Roots N Roll

Roots N Roll Artist: Bill Culp
Label: Bullseye Canada
Category: Music


Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 805080410523
EAN: 0805080410523
ASIN: B000A9QKIC


Release Date: 2005-08-09

Roots N Roll


Related Categories:

General General
Categories | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop Rock Pop Rock
Categories | Pop | Styles | Music

Tracks:

  1. The Ballad Of John Paul
  2. Riverside
  3. Your Sins Will Always Find You
  4. Lipstick Lies
  5. One Bad Stud
  6. You Can't Keep Looking
  7. She Waits
  8. Two Left Feet
  9. Memphis Connection
  10. Last Hurtin' Song
  11. Full Time Fool
  12. Things Are Better
  13. Marie Marie
  14. Keeping Score

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A Throwback Original.......2006-01-17

My initial inclination after listening to Roots N Roll was to write that Bill Culp was obviously a keen study of the pioneer forms of rock music, but I think that does him a disservice. Given the many and varied "feels" of others and the subtle way they come across on this disc, you get the sense that Culp has created Roots N Roll innately as opposed to making a conscious effort to adopt a form or to pay homage to an influence. The result is a refreshing air of originality.

The presence of others is not overt, and so we have "feels". I get a sense of The Band, early Elvis Costello, The Mavericks, The Stray Cats, and on to The Del-Lords to go a bit more obscure. There's even a hint of Paul James, for those familiar with legendary Toronto-based guitar man. A wide array of references for sure, but there is a common thread of rock 'n roll fundamentalism.

An interesting array of musicians help out. Most notable is Garth Hudson on keyboards. His presence is unmistakeable on Riverside, a touching ballad that has dented the Canadian country charts. You'll check the liner notes but it simply couldn't be anyone else swirling away in the background. Surprises like that are better than finding money in your pocket. Others involved, Jack De Keyzer on guitar and Dave Rave of Teenage Head fame on vocals, would be familiar to followers of the Canadian music scene.

With the exception of Riverside, Roots N Roll is essentially up-tempo and energetic with a few neat curves thrown in - One Bad Stud is a swinging Lieber and Stoller cover, and Two Left Feet, a catchy country duet with Mary De Keyzer. Culp has written eight of the fourteen songs, including Riverside and Two Left Feet.

What really strikes me with each listen is the strength of Culp's vocal performance, particularly in Riverside, Lipstick Lies, and Two Left Feet. There's an appropriate rough edge from someone who, like James, is a veteran bar performer, but it is a crisp and resonant roughness. As Ronnie Hawkins said of Hudson's Band-mate Richard Manuel, "he's got a great throat, man". Hawkins just might say the same about Bill Culp.

Can a CD be a throwback and original at the same time? In the case of Roots N Roll, within the present state of popular music, yes it can. Bill Culp has delivered a praiseworthy package of rock n' roll fundamentalism.

4 out of 5 stars

Music Album:

  1. Mad Dog
  2. The Primos EP ~ Sub-Division
  3. Kagaribi Matilda Blues ~ Koorogi
  4. Wolfwalk ~ Corpulent
  5. Die Fruehen Jahre & Raritaten ~ Adam & Eve
  6. Save His Soul ~ Blues Traveler
  7. Legend
  8. Barock
  9. Amboy Dukes
  10. Beautiful Energy

Music Album

Music Album

Music

Music CD 62

Here Comes Mr. Jordan ~ Steve Jordan

Yacht Club Swing 1938 ~ Fats Waller

Bounce ~ Bon Jovi

Hope for Enlightenment ~ Lama Gyurme

In Concert, Vol. 2: Live in Vancouver ~ Zakir Hussain, Pandit Jasraj, Harprad Chaurasia

Arhnhem Land: Australian Aboriginal Songs ~ Various Artists

Juntos en Armonia

Kianda ~ Tambolele

Spirit of India: Traditional & New Vibes ~ Various Artists