| CD REVIEW Roosbeef |
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Band : Roosbeef This Dutch Pop band from the village known as Duiven (translates as “pigeons”...ain't that funny?) centered around 21 year-old (born February 1988) singer-songwriter, keyboardist and founder Roos Rebergen (with guitarist/ mouth harmonica player Reinier van den Haak and drummer Tim van Oosten as core part of the band since the beginning days) won the coveted Grote Prijs Van Nederland in 2005, which facilitated the release of the band's debut single De Bouwvakkers in the following year. 2006 also saw the release of the band's debut EP Roosbeef, and in 2007 they recorded the Presley song “Are You Lonely Tonight” for the re-issue of the book Elvis In Nederland. Eventually, the band's debut album with the weirdly long title Ze Willen Wel Je hond Aaien Maar Niet Met Je Praten (translates as “they wanna stroke your dog but not talk to you”, and was thematically focused on changes) was released on December 15, 2008 to moderately positive results (the album would stay in the Dutch charts for 28 weeks, with a top position at #16). On January 2, 2009, Omroep Gelderland aired the television premiere of the documentary Roos Reebergen – Weet Ik Niet Zo Goed, which won the Filmprijs Van De Stad Utrecht at the 2009 29ste Nederlands Film Festival's opening night. That same year Roosberg won De Eerste Prijs, and Roos recorded the album De Speeldoos (containing 6 songs written by mentally handicapped people)with Torre Florim (De Staat). The December 2009 release was followed by two live performances. 2010's Compilation album Te Gek!? 4 included the Roosbeef song “In Het Bos”, which would also make it to the band's sophomore album. (P.S. : info taken/ translated/ rewritten from the band's Wikipedia page, with added details from the band's own website (www.) roosbeef.nl) The new album was co-produced with Tom Pintens (now also bassist and backing singer of the band and part of the band's Belgian contingency, alongside additional keyboardist/ additional guitarist/ backing singer Wannes Capelle) and is thematically different from the debut album (ah yeah...all lyrics are still in the Dutch language!). The young Roos has góne through her “changes”, and can therefor now talk about life, longings, and love. Roos has also grown as a songwriter artist, and wrote the album's material with the whole band in thought, with each member's individual creativity in mind, even though all songs were composed on the keyboard. What attracts the listener's attention first when listening to this album, is Roos girlie-innocent vocal style and lyrics, but the catchy tunes with their simple underlaying complexity make the listening experience complete...as you will be able to make out for yourselves when listening to the 30-second samples of the tracks posted at the trusted online sales sites (I'm afraid I was unable to find a MySpace page on this band for possible full-length songs). Nice stuff, this Roosbeef! 93/100 Tony. |