Rating:
Genre:
Folk
Release Date: 10/16/2001
The successes of the breakthrough soundtrack from the film
O Brother Where Art Thou? and the in-depth
PBS television series
Ken Burns' Jazz seem to have combined in the 2001 production of
Palm Pictures' four-part TV series
American Roots Music. The series touches on the development of the distinctly American styles of
traditional folk,
country,
blues,
gospel,
Western swing,
bluegrass,
Cajun,
zydeco,
Tejano, and
Native American music. Corresponding with the television event,
Palm has released a 19-song CD sampler offering prime examples of the styles covered during the show.
American Roots Music has pulled together an impressive list of performers, this time including
the Carter Family,
Jimmie Rodgers,
Bill Monroe,
B.B. King,
Hank Williams,
Robert Johnson,
Son House,
Woody Guthrie,
Leadbelly,
Mahalia Jackson,
Flaco Jimenez, and
Bob Dylan. Viewers who have seen the series as a newfound education into these time-honored styles will be overjoyed at this sampler, featuring a perfect introduction to
American roots music. As good as the sampler is, the four-CD box set soundtrack (with accompanying 48-page booklet) is almost too good to pass up. While some of the box set's tracks are a little rougher, they also go more in-depth, digging deeper into each of the styles covered on the highlights disc. Those who have seen and enjoyed the series would be advised to invest in the box set, while those curious about exploring these genres could comfortably start with the highlights disc. [Also available from
Palm is a video collection containing the entire television series on DVD and VHS.]
~Zac Johnson, All Music Guide
;)
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