Make me like Rooty in 100 words or less

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ok, i know i'm a hair or two behind the curve on this one, but i listened to Rooty when it came out, disliked it and put it away. now in the haze of my newfound Kompakt appreciation (and all things ... erm, what's the word... don't want to say cheesy...), have taken it out again and STILL don't get it. so here you go, convince me.

― Dave M. (rotten03), Saturday, 10 May 2003 05:35 (twenty-two years ago)

you used to be my romeo woaohyaayoh

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 10 May 2003 05:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I still don't think it's anywhere near as great as Remedy though

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 10 May 2003 05:40 (twenty-two years ago)

um romeo is good. um get me off is good. whereismehead is ok. um
the rest is tripe.

dis-apointed.

― gallantseagull, Saturday, 10 May 2003 06:25 (twenty-two years ago)

LIKE IT OR I WILL UNLEASH THE PSYCHO NAZI IMPS ON YOUR LOVED ONES (14 words)

― oops (Oops), Saturday, 10 May 2003 06:29 (twenty-two years ago)

took me about five plays to get into it, didn't get it at all at first, slowly than w/increasing quickness creeped up on me they'd made their own private Sign 'O' the Times, which is good enough for anyone.

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 10 May 2003 06:51 (twenty-two years ago)

come on

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 10 May 2003 07:12 (twenty-two years ago)

great retort!

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 10 May 2003 07:31 (twenty-two years ago)

convince me I'm wrong in two words or less!

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 10 May 2003 07:32 (twenty-two years ago)

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 10 May 2003 07:36 (twenty-two years ago)

done!

― Dave M. (rotten03), Saturday, 10 May 2003 07:37 (twenty-two years ago)

not fucking hardly!

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 10 May 2003 07:38 (twenty-two years ago)

THE REAL ROOTY

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 10 May 2003 07:46 (twenty-two years ago)

romeo - everything (incl. multicoloured waterfountains in video)
breakaway - the talking keyboards
sfm - the drum programming
jus 1 kiss - diffuse pop fuzz ala shakedown's 'at night'. josh said this, which is a much more interesting thing to say:
"...even though the primary beat stays going the entire time here, it doesn't do so in the same way. For the first ten seconds or so there's a muffled beat and some guitar in time with that beat, and other noises that all serve to establish the rhythm. In the twenty seconds after that, the song "proper" starts. "Proper", because it's really all chorus. The only words are "just one kiss / will make it better / just one kiss / and we will be alright / just one kiss / will make it better / just one kiss / and we'll be flying high". The last word is artificially extended into where I suppose the chorus might come in other songs, for almost four measures. At the same time, the bigger bass and kick drum come in. I used to think that the transitions in dance music were too contrived - I didn't see how they could do anything for anyone. Couldn't they see right through them?"

broken dreams - mediterranean folkpop prefiguring 'kiss kiss'
i want u - (i can't really remember how this one goes, but it's also quite good. maybe this is the one with the cute british accents).
get me off - darkest mecha-raunch-house evah
where's your head at - rok munkis make meatl w angle grinder
crazy girl - schizo bleeping noises, otherwise not very good
do your thing - effusive retro futurist swing
all i know - tearjerker

― mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Saturday, 10 May 2003 10:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Just accept that you don't like it. You'll feel better that way. Embrace the power of the anti-canon.

― jel -- (jel), Saturday, 10 May 2003 11:26 (twenty-two years ago)

It's AMAZING how much that South Park kid looks like Michael Moore.

― Andy K (Andy K), Saturday, 10 May 2003 13:34 (twenty-two years ago)

You crazy man, Andy.

I like it because I think it is good. And it is awfully awfully fun.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 10 May 2003 13:38 (twenty-two years ago)

mitch pretty much OTM - 'crazy girl' and 'all i know' are the only tracks that even approach 'filler' (I personally wouldve loved it if 'I Want You' had been a single instead of 'Jus 1 Kiss' but i guess it wouldnt have worked) but as ever there is so much going on sonically that the anorak part of me is still somewhat entertained. i didnt think it was as good as 'Remedy' when it came out but its improved for me over time and while its still a bit of a sideways step (and not a big one either) its definitely more poppy than 'Remedy' and could appeal more in that respect.

― stevem (blueski), Saturday, 10 May 2003 14:07 (twenty-two years ago)

fuck!
he does look well like michael moore

― robin (robin), Saturday, 10 May 2003 14:13 (twenty-two years ago)

house album in not being very good non shocker

― Ronan (Ronan), Saturday, 10 May 2003 14:23 (twenty-two years ago)

but...it is...good...and...its...not...strictly..a house album?

― stevem (blueski), Saturday, 10 May 2003 14:23 (twenty-two years ago)

i was waiting for that. *smacks steve*

― Ronan (Ronan), Saturday, 10 May 2003 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think it's crap, I just don't think it's great, Remedy is much better. I still prefer Yoyo to alot of the bigger hits.

― Ronan (Ronan), Saturday, 10 May 2003 14:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I picked up "Remedy" the other day knowing the 4 singles and "Same Old Show". It really is one of the best albums I've ever heard. It's smooth and flowing, suprising and unpredictable, bouncy and fun, hooky and spiky. It just sounds so easy.

― Nick H, Saturday, 10 May 2003 14:38 (twenty-two years ago)

ronan in preferring boring b jaxx straight up house trax non-shockah

if you don't like rooty you are dumb. (i only like half of it, so maybe "if you dont like at least half of rooty you are dumb.")

― jess (dubplatestyle), Saturday, 10 May 2003 15:23 (twenty-two years ago)

haha I had a feeling you might take a dig

I even fucking prefer Acid Love and stuff to Rooty.

― Ronan (Ronan), Saturday, 10 May 2003 15:31 (twenty-two years ago)

(ha i secretly think the radio edit of "fly life" is still their peak, but don't tell anyone.)

― jess (dubplatestyle), Saturday, 10 May 2003 15:41 (twenty-two years ago)

i'd probably agree jess

― stevem (blueski), Saturday, 10 May 2003 19:30 (twenty-two years ago)

'Rendez-Vu' vs 'Romeo' is a really tough call as well

― stevem (blueski), Saturday, 10 May 2003 19:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Rendez-Vu over Romeo (Deeper and Deeper is my favorite Madonna song); Magnificent Romeo over both

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 10 May 2003 20:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Basement Jaxx - I like nearly everything they've done and I've got lots of respect for them for keeping the albums relatively filler-free and varied, but they've never done anything that really made me jump up and down naked in my back garden either. For me they're in that certain category of worthy yet somewhat boring producers together with Dirty Vegas, Groove Armada and Medicine8.

― Siegbran (eofor), Saturday, 10 May 2003 20:39 (twenty-two years ago)

nah, they got a crassness that raises them above that lot

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 10 May 2003 20:40 (twenty-two years ago)

mitch pretty much OTM - 'crazy girl' and 'all i know' are the only tracks that even approach 'filler'

B-b-but those are two of the best songs on the album (which was easily my favorite of 2001)! I know Tim F. can at least back me up on "All I Know."

― Andy K (Andy K), Saturday, 10 May 2003 20:49 (twenty-two years ago)

'Rooty' second only to 'Since I Left You' in my faves of 2001

'All I Know' is just a nice but 'meh' interlude/outro...'Crazy Girl' has a cool groove but i just feel like the song might as well be over after the first chorus. actually i think its better than 'Jus 1 Kiss' which is too predictable and one of the weakest things they've done

but Basement Jaxx boring?? - they re-invented/re-ingited house music (or at least pop-tinged dance/club music) unlike anyone else in the last 10 years...'Fly Life' was fucking amazing the first time i heard it, in its original 'dub', without vocals without anything but that insane hook. to compare them with Dirty Vegas and Groove Armada is a total insult if you ask me! listen to their earlier stuff at least (Be Free, Undaground, Urban Haze EP, Corrina Joseph's 'Lonely', the remix of Daft Punk's 'Phoenix') - as exciting as house music can ever get quite frankly.

― stevem (blueski), Saturday, 10 May 2003 21:35 (twenty-two years ago)

"Romeo" beats "Rendez-Vu" with a gigantic stick, and I LOVE "Rendez-Vu". "Jump 'N Shout" and "Always Be There" were the outstanding tracks on the first album, anyway (and "Fly Life" only works as a standalone unremixed piece; every mix I've heard of it has been deeply annoying and its use in DJ sets is deeply annoying).

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 10 May 2003 22:00 (twenty-two years ago)

will maybe try and define rooty in 100 words later.
rooty is one ofthe bst albums of 2001
but yes, remedy is a beter album
and jus i kiss is the best song on rooty.

― H (Heruy), Saturday, 10 May 2003 22:04 (twenty-two years ago)

It makes me dance and I do not dance to house music.

― Jordan (Jordan), Saturday, 10 May 2003 23:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree with the general line of thought that has Remedy as a contact high and Rooty as something of a one-to-grow-on. "Rendez-Vu" = immediate satisfaction; "Romeo" = itch one doesn't really want to scratch lest it stop itching (both are great and it's a tie). "Just 1 Kiss" is the most immediate pleasure to be had from the album, with its squelchingly water-wiggler guitar sounds. "Do Your Thing" is probably the most mundane thing on the album, but even still it's a welcome change of tone after the sort of Reznor-meets-Prince middle section. Count me in that minority group that actually really loves "All I Know," a perfectly paced shuffle-groove with sphere-shaped bass balloons. I don't know if that's under 100 words, but I do know that I don't care.

-----
Now, the first album... the first album. I came to it knowing it to be the album that was all over that Spin issue with the best albums of the '90s. (Along with Play, it was the newest album on their list, and I hated Play...) Skeptical I was, and yet, Armand Van Helden (riding high in my estimation due to "Flowerz" and "U Don't Know Me") had nothing but praise for them. Gave it a listen, and it was something like the most successful album I'd ever heard in the advancehype-to-actualworth ratio. "Rendez-Vu" gorgeous. "Yo-Yo" insane. "Jump 'N Shout" demented. "U Can't Stop Me" funky. And it just kept going and going. "Always Be There" was stunningly epic... and it all wrapped up with the blue-moon masterpiece "Being With U."

All things considered, I guess I never understood why everyone assumed Rooty got all the praise Remedy deserved. As I recall, the album couldn't have been more highly praised when it first came out. And, with Astralwerks promoting it, it wasn't like it was some underground white label thing either.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Sunday, 11 May 2003 01:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Remedy got INSANE hype

― James Blount (James Blount), Sunday, 11 May 2003 01:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah. That's what I thought too. (Though the hype was insane because of how insanely good the album was.)

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Sunday, 11 May 2003 01:32 (twenty-two years ago)

not enough 'breakaway' praise on this thread and i'll also put my hand up for 'crazy girl' love.
'jus 1 kiss' is minty fresh + seaside carnival.
i strangely never got into 'get me off' tho
duds: sfm and do your thing.
the other singles are great.
i do like remedy better but i agree with eric that it was plenty praised in its own time. (xpost)

― minna (minna), Sunday, 11 May 2003 01:36 (twenty-two years ago)

not enough 'breakaway' praise on this thread

VERY VERY TRUE. That's the best song on _Rooty_ IMO. It's Prince's "Lemon Crush" filtered through carnival mirror!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 11 May 2003 01:46 (twenty-two years ago)

CRAP!!! I can't believe I forgot to mention "Breakaway," which is easily my favorite from Rooty! (Takes a hook from "Lady Sun," one of Earth, Wind & Fire's greatest unsung greats.) Thanks for the reminder minna.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Sunday, 11 May 2003 01:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Great great great great record. 'Rooty' and Technasia's 'Future Mix' comp didn't leave my presence for the entire summer of 2001.

― Scott Warner (thream), Sunday, 11 May 2003 02:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I love Rooty, but I used to go to the club, and they'd play half the tracks for months before, so for me it has memories of some of the best club nights I've been to. So I am biased - but I still think there are some very amazing tracks on there, with more ideas than most dance producers have in their careers.

― Tom B, Sunday, 11 May 2003 08:52 (twenty-two years ago)

it is very weird how i tend to forget Breakaway as well, one of the best tracks for sure

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 11 May 2003 10:30 (twenty-two years ago)

they re-invented/re-ingited house music (or at least pop-tinged dance/club music) unlike anyone else in the last 10 years

Daft Punk?

― Siegbran (eofor), Sunday, 11 May 2003 10:50 (twenty-two years ago)

stevem kinda made it sound like i was calling "all i know" filler. which it might be, but i still love it dearly.

― mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Sunday, 11 May 2003 10:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Daft Punk?

Schmaft Punk!

seriously tho, they're on the same level all the way - they'd both say so themselves probably, they're all honorary Mongoloids after all

and i do like 'All I Know' too, filler or not.

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 11 May 2003 11:17 (twenty-two years ago)

So... is this where we can talk about their upcoming album?

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Sunday, 11 May 2003 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Too much Do Your Thing hate on this thread! I've heard lots of dance music that samples jazz and sounds inexorably cheesy (St. Germain blech), but it keeps the happy calypso-y spirit of the original and takes it up a notch. You all hate fun.

― Jordan (Jordan), Sunday, 11 May 2003 14:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Get Me Off was good I suppose, the Superchumbo remix also, pretty good, whatever adjectives you use to mean that

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 11 May 2003 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

"All I Know" is brilliant - one of the most gorgeous, wistful, make-me-cry-very-easily songs I can think of. Or to put it another way: what Shanks & Bigfoot should have done after "Sweet Like Chocolate". if you don't love it you are WRONG! (to be said a la Mad Anju)

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Sunday, 11 May 2003 23:46 (twenty-two years ago)

(Why hasn't anyone else noticed that "Sweet Like Chocolate" is wildly overrated?)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 12 May 2003 02:04 (twenty-two years ago)

i actually enjoy the album thoroughly if i skip the first 30 seconds of most tracks - the vocal hooks are really annoying without the grooves behind them. the singles work because they suffer least from this problem. "breakaway" is a big fuck-off monster of a groove, though - reminds me of akufen.

― Dave M. (rotten03), Monday, 12 May 2003 02:19 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

After jawing about this record to one of my friends for yonks I finally played it for him (at his request). He said something like "It's very interesting that people would have such obvious talent for music and production and so much creativity and use it for something so frivolous and silly."

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Saturday, 16 October 2004 17:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Hmm, call me a proper house guy, but I think their singles on the Atlantic Jaxx comp. are the best things they've done. Lost interest after Remedy. I like fun, but I don't find it in them.

― paulhw (paulhw), Saturday, 16 October 2004 21:05 (twenty-one years ago)

what kind of non-frivolous and non-silly stuff is this guy into?

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 16 October 2004 21:21 (twenty-one years ago)

romeo is still one my favourite songs ever

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 16 October 2004 21:32 (twenty-one years ago)

romeo is still one my favourite songs ever

I could care less about house or Basement Jaxx, but I love this song.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Sunday, 17 October 2004 03:14 (twenty-one years ago)

it is wrapped up in many happy memories for me.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Sunday, 17 October 2004 05:34 (twenty-one years ago)

do your thing never fails to make me want to dance

― gem (trisk), Sunday, 17 October 2004 05:58 (twenty-one years ago)

what kind of non-frivolous and non-silly stuff is this guy into?

Whatever P-fork says!

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Sunday, 17 October 2004 16:49 (twenty-one years ago)

three years pass...

holy shit. 'broken dreams' just came on shuffle, and i'm not a big fan, but hell the way the vocals come in is fuuuuuucked up. i can't account for it.

― That one guy that hit it and quit it, Tuesday, 23 October 2007 21:04 (eighteen years ago)

God, I'd forgotten about that fule I quoted upthread.

― roxymuzak, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 01:33 (eighteen years ago)

"Broken Dreams" and "I Want U" are just... brilliant.

I think "Gett Me Off" has supplanted "Breakaway" as my favorite song on the album, though.

― HI DERE, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 01:47 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, "Broken Dreams" is wonderful, no matter how many hundreds of times I listen to it.

― everything, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 01:48 (eighteen years ago)

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