Singer/songwriter, producer and front man for The Revivalists’ David Shaw, has released a 12 song LP May 7th via his own imprint Yokoko Records in partnership with C3 Records. I couldn’t be happier to have been able to review these songs.  For fans of the Revivalists, the collection of songs will feel familiar yet unique in their own right.  

It was so interesting to see what David Shaw did on his own.  The result is a collection of songs ranging from feel good songs that will brighten any day like we see in “Got Me Feeling Good”, tenderness and love in “Shivers” and a pointed cultural response where David sings about fighting for what you feel is right regardless of the consequences.  

The LP gives us deeply rooted rock songs, soft and soulful, tender love songs, funk and jazzy dance songs.  That is not to say this album has an identity crisis.  If anything, this album is brought together in such a concise way that all the aspects work so incredibly well together. If this is your thing, David Shaw delivers for you in a big way and this could easily become one of your top favorite albums of the year. The album is produced by Grammy award-winning producer Jack Splash (Kendrick Lamar, Alicia Keys, Solange)

Choosing a favorite from this album is a tough choice. I imagine myself in a crowded theater singing along to “I’ll Be Your Man” in unison with the rest of the room.  I can imagine adding “So Far Gone” to a playlist and getting excited when it comes on. I know I will find myself repeating “Heavy Soul” and “Promised Land” over and over again or working out to “Bad Side of You”.  The album wraps up with a happy and soulful song “The Place” which brings about feelings of joy, comfort and kindness.  I cannot think of a better way to wrap up this album.  
 
I found it interesting that these songs were in various aspects of being created, written and produced from previous years. David wanted to change something  and he revisited the songs and concepts during the pandemic where he turned them into this LP.  In this process, David held the idea that music can heal.  Using his time to explore new creativity he had not yet explored, he created this 12-track LP to showcase who he truly is.  What we are left with is a collection that will bring about an array of emotions and feel connected to the world around us in a new way.

-Jess

David Shaw Track List:
Promised Land
Shaken
Got Me Feeling Good
Heavy Soul
Shivers
Something To This Feeling
I’ll Be Your Man
So Far Gone
I Can Hear You (Calling On Me)
Bad Side Of You
Disrepair
The Place

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