Agents of Good Roots / One by One by Daniel Goldsmith RCA Records I have been partial to Agents of Good Roots ever since my first show, four years ago at Trax. I stumbled down Main Street with high hopes, only to witness Agents play for a crowd of no more than 20 intoxicated groupies. Times have changed and so has the band who just signed a deal with RCA, released a new album, and most recently, played Thursday night to a packed Trax crowd. Being a fan for so long, I like to think that I have a special relationship with Agents. And like all relationships, ours has had its ups and downs. The most notable down was after a show when frontman, Andrew Winn, told my girlfriend that he had "seen her once in a dream," called her "sugar," and kissed her on the cheek (a move I have been practicing in the mirror ever since). What is important, however, is that we worked through our issues. So it was without ill will that I went to buy the new album, One by One. I had my expectations for the new album: a quality album sticking with tradition, or a move to "sell out" before they go national on their tour. The result is an album that is in many ways a combination of both. One by One is a solid album, departing from the acoustic sound of their last album, Where'd You Get that Vibe, in favor of a louder electric sound. Gone are the vocal harmonies and melodic solos, replaced by electronically effected voices and loud, thick drums. Much of the album is a rehash of songs that could have been heard at shows for the last several years; a few of the albums new and most markedly different songs, "Come On" and "Time Bomb," definitely represent a shift in style and direction. With an obvious attempt to break through into the ranks of the alternative charts, some of the tracks have shifted to a more radio-friendly sound. Perhaps the most symbolic example of this is the Björk sample from, found on "Time Bomb." Despite its unorthodox nature, however, One By One is still a very good album by a very talented, and for the most part, original band. The album is full of feel-good songs, which have uncharacteristic substance. The opening triad of "Come On," "Two Bucks In Cash," and "Miss America" are loud, packed with energy, and generally just groove. Drummer Brian Jones combines complex yet accessible rhythms with a mixture of smooth, screaming, and adrenaline-producing vocals. Saxophonist J.C. Kuhl and guitarist Andrew Winn play off each other, occasionally combining the sounds of their instruments into a single part. This is unique in that it gives the band a different sound from traditional two guitar bands, and even from most saxophone bands. The album, despite a few minor weaknesses, is a very listenable, solid album. On One by One, Agents accomplish what they failed to do on their other studio album, which is capture the feel of their live show. Despite even this success, Agents has always been better live. The band has uncommon control over the crowd and the emotion of the show. They combine all out jamming with slow songs giving the show a very exciting roller coaster feel. Andrew Winn (who has been rumored to get plastered before shows) has a dynamic stage presence that combines jumping, kicking, making faces, and staring off blankly into the crowd. I have heard it said that these antics, especially the staring, can cause people to become paranoid and delusional, and even occasionally launch people into flash-backs. Agents of Good Roots seemed to be destined to receive the "next big thing out of Charlottesville" designation. It appears that the band has outgrown our relationship, and so I ignore my feelings of loss and hurt, knowing it is the best for everyone. Yet it is not without a tear in my eye that I wish Agents good luck on national success, knowing the days of small, intimate, five dollar shows to which I have grown so accustomed, will be gone.

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