Music Review: Grievous Angels – ‘Revolution’

Revolution is the 10th release from Canada’s alt-country stalwarts Grievous Angels. The band and its leader Charlie Angus have been making their brand of Canadiana music since the mid-1980s, depicting everything from life working in the mines of Northern Ontario to the plight of returning veterans suffering from PTSD.

Since his retirement from federal politics in Canada, Angus has been criss-crossing the country rallying people to stand up against what he refers to as the “gangster” politics of the American president and other authoritarian world leaders. Ever since the White House began its campaign of belittling Canada and trying to cripple the country economically through tariffs, Angus has been at the forefront of the movement to protect the country’s sovereignty.

It’s against this background that the album Revolution was written and recorded. The Angels are too creative a band to come out and simply say “bad America.” Instead they’ve given us carefully crafted songs celebrating the triumph of the light over darkness. And what better genre of music to convey that message than gospel?

Now some might associate gospel music – especial country gospel – with conservative Christian activists and their God Bless the USA themes. However, one should remember the important role gospel music played in motivating and inspiring people during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s to protest and fight for their rights.

Revolution feels inspired by Liberation Theologians like Dorothy Day and Daniel and Philip Beringer. The former was a journalist and social activist while the later two were radical priests who invaded draft boards during the Viet Nam war to destroy records and in the 1980s protested against nuclear missiles by chaining themselves to facilities.

This is Liberation Theology gospel for the our times. In the songs “In The Time of Monsters,” “Sister Mary,” and “If There Was a Revolution” the Grievous Angels use the power and passion of gospel to drive home their message that we’re in a fight for the soul of our world. It’s no longer an option to hear “both sides” of an argument – it’s time to take a stand for what’s right.

While the album is all about rallying the troops, the underlying theme is of hope and resilience. While songs like “Saturday Night in a Laundromat” and “Lost in the Woods” aren’t directly about anything political, they are about seeking personal redemption and working through the darkness towards a better life.

Musically the core of the Grievous Angels, (Angus – guitar and vocals, Alexandra Bell – keyboards and vocals, Peter Jellard – vocals/accordion/guitar/harmonica and lead vocals on “Roll Away The Stone,” Tim Hadley – bass, vocals, Ian McKendry – guitar, and Nathan Mahaffy) stays unchanged from the previous album, Last Call From Cinderella. Joined by Dan Bone on saxophone and Andy Maize on vocals they play everything from the funk-driven “If There was a Revolution” to the soulful and aching “Song for Joan of Arc” with grace and passion. 

This is a band of not just style but substance. Every song is carefully and passionately sung and played and you hear how much they care about their subject matter in every note and lyric. Revolution from the Grievous Angels is an uplifting and wonderful album which should leave you with a song in your heart – as you take to the streets. Definitely an album for our times.