This cd was great. That's nothing more to say!!!

After all the folk/pop albums we've received over the last several weeks, it was nice to get a batch of more rockin' discs. Blue Root's Holocene Epoch sounds like a mixture of several well known hard rockers that we've all had the pleasure, or guilty pleasure, of enjoying. The disc starts out with "ChaPow", a great song, lots of fun, that sounds like a mixture of 311 and KORN. It's got the grooving funk sound over a nice hard rock tempo and guitar sound. It will definitely get your head rocking back and forth. "Meliorate" comes in next and still has the 311 vibe, but also pulls in a resemblance to Sugar Ray with really nice vocals and a rockin' chorus. Want some melody added to your rockin' experience? You need only wait for the third track, "Blissining" to spin. The disc continues in this mixed vein, with lots of great rock/funk sound, plenty of great guitar and bass, and some nice rhythms to get you up off your feet. Wes Pagano has a very nice voice, which is always a bonus, and is now becoming a mainstay in rock circles. Gone are the days when the guitar sound was enough and a mediocre/bad voice could be ignored. Now we want our rock bands to have singers with pipes. Pagano has 'em. Lyrically, well they're a bit obvious. But generally we're not looking for poetry with this kind of music. It's the sound that matters, like the almost Filter-esque appeal of "Leap Frog". There are some rather disappointing lyrical moments, that cannot be ignored. "Dancin' On Clouds" with it's monotonous and trite refrain:"...1, 2, 3 , 4 I'm Not Here No More... 1, 2, 3 I'm In Ecstacy...", would have been better left on the cutting room floor. The album sort of peters out toward the end, after about the eighth track, as if they decided they were tired or rockin'. The remainder of the tracks are slower, more in the "rock ballad" vein and, while not bad, are fairly uninspiring. This disc was a pleasant surprise, and certainly got my feet moving as I listened. I'd like to see what Blue Root can do on future records, as I think they have plenty of talent, a great vocalist, and a sound understanding of having influences, but making your songs your own.

When I first heard Blue Root, I was pleasantly surprised : not because of the sheer artistry and stage presence of the lead singer, the sheer power of the double guitar attack, the intensity of the bassist and mega beats of the drummer but because I had had the preconceived notion of the Ohio based band Blue Riddim : five white guys from TO playing reggae! No ! Blue Root is for real playing straight ahead rock coming out of that that golden triangle that is Ventura California in the 90s : there is force from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (40s revival) to Incubus to Linkin Park. Blue Root is the latest edition to the genre. Holocene Epoch ( DoughMain Records 00082-2003) contains a track called “Leap Frog” which is truly a sonic adventure. The singer lays out a sublime lyric stating “ you looked me in the eye and you set me free.” and any one in any kind of relationship will relate to the track. The overall album documents the depth of skill and creativity of the band. The last track is the plaintive ” The Flood” with a loping bass, rolling into the guitar that is juxtaposed to the xylophone which makes you question the authenticity of your own feelings about the whole rock genre. Check out “Misplaced” if you question the amount of control a two guitar attack can you give you. The opening track of the album is “ChaPow!”. The singer is stressing benevolence at the point wherein we don’t believe him: again sheer brilliance in how he is able to convey the false pretense of being hit with “ChaPow!” (it destroys your security). This is evident: in all the questions you ask when you already know the answer. The song is a great opener for the album because it demonstrates the versatility of the band. Having seen Blue Root live, I have heard the version of “Dancing in the Clouds” with a 70s style guitar rift. Here, they demonstrate the pure power of the dual guitars and save that style of playing for “Palm Trees and Incense”. Like a great baseball manager who sees and can feel the subtle need for change and instinctively makes a trade, both tracks sound much better having made the trade. “Meliorate” represents a new style of drum and bass and is an interesting contrast because of the heavy guitar and of course as a Blue Root trademark : an intense lyric. We gain more respect for Blue Root’s writing in each track. “Blissining” is the ultimate antiwar song but it too carries forward a Blue Root leitmotif : space as final frontier in our own lives, to wit: “ChaPow!”- firefalling from the sky ; “Meliorate” – lifting of the runway to the glorious sky ; “Blissining” – you and I are on water…in a bliss of stars ; “Leap Frog” – The stars so far you are ; “King to Be” – Star light, star bright ; “Dancing On Clouds” ; “Things Change” – the light fell from the sky. We waited a long time for this album and we knew what time it was when hear the end of “Leap Frog” or is that the beginning of “King to Be” . Beautiful. Keep it working just like this and the fans will be legion. As Blue Root writes: “Wake up to the power of the Sun because what is real has only just begun”. Blue Root is just getting warmed up. Victor Cole CEO Cole Media www.colemedia.net

Everything about this cd is just great. From content to production this cd is a must have.