Artist: Various Artists
Album: Appleseed's 21st Anniversary: Roots and Branches
Label: Appleseed Recordings
Release Date: 10.19.2019
To celebrate its 21st anniversary, Appleseed has enlisted an extraordinary group of artists to highlight the label’s commitment to folk music, new and old, and to a message of awareness. Pete Seeger opens the 57-song commentary as he speaks the words, “Oh sacred world now wounded, we pledge to make you free of war, of hate, of selfish cruelty. In this small corner we plant a tiny seed. May it grow in beauty to shame the face of greed.” Bruce Springsteen responds with a startling, almost eerie rendition of “If I Had a Hammer” to solidify the feeling and momentum of the record.
Throughout the three-CD set, themes of truth, wisdom, and life abound, sometimes in surprising ways. Well-known and barely known artists integrate their voices and talents in song and spoken word. While Tom Morello turns AD/DC’s “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” into a politically charged anthem, other artists emphasize war, poverty, and racism. While Donovan re-introduces “Wild Mountain Thyme” and John Gorka Illuminates “The Water Is Wide,” Anne Hills takes on opioid addiction on “Needle of Death.”
Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt give new life to “Kisses Sweeter than Wine” while Joan Baez and Tom Rush prove that their newer material is still relevant. While this compilation might not be for everybody, there is definitely something for everybody. Whether you prefer the beauty of Judy Collins, the roughness of Tom Morello, the sincerity of Dick Gaughan, or the traditional sounds of Tom Paxton, you will find it here. Tying Roots and Branches together, above all, is the smiling spirit of Pete Seeger, asking us to sing along.
—Gene Knapp
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