Basement Jaxx - Rooty

Since Simon Radcliffe and Felix Burton of Basement Jaxx released the unbelievable Remedy in 1999, house music has experienced a slight identity crisis. But even as trance and Fatboy Slim-style big beat saturate the dance floor, the primal, funky soul of true house that the Jaxx duo know and love clearly reverberates beneath it all. With Rooty, Radcliffe and Burton finish the job they started on Remedy by listening to their instincts, stripping away the gloss, taking some creative risks, and coming up with some of the rawest grooves in recent memory. The first track and single "Romeo" doesn't waste any time, parlaying an irresistible hook and a relentlessly up vibe into the most danceable three and a half minutes of 2001. Frankie Knuckles-era Chicago house and War's deep Latin funk are audible throughout, along with an adventurous production sense; "SFM" packs in a wild kaleidoscope of howls and cross-rhythms while slinking along and rubbing itself on the furniture like a cat in heat. Still, given the level of creative license at work here, the record sometimes misses the mark. Songs like "I Want U" reach for progressive funk, but forget the low bass end that can give a silly, airy song some gravity. But more often that not, the band's decision to eschew beats in favor of dirtier, sexier means of rhythmic expressions pays off. Witness the fat bass line at work in "Get Me Off," as a breathy tease of a lead vocal turns into an outright come-on. Somehow both relentlessly modern and a throwback to simpler, funkier times, Rooty is an effective way to jog the memory should you have forgotten the egg that came before the trance chicken. --Matthew Cooke Amazon.com\'s Best of 2001

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Being a long time fan of Basement Jaxx I had high expectations and once again was not let down. Romeo is of course the cream of the crop but the entire CD shines, catchy beats with great lyrical talents helps this CD last and last. February 17, 2008

Great CD

Most of the songs are very cheesy but I like that so it was great. Not for the casual listener, but if you already are into Basement Jaxx then you will like it a lot. January 16, 2008

My First Basement Jaxx Album, Though Not Necessarily My Last!

I can't believe these guys have been making albums since the late 1990s, yet it wasn't until a month or two ago that I first heard of them! It's a good thing I was able to snag a copy of this baby, however, because I'd have never found out about their talent, and I'm certainly grateful I did.

Definitely one of the duo's most popular CDs, Basement Jaxx's Rooty combines influences of punk, funk, house, and R&B to produce eleven high-energy, beat-driven songs among thirteen ear-appealing tracks that'll get listeners up and dancing in little to no time at all. The disc opens up with the electrifying "Romeo," which tells the story of a dejected young woman whose boyfriend suddenly stops giving it his all in their relationship, and concludes with "All I Know," a smooth love groove with a chilled rhythm that's nevertheless upbeat and worthy to bob one's head to. Speaking of head-bobbing, the MTV2 music video favorite "Where's Your Head At" is the one song that gets fans screaming for more with its hard-knocking grind, talented use of vocals, and raw intensity. Of course, one owes it to oneself to also acknowledge the likes of "SFM," "Just 1 Kiss," "Broken Dreams," and "Do Your Thing," amongst other songs. Beware, however, ye parents of small children, for though this album's artwork (especially its front cover) makes it seem safe for your kids to listen to, the blatantly sexual overtones of "Get Me Off" will make you think twice--perhaps the only flaw to this otherwise shining CD, yet definitely something to keep in mind if the intended recipient is under eighteen years of age.

Overall, one can't go wrong with Rooty and how it clearly states Basement Jaxx's reputation as one of the most talented music groups of the twenty-first century. I sure know I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for another one of their albums, though I've yet to decide which one. Even so, this baby isn't a bad one in the least to begin your music collection with, or at least your Jaxx collection. Get it right away! March 31, 2007

Shake Your Fruity Booty, Cutey

In 1999, Basement Jaxx had taken the dance world by storm with their debut album "Remedy," and the four or five club anthems that it spawned. They followed up this success in the summer of 2001 when they released their sophomore album "Rooty." At first people were a bit sceptical that this album could repeat the success of its predecessor, when in actual fact, if we look back four years now the dust has settled, I'd say that the material from this album was even more successful than the stuff from their debut! Rooty is an album packed with crazy sounds, bleeps, clicks and techno-wizardry that is mandatory to the Basement Jaxx sound, yet it is also more aware of its position within music.

The 13 songs on this album seem almost more commercial, and definitely more accessible that some of the songs on the band's debut album. This is no bad thing, though, because in all honesty I think Rooty is possibly the best album out of the three that Felix and Simon have released so far. The album peaked at No.5 in the UK charts back in July 2001. The singles came from this album over the course of the next year and a half, and a lot of these songs are still being played on radio and in night clubs where I can safely say they will feature for the next few decades at least.

The album opens with the first single "Romeo." This song was a huge hit and charted inside the Top 10 back in June 2001 and is one of the biggest hits of their career. Kele Le Roc is the main guest vocalist on this Bollywood-influenced song that was a complete revelation when it first hit our airwaves. The intro is incredibly exotic, and the beat drives upwards and onwards, over and over in that fabulous chorus! "Breakaway" is one of my favourites Basement Jaxx songs ever, it's just so damn funky! The beat is pretty crazy, slightly neurotic and the high-pitched vocals going "Yo!" every so often are just pretty scary! The lead vocal is computerised beyond belief, but works brilliantly. I love how it builds after about 36 seconds and she goes, "I, I gotta get away! I'm living in the same old [...] each and every damn day!" I'd be laughing my head off at the lyrics and that crazy voice, but I'm too busy shaking my rumpy-pumpy to the chorus which will just blow your mind! "SFM" is another great song and is a bit slower than the first two tracks. It's about a funky feline machine, and the lyrics are pretty cool, "She's an angel, she's a dove with a taste for a villain's blood. Packin' heat, struttin on the street, chew you up and make you meat." "Kissalude" is really sensual and erotic. I love the imagery of kissing on eyelids and the voice that goes with.

This leads into "Jus 1 Kiss," possibly one of my top 5 Basement Jaxx songs ever. This song shows just how well the Jaxx can construct a solid beat. The chorus just soars and takes you up in the night sky with it, absolutely incredible. I love the monotone of the word "High!" drawn out against the background of beats rising and falling so perfectly melodic. Beautiful! "Broken Dreams" is a fantastic song that has me thinking of a hot summer's day every time I hear it. The beat to this song is very strange and reminds me of a hot country, perhaps India or somewhere in the Far East. It's very beautiful and the vocal delivery compliments it perfectly. "I Want You" is another really good song but slightly below par in comparison to a lot of the album's other songs. I find the vocal delivery quite annoying, but the beat is pretty colourful and vibrant. "Get Me Off" is incredible, a genius slice of dance perfection that shakes my body and won't let go. The vocals are incredibly erotic and the lyrics just filthy! This makes it all the more appropriate to shake your fine ass to! Me and my girls bump and grind to this song every time it comes on in a club! "Where's Your Head At" might just be the most famous Jaxx song ever - it's certainly their most famous video! The vocal delivery on this song is incredible and powerful, blowing you away right from the offset. The beats are rough, dirty, cold and mechanical; a wonderful concoction of everything industrial.

"Freakalude" is a bit of a pointless interlude, but leads brilliantly into "Crazy Girl." This song has a pretty funky beat that bounces around like a ball in a pinball machine. The vocal delivery is quite flat but I can forgive this for the beat, and the technicolour chorus that sparkles and really lights this song up. "Do Your Thing" was hail by one critic as this duo's single best song. I disagree, but I still think it's amazing. The performance of this song went down a storm at this year's Glastonbury. Elliot May provides vocals on this samba-inspired song, which is probably too gay for its own good! The album closes with "All I Know." This is another great song with a chorus that seems almost like a throw back to the disco pop of the Seventies and early Eighties. The vocals seem to be very Latin-influenced, which works well in putting the band across as a multi-cultural band for the ages/masses.

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

This Basement Jaxx album is my favourite of the three that they have released so far. I original bought it when it first came out, but I didn't like it at all, so I took it back to the store and swapped it for Jennifer Lopez's "J.Lo!" How embarrassing! I think we all know which of the two albums is the best. Forgive me, I was young and silly but now I hopefully know better and this album seems very up my street. If a chart is ever compiled of the best dance albums ever, I think both Rooty and Remedy would find their way comfortably in the top 10 somewhere. There's so many musical styles on this album, yet all given the funky Jaxx twist which is predominantly dance music. Take the plunge and try them out, it's worth it. December 24, 2005

Where's Your Head At?

For many years, I've been a fan of synth-pop legend Gary Numan. One of my favorite songs by him is M.E. off of The Pleasure Principle. One day I heard a commercial for Pringles and it was M.E., only sped up. I did some online searching and found that the Basement Jaxx has sampled Numan's Moog synth bass line from the song M.E. When I heard Where's Your Head At, I fell in love with it. It is nice to see a band show homage to an otherwise unrespected artist! July 14, 2005

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