Hello Friends,
I've been cautiously pessimistic about April Uprising for a while now. With a new lineup (besides Butler of course) and the bands' obvious attempts to appeal to a more mainstream audience, I feared this album would be poppy, cliché, and disappointing. I was right... and wrong. The album is much more pop oriented than his past work, and the lyrics are cringe-worthy. However, once you get past that, it's a pretty strong album.
Let's go over the bad before we get to the good. Lyrics have never been Butler's strength. He has always fashioned himself as a sort of hippie/revolutionary, but in the past there was a refreshing originality to how he communicated this ideology. Now he presents his principles in the most obvious ways possible; writing cheery songs about love, sad songs about struggle, and "uplifting" songs about redemption. Predictably, the first song on the album is called "Revolution". I don't think any social rebellion inspired by a pop song called "Revolution" will be terribly meaningful. The lyrics do not improve throughout the album. One particularly embarrassing song called "To Look Like You" is written from the perspective of a celebrity-idolizing teenage girl. If Butler's trying to begin a transformation to the "deep" side of Brittany Spears mind, he's off to a good start. Otherwise, this song made me nauseous.
Fortunately for the future of the band and the enjoyment of their fans, the musicianship is superb. Beyond Butler's always fantastic guitar work, the songs have a highly collaborative sound and are well crafted musically. If anything, the music could have highlighted Butler's guitar abilities a bit more, as I found myself pining for more of his searing solos. I loved the rhythm sections' work, as a variety of percussive instruments were constantly at play and the drummer/bassist alternated very well between playful, dramatic and visceral moods.
Outside of the lyrics, the vocals are very good, with well-timed tone and volume changes adding value to the complexion of the music. In comparison to the bands' past albums, the sound is a bit of old and a bit of new. The distinct combination of rock, folk, roots and blues remains, but the album contains a much stronger pop sound than any of the bands' previous work. The songs are very catchy while remaining musically appealing; a surprisingly well done combination. Some tracks I particularly enjoyed were C’mon Now, I'd Do Anything, Close to You, and Take Me. The album fades towards the end, as none of the last five songs are particularly noteworthy.
Overall, the album is pretty good. While it has some glaring weaknesses, there is more good than bad on the record. Thanks to a change in the groups' philosophy and direction, I doubt the band will ever reach the heights it did on Sunrise Over Sea (the bands' second album, and best in my opinion). However, the success of this record leaves me optimistic that the John Butler Trio will remain an enjoyable band in the future.
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