Customer Reviews

Colorblind

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Robert Randolph and the Family Band may be `Colorblind," but they sure are colorful. From the first strains of "Ain't Nothing Wrong with That" to the last notes of the album closer "Homecoming," Randolph and his band switch styles more often than Christina Aguilera changes outfits. Whichever direction they lean, though, the band brings on the righteous funk with an energy that is almost supernatural. "Colorblind" is a nasty funk lollipop dipped in sanctified soul, then sprinkled with rock and roll energy. I dare you to listen to this CD while sitting down - this is music that could make a paraplegic do the moonwalk.
"Colorblind" is a high energy romp that demands participation, both physically and emotionally. Personally, I think it's great that a musician as talented as Robert Randolph can use his outsized talent for something greater than simply blowing my socks off. While the playing is never less than stellar, the message always takes precedence; family, brotherhood, faith and happiness are in abundance here, but the material never sinks into a sea of platitudes. There is simply too much energy for any of the songs to get bogged down by their message. "Jesus Is Just Alright" is an old Doobie Brothers warhorse that had been sent to pasture years ago but by some miracle (and with a bit of help from Eric Clapton) Randolph and the family band make it sound like a Derby winner. Randolph might be one of the most exciting guitar players alive today, but "Colorblind" proves that he also has the smarts to let the band play like a band, and to let the songs speak for themselves. If you want to have a good time while listening to some high energy, inspired music, then pick up "Colorblind." A Tom Ryan

The fiercest live band out there, Robert Randolph uses his studio time to make a studio-sounding album. If you want to know what the fuss is really all about, you better catch him live. As for Colorblind, the album combines the gospel church and the heaviest of metals. The artist is simply the next recipient of the crown. From Hendrix to SRV and now Robert Randolph, the title of "baddest" has a new bearer. Backed by Marcus on drums and Danyel on bass, arguably the best rhythm section in rock right now, and Jason on organ/fiddle, the band's true theme, love, shines brightly on this album. Contributions by Clapton, Dave Matthews and others complement the band's energy by adding familiar voices and sounds to entirely new ones.

Sure, he's tacking to create a more pure rock, hipper pop-friendly sensibility, and we've got guest stars joining him for a few songs, but this is no Santana Clive Davis fake-out -- these songs rock, Robert's pedal steel guitar sears and grooves, and while you can take the Church out of the Sinner, you can't take the sinner out of the Church.

BTW, I didn't find the remake of "Jesus is Just Alright" to be "tepid" at all -- The Clapper's voice and guitar meld nicely with the fat, tasty grooves laid down by Randolph and company, and I personally found their collaboration to be a highlight of the album. (But call me sentimental -- I still like the Byrds' version best....)

In all, a solid followup to his last album, and one that I hope breaks him through to a larger, more diverse audience.

Many reviewers are coming down on this album because it is not a xerox copy of the music and styles from Unclassified or Live At The Wetlands. Heaven forbid that RR&tFB has grown and changed a little. This disc is great on it's own merits. It is more vocally based, as opposed to the previous discs that had several instrumental tracks. The thing that is great about Colorblind is the fact that it sounds like the band is having fun!! To anyone who has had the joy of seeing Robert Randolph live, you know that his performances overflow with the joy of just being up there playing, and this is the feeling I got from listening to Colorblind. Having Clapton come in on the bridge of "Jesus Is Just Alright With Me" is pure genius. "Homecoming" tells how much the band enjoys the love they feel from their audience. All through the disc there are guitar licks and grooves non-stop. Sure, this may be different than their previous efforts, but as the opening track states, "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That."

I really liked this album. Yes, it goes into a more pop direction...but it still has the RRFB magic in it and god forbid a struggling band should try to get a little success...jesus. I also don't get the lyric bashing from some of these reviewers. I'm not sure what fantasy world they live in, but in reality...not every good song has amazing lyrics. Some songs are just fun to listen to because of the beat or the guitar riff it has. If you guys want music with just solely good lyrics then I would suggest bob dylan or neil young, even though I seriously can't stand neil young at all.

Although I've seen RRFB live a few times, this is my first purchase. In fact, I just saw them less than a week before the date of this review, which prompted me to obtain this disc ASAP. This album presents a studio version of RRFB that is strangely inverted from the live version. On stage we were treated to just the four core band members plus one rhythm guitarist, and it was the jam to end all jams. The band delivered monstrous and nimble grooves that rumbled forth in ten-minute long sweaty workouts of incredible musicianship and energy. The funk and soul vibe was intense and irresistible, and if it wasn't for local noise ordinances you know these guys could keep on groovin' till the break of dawn. So why is this particular album populated by armies of backup singers and musical sidemen, with a gaggle of producers and other unknown studio dwellers cluttering up short songs that barely have time to develop their grooves?

I agree with some other reviewers who suspect record company meddling, as if Robert and his core band (Danyel, Jason, and Marcus) could become a smash hit if big production gimmicks and guest stars were piled onto the band's existing sound. The magic is still in there, but the big business aspects of this endeavor often just don't work. The crisp, lowdown power of the live RRFB is swamped here with unnecessary extra instrumentation and vocals, most notably in the cover of "Jesus is Just Alright" in which the hard-to-criticize Eric Clapton is buried by everybody else's clutter and sadly adds to it himself. Meanwhile, the collaboration with Dave Mathews Band on "Love Is the Only Way" creates little musical reward and can only be justified as friendly influence peddling. Tellingly, the most enjoyable songs here are the ones in which the core band members are allowed to rock out with minimal interference from guests or assistants, especially "Deliver Me," "Thrill of It," and "Homecoming." The brilliant and unique Robert Randolph, and his three talented family sidekicks, are merely introduced on this disc, and most (possibly all) of the other people here are extraneous. To really feel that righteous RRFB groove, catch them live and unbound. [~doomsdayer520~]

I got his first cd and it was good but not that great but the new one is very good song for song, it has a lot more edge and more whip to it, the songs are fast and move from the get go and the slow songs are smooth.
'jesus is just alright' make's this cd the song rocks with eric clapton ,'Deliver me ' is that whip I was talking about, 'Diane' is good also with some catchy words 'Angels' is the that smooth I talked about .
this is good .

This is an amazing buy. If you like Robert Randolph this is a great CD. He is an amazing steel guitarist. The Album is a great CD to sit down and listen to.

I first heard Robert at Claptons Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2004. He blew me away. I bought Wetlands. A few weeks later, I saw the Family Band live at a small outdoor venue. They were fantastic, high energy and relate to the crowd...literally. Robert and bassist Danyel Morgan came out into the audience high fiving and shaking hands, LONG before the end of their gig.

I own all three of their offerings and am awaiting this fall's new release. By the way, they are presently opening for Eric Clapton's Tour 2008. I suppose the 1-2-3 star people understand music better than "Slow Hand Clapton"?!?

When "Ain't Nothing Wrong with that" came on the car radio, I was alternately dialing the station to find the name of the song and writing down lyrics. (No, I wasn't driving!) I bought the song on iTunes and then waited not-so-patiently for the CD to come from Amazon. "Colorblind" would have been worth full price, but waiting is good--sometimes.

"Ain't Nothing Wrong with That" starts this CD with a party and the rock doesn't stop til the end. Okay, the styles vary enough to make things really interesting, but there's a core of solid rocked out soul interwoven into this CD that shines through.

"Jesus is just Allright" with Clapton is the best version since the Byrds. I also enjoyed both Leela Jones soulful groove and Dave Matthews. Really, there's not a bad song on this CD. It very much reminds me of the rock I used to love growing up.

The one good thing about coming to this CD almost a year late is that I don't have to wait so long for the next Robert Randolph CD.