This is the latest album from US folk-political singer, David Rovics. On it, he tells "eighteen important stories from history". The songs cover stories from a farmer's rebellion of the 1780s, "Berkshire Hills" up to the storming by Israeli forces of a civilian aid ship bound for Palestine, in 2010 "Song for the Mavi Marmara". In between, are sixteen other tragically little-known events from history.
Rovics' sound is that of a "one man and his acoustic guitar" folk-singer, though songs like the brilliant "St. Patrick Battalion" adds subtle banjo and a female vocal harmony, and "Song for Hugh Thompson" has fiddle and military drums, so there are additional textures in there.
The music itself though, it not really the point. Rovics' skill is in telling sometimes complex stories from history in an entertaining and accessible way ("Miami" being an excellent example of this), but still retaining the seriousness of the events and issues being sung about.
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This is not to say Rovics is not a skilled song-writer, musician and performer - he certainly is - but it is always the stories themselves that are most important. He does not preach to the listener, but creates vivid imagery that tells the story in a straightforward way, and often leaves the listener wanting to find out more.
The booklet of the CD version gives the story/background to each song, and this is a valuable resource for fully appreciating the songs. Some songs will resonate with the listener, some will not but you WILL learn something from each and every track.
Just buy it. Even better buy it at the gig you see him at.
David Rovics website
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