Roky revived by Okkervil River

Legendary local guitarist and psychedelic rock pioneer Roky Erickson's new album walks the line between the past and the present. With the help of Austin indie rockers Okkervil River, True Love Cast Out All Evil is a tame blend of rock ‘n' roll tracks coming from a calm, more relaxed Roky, with some of the same accents that have always been a part of his music.

Tracks like "Forever" and the title track "True Love Cast Out All Evil" showcase an artist who has had his fair share of ups and downs but has learned from the past and is wiser because of it. While they present a sense of hopeful yearning for the age-old idea that love will conquer all, other tracks like the appropriately named "Bring Back The Past" is more reminiscent of early rock ‘n' roll with simple chord progression and a hook that will make anyone bob their head.

Even on some of the more forgettable tracks like "Think Of As One" and "Birds'd Crash," Okkervil River do a great job of creating rich, full sounds behind often cryptic lyrics and even implement some of the irreverent ambience such as too much feedback and crashing background noises that long-time fans of Roky will no doubt recognize and appreciate.

Overall, the album presents a portrait of an experienced artist who hasn't abandoned the elements and style that made his music both influential and infamous. After a long period of personal difficulty, it's nice to see Roky get back on his feet again.

Roky Erikson w/ Okkervil River
True Love Cast Out All Evil
Anti
04/20/10