Customer Reviews

Straightaround: Live

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Agents of Good Roots is a band that has more talent that the majority of the artists that you hear today. This album proves that. I was first exposed to Agents on a suggestion from a friend, and bought their major-label debut, One By One. That album is more of a sonic collage of many styles, including rock, jazz, and gospel. Straightaround seems to focus a little more on the healthy jazz obsession carried by the band. Plus, these guys can PLAY! It's so unfortunate that our ears are primed to hear cookie-cutter music unlike this. Andrew Winn's guitar/keyboard playing provides an excellent setup for J.C. Kuhl's incredible sax playing. Kuhl really goes off on tracks like "Straight," which ends the album on an impressive, tight jam. This album gets better with every listen, because in spite of the fact that you're only listening to five instruments (guitar, keyboard, sax, bass, drums), Agents always bring something new to the table when you listen. Jazz fans, rejoice! Your voice is beginning to be heard in rock circles! Highly recommended for jazz fans, as well as fans of Dave Matthews Band.

If you're looking for an introduction to this Richmond, VA band, this would clearly be your best bet. Check out the hot 9/8 time of Exodus of Left as well as the 11 minute Straight that closes the album. A definite recommend - you will go see this band if you hear this record.

A must have for all music lovers, and the perfect introduction to a very talented band. The vastly disparate singing styles of Brian Jones and Andrew Winn and even Stewert Meyers (yes... three of the four are able to take over lead vocals... another tribute to their musical craftmanship) are far from your typical main-stream leads and add yet another diverse and sometimes unfamilair level to each of their albums. More importantly, the ability of this band to improvise and work their way into a methodical groove helps separate Agents from most bands of the day. If only picking stocks were this easy...

Here's hoping new basist Kevin Hamilton can sustain the groove!

Agents of good roots offers a good mix of funky guitar riffs and saxaphone set to an skillful drummer in this live recording. Their sound is reminiscent of Dave Matthews and Phish , but clearly Agents have found their own style, thanks in part to the unique voice of Brian Jones. The band showcases their jamming skill on several tracks, like "Shortchange" and "straight", and offer creative lyrics in songs like "The Ballad Of Hobby and his Piano". The recording flows rather nicley in almost all areas. The album has flaws as a few of the songs just don't seem to work ,but otherwise, Agents has produced an excellent album which is a pleasure to experience.

It reallly bothers me when the Agents get lumped in with the Dave Matthews Band and the hippie-frat rock music community, or with those jam bands whose tunes feature 20-minute improvisations that go nowhere. These guys have SO much more going on musically - harmonically, melodically, and on an improvisational level. Sadly I think some of their other work doesn't always quite hit the mark, but this is the Agents' most consistently great album and everyone I've played it for loves it. The songwriting, arrangements, vocals, soloing and overall musicianship are fantastic on this album. I highly recommend it.

I love this cd, I just got it a few days ago because I'd been hearing such great things about them. I'm so glad I got it. Awesome sax playing!!!

To music fan from Virginia - I'm from Virginia Beach and love Agents of Good Roots too. However, you must give credit where credit is do. Andrew Winn is the band member with the creative voice that you are referring to, not Brian Jones. Andrew is an old friend of mine and I just had to set that straight. As far as the CD goes - I highly recomend it to anyone with a taste for good jazz/funk music!