Rusted Root - When I Woke

Imagine the Gypsy Kings as hippies from Pittsburgh and you'll have a handle on Rusted Root. Energetic, largely acoustic worldbeat jams like "Ecstasy" and "Martyr" are undermined by annoyingly preachy lyrics. Jeff Bateman Amazon.com

One of the Best

I often used to get to see this group perform live for free when I was a college student in Pittsburgh long before they became famous. They were a nice group of people. I always told friends that they were going to be nationally famous. Well this is the album that made that prediction come true. There is a different sound here than you get from most rock bands. Some of that is a Nicaraguan influence that the leader of the band inherited from his stay in that country. The album starts out with one of the best drum jams you'll ever hear and that leads you into one of the greatest rock albums you'll ever hear. Hard rock, with some Latin flavoring, some socially meaningful lyrics, great backround singers, some experimentation and great variance of style & method on this album. The band got a little less consistant on future albums. If you aren't familiar with this band, this is the album to get, you won't go wrong. Their new live album is one of the best live albums I ever heard. Check em out. November 9, 2007

Bringing us all back to our roots

So you have heard of them recently in Ice Age?? Or maybe you heard of them in college a few years ago?? Well keep goin back... because they have been rockin it for awhile!

Rusted Root opened up a whole new sound of music to me. They are not afraid to speak their opinion, and inspire others to get back to the earth of which we came. They thrive on channeling beautiful energy into drums, guitar, flute, and amazing female vocals that are very tribal and soulful at the same time. Rusted Root plays from the heart. They perform from the heart.
If you have ever seen them live, you know... they rock!
When I first saw them perform in '96 I was barely breaking my teenage years, and now hear I am, still jammin' to this album that uplifts my heart and soul and I just can't stop dancing!

This is an album to have in your collection if you enjoy epic songs. If you enjoy organic beats. If you love inspiring music. If you feel like dancing. If you want to kiss the earth. If you want to breathe with a relief that somewhere out there someone made music that liberates your beliefs.
Enjoy!!! December 15, 2005

OUTSTANDINGLY UNIQUE AND ENJOYABLE!

One of the most unique and original bands I've heard in years. They combine a percussionish, alternativish, rockish and a kind of feel to the songs that makes them OH SO hearable and enjoyable!!! Almost indescribable. A MUST HEAR! Send me on my way was what got me into them. After hearing the song in "Ice Age" I was rusted rooted! It heard the rest of the album and take my word for it. They really ARE GOOD! Their songs have a milarepaish kind of osho music kinda feel to them. Really nice
. May 28, 2005

It's like...

Rusted Root is like Dave Matthews Band with a flute/whistle instead of a saxophone! Or atleast in my opinion...I like it! May 28, 2005

Brilliant, beautiful, and criminally underappreciated.

For a long time, I had heard the name Rusted Root mentioned here and there, but never really knew anything about them. Then, a while back, I was talking music with a friend, and he insisted that I really needed to buy this album. So, a few days later, I was at the store, and I saw this album on the shelf, so I figured what the hell, and picked it up.

Wow. I really love finding stuff like this. Albums that have been around for a few years, and somehow have never really gotten the recognition they deserve. Rusted Root's music is simply magical. Largely acoustic, jam-based alternative rock, with scintillating and virtuosic guitar melodies, hypnotic tribal drumming, spellbinding vocals (both male and female) and the occasional flute and harmonica. This band is so much more amazing than I ever could have imagined, and their music is so impossibly joyous and uplifting. Few albums make me feel as good as this album does.

The album opens with "Drum Trip", a 3-minute percussion intro. Right away, the band's tribal/ethnic influences, which are prevalent throughout, are introduced in a big way. That moves smoothly into the blazing and super-catchy "Ecstasy", featuring rapid-fire acoustic leads and Mike Glabicki's distinctive vocal style. "Send Me On My Way", the band's most well-known song, is a bit slower, with a chipper and somewhat hypnotizing melody. "Cruel Sun" is a powerfully atmospheric epic, sounding a bit like a cross between Jethro Tull and the Doors. The female vocals underscoring Mike's really add to the amazing atmosphere.

"Martyr" is quite possibly the most uplifting song I've ever heard, although the very bluegrassy "Rain" isn't too far behind. These songs make me want to go dance in the woods, or something. "Beautiful People" is contrastingly more poignant, a very emotional ballad with some really incredible female lead vocals. "Food & Creative Love" (one of the best song titles ever, hehe) is the only song that features electric guitar, starting with a swaggering bluesy rhythm, finally building into a scorching jam at the end. "Cat Turned Blue" is fun and funky, and "Lost in a Crowd" and "Laugh as the Sun" are slow and peaceful. The album ends with "Back to the Earth". This song delves deepest into the tribal territory, with joyous African chanting, and killer percussion and guitars. It builds up fantastically, and really ends the album with a bang.

I really can't say enough about this album. I want anything and everything this band has made. It's also very important that I one day see them live, preferably in an outdoor venue, although I'd settle for any opportunity to see them. If you love stuff like Blues Traveler and the Dave Matthews Band, and other 90's jam rock bands of the like, this is one more band you should love. In my opinion, they are by far the best I've heard of this genre, so it's really a shame they've never really gotten as much acclaim as their peers.

"When I Woke" is one of the best and most overlooked albums of the 90's. Buy it. May 10, 2005

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