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VA - Rockin' From The Roots Anthology
Hightone Records
Of all the roots rock labels that sprung up in the
late '80's/early '90's thanks to the mini blues boom of the
'80's and the simultaneous rise of country music mavericks like
Dwight Yoakam, Lyle Lovett, Jason and the Scorchers and Dave
Alvin, Hightone Records stands head and shoulders above all of
them. Never afraid to take chances and always too cool to play
it safe, Hightone Records always championed a diverse roster of
artists that included folk singers, rockabilly shouters,
alt.country hooters and down and dirty rockers too fuzzed out
and lo-fi to get a shot on any major label. While the label's
"land of broken toys" approach to its' roster would never work
in the 'big leagues' Hightone always kept its' head above water
by making sure whatever they released was down to earth and true
to life. There are no "image consultants" or music by committee
- when you pick something up on Hightone you know it's going to
be honest, heart-felt music. That fact is epitomized by this new
sampler, a celebration of how Hightone has given music fans some
of the best roots music ever made.
If only the big labels felt the same way about their
product.
On Hightone, there are no popsters trying out the
newest musical fad, no samples, usually no synthesizers, no
pretenses, no glitter makeup or outlandish costumes, no teenage
candy-floss sugar-pop, no boy bands, no rappers, no dance
remixes, no choreographed dance moves, no pretty boys, no Diane
Warren songs, no P-Diddlydoodah (or whatever he calls himself
now), no Pro-Tools (well, maybe a little) and no gettin'-above-your-raisin's.
This shit is real - stuff you hear on the back porch or when
four or five guys plug in at someone's cluttered garage and play
what's in their hearts. That's what you get when you listen to
Hightone and thank God. Would the likes of Warners or Columbia
dedicate themselves to the same kind of high quality as Hightone
the music business might not be going through the upheaval it's
enduring right now. There is no
throw-it-against-the-wall-and-see-if-it-sticks at Hightone.
Every artists is treated as the label's best because the artists
put their best into the music, and that's what it is supposed to
be about.
Artists like Robert Cray, Joe Louis Walker, Buddy
and Julie Miller, Dave Alvin, Bill Kirchen and P.F. Sloan are
represented here, as are a host of others. All artists known for
their dedication to their music, improving their craft and
baring their souls because their audiences demand the truth and
they are only too happy to give it. None of these artists save
Cray have ever sold big numbers as artists. Maybe one or two
(Sloan being the best example) have scored a decent payday by
having a big-name artist cover their songs. Mostly, these
artists are out scuffling, playing as many dates as they can to
support themselves so they can put out the next CD. Big budgets
are not the reason these artists are on Hightone. Rather, the
label is only too happy to let the artist have free rein and be
able to present their art the way they feel it should be
presented.
Being a sampler, by design this 2 CD set should
appeal to anyone and everyone who loves American roots music.
For sure there's a varied amount of it on here. Everything I've
spoken about above and a heaping scoopful more. If you love the
ring of an acoustic guitar or the swelling sound of one that's
plugged into a Fender amp, the throbbing heartbeat pulse of an
electric bass, the sound of someone bashing away on a
old-fashioned drum kit and some piano or maybe a Hammond or two,
you'll love a great portion of the stuff on here. And if you
don't like any of that, there's still some stuff on here you
might like. This compilation is the definition of all-killer
no-filler. Great stuff, pick it up. - Scott Homewood
www.hightonerecords.com
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