I’m kinda on the fence about this, to be honest. There’s a lot that I almost like, and a fair bit that I like pretty well, and a fair bit that I just don’t care for. I could see any of those three categories shifting in a number of directions. I think (and hope) that it’ll grow on me, but we’ll see.
There are moments that remind me really strongly of 270: Dispatch (A), which is good because I like Dispatch. There are very occasionally moments that remind me a tiny little bit of 93: Dave Matthews Band (A-→A). Depending on the album, I felt I was picking up some pieces of 284: Collective Soul (A-). Those are all bands I like and have positive feelings toward. They’re all bands that I feel have a specific vibe, that have a signature feeling that am appreciative of—but maybe they’re all actually just a kind of 90s rock vibes, and that’s all I’m really picking up on. I dunno. I like it, though, when I catch those similarities; it’s generally in the moments I enjoy where I feel the resemblances.
The two most recent albums, Stereo Rodeo and The Movement, were easier to like but they were also kinda more lame. But also, I think maybe I liked them more? I don’t know. They felt more basic and boring than the earlier albums, more pop-song-y. I think that for Stereo Rodeo it might’ve hit the line where it was just more listenable without losing too much character, but for The Movement I think it went too far and did lose some character, which is a bummer.
So. Yeah, I don’t really know. I have decent hopes that they’ll grow on me, but I think for now the B- is a decent reflection of how much I liked the music. Not enough to sell me on the band, and with enough stuff I don’t care for that it’s not a B+ or something, but still generally enjoyable enough. It has its moments. The B- fits well enough.
Rusted Root complete, now listening to: Eric Nam
