What people search:
 | Title : The Word
Author : Word
Release Date : 20010731
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $17.98
Amazon.com Price : $14.92
(17
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Editorial Reviews :
Sweet surrender's always been the subtext of gospel music, but the velvet punch of this superstar jam band will knock out secular audiences as well. The Word features John Medeski of Medeski, Martin and Wood and youngblood trio the North Mississippi Allstars, but its star is Robert Randolph, a 23-year-old from New Jersey who is the new god of pedal-steel guitar. Randolph earned his chops in the Pentecostal church, performing the so-called 'Sacred Steel' music well documented by the Arhoolie label (see Sacred Steel, Vol. 2 for a sample). He plays like an amalgamation of Duane Allman, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, John Coltrane, Buddy Emmons, Bo Diddley, and Mahalia Jackson. In short, he's brilliant, so full of rock & roll energy, improvisational fire, and sonic acrobatics that the other great musicians on this disc mostly stay out of his way. Randolph has a seemingly divine gift for on-the-fly harmony as he splits the difference between Sunday tent meetings and Saturday juke crawls on 'Keep Your Lamp Trimmed & Burning.' In the Allman Brothers-style jams, Randolph plays both Dickey Betts and Duane to Medeski's organ, handling sweet, clean scales and rich, mellow slide slurs. But his vocabulary extends well beyond American-roots music. 'Blood on That Rock' ends in a free-improv meltdown, and elsewhere his snaky lines sound like Middle Eastern holy singing. All of which makes The Word worth heeding.
Buyer Reviews :
The Word, an interesting name for a group whose music is entirely instrumental. When you have such a dynamic mix of musicians the name might not be that important. The Word consists of Robert Randolph (from Sacred Steel) on pedal steel guitar, John Medeski (from Medeski Martin & Wood) on organ/electric piano, Luther Dickinson on guitar, Cody Dickinson on drums and Chris Chew on bass (from The North Mississippi All Stars). Easily, they are five of the most talented and raw musicians around today. Their self-titled debut on Ropeadope/Atlantic is worth the buzz that's been circling them. The ten instrumental covers of traditional gospel compositions are chopped up, chewed real fine and then spit out to give each track a new look and feel. Like most groups, these guys shouldn't be put in one category. The Word is soulful blues, rock & roll, and gospel all in one. The sheer love and joy of their music, their style of playing, and their feelings towards each other comes to life to create an uplifting experience upon listening. Without being greedy, all five members take leadership roles through the album. When you attend their show expect to have sore feet from dancing all night but also rejuvenated, for you will have just experienced a biblical journey like no other.
(by dbcjr)
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