| Essentials:
 Rusted
Root's second major label release begins the move from the
open jam-band nature that was featured on When I Woke
and started focusing more on structure & song writing.
As a whole, this is the band's most complete album and by
far our favorite. Remember marked the first CD minus
original member Jenn Wertz, whom left the band to pursue
her solo career. Liz Berlin stepped up her game and steals
this CD with her killer background vocals on "Sister
Contine."
Standout Tracks: "Remember," "Heaven,"
"Sister Contine," "Bullets in the Fire,"
"River in a Cage," and "Circle of Rememberance"
  |
Welcome to My Party (2002) |
 The
band broke up and went on their separate ways and singer
Michael Glabicki went about writing his solo debut. Funny
thing was the songs he was writing fit more with Rusted
Root. So he brought the band back in and brought Jenn Wertz
back to the fold. Welcome features the tightest songs
of Rusted Root's career. Some have said that his is the
band's attempt to move more mainstream, we think it is one
of their best. From Wertz's vocals on "Blue Diamonds"
& "Weave" to the "Drum Trip"-esque
"People of My Village", Welcome is the
first CD to show all the sides of Rusted Root equally and
at their best.
Standout Tracks: "Welcome To My Party," "Blue
Diamonds," "Weave," "Artificial Winter,"
"Too Much," and "People Of My Village"
Great:
 The
disc that brought the band to the mainstream and by far
it's most popular. When I Woke is by far the most
upbeat and explodes out of the gate with the help of "Send
Me On My Way," and "Ecstasy" and doesn't
let up much after that. When I Woke also features
some of Glabicki's most earthy and beautiful writing in
"Beautiful People," "Cruel Sun" &
"Back To The Earth." When I Woke has produced
many of the concert staples for a Rusted Root concert.
Standout Tracks: "Ecstasy," "Send
Me On My Way," "Beautiful People," "Martyr,"
"Food & Creative Love," and "Back To
The Earth"
Good:
 The
first Rusted Root disc that serves as the backbone and basis
for all the other discs as many of the songs on this CD
will return on later discs. Cruel Sun features more
chanting, heavier drums, simpler arrangements, and more
of a tribal sound. All songs that were redone sound better
later except for "Cat Turned Blue," which featured
the live staple include of Bob Dylan's class "All Along
The Watchtower."
Standout Tracks: "Tree,"
"Won't Be Long," "Cat Turned Blue,"
and "Where She Runs"
 Where
as some fans saw Remember as the birth of a new band,
many claim that the self titled Rusted Root was the
death of the band and almost was, culminating in a killer
cover of the Rolling Stones classic, "You Can't Always
Get What You Want" – in this case, Root continuing
on as a band. While this almost came true, Rusted Root
seems to be the work of a band trying to go out with a bang,
and featuring all their styles in one place. What came forth
as an uneven at times performance with more filler than
killer. Liz Berlin continued her turn in the spotlight with
her lead vocals on "Moon" while the rhythm section
continued to shine on "Agbadza."
Standout Tracks: "Magenta Radio," "She Roll
Me Up," "Moon," and "You Can't Always
Get What You Want"
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