hamilton Posted August 28, 2003 Report Share Posted August 28, 2003 SSIA. ------------------------------------------- Incendiary music brew The contents of Unclassified by Robert Randolph and The Family Band (Warner) is music that seethes and surges, an unstoppable avalanche of relentless grooves that will keep you awake all night. There's serious danger, in fact, of experiencing something that's actually new, an addictive brew of gospel, soul and blues that gets your attention early and grips you tight throughout its 11 crack tracks. In the start-up, swaggering shuffle "Going In The Right Direction," Randolph's gritty voice and volatile pedal steel guitar may call to mind Johnny Winter, early Taj Mahal, current Eric Sardinas, but it's soon clear he has his own furrow to plow. Backup comes from John Ginty's beating Hammond B3 organ and piano plus cousins Danyel Morgan (bass guitar and some high-pitch singing) and Marcus Randolph on drums, with an occasional low-profile guest. Four of the 11 pieces, mostly Randolph senior creations, are instrumentals that growl and soar, notably the stormy closer "Run For Your Life." The funky "Nobody" conjures the ghost of Stevie Ray Vaughan, "Good Times (3 Stroke)" just whomps its way into your head, while at the other end of the rage scale "Why Should I Feel Lonely" is as hip as they come. Where has this group been hiding? Randolph seems to have kept his life together, but only just, by his association with the House of God church in a ground-down New Jersey suburb, but now he's kneading gospel and urban black traditions into a welcome, incendiary music that's really exhilarating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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