Flashback CD Review #36 - Eugene Edwards - My Favorite Revolution

This review was done in 2005 for the Rock Is Life.com website

Eugene Edwards

My Favorite Revolution

Flagship Recordings - 2005

http://www.eugeneedwards.com

What's The 4-1-1?

The debut album from the singer-songwriter contains 14 tracks that have had him compared to the likes of Elvis Costello, Squeeze and Tom Petty.

Genre

Power Pop / Rock

The Good

Straightforward in every aspect, My Favorite Revolution is a welcome entry into the rock scene of 2005. Eugene Edwards has a great sense of melody and he can write a catchy chorus. I liked that this album is uniquely his vision as he played all the instruments, except the drums, on the CD. The comparisons to Elvis Costello are apt, but he's not aping Costello, rather just letting his influences shine through. This is on display particularly in the song "It Doesn't Get Better Than This". He's even got a bit of the punk rocker in him with the brief yet powerful "At Your Place". He crams more worthwhile musicianship in this song that some band can do in an epic 14 minute musical jaunt.

Other songs I think you'll enjoy include "Your Own Nightmare", which has a really good guitar solo. "All About You" is a catchy number with a sarcastic sensibility in the lyrics. The closing track "Permanent One" has some great guitar work. The best song on the CD is "Victim At Bedtime". The song is a hard rocking tune with a catchy chorus, yet painst a picture lyrically of a woman who makes the same mistake over and over when it comes to the men in her life. It's quite superb.

The Bad

There are 2 or 3 songs that come across as filler material, but other than that, there's nothing really bad to mention with My Favorite Revolution.

The Verdict

My Favorite Revolution is quite an indie release for 2005. It's chock full of great melodies and some wonderful guitar work. Edwards is in full command of his talents and it shines through bright and clear. This is a great power pop/rock record that harkens back to a time when being able to write great songs and fill an album with great musicianship was the prime candidate for being successful.

Did You Know?

Eugene Edwards got his first electric guitar, a Telecaster, at the age of 13. He was briefly a student at the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Robbie Rist occasionally fills in during the band's live performances. He handles bass, guitar and some vocal work. Rist is probably best known for portraying "Cousin Oliver" on the The Brady Bunch.

Rating: 4 out of 5