music released by ROOT!

Updated August 11 2009
Two CDs already released and one epic album just landed. Click on the images to order from the merchandise page.

surface paradise

released July 30 2009

ROOT!'s new album. Click here to read the first review.
Another review for your reading pleasure.

Who or what the hell is Root!?? "Is this the new project from the creator of TISM? He's denying it, but..." Elevator Magazine, Sydney

Whoever he "used to be", one thing is certain: DC Root is this country's most original, articulate, angry, funny singer/songwriter/spoken word artist, and the leader of ROOT! He is joined by two former members of Ice Cream Hands, a German-born movie soundtrack composer and a keyboard prodigy who has played with the likes of Eric Burdon and Crowded House. And there's DC's past, which he does not discuss.

ROOT!'s new album is called "Surface Paradise" - an epic, hour-long "song cycle" that weaves a theme of modern life's sinister subtext through a collection of tragicomic stories and characters, and a genre-busting mix of bar-band rock, lush pop, electro, roots and musique concrete. It's the smartest dumb rock 'n roll album you'll hear this year.

And what's he on about? What or where is the "Surface Paradise"? This is no cliched West Side Story "rock opera". DC Root's brilliance is combining the minutiae of the 9 to 5 everyman with a sweeping vision of a world out of control - a dystopian futurepresent of privatized truth, beautiful newsreaders, product-placement, binge-consumerism, marketing violence, and Darwinian fundamentalism. He takes aim with a steely anger, but there's also pathos, and there's humour - and that's what puts DC Root in a class of his own.

The album was mixed by American producer Rob Feaster, who has worked with No Doubt, Johnny Cash and George Harrison to name but a few. Feaster has emphasized the natural live sound of the band, eschewing studio ornamentation and giving the songs a basic, "balls-out" quality. His brief from the band: "no pisstake."

The album is the second from the band in their two-year career, which has seen them grow from the subject of initial curiosity (surrounding DC Root's "alleged" past) into a consistent live attraction with a knack for eliciting superlatives from reviewers. Whatever DC "was", his new project - in industry speak - "has legs".

Despite their trademark cowboy hats, ROOT! have been morphing into a muscular rock band for some time, and now attract a strong following across all the major cities, based on their powerful live reputation and the riveting poetry of DC Root. Surface Paradise finally describes where they are right now.

Welcome to Surface Paradise... It's the smartest dumb rock 'n roll album you'll hear this year.

Track listing - Surface Paradise:

1. Surface Paradise parts 5, 18, 35, 36, 47 & 92
2. Surface Paradise part 13
3. My Other Bumper Sticker is Intelligent
4. (sort of) Emo
5. Thank God You're Here
6. Famous For Being Famous For Being Famous
7. Orange People
8. Joe Blogs
9. Everybody Loves You (Longtime)
10. Uncle Vom Vom
11. Crown Tower Blues
12. I Hang Out With The Guys in Jet('s Uncle)
13. Home?
14. I Fought the Groove Police
15. Surface Paradise parts 25 - 31
16. Billy (bonus track on iTunes version of the album)

Track listing - First Root (bonus disc):

1. School Mum
2. Johnny in the Wilderness
3. Rooted
4. I Met Ray Davies
5. I'm a Country Member
6. I Still Call Australia "Ho!"
7. The Rites of Springy
8. Bejesus
9. Three Cheers for the Boost Juice Lady
10. Henri Lee

get up yourself ep

released August 2008

ROOT!'s 4 track EP release. Review

...we were wrong about Tiffany. She was a MAJOR arsehole.

Pretty, tanned, body like those "who cares about the destination as long as I'm in a bikini" presenters on Getaway. News reporter voice - you know how they're taught that really weird emphasis that makes every fourth word sound like a car slowing down before a speed hump? John Wayne Gacy sense of humour. Education from the Elle McPherson "I don't read books unless I'm in them" school and a soul as cold as the arctic wind sweeping across the tundra...

Meet Tiffany. She's one of the characters you'll meet on Get Up Yourself - the new single from ROOT!

ROOT! is, of course, the new project from "DC" - a man with a past he's not prepared to admit - but arguably Australia's most literate, funny, charismatic front man, backed by a rootsy, funky combo who literally sizzle with musical chops. ROOT! bring you catchy, funny, dark songs of the suburban underbelly in a riveting show that's part rock band, part poetry reading, part performance art.

And Get Up Yourself - a swinging slice of swamp swagger with the strangest yet catchiest tagline - "it's not soul, it's solipsism" - is their first release for 2008, after 2007's critically-acclaimed debut Root Supposed He Was Out Of The Question.

Track listing:

1. Get Up Yourself
2. DC Root's Failure
3. I Wear My Prescription Sunglasses at Night
4. Get Up Yourself Part 2

ROOT! supposed he was out of the question

released December 2007

ROOT!'s 10(+1) track debut release. Review
Track listing:

1. I Wish I Was Tex Perkins
2. Spring Me Out Of Caroline Springs, Caroline
3. Shazza and Michelle
4. Young Man's Blues Blues
5. I Still Call Australia "HO"
6. My Cowboy Hat Is Bigger Than Texas
7. The Ballad of the Poowong Magpies
8. School Mum
9. Pauline Hanson Says There's Christian Muslims Too
10. Back To Mine
11. I'll Get My Kicks When I'm 66 [unlisted]