Description
"Livin Free is the most ambitious project to date from New Hampshire reggae-rock outfit Roots of Creation. Appropriately riffing on their home state’s motto, “Live Free or Die,” the release comes as either an impressive 18-track album or an even more impressive three-album set that features the original studio recordings, plus acoustic and dub/remix versions of most of the tracks. Focusing on the songs themselves, the expansive collection offers up an array of both feel-good rhythms and rhymes, and socially conscious messages, with enough variety in the mix that even the extended tracklist doesn’t get too stale. There’s the “good times with friends” ethos of “Different,” contrasted with the darker riffs and subject matter of “Uplift,” with a healthy dose of R-rated love song with “Oh Lord,” and even some not-so-chill vibes with “Punk RoC.” Jerry Garcia Band keyboardist Melvin Seals adds his flavor to “Struggle,” a introspective rumination on striving for success, and, elsewhere on the album, the RoC boys display a more direct connection to the Grateful Dead with their cover of “Row Jimmy,” which translates the Dead sound surprisingly well to the slightly sped-up reggae template." - Relix Magazine
Read more: https://www.relix.com/reviews/detail/roots_of_creation_livin_free#ixzz4rMD1CFi7
On April 22nd, 2016, Roots of Creation will release what frontman Brett Wilson
calls their “biggest project ever.” Livin Free, a nod to the New Hampshire motto, marks
the band’s third studio release, but it’s so much more than an 18-track LP. In addition to
digital and retail CDs of the LP, Livin Free will be available as a 3-disc deluxe
collection with both dub/remix and acoustic versions of 14 of the LP’s tracks in digital
and CD formats. Also, limited edition, hand-numbered (1/500), splatter/colored, double
12” vinyl will be available on May 6th. The iTunes pre-order for the complete digital
deluxe collection will begin on March 18th and include instant downloads of
tracks “Struggle,” “Row Jimmy” (Grateful Dead), and “3x A Lady.”
Livin Free features guest performances by Melvin Seals (Jerry Garcia Band), Marshall
“Ras MG” Goodman (Sublime, Long Beach Dub Allstars), the Rubblebucket horn
section, Billy Kottage (Reel Big Fish), Bill Carbone (Zach Deputy, Max Creek), Grammy-
nominated Pato Banton (Sting, UB40), and Mighty Mystic. Additionally, the album
welcomes guest production by Yeti Beats (G. Love, Slightly Stoopid) on “3x A Lady,” and
Ras MG on “Struggle (Ras MG Remix).” Livin Free was produced by Brett Wilson, co-
produced by Pete Peloquin and Roots of Creation, and executive produced by Omen8
Production and the RoC Pledgers. All songs were engineered and mixed by
Pete “Boardz” Peloquin (Gov’t Mule, OAR), except a handful by Craig “Dubfader”
Welsch (G. Love, John Brown’s Body), Yeti Beats, and Roger Lima (Less Than Jake). The
album was mastered by Grammy-nominated mastering engineer Jay Frigoletto (Alice In
Chains, Black Eyed Peas).
Prior to the LP’s release, a maxi-single/EP of the album’s first single, “Struggle,” will be
released on March 4th. This includes four unique versions of the song, one
featuring Melvin Seals and Marshall “Ras MG” Goodman, another featuring only Melvin
Seals, one remixed by Ras MG, and finally a solo acoustic version by Brett
Wilson. “I never imagined that after listening to Sublime and Long Beach Dub Allstars
religiously in my youth that I would ever be collaborating with Ras MG,” says Brett
Wilson. "He is a true musician. He pushed me to the max and inspired me to keep my
ears open to new sounds and ideas. ‘Struggle’ is the newest song on the album. It’s
inspired by having played a solo acoustic set right before DJs in Manchester, NH, and
how everyone’s life is a struggle.”
Videos
Credits
Roots of Creation
Brett Wilson - Lead Vocals, Guitars
Mike Chadinha - Drums, SPDS Sampler
Tal Pearson - Keyboards, Synth, Melodica
Andrew Riordan - Saxophone, B Vocals
Nick Minicucci - Bass
Billy Kottage - Trombone, Keyboards, B Vocals
Special Guests
Melvin Seals - Organ on Struggle (Ras MG Remix) + Struggle [skankin’ mix]
Marshall “Ras MG” Goodman - Drum programming & percussion on Get Ready (Ras MG Remix) + Struggle [skankin’ mix] and Production on Struggle (Ras MG Remix)
Pato Banton - Vocals on A Time Will Come
Yeti Beats - Drum programming & Production on 3x a Lady (Yeti Beats remix)
Rubblebucket horns (Alex Toth, Kalmia Traver, Adam Dotson) - Horns on Different + Policy
Mighty Mystic - Vocals on Policy
Bill Carbone + Craig “Dubfader” Welsch - Nyabinghi percussion on A Time Will Come
Paul Costley - Percussion on Oh Lord + Rubber Bullets + Searchin’
In memory of Elizabeth Stabler, Susan & Michael Chadinha, & Tommy Malanga
Produced by Brett R. Wilson
Co-produced by Pete Peloquin + Roots of Creation
Executive Producers - Omen8 Productions + all the RoC Pledgers!
All songs engineered and mixed by Pete “Boardz” Peloquin
Except… Oh Lord + Uplift + Policy + Different + I’ll Be There - Mixed by Craig “Dubfader” Welsch
3x a Lady (Yeti Beats Remix) - Mixed by Yeti Beats
Punk RoC - Mixed by Roger Lima
Get Ready (Ras MG remix) - Additional mixing by Marshall “Ras MG” Goodman
Recorded at studio.metronome in Brookline, NH | Assistant Engineering by Aaron Slotnick, Mick Finigan
Additional Recording at 9b studios, Bombshelter Records
Additional Engineering: Pete Caigan, Toft Willingham, Brendan Connors, Cooper Leafe, & RoC
Mastering & Additional Mixing/Editing by Jay Frigoletto | Mastersuite
Team/Contributions: Juliana Wilson, “Papa” Jake Lodish, Nick Sonsini, Jeff Pliskin, Paul Haley
Consulting, Wisdom, & Guidance: JP
Design & Layout: Ryan “Ryebread” Rodrigues | Mammal Designs
Special ‘Thank You’ to all our RoC Pledgers, especially... Chris Burek, Dawn Hiller-Gialelis, Frank Barrus, Chloe Carlton, Nick Clark, John Collins, Paul A. Costley, Peggi-Jeanne Flood, Kris Gentry, Robert Emmett Kelly, Adam Klein, Ryan C. Ledoux, Ruth Schlossberg, and Carol J. Wilson.
Band Contact: rootsofcreation@gmail.com | 603.801.4477 | www.RootsofCreation.com
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