John Fogerty
Revival

John Fogerty, born in 1945, the man with the flannel shirt, is back. Fogerty is one of the greats of our music. With the Creedence Clearwater Revival, he managed to set new coordinates for American music while still being, at the time, an artist who went against the tide, choosing the rediscovery of the wild sound of the '50s rock 'n' roll revitalized with doses of robust r'n'b and swamp rock over psychedelic and hippie trends.

Seminal albums like "Willy And The Poorboys" and "Cosmo's Factory" have rightfully entered the masterpieces of rock history. Additionally, his brilliant songwriting is attested by his famous immortal songs. Fresh, danceable, popular songs, rich in references to the everyday life of the working class and the frustrations derived from social inequalities. Tracks dictated by a simple compositional spirit that we find in his new album and that consider the American musical tradition inspired both by the Elvis Sun Records period and by Little Richard or Hank Williams.

"Revival" follows three years after the previous "Deja Vu" and is an album that mixes rock and ballads in the best Creedence tradition. All twelve tracks are very linear and easily memorable. The riffs and refrains are always spot on, the voice is powerful and personal. John Fogerty's recipe has not changed at all over the years. No strange, innovative, or complicated arrangements, short times and just a lot of good old swamp rock played by a band in a state of grace, committed to offering pure and raw sounds. In this album, John updates the classic sound of his old group with a series of tracks that seem to come directly from the old Creedence vinyl. "Don't You Wish It Was True" is a simple ballad that mixes rock and country while "Gunslinger" is imbued with an electric melodic vein that makes it indispensable right away. "Broken Down Cowboy", with its frontier tales, and "River Is Waiting" introduce us to a nostalgic atmosphere rich in musical influences ranging from folk to gospel. With "Long Dark Night", "I Can't Take It No More", and the concluding rhythmic "Longshot", pure rock 'n' roll, the destructive one that our artist regularly proposes in his unmissable live shows, takes center stage. A rock fired at the speed of light, honest and driven by the ruthless drumming of Kenny Aronoff. Also very beautiful is the evocative "Somebody Help Me", a rock-blues as solid as a rock. A particular mention deserves "Creedence Song", a clear homage to the good old days of "Born On The Bayou" and "Green River".

"Revival" is not a revolution but is just the latest unmissable act of love made by an artist towards music. A work that confirms Fogerty as an absolute protagonist and that gives us a journey into the past in the company of a unique, modest musician who has always cared more about substance than form and who has long been part of our music history thanks to his unforgettable classics. Now, we just wait for someone to bring him to Italy as soon as possible.