BEST OF/20TH CENTURY

Rusted Root: John Buynak (whistle, drums); Patrick Norman (bass instrument); Liz Berlin (cymbals); Michael Glabicki, Jenn Wertz, Jim DiSpirito, Jim Donovan . Personnel: John Buynak (vocals, whistling, guitar, mandolin, percussion); Liz Berlin (vocals, guitar, finger cymbals, shaker, percussion); Michael Glabicki, Jenn Wertz (vocals, guitar, percussion); Jim DiSpirito (vocals, soprano saxophone, xylophone, percussion); Patrick Norman (vocals, piano, percussion); Jim Donovan (vocals, drums, percussion); David Daoud Coleman (cello); Jerry Harrison (piano); Pete Sears, Michael Railton (organ); Raul Rekow (congas); Karl Perazzo (cowbells, timbales). Audio Mixers: Bill Bottrell; Dave Brown ; Karl Derfler; Tom Lord-Alge. Liner Note Author: Martin Huxley. Recording information: Mr. Small's Funhouse, Pittsburgh, PA; Red Cloud Studiod, Pittsburgh, PA; Skywalker Sound; The Plant Recording Studios; Toad Hall Studio, Pasadena, CA; William's Place Studio, Caspar, CA. Photographers: Dana Tynan; Danny Clinch. Arranger: Rusted Root. Pittsburgh-based sextet Rusted Root may be the first group from the early-'90s jam band scene to receive the priced-to-move 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection treatment, but it doesn't mean that their heady blend of worldbeat, roots rock, and folk warrants it. While the undeniably catchy "Send Me On My Way" may have won them some mainstream success and secured the band opening slots for the Dave Matthews Band, the Grateful Dead, and Jimmy Page & Robert Plant, they never truly caught fire. For the most part, The Millennium Collection just skims the surface -- there's only one song from 1996's excellent, Jerry Harrison-produced Remember -- and the producers felt compelled to include the group's flaccid remake of Santana's "Evil Ways," but there are enough "hits" ("Ecstasy," "Cruel Sun," and "Welcome to My Party") to satisfy the casual listener. The similar -- yet far more interesting -- Poi Dog Pondering deserve as much. ~ James Christopher Monger