You can now experience what the Austin Chronicle calls “sweat, grit, and a righteous musicality” for yourself – The Relatives’ debut album on Yep Roc Records, The Electric Word, is now available!

Formed in 1970 by Dallas gospel singer Rev. Gean West and his brother Rev. Tommie West, The Relatives bridge the gap between traditional gospel, soul and psychedelia with gritty songs that confront heavy issues like war, addiction and inequality. After more than forty years, they’re finally set to release their debut album The Electric Word on February 19, 2013 via Yep Roc Records. Produced in Austin by Jim Eno of Spoon, with backing from former Black Joe Lewis guitarist Zach Ernst and others, The Electric Word features 10 all-new recordings with fervent titles like “Bad Trip” and “Speak to Me (What’s Wrong With America?).”

You can also get The Electric Word HERE on iTunes or HERE on Amazon.

The West brothers are Dallas gospel royalty, having shared billing with The Staple Singers, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, and The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, among others. In the 1970s, they developed a sound that was informed equally by those artists and Jimi Hendrix and James Brown. The Relatives released a handful of singles locally and spent much of that decade playing clubs, hotels and auditoriums in the north Texas region.

In addition, The Relatives release is being celebrated by eMusic, which is releasing 3 exclusive videos of the band performing live in the eMusic offices.  Watch them HERE on eMusic’s 17 Dots Blog.

The Relatives will tour extensively in 2013, including performances at SXSW and more.

Listen to The Relatives song “Bad Trip” and the band’s EPK with Jim Eno in the players below.