Mirrors for the Masses

The Revivalists’ album Pour It Out Into The Night acts as a celebration of perseverance and hopefulness whilst also posing as an acknowledgement of the disparity evident in so many aspects of the world today. Through rock, country and folk influences, The Revivalists explore the complexities and anxieties of life, love, politics and loss amidst of a hugely diverse array of sound and genre.

The song “Kid” is a catchy yet chaotic opener to set a tone for the rest of the album. This song, which discusses the ups and downs of life, balances the hardships we all face with a heartening message of motivation.

The album is centered in overall themes of perseverance seen especially in the songs “Only You,” “Down In The Dirt” and “Wait For The Sun.” Featuring inspiring lyrics accompanied by gospel undertones in “Only You” and a more aggressive electric alt-rock sound in “Down In The Dirt,” both songs preach the value of persistence and resilience. “Wait For The Sun” offers a lighter acoustic sound and a hopeful reassurance of the light at the end of the tunnel. These songs scattered throughout the album center the album in structure as well as in content, around the value of human resilience in a complex and difficult modern world.

Yet along with these more optimistic songs come songs of discouragement. “The Long Con” is a rock-based anthem about the consistent lies and misleading of the political world. It is described as “the oldest lie to ever be told” and references several controversial topics such as “guns,” “racists” and “the media.” The closing medley of “one step forward and two steps back” amid the intense chorus accompanying it makes a powerful statement about the painful political and social issues going on in the US, backed by an angsty vocal tone and stirring rock sound.

On a very different note, the song “Say Goodbye” expresses the pain and complexity of loss. This piano ballad, featuring gut wrenching lyrics and string accompaniment, stands as one of the saddest songs on the album and adds a tone of solemnity as the penultimate song. Following the upbeat poppy song “How We Move,” a song about dancing through the pain, this slower ballad expresses the duality of both this album and of humanity itself.

The final track, “Pour It Out Into The Night,” offers a cathartic conclusion. The folkish acoustic sound offers an intimacy with listeners alongside a song which in itself pours out to its listeners. This distinctly honest song walks the fragile line between hope and despair, opening in the downwards spiral of “pouring it out into the night” yet closing with a semblance of relief, offering a sense of gentle reassurance.

This album represents the wavering conflict between perseverance and anguish. The Revivalists blend a huge array of sound and genre whilst discussing the many layers of life’s complexity. They choose not to preach a binary truth but to offer a mirror to the realistic uncertainty and unpredictable eyes of the listener. They acknowledge the disparity and pain every human sees and goes through, yet with this album, offer a reassuring sense of hope