Robert Randolph & The Family Band - We Walk This Road

Ambitious new project We Walk This Road (June 22, Warner Brothers) from virtuoso pedalsteel guitarist Robert Randolph and his funk/blues rock power trio The Family Band brings a whole new insight into the term "roots music." Teamed with Grammy-winning producer T-Bone Burnett (Plant/Krauss' Raising Sand, O Brother soundtrack), Randolph has turned his focus away from the romping roadhouse raveups that has made his band a critical and commercially success on stage and to an exploration into the what he describes as  "a celebration of African-American music over the past one hundred years and its social messages from the last thirty." But while there's a studied, serious approach to the research the album maintains a joyous, even celebratory feel to it.

Amidst the folk blues of "Travelin' Shoes", gospel classic "I Still Belong to Jesus" and scorching blues workout "If I Had My Way" (featuring Ben Harper), Randolph and Burnett also make room for some interesting, more contemporary covers including Prince's "Walk Don't Walk", Bob Dylan's "Shot of Love" and John Lennon's "I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama". "I think the fact that I, as a young guy who likes hip-hop and gospel, am reaching back into this rich history of American roots music will appeal to people who are fifteen, and people who are seventy-five years old. T Bone opened my eyes to great archival music. He's a link between the past and the present." Recommended.

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Robert Randolph & The Family Band - "If I Had My Way" (featuring Ben Harper) (from We Walk This Road)