Post by dawyked on Jan 2, 2006 22:14:45 GMT 1
;D:
Patrick Berkery
Philadelphia Inquirer
Published: Friday, December 30, 2005
With their 2003 major-label debut, Unclassified, Robert Randolph and the Family Band attracted many types with a blessed union of spirituality and pedal-steel-kissed improvisations.
Some wanted to raise the roof with the North Jersey quartet on a Saturday night and testify Sunday morning. Others were content to raise the roof on Saturday then sleep it off Sunday morning.
That diverse appeal might explain some of the strange, potentially intriguing collaborations slated for the group's untitled third album, due in April.
"I'm down here in Nashville now and I've been hanging out with [country duo] Big & Rich," Randolph says by phone from Music City. "We were just writing a song last night."
The "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" rowdies, and sacred-steel messenger Randolph? That's an odd crew.
"Yeah, right," Randolph responds. "I even bought me a pair of cowboy boots!"
Big & Rich join a recognizable cast - Eric Clapton, Daniel Lanois, Rob Thomas, Dave Matthews, and Five For Fighting's John Ondrasik - who already have lent their talents to the record. Still looking to "pick other [musicians'] brains," Randolph is attempting to squeeze in sessions with Lauryn Hill and the Roots.
"It's like playing ball," Randolph says of the collaborative approach. "You don't want to play by yourself all the time. Somebody else might have some new moves to show you."
He says the new material stays true to his group's jammy roots, but with more attention to songwriting detail.
"When you just hone it in, and concentrate on some verses and some choruses and writing along with the music, it becomes this big thing that's like, 'Wow.' You just want to do more of it."
@:
ae.philly.com/entertainment/ui/philly/music.html?id=105871&reviewId=12885
Patrick Berkery
Philadelphia Inquirer
Published: Friday, December 30, 2005
With their 2003 major-label debut, Unclassified, Robert Randolph and the Family Band attracted many types with a blessed union of spirituality and pedal-steel-kissed improvisations.
Some wanted to raise the roof with the North Jersey quartet on a Saturday night and testify Sunday morning. Others were content to raise the roof on Saturday then sleep it off Sunday morning.
That diverse appeal might explain some of the strange, potentially intriguing collaborations slated for the group's untitled third album, due in April.
"I'm down here in Nashville now and I've been hanging out with [country duo] Big & Rich," Randolph says by phone from Music City. "We were just writing a song last night."
The "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" rowdies, and sacred-steel messenger Randolph? That's an odd crew.
"Yeah, right," Randolph responds. "I even bought me a pair of cowboy boots!"
Big & Rich join a recognizable cast - Eric Clapton, Daniel Lanois, Rob Thomas, Dave Matthews, and Five For Fighting's John Ondrasik - who already have lent their talents to the record. Still looking to "pick other [musicians'] brains," Randolph is attempting to squeeze in sessions with Lauryn Hill and the Roots.
"It's like playing ball," Randolph says of the collaborative approach. "You don't want to play by yourself all the time. Somebody else might have some new moves to show you."
He says the new material stays true to his group's jammy roots, but with more attention to songwriting detail.
"When you just hone it in, and concentrate on some verses and some choruses and writing along with the music, it becomes this big thing that's like, 'Wow.' You just want to do more of it."
@:
ae.philly.com/entertainment/ui/philly/music.html?id=105871&reviewId=12885
