Whilst his albums have always garnered excellent reviews and well-deserved commercial success, Tyler Bryant has rarely been fully satisfied due to some misunderstandings with his former record label. Determined to afford himself greater artistic freedom, the artist decided to launch his own label. This decision, according to him, will not only allow him to record the songs he really wants to make but also to respect an increasingly loyal audience that he considers intelligent, open-minded and willing to follow him and his artistic endeavours. Not only is Shake the Roots a real rock’n’roll record with a more raw and authentic sound, but a collection of catchy and unifying songs that don’t need to be overly produced to shine. This record is all about the art of inspired song writing.
From the opening boogie rock track, ‘Bare Bones’, to the bluesy closing track, ‘Midnight Oil’ (and let’s not overlook the hard rock contours and slide guitars of the massive ‘Ghostrider’), there’s not a single lapse in Bryant’s judgement. This six-string duo is comprised of Tyler Bryant and his faithful companion, Graham Whitford (yes, yes, the son of Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford), who are both firing on all cylinders here. The two guitarists weave their unique styles together, but always to good effect, creating a perfect balance that proves it’s possible to make a great album without overdoing it or giving in to syrupy sounds and over-polished production. The bare basics are all a record like this needs - Tyler Bryant has known it for a long time. With Shake the Roots, he’s achieved what he’s always had in mind. © Chief Brody/Qobuz