Welcome to My Party

Rusted Root

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 9, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Island
• ASIN: B000063VFF
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #123,992 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Welcome to My Party is an apt invitation to the stirring, often festive songs that populate Rusted Root's fourth record. From the funky, joyful "Union 7," where the vocals of band founders Mike Glabicki and Liz Berlin intertwine and shine, to the lovely instrumentation of the title track to the reggae strains of "Women Got My Money," Rusted Root augment an already expansive musical palette. The multi-instrumentalist sextet fuse elements of Latin, African, Eastern, soul, rock, and traditional American music into an uplifting, intelligent, melodious whole. Discrete yet cohesive, the wonderful percussion and Middle Eastern vibe of "Artificial Winter," the bluesy Band-like ballad "Sweet Mary," and John Buynak's enchanting pennywhistle melodies on songs like "Too Much" make for an enjoyable journey. Although they've toured with the Grateful Dead and Santana and support environmental and social causes, Rusted Root are not a retro jam band or overly New Age-y. Rather, their timeless, well-crafted, and multidimensional tunes provide enriching ear candy for a stressed soul. --Katherine Turman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars not as earthy, July 20, 2004

By	J. Dyer "wildcard" (philly, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I never thought i'd see the day when Rusted Root used a technopulse. I thought they were pretty comfortable with themselves seeing that their past albums have been consistent as far as mood and style, and i know it's healthy for musicians to venture out of their norm, but I definitely prefer the good'ol-good'ol.
NOT that the whole album is comprised of technobeats... it's really only the last song that surprised me. There is definitely some old school Rusted Root blood flowing through this body of songs... however there were a few mediocre songs on here as well;
I feel that these unsuccesses may have been a result of trying to fuse their old technique with stark new ideas without a middle man there to help.

..so out with the negative and in with the positive...

The song "Blue Diamonds" (sung by Glabicki&Wertz), which was a most beautiful composition, did make it onto a few mainstream radio stations and frequented the college stations... I actually had a friend who used that song on her wedding day.
This album also has the predicted injections of funk (#3-Woman Got my Money), blues (#5-Weave), and other very interesting mixes of musical flavor.
Despite any negativity given this album, Rusted Root always holds their harmonies amazingly tight (Glabicki's 'trilling' falsetto is mind blowing!) and their skillful use of many odd and wonderful percussion instruments will never get old.
The combined talent of these six musicians will definitely keep me tuned in for whatever they have coming up next.

and if you ever get the chance, SEE THEM IN CONCERT!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Terribly disappointing cd, May 21, 2006

By	Diogenes DogSnack (Redwood City, CA) - See all my reviews

I've seen the band live 5 or 6 times since the mid 90's. Everytime, except for the last time I saw them (on tour for this record) was exceptional. Not only was the concert lackluster, but the cd was worse. Honestly not a single song on this cd impressed me enough to want to listen to it again. The songs seem ...forced. After a few weeks of giving it a chance, I gave up. I can't recommend this cd to anyone. Get Cruel Sun or When I Woke and leave it at that.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars They are hear to stay!, May 20, 2002

By	"bradleyp27" (Butler, PA United States) - See all my reviews

If you liked the old Rusted Root with Jenn Wertz and the first two albums then this is a must purchase for you! I've been a lover of Rusted Root since the beginning and living only 30 miles away from their home city of Pittsburgh I have seen them play dozens of time as a group and jamming at Club Cafe on the South Side. Last fall when I saw Wertz back with the group at a small little pub I knew they were back on track. They are on top form with this album... it has hints of Cruel Sun yet it is distinctly its own album. Some of the songs are uterly amazing, such as "Blue Diamonds" and their is not a bad song on the album. I must admit the last two albums they did kind of spooked me but I still liked them, but Welcome To My Party is music to my ears I would rank it along with Trey Anastasio's new album the best music I've prurchased in several years.