cannot deny it is a nice rocker. A good song to say farewell to the listener.
Sarah Shook and the Disarmers – Revelations – Spotify
Here is the album on Spotify:
Sarah Shook and the Disarmers – Revelations – My View
Sarah Shook and the Disarmers define a very own and characteristic sound. Revelations has that special touch from the very first to the last moment. Sometimes, this branding moves rather towards rock, while other songs have a stronger country music touch. This leads to a nice range of listens. Good one.
Favorite Song: Stone Door
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