Recovery is Possible
Roky Erickson has made the comeback of the century. It was only a few decades ago that Erickson began his music career as frontman of the legendary ’60s psychedelic rock band the 13th Floor Elevators, and was known more for his troublesome lifestyle which included everything from poverty, mental illness to drug abuse than his psychedelia and hard rock. But now, the 63 year-old has emerged from a crippling disease to create True Love Cast Out All Evil with producer and Okkervil River frontman, Will Sheff. The 13 track album is Erickson’s prodigious autobiography of egregious pain and loss and the assurance of overcoming some of life’s greatest obstacles.
True Love Cast Out All Evil is appropriately bookended by “Devotional Number One” and “God Is Everywhere,” both hauntingly beautiful songs that were created during his time institutionalized at Rusk State Hospital, while the rest of the album is filled with his optimistic return to music and life. Erickson channels a perennial piece of Johnny Cash Americana with “Goodbye Sweet Dreams,” having Okkervil River provide backing instrumentals throughout. “Be, and Bring me Home” goes to the core of Erickson’s life and to his love of God for which he seeks freedom from his inner demons while “Please Judge” is a light little number with heavy lyrics “That the crooked will always be straight, and do not think of their pain again. If you allow me I will say, please Judge, leave that boy alone.”
True Love Cast Out All Evil, is a true testimony in the encouragement of peace and optimistic love in the wake of a life filled with daunting trials and misfortunes that proves triumphant in both in the resurrection of Erickson’s music and life.
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