Pros Liz Berlin's vocals, originality, wonderful and rich melodies
Cons Occasional yodeling by Glabicki, relatively unknown band
The Bottom Line One of the most innovative bands in music today. Pick up your copy.
Full Review
Rusted Root finally got the attention they so deserved following the success of 1995’s exquisite When I Woke.
Eclectic and genuine, Rusted Root strangely hails from Pittsburgh. Their sound on the other hand is foreign and rich, relying on Middle Eastern rhythms and tribal beats paired with guitars. Rusted Root assembles a kind of music that no other band even dares to think about creating. Rather than being followers, the band invents new music for other musicians to look up to. It’s too bad that so few people ever come to know their music.
Rusted Root first came into existence in 1990. From the very beginning, each song blended various international instruments and rhythms. The resulting music is entertaining and clean and very multi-culturally American. Each member of the band performs various duties. The members are: Michael Glabicki (vocals, guitar), Liz Berlin (vocals, percussion), Patrick Norman (bass, vocals), Jim Donovan (vocals, percussion), John Buynak (percussion, winds), and Jim DiSpirito (vocals, percussion). With that kind of diverse talent, Rusted Root makes thick and lovely music.
Remember (1996) is the third full length album from Rusted Root. Preceding Remember are 1992’s Cruel Sun and When I Woke. Remember is a continuation of the magical mix that first thrust the band into the limelight with the hit ”Send Me On My Way”. This 1996 album appeared in stores on the wake of the band’s tour with H.O.R.D.E. By that point in time listeners were keen on Rusted Root and bought the album to the point that it appeared on the top 40 chart during it’s first week on the market. That is quite an amazing feat considering that this music is anything but MTV-ready (and as we all know, MTV watchers are often the consumers that artists try to cater to).
Remember holds fourteen very diverse tracks ranging from the rootsy and appealing ”Heaven” to the Asian-influenced ”Who Do You Tell It To”. Most of these songs are jammin’ folk rock tracks with strange instrumentation that leads the songs to have an international flair unlike that of any other band. Liz Berlin’s ethereal vocals shine as a backdrop to Glabicki’s unpredictable and often yodeling voice. I wish that Berlin were showcased more often, although she does get her moment in the sun thanks to track like ”Dangle” and ”Baby Will Raam”.
Of note is ”Virtual Reality”, a song that found a spot on the Twister Soundtrack. The down home twang paired with Glabicki’s fast and furious vocals makes this a round and fantastic example of Rusted Root and their music. The chorus is infinitely catchy and can be listened to time and again. The lyrics aren’t great, but the entire point of this song is to have fun. Glabicki’s voice is an instrument rather than a conduit.
My favorite song on the album is likely ”Heaven”. The sound is very appealing and gentle. Glabicki’s voice is more serious and richer than it is on many other tracks. The instruments are sparse and not as layered as other examples, but on the whole I feel warm and driven by the beats and rhythms of this true and wonderful example of folk-rock. Most of the songs on this album are folk rock, with an international twist.
Other songs that I fully enjoy are ”Silver-N-Gold” and ”Sister Contine”. Both are rootsy and lovely examples of truly superb music. The melody in ”Infinite Space” reminds me very specifically of some of Led Zeppelin’s most interesting music that used Middle Eastern instruments. It seems impossible to do wrong with Rusted Root. Remember is just another example of the band’s continued growth and amazing amount of talent. Their sound should prove appealing to fans of many kinds of music ranging from rock to pop to world.
It’s impossible to find anything bad about this album. Rusted Root is a truly original and wonderful band. With the seamless blend of rock elements with instruments like a pennywhistle, mandolin, saxophone, tambourine, spoons, and about thirty other seemingly strange and mostly percussion instruments Remember is a wonderful and fulfilling album. It’s more complete and more lucid than When I Woke yet never spawned a major hit.
I recommend this album to all people who appreciate music. Fans of Grateful Dead, Phish, Blues Traveler, and even Dave Matthews Band should own Remember and should cherish the presence of Rusted Root on the musical landscape. Remember is a truly wonderful and magical album. Rusted Root’s members are all of unparalleled talent and originality.
Track List:
1. Faith I Do Believe
2. Heaven
3. Sister Contine
4. Virtual Reality
5. Infinite Space
6. Voodoo
7. Dangle
8. Silver-N-Gold
9. Baby Will Raam
10. Bullets In The Fire
11. Who Do You Tell It To
12. River In A Cage
13. Scattered
14. Circle Of Remembrance
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