M usic Notes
Al Tizon
Sacred Steel
bum Colorblind, Dylan’s “Shot of Love” Pentecostal tradition that introduced stands out in Walk. Some may find it the pedal steel guitar for worship. I love It is already unfair that God endowed strange that a Dylan song is even in this the sound of that already, but when I Robert Randolph with extraordinary collection, but let Walk’s history teach discovered that the House of God introtalent, but talent and wisdom and spiri- us: The best of Dylan’s music has roots duced it in the 1930s as an alternative tual sensitivity? That is exactly what was running through my mind as I This album is a history of spiritual subversion in spent time with We Walk This Road, the fourth release of Robert Randolph the black gospel tradition, as told by the best and the Family Band since 2002. Walk is a smart, energetic album, pedal steel guitarist on the planet. engaging both head and heart. It’s a history lesson on black gospel, blues, in traditional black and spirituals. Organized into six sec- gospel, blues, and folk, tions, each of which begins with a mu- so of course there’s a sical segue (a snippet of a song from Dylan song included. the archives that provides background Randolph takes the for Randolph’s 21st-century interpreta- title cut from one of tions), the record makes a case for the Dylan’s lesser-known comeback of the concept album. Rather “born-again albums” of than simply slapping together the latest the 1980s and resur12 to 15 catchy pop songs for iTunes rects it powerfully. It’s sales, Randolph and the band prove my favorite on Walk, that artists still exist who desire to say not only because I like something thematically important. The Bob but also because careful selection, arrangement, and per- Randolph is at his best formance of the songs inspire listeners here. In his hands, the to tap their feet all the way to the li- notes emanating from brary to find out more about Mitchell’s the guitar are crisp and Christian Singers, Blind Willie Johnson, clear, making them and other pioneers of the music we all almost visible as they have come to know and love. swirl and dance around It’s a history lesson, but thanks the room. He puts his to what Randolph can do with a pedal signature on the song while remaining to the pipe organ, which expensively and steel guitar, as well as what producer true to the spirit of the original. I imag- gaudily adorned the churches of white T-Bone Burnett can do with old songs, ine Dylan here being proud and jealous America, I understood more profoundly why it came to be called “sacred steel.” it is the most exhilarating history class at the same time. That’s what this album is about— you’ll ever take. It’s a smart album— Producer T-Bone Burnett, known but not at the expense of high-energy to steer raw talent into intriguingly new a history of spiritual subversion in the rock and roll, which, if you are so prone, directions, does this very thing with Ran- black gospel tradition, as told by the will have you playing air guitar in front dolph. He is able to draw out of Ran- best pedal steel guitarist on the planet. of thousands of imaginary fans in no dolph something authentic from the time. Randolph plays the pedal steel depths of who he is, even while challengwith abandon but not without purpose, ing him to venture out to yet-unexplored Al Tizon is associas if he knows by each riff which of the musical territory. I don’t think anyone ate professor of holislisteners’ emotions he’s toying with. So could have predicted that Walk would tic ministry at Palmer the album is intensely fun, too. have followed Colorblind, a raw if not Theological Seminary I do appreciate the covers of the wild offering that, yes, shows Randolph’s in Wynnewood, Pa., diold songs, such as “Traveling Shoes” wares but not necessarily his person. Unrector of ESA’s Word and “If I Had My Way,” but my favor- der Burnett’s direction, Walk introduces & Deed Network, and ite cut on the album is Randolph’s in- listeners to the inspiration of Randolph’s regular columnist for terpretation of Bob Dylan’s “Shot of passion as it explores the spiritual muLove.” Just as the Doobie Brothers’ sic that he grew up on. Randolph was PRISM Magazine, but he believes that “Jesus Is Just Alright with Me” was the raised in the House of God Church, a without music none of these things high point of Randolph’s previous al- denomination in the African American matter very much.
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