Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Robert Randolph & The Family Band - Colorblind


Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Colorblind (Warner)
Released September 2006
By Randy Hill for Bluesbelt Magazine

Robert Randolph is the master of the pedal steel. Just check out one of his live performances and I think you’ll agree. On his new release Colorblind, Randolph goes for a tighter, and a little more heavily produced sound this time around. Listening to this album, I couldn’t help but think that you really have to see this guy play live to fully appreciate the excitement he and his band generate when they play. It's always a challenge to translate an exciting live persona to CD and on Colorblind Randolph gets pretty close.

The much anticipated new album features performances by Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews, and LeRoi Moore. Eric Clapton and Randolph team up on the Doobie Brothers classic, “Jesus Is Just Alright.” The band had the potential to really explore this song in a new way, but instead it’s just, well, alright. Not spectacular.

By the time the band gets to track 10, “Thankful and Thoughtful” the heat is finally turned up and the band starts cooking. If only they would have made it to the stove a little quicker.

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