BANDWIDTH: A Popular Culture E-Zine

Copyright 2001

Keven Brennan's Revival Tent

By: JenniferJ

     I was actually interested in hearing Revival Tent because I was very impressed with Keven Brennan's work as producer and writer on Robin Brennan's solo project Last Diary of a Torch Singer. Plus the cover of Revival Tent and name of the album sounded cool. Instead I was met with some very disappointing music with no direction.

     To describe this album is hard. Revival Tent tried to speak in tongues and inspire, but it wanted to be too much for what it was worth. It wanted to be soulful and gospel, it wanted to be a Jazz and Be Bop, it wanted to be electronica, while attempting at some crude 80s sounding British pop/rock, but it couldn't. Rather it was meager attempts at mixing musical sounds, and a poor use of Biblical imagery.

     From the opening track Just Jiggle one would be extremely tempted to stop listening to the album. It started off good, nice sax sound with steady percussion, and then the lyrics began...

All of us hip decals are peelin' out of town
As if we don't even need a lick
We'll all be cracked by Thursday night
Cause that kind of fast love never sticks
So just one more dance for the boys in the band

And I heard Robin in their and her part was far from flattering for such a great singer.

     To further confuse the listener, several bizzaro world songs involving pirates are thrown in. When I Go Crazy (one of the two pirate songs on the album), even has ignorant sounding bar wenches for back up. The music for When I Go Crazy is catchy but the lyrics again...

Cannibal Adderly ate his brother's trumpet and
Cannibal Adderly burped a high C
For years they've been trying to collect his brassy pee
But he didn't chew it before he swallowed it down.

But wait it gets better...

I'm talking with my Jesus open
And Jesus just gets everywhere
Now everybody's seen my Jesus
He's a tortoise and he thinks you're the hare

     However, there was one decent song on the album. Lover's Song deserves some props, with its nice little reggae beat in the back. It was the only redeemable track on the CD. It was smooth and relaxing and got its point across. I must note however that Brennan co-wrote this song with Tim Glum. So I guess two heads are better than one.

When I write a song for you
I'll want the world to sing along
La dee da, la dee da, la dee da
They might not know the words
But they'll know it's a Lover's Song

     Overall I would not recommend this album. I think Brennan should stick to behind the scenes work. He is good at seeing the vision for others as can be seen with Last Diary of a Torch Singer. In my opinion, Revival Tent proves that it is worth it for artist to forgo a portion of their royalty for a good producer.

     Send your comments and or questions about this article to JenniferJ@ybfree.com.