THE LEVELLERS Truth & LiesEagle Records (2005) Eagle Rock
Amazingly the Levellers have been going now since 1988 and have had considerable chart success in both album and singles terms. "One Way Of Life" and "It’s A Beautiful Day" are certifiable classics! Now they are back with a new album and one that keeps all the band’s key elements – rousing anthems, superb violin and a punk twist to the overall sound – but adds a few modern touches mainly in the production and the use of a few dance loops here and there.
Vocalist Mark Chadwick still has a fine voice and when the harmonies kick in like on the rousing opener "Last Man Alive" you know you are onto a good album. The single "Make U Happy" isn’t bad at all and could easily give the band another chart placing. Elsewhere "Confess" starts with an Eastern tinge before panning out into a ballad, whilst "Wheels" sees the violin playing of Jon Sevnik going into overdrive and with its catchy chorus this track could easily be the next single.
A classic album and one that will keep the Levellers in the limelight and rightly so. They are like the a modern day Fairport Convention in that they attract legions of loyal fans and can have considerably success outside of the music mainstream (and also like Fairport they have their own annual festival in August). Simply a wonderfully enjoyable album.
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Article comments
1 - Widds
An interesting comparison of The Levellers with Fairport Convention and the two do share some roots and influences. However, The Levellers are not "a modern day Fairport Convention". Fairport Convention is the modern day Fairport Convention...
2 - JasonR
...fair point. What I am trying to say is that when Fairport C 'retire' (and may this be many years in the future) the Levellers will carry on this fine tradition of having a festival & event based on a band rather than place, trends, etc.
I can't stop playing this Levellers album - absolutle quality.
3 - Temple Stark
JasonR,
I have flung this heartily and mightily up on Advance.net. Let's hope it sticks.
The review can be found at a few different places on the Advance network around the country, but here's one of them.
Thank you
- Temple Stark