Rooty

Basement Jaxx | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 26, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B00005K9V5
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (97 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,968 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Since Simon Radcliffe and Felix Burton of Basement Jaxx released the unbelievable Remedy in 1999, house music has experienced a slight identity crisis. But even as trance and Fatboy Slim-style big beat saturate the dance floor, the primal, funky soul of true house that the Jaxx duo know and love clearly reverberates beneath it all. With Rooty, Radcliffe and Burton finish the job they started on Remedy by listening to their instincts, stripping away the gloss, taking some creative risks, and coming up with some of the rawest grooves in recent memory. The first track and single "Romeo" doesn't waste any time, parlaying an irresistible hook and a relentlessly up vibe into the most danceable three and a half minutes of 2001. Frankie Knuckles-era Chicago house and War's deep Latin funk are audible throughout, along with an adventurous production sense; "SFM" packs in a wild kaleidoscope of howls and cross-rhythms while slinking along and rubbing itself on the furniture like a cat in heat. Still, given the level of creative license at work here, the record sometimes misses the mark. Songs like "I Want U" reach for progressive funk, but forget the low bass end that can give a silly, airy song some gravity. But more often that not, the band's decision to eschew beats in favor of dirtier, sexier means of rhythmic expressions pays off. Witness the fat bass line at work in "Get Me Off," as a breathy tease of a lead vocal turns into an outright come-on. Somehow both relentlessly modern and a throwback to simpler, funkier times, Rooty is an effective way to jog the memory should you have forgotten the egg that came before the trance chicken. --Matthew Cooke

Product Description

Japan only strictly limited edition 2 CD set of the 'Jaxx second full length record includes a bonus 2 track CD consisting of two exclusive remixes of their first single 'Romeo', (Tokyo Garage Mix by Shinichi Osawa/Mondo Grosso)' & (Tokyo Garage Radio Mix --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My booty sure likes Rooty!, July 3, 2001

By 

R O C K E T (The Twin Cities, MN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Rooty (Audio CD)

I totally bought this on a whim. I'd never heard this or the first album, but I thought the cover art was really cool and the reviews were great, so I picked it up. God, am I glad I did! It is one of the best CDs I've ever heard. I love the weirdness and eclectic mix of sounds on it. It's definitely one of the most creative albums out there. There isn't a bad track on it - the whole thing is listenable (and I can't say that about many CDs). The best song on it is "Get Me Off." The beat and the layers of sound are incredible. It reminds me of Lords of Acid a bit. Other faves are "Romeo," "Breakaway," and "Where's Your Head At?". This has been said below, but the whole album is a weird and wonderful hybrid of Daft Punk, Prince, and...who knows. Just check it out. It's definitely a great one!

I'm a little disappointed, though, in Remedy. I bought it because I liked Rooty so much. It's good, but I find it less interesting. And it seems to be missing something to hold it together, unlike Rooty. Plus, some of the songs are downright annoying to me (particularly songs #3 and #4). Maybe if I had bought Remedy before Rooty I'd feel differently, but Rooty is just a very difficult album to live up to.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At Last, An Electronic Music Album That Lasts, November 25, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rooty (Audio CD)

I probably would never have purchased this album if I hadn't seen Basement Jaxx live. I personally thought "Remedy" was OK at best. Basement Jaxx in concert, however, completely blew myself and everyone else out of the water, and the tracks from "Rooty" were a big part of the impact.
It may take awhile for this album to grow on you. The tracks range from hard techno to happy-house to postmodern soul not unlike some of Prince's stranger songs. If you only appreciate one sort of electronic music, this is not your album. If your tastes are more eclectic, pick it up. What you will come to realize is that this is an album of extraordinary depth, variety, and talent that seems richer with every spin. Unlike most techno albums which grow dated in months, I have a feeling this one will go down as a classic. It's hard not to be excited about what Basement Jaxx has in store for us in the future. Don't forget to see them live!!!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let Rooty Shake Your Booty!, May 24, 2002

By 

Clarissa "MoonGoddess" (Ontario, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Rooty (Audio CD)

Lately I've been buying electronic music like there's no tomorrow but out of them all I'd have to say that this is by far one of the best albums in this overcrowded genre. I bought Rooty by Basement Jaxx about 2 months ago yet I'm still playing it like it's brand spankin new. All the songs here have irresistible hooks with catchy and lusterous female vocals that are wispy and fun, circling around all this funky house music. The singer's vocal styling for "I Want You" sounds a lot like Nelly Furtado with a crazy, warped-out melodie that is oddly accessible while songs like "Jus 1 Kiss" and "Broken Dreams" are loaded with heavy bass lines accompanied by sometimes poppish or sometimes funky house soul. Not all these songs will make you want to dance but they will most certainly make you tap your foot or bob your head up and down to the appealing dance beats. Prince even has an evident source of usage here on songs like "Crazy Girl". The only song I didn't care for was "SFM" with it's electronic hip-hop. And while the beat is highly contagious the rapping is completely out of place, even amidst all this influential old-school. The most recognizable songs here are probably "Where's Your Head At" (which was a huge club hit) and "Do Your Thing" (which was used in some kind of commercial, which I fail to remember...) Out of all of these song, though (which are destined to become classics, I'm sure) my favorites would have to be the naughty "Get Me Off" and "All I Know".

Overall I'd say that this CD is one that ALL electronic dance fans should own. Without Rooty to shake my booty my collection would be completely lost. (And that goes for you as well.) So buy it already!

This is highly recommended.