CD Reviews

John Fogerty

Revival | Fantasy

By TED DROZDOWSKI | October 15, 2007

3.5 Stars

One of the longest-running feuds in rock-and-roll history — Fogerty’s battle over the ownership of his classic Creedence Clearwater Revival songs with the Fantasy label — came to an end in 2005. This is the first new album kindled by the reunion of the singer/guitarist and his old imprint, and it does fit the mold of great Creedence LPs like Green River, albeit without quite the terse energy. Fogerty’s pointed politics remained unchanged: “Gunslinger” and “Long Dark Night” tilt at American isolationism and the Bush regime, and his guitar chops rip to the fore in the roaring social critique “Summer of Love,” which nods to Cream. But his best tribute is to himself. “Creedence Song” is part personal history and part rock fable, and it sounds so much like a Creedence song that it even revives his “Suzie Q” six-string tone. The title Revival is no hype: Fogerty is again in full command of his talent for blending heartfelt writing with irony-free meat-and-potatoes rock.

Topics: CD Reviews , John Fogerty, Creedence Clearwater Revival

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