Rusted Root Remember
OLD GOLD AND BLACK REVIEWER
It seems to be a prerequisite for an up-and-coming band: Following a popular debut album, bands tend to go into the studio for their second effort with a new outlook on life, and much of what they produce is reflections on what has happened to them in their rise to stardom.
With the release of Remember, Rusted Root is no different. While their first album, When I Woke, was immensely popular and put the unique sound from this Pennsylvania band on the map, the songs from the second release seem to deal with much more complicated issues and the sound has changed from the "Send Me on My Way" days.
When they burst onto the music scene in 1994 with their first album, Rusted Root introduced a sound that had never made it to the mainstream. Combining insightful song-writing, a driving, tribal-like percussion section, and a powerful lead singer, Rusted Root grew in popularity because of its unique sound and lack of commercialization.
In their second album, Rusted Root has changed. With a guitar-oriented, harder feel to their new songs, Rusted Root has shed its image as a light-hearted, tribal sound that was evident on the previous album.
The new approach to music that Rusted Root has taken can be seen on the album's very first track. "Faith I Do Believe" features lead singer Michael Glabicki on guitar, as well as some great vocal melodies between Glabicki and Liz Berlin. However, the noticeable change is the fact that the once ever-present upbeat rhythms and fast-paced jams have been replaced with a haunting rhythm that, coupled with Glabicki's vocals and song writing, creates an eerie feeling to all the songs on the album.
The third track, "Sister Contine," and the fourth song, "Virtual Reality," both feature great lyrical abilities and acoustic guitar work by Glabicki, especially the slide guitar on the fourth track. "Baby will Raam," the ninth song on the album, demonstrates John Buynak's genius as a mandolinist interchanging with Glabicki's guitar and Berlin's vocals.
After listening to Rusted Root's newest release, it is easy to see that the band has matured a lot as musicians both individually and as a group.
While their new album may not have widespread appeal and sell millions of copies like the band's previous effort, the songs and the music are much more advanced than what was present on "When I Woke." Gone are the radio-friendly, catchy ditties. They've been replaced with clever, perceptive songwriting and tight, powerful jams. Listen to this new CD -- and keep an open mind.