Customer Reviews

Rusted Root

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

i bought this album expecting the wonderful music of rusted root i have heard on albums such as when i woke, remember, and cruel sun. although i love rusted root, there was a disappointment when i heard this album. i still liked it, but if you're looking for a rusted root cd and you don't own any, don't let this be your first impression.

i was shocked and disappointed to read these reviews. this is one of my favorite albums of all time. i think this band transcends all of the comparisons to the dead, phish, dmb, and the like. this is such a beautiful album that always makes me smile. "rising sun" is one of those songs that just makes you stop and dance no matter what you're doing. the instrumental and stylistic experimentation that differentiates this from rr's other albums really makes this their best masterpiece to date.

I was dissapointed with this album at first. It's difficult to really understand and it doesn't have the same supeficial catchyness that "When I Woke" did. Once I got used to it, however, it has become one of my favorite albums. There's an old indian philosophy that claims that all things are composed of circles or cycles. This album is a musical expression of the emotional cycles we all go through woven together perfectly with intricate drumming and instramental coordination. Being a musician, I see this album as a testament to the power of music.

On their latest album, Rusted Root's self titled disk takes you down their familiar roads. bongo drums, African nods, strong vocals. But at first listening to this album, I really didn't have that much opinion towards it. It neither liked it, nor disliked it. But after really listening to it, I really started to like it. Now this album is my "to go to" album, for those times I need a good cd. Basically, after listening to it, it grows on you in a good way.

This CD takes some playing, but that's due to the subtlety of the songwriting. The crafting of a great song over tribal rhythms is not easy, but I think RR are perfecting this genre. This is obviously less accessible than "When I Woke" but quite an improvement over "Remember" (Let's all just forget that happened). Take your time, close your eyes, turn the volume up and the lights off.

Rusted Root's self titled CD is a mixture of slow songs with beautiful lyrics and excitable tunes that jump out of your CD player. "Live a Long Time" and "Magenta Radio" are so vibrant that they can get you excited while "She Roll Me Up" and "Rising Sun" can mellow you out. The remake of "You Can't Always Get What You Want" with Hot Tuna is an added bonus. Even though "When I Woke" is still my favorite, this CD is a very close second.

I like it but it is not nearly as good as When I woke (or even Remember ) . Unfortunately , the root is so into "experimenting" with whatever feels good musically and "broadening" their horizons that they have lost touch with what made them so good originally. They need to get back to the hip swayin', pot smokin', spoon on the washboard tribal sound.

This new self-titled album is amazing. It's got songs for every mood: "Rising Sun" is a great mellowing tune, while "Magenta Radio" will have you up and dancing in a second. The Rolling Stones cover "You Can't Always Get What You Want'' recorded with the band Hot Tuna is an excellent ending track and will have you singing along in no time. A couple of the tracks have too much electric guitar and 'angry' feeling, but overall it's great. To capture the real experience of Rusted Root, you just have to see them perform live to appreciate their music.

I've been fortunate enough to know this band since their inception into the neo-hippie music scene in 1990. Their first two studio albums, the independently released "Cruel Sun" and their major label debut "When I Woke" captured the fundamental element of the band that makes its loyal listeners come back time and time again to see them perform live. The second major label output (Remember) missed the mark completely of capturing this live element. However, this album puts the band back on track even though its laden at times with electric guitars and overdubs, which causes the powerful and brilliant work by their rythym section to be obscured in a musical goo. In other words, this album doesn't measure to their first two works but a very good effort nonetheless.

3 1/2


This more restrained effort suits the band best and helps clarify their sound past a drum circle party.