|
The much anticipated follow up to Robert Randolph & The Family Band's Dove award winning debut combines their love for rock, R&B, and Gospel, resulting in a stellar collection of funky, upbeat celebrations and rock-steady songs of encouragement. Colorblind includes "Deliver Me," "Thrill of It," "Thankful N' Thoughtful," and more.
Robert Randolph & The Family Band started as critics’ darlings with its 2002 debut, Live at The Wetlands. Its swampy sound, built around Randolph’s pedal steel guitar, has evolved through its follow-up, Unclassified, into a progressively more accessible mix of bluesy rock and pop as its jam-band live shows earned it the opening slot for Dave Matthews Band, among others.
Matthews and violinist Leroi Moore join the crew here for “Love Is the Only Way,” and, though the collaboration seems a lukewarm one at first, several listens find it improving. Part of Colorblind’s accessibility enhancement is its guest list, including soulstress Leela James and guitar hero Eric Clapton.
The best cuts, though, are all Randolph and family. “Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That” and the single, “Thrill of It All,” are both top-down, rolling-down-the-highway jams. The latter sounds more than a little like dcTalk’s “Mind’s Eye.” Randolph must be quite a fan because “Deliver Me” also sports dcTalk’s influence; and he and Clapton revisit the Doobie Brothers’ “Jesus Is Just Alright,” famously covered on Free at Last. What a kick to hear Eric Clapton singing the “Jesus, He’s my friend” bridge. “Angels” is a pop-meets-neo-soul-with-a-little-simmering-guitar-thrown-in slow burner—a charming, VH1-ready gem. And the Family goes full-on gospel with “Blessed.”
If many of those titles sound rather familiar, they are; you’d struggle to find much originality in the lyrics department. “Thankful N’ Thoughtful” and “Homecoming” quickly grow monotonous, though the former does allow Randolph a lengthy guitar jam. But, on balance, this is an energetic, fun record—perhaps better suited to a summer road trip than for fall. It seems geared to boosting the band’s profile and keeping the accolades rolling in.
BEAU BLACK- CCMMagazine.com
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5 out of 5 stars)
1 of 1 Reviews Showing: 5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by JEFF CLARK (ALEXANDRIA, LA), February 24, 2007 JAMMINNNNNN! A LITTLE REPETITIVE IN BEAT ON VARIOUS SONGS BUT THEY DO KICK! I FIRST HEARD THEM WATCHING AUSTIN CITY LIMITS SO I HAD TO GET ON LINE AND CHECK OUT CD. WHAT CAN I SAY...GREAT! Write a review of Colorblind CD
Availability: Only 4 in stock - order soon! Additional quantities may be backordered.
 A Flash Player is required to view some of the content on this page. Click the "Flash Player" button above to download a Flash Player. |
Start A New Christianbook.com Search
|
Catalog Shopping
Membership
![more information about Unclassified, Compact Disc [CD]](http://g.christianbook.com/g/display/c/cd84722.gif "more information about Unclassified, Compact Disc [CD]")
