Earl J Rivard

Earl J. Rivard - Underground Railroad
Review Title: Angels Stop To Listen
Review by Wildy Haskell
Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5)


Review:
Earl J. Rivard, III has built a life by making the most of his gifts and not allowing roadblocks to stop him from achieving his dreams. The Alameda, California resident has become a top-notch, highly courted performer in California in spite of being blinded and partially paralyzed as an infant by a drunk driver. Nevertheless, Rivard showed a musical proclivity from the age of three. His father, Earl J. Rivard, Jr. took his son under his wing, playing with Earl III until it became clear that Earl III had blossomed. Singing in a wonderfully soulful voice in English, Spanish and Italian, Rivard breaks down barriers for others as easily as he has for himself. Whether singing rock n roll, soul or troubadour folk, Rivard commands attention. Rivard will soon release his sophomore album, Underground Railroad, a stunning testament to perseverance.

Underground Railroad opens with the title track, a soulful and politically-charged missive in song taking American immigration policy to task. Rivard calls for the creation of an underground network to help those crossing from Mexico into the US to circumvent US policy, singing passionately and with conviction. “Underground Railroad” perhaps ignores the fact that such networks already exist and continuously do battle with the limits that are in place. Musically, the song is well written, and for a passion-perspective it’s convincing, but the inattention to detail makes the song less compelling. “Till I Met You” is a heartfelt but languid ballad that is pretty but lacking a bit in energy. Rivard shows two distinct sides here: in his upper range he could almost pass for a soulful Garth Brooks, but in his lower range he sounds a great deal like Taye Diggs.

“Coldest Place” is a sorrowful ballad that confirms Rivard’s weakness. The man has an amazing voice, but on the more lyric vocal parts he tends at times to lose the energy that sustains such songs, particularly on long, slow passages. “The Sun Finally Rose” finds Rivard turning the corner with a jubilant celebration of finding love after heartache. Delivered as a pop/Americana tune, “The Sun Finally Rose” is great musical poetry. On “Nobody Knows”, Rivard offers a theatrical presentation of a song about a runaway. You’ll swear this song must have come from some obscure but promising off-Broadway musical, and Rivard’s vocal reading is impressive beyond words.

“Magdalena” finds Rivard dealing in Spanish, and offering up guitar work that’s bound to draw comparisons to the great Carlos Santana. Wit shines through “Unfinished Songs”, a tongue-in-cheek paean to anyone who’s ever been or tried to be a songwriter. The song is full of snarky touches from the doo-wop background singers to the somewhat predictable yet still amusing ending. Rivard stakes his reputation on being something of a troubadour, and lives up to the billing on “Lady, Sweet Lady”. Sounding like an arrangement that might have originated in Shakespeare’s time, “Lady, Sweet Lady” is a lovely tune that firmly establishes not only Rivard’s versatility as a performer but also his talent as a songwriter.

“This Time Around” is an opportunistic love song, a classic tune about making the best of a second chance no matter the cost, and might be the finest example of songwriting on Underground Railroad. Rivard channels the spirit of Dan Fogelberg on “Sometimes Love”, a song all about the fragility of love. The gorgeous melody and arrangement are matched only by the prescience of Rivard’s lyrics and his mesmerizing voice. Rivard follows this up with “Yours Eternally”, which seems likely to be on the list of most-used first dance songs if Rivard ever gets his big break. This is a wow moment. Underground Railroad closes out with a radio edit of the title track.

It’s hard to imagine how Earl J. Rivard, III isn’t a household name already. What seems very likely, however, is that he one day will be. Whatever else you might have to say about Earl J. Rivard, it’s very clear that whatever deficits he may have suffered throughout his life seem small compared to the magnitude of both his voice and talent as a songwriter. Underground Railroad is a thrilling experience, an album you will cherish both in spite of and for its minor flaws. When Rivard sings, the angels stop to listen. You will too.
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Wildy Haskell is the writer/editor of Wildy’s World, a blog dedicated to finding, reviewing and exposing some of the best independent music talent the world has to offer. Wildy cut his teeth doing comic music reviews (ala Monty Python) on University at Buffalo radio station WRUB in the early 1990’s, as part of the long-running sketch comedy show Don’t Panic The comic reviews later turned serious and became a regular part of the show. Wildy is or has been at one time a singer, guitarist, poet, actor and writer. His musical tastes run all over the map, and believes that there is value in every form of music – it just takes someone with the eye, or ear, to find it.??Wildy Reviews: all genres of music (rock, country, jazz, metal, blues, children’s, religious, classical, Broadway, comedy, spoken word, R&B, Hip-Hop/Rap... anything else you can think of)?

- Wildy Haskell

Album Title: Underground Railroad
Artist: Earl J. Rivard
Reviewer’s Name: Andrea Guy
Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
Title of Review: Music With Heart And Soul


Review Summary:

Earl J. Rivard has quite possibly the most beautiful voice you will hear. With Underground Railroad you get to hear him at his very best, singing songs written by him, his father, or the two of them together. The songs presented will wow your ears and quickly find their way into your heart.

Review:

If you break out of your comfort zone once this year to listen to a new artist, let that new artist be Earl. J. Rivard. It will only take one track for him to grab you and pull you into his world. His voice is full of passion. This is a man who could sing the phone book and people would stop and listen.

When you listen to Underground Railroad, you get to experience the full range of his vocal talents. Earl sings songs from many genres—folk, blues, and pop, to name but a few. It is impossible to pick a standout track on Underground Railroad, as each track is so impressive that comparing them somehow seems wrong.

“Lady Sweet Lady” shows Earl singing a Celtic-sounding folk song. The acoustic guitar and flute arrangements on this song are particularly beautiful. When you listen to this song, you’ll feel like you’re listening to a ballad from days of old, when actually the song is one of Earl’s original compositions. In fact, all the songs on Underground Railroad are written by Earl, his father, or the two of them together. It doesn’t take long to realize that these two men are excellent songwriters. Still, songs are nothing without a voice to sing them, and with Earl J. doing the honors these songs are taken to a whole new level of beauty.

Earl’s voice is so deep and soulful that it is hard not to be moved by it, especially when he’s singing songs of love. “Yours Eternally” has a vocal that is reminiscent of Josh Groban. Earl’s voice soars as he conveys the song’s romantic message.

Turning the tables is “Sometimes Love,” a song that deals with the cooling embers of love that once burned brightly. The lyrics are a haunting reflection of how delicate love is, and how easily it can be shattered and broken if not tended to properly. When Earl sings, “Lovers need to understand, that to keep the love they’ve planned, they must learn the raging blaze to tame. For a fire can cool within the hearth or blow up in a burst of sparks,” that delicacy becomes apparent.

One of the strongest songs on the album is the title track, “Underground Railroad.” Written by Earl Jr. and Earl J. Rivard III, the song is about laws that separate a child from their mother because if born in the United States, they are citizens but their mothers are not and are often sent back to their native lands. The song manages to convey all the right emotions: anger, disgust, and sadness. It starts with a preface that the song may offend some listeners, but the truth really shouldn’t offend.

The bluesy rocker “This Time Around” shows a more playful side to Earl’s music. This song has an infectious beat that calls out to everyone to get up and move. It is the least serious of the thirteen tracks that make up Underground Railroad, and it really showcases Earl’s versatility as a songwriter as well as a performer.

When you listen to “Unfinished Songs,” you instantly feel like you’re listening to a lighthearted pop tune, but give it another listen, and really listen. When you do, you’ll hear a song about the struggles of having something to say, but not being able to find the voice or words to complete the thought. The song is made even more poignant when you reach the abrupt ending.

With Underground Railroad, the world can see the many facets of Earl’s talent. You will hear the voice that will instantly capture your heart with its power and emotion. You’ll discover the songwriting ability that will impress even the harshest critics. This is one voice and one album that must be heard!
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Andrea Guy hails from Southwestern Pennsylvania where she collaborates with several friends on an online music site called Mossip on Livejournal. Mossip features music reviews gossip and the editorial column, Elfslut says that is Andrea's pet project among other fun musical features.??Growing up around many DJ's, music has always been part of her life. From the age of 5, The Beatles and The Monkees dominated her life. Over the years, music became more dominant and one room in her house is filled with CDs from the floor on up. There isn't a genre she won't listen to at least once.??Andrea Reviews: all genres of music. - Andrea Guy

Album Title: Underground Railroad
Artist: Earl J. Rivard, III
Reviewers Name: Rod Ames
Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
Title of Review:

Review Summary –

Earl J. Rivard, III is definitely a new talent to be reckoned with. He brings political activism back to music I haven’t heard from an artist since Bob Dylan. Nevertheless, as good as he is in that area, that is not all he does. He and his band are just as proficient at singing and playing the blues. They’re comfortable playing what ever they want and they do just about everything there is on this fine thirteen-track album, Underground Railroad.

Review –

It isn’t often I hear music that so inspires and moves me as did Earl J. Rivard, III’s Underground Railroad. This young man is absolutely one of the most exciting new talents I have heard since I started listening to music. Period! His voice is as smooth as silk and he sings with pure passion.
Underground Railroad begins with the title cut. A tinny voice spoken via bullhorn –
“Warning: The following song will offend some ears. Skip it, if you must. The real obscenity is the United States government breaking up families as a matter of policy”
Then, in Spanish –
¿Como vas a quitarle una madre a su hijo?/¿Como vas a decirle que se tiene que ir?/Loca es la cultura que confunde estas cosas/Loca esta cultura, lo hay que decir
Translation –
How are you going to take a mother from her child?/How are you going to tell her that she has to go?/Crazy is the culture that confuses these things /Crazy this culture, it must be said.
These are some very intense, gut-wrenching lyrics to say the least.
As it turns out, Mr. Rivard graduated from Cal Berkley with a degree in Ethnic Studies in 2001, so this is a subject matter the man is very close to and extremely knowledgeable. He sings the song with a great deal of passion. From the first note, I was transported to locales such as El Salvador or Guatemala, where these words are the harsh reality for many mothers who have lost their children after being displaced by our government who espouses “family values” every election year. This tune is a great positive that is born of a brutal negative; bringing awareness to a subject most people would rather bury their heads in the sand and pretend it doesn’t happen. Not Mr. Rivard though. He is calling these villains out and does it eloquently with one of the greatest weapons ever developed, music.
On the third track, “Coldest Place” Mr. Rivard goes from political activist to blues man.
It wasn’t always this way/I remember when you used to say/That you wanted me beside you to fire you/But the flames have all died down/This is the coldest place in town/And I really don’t know how long I can stay.” These are some great blues lyrics beautifully sung by Rivard. By the third track, he has established he can do folk music, romantic ballads, and blues, plus he has set the pace for the record. The entire album is well balanced throughout. Every musician on the record compliments one another and absolutely comes together as one very tightly regulated band.

This sensational collection of musicians has Lance Riley on drums, Dave Lionelli on bass guitar, Timothy Drury pounds the ivories on “Till I Met You” and “Yours Eternally”, and Max Cowan plays keyboards on the rest of the album. Mike Wynar plays lead guitar and is outstanding. BZ Lewis plays lead on “The Sun Finally Rose” and helps on percussion along with collaborating on string and flute arrangements. Of course, we know about the lead vocals, but Mr. Rivard also plays rhythm guitar and was the other part of the puzzle on the string and flute arrangements. If that were not enough, he and his Father, Earl Rivard, Jr. either wrote or co-wrote all thirteen songs on this unbelievable record.

Further, Rivard has what has to be one of the most vibrant and most perfect voices I have heard in decades. What makes his voice so perfect? It’s the power that thrusts it from deep down, forced upward from his diaphragm, echoing through his throat and out of his mouth as if it were amplified. I absolutely could listen to this man sing all day and I’m almost positive I would never tire of listening to him. One could never grow tired of hearing these incredibly natural sounds. His range is wide and the voice never seems strained no matter what he is singing.

All told with his vocals, band, and exceptional songs, Earl J. Rivard, III is an outstanding artist who has created one of the best albums of the year in Underground Railroad.
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Rod Ames?- I love just about all forms of music, but mainly indie to experimental rock – along with blues and Americana. I have lived in Texas nearly all of my life and am a fan of ‘Texas’ Country, but that particular music form has become somewhat diluted. The good thing about its downward spiral is it has become more challenging to find the good stuff. The main thing here is I love music, am a frustrated musician (I can’t play an instrument, I can sing a little), I love to listen to music and I love discovering new music. It is my passion.? ?I’m the entertainment editor for an all online newspaper called The Texas Star Tribune www.texasstartribune.com. I have been writing for them for about a year. I never saw this coming though. A friend of mine, an author, and our managing editor, noticed some writing ability and encouraged me to write for him. I immediately fell in love with it and have written 30-40 articles or cd reviews since. I wrote a 5 part piece about the “grunge” period of rock during the nineties as my inaugural piece. I’ve been working some to help get Doug Sahm inducted into the R ’N R Hall of Fame plus I work in a drug treatment center to pay the bills. I am also working on a novel at this time.s.??Rod Reviews: blues, indie-rock, low-fi, experimental rock, and Americana.


- Rod Ames