Roosevelt Dime "Crooked Roots" (Independent, 2009)

21st century Americana

Sporting an unconventional core line-up of banjo, electric bass and drums that wanders down the line marked both traditional and modern come this Brooklyn-ite trio. With the welcome inclusion of horns, slide guitar, rich harmonies and an ear for a classic Band-alike groove and melody throughout this debut, Roosevelt Dime sound like they’re from somewhere far more open, lush, green and mountainous than downtown Brooklyn.

The rootsy acoustic arrangements and instrument choices give an authentic spacious sound, but added to that is a definite alt-country/indie sensibility. Hinted at on the soft smoulder and self-regarding, humorous angst of ‘Rants & Raves’, and rather hammered home on a superfluous, if curious, countrified romp through Radiohead’s ‘High & Dry’.

Their own songs are strong on melody and good humour, and delivered with a diversity and skill perhaps best displayed on the fantastically buoyant title-track that suddenly shifts up and down gears from a country soul swagger The Band would be perfectly content with, before swaying into a 70s-Kinks style showtime chorus.

Quietly unconventional but utilising the reassuringly familiar, they seem completely at home mixing these styles up naturally and coming out the other end with something that’s quite their own.

Date review added:  Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Reviewer:  Ian Fildes
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  Roosevelt Dime Website