One by One (Agents of Good Roots album)
{{Infobox album
| name = One by One
| type = studio
| artist = Agents of Good Roots
| cover = Agents of Good Roots - One by One.jpg
| alt = A gold foil tree debossed on a black background with foil spelling out the artist and album name
| released = 1998
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio = A&M (Hollywood)
| length =
| label = RCA
| producer = Paul Fox
| prev_title = Straight Around
| prev_year = 1997
| next_title = Needle and Thread
| next_year = 2000
}}
One by One is an album by the American band Agents of Good Roots, released in 1998.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/agents-of-good-roots-mn0000504844/biography|title=Agents of Good Roots Biography, Songs, & Albums|website=AllMusic}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0d7ach9LFKUC&pg=PA17|title="Jam Bands": North America's Hottest Live Groups, Plus How to Tape and Trade Their Shows|first=Dean|last=Budnick|date=January 1, 1998|publisher=ECW Press}} It was the band's first album for a major label.{{cite news |last1=McDonald |first1=Sam |title=Unique 'Good Roots' Sound Getting National Attention |work=Daily Press |date=3 Apr 1998 |page=D4}}
The album's first single was "Smiling Up the Frown".{{cite magazine |last1=Reece |first1=Doug |title=Making the Best of It |magazine=Billboard |date=Feb 14, 1998 |volume=110 |issue=7 |page=16}} "Come On" peaked at No. 37 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_pbECYPYlZcC&pg=PA16|title=Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008|first=Joel|last=Whitburn|date=January 1, 2008|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation}} One by One sold around 30,000 copies.{{Cite news|url=https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/part-3/Content?oid=1388840|title=Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle|first=Carrie|last=Nieman|work=Style Weekly}} The band supported it by touring with the Dave Matthews Band, and by playing the 1998 H.O.R.D.E. Festival.{{cite news |last1=Ferguson |first1=Jon |title=This is not Dave Matthews Band |work=Intelligencer Journal |date=24 July 1998 |department=Happenings |page=2}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/23/arts/the-pop-life-horde-festival-offers-a-surprise.html|title=The Pop Life: Horde Festival Offers a Surprise|first=Neil|last=Strauss|date=April 23, 1998|work=The New York Times}}
Production
The album was produced by Paul Fox.{{cite magazine |last1=Flick |first1=Larry |title=Agents of Good Roots: Smiling Up the frown |magazine=Billboard |date=Feb 7, 1998 |volume=110 |issue=6 |page=76}} It was recorded at A&M Studios, in Los Angeles; the band brought in outside musicians to help flesh out its sound.{{cite magazine |title=Agents Invade A&M |magazine=Billboard |date=Jan 17, 1998 |volume=110 |issue=3 |page=43}}{{cite news |last1=McGarrigle |first1=Dale |title=Many miles have helped Agents hone musical style |work=Bangor Daily News |date=12 Nov 1998 |page=1}}
The raspy quality of singer Andrew Winn's voice was the result of a skiing accident that crushed his larynx.{{cite news |last1=Benedetti |first1=Winda |title=Agents of Good Roots Singer Owes Voice to Skiing Accident |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=19 June 1998 |department=Weekend |page=2}}
Critical reception
{{album ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/one-by-one-mw0000596956|title=One by One|website=AllMusic}}
|rev4 = The Indianapolis Star
|rev4score = {{rating|4|4}}{{cite news |last1=Slosarek |first1=Steve |title=Agents of Good Roots 'One by One' |work=The Indianapolis Star |date=19 Apr 1998 |page=I10}}
|rev5 = MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide
|rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite book |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |date=1999 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |page=14}}
}}
The Washington Post thought that "sauntering pop-funk tracks like 'Upspin' don't sound like pale pretenders, while the neopsychedelic rock of 'Come On' is more gutsy than trippy."{{cite news |title=Agents of Good Roots 'One by One' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1998/04/17/agents-of-good-roots-one-by-one-rca/8b6807ba-6356-4655-b58d-f5e329b5f551/ |work=The Washington Post |access-date=1 January 2022}} The Gazette opined that, "like fellow Virginians and neo-hippies the Dave Matthews Band, Agents of Good Roots put a raspy voice to an intricate rock/jazz backdrop, but their debut album, One by One, is peppier and rougher than the music of their statemates."{{cite news |last1=Simon |first1=Jeremy |title=Sound Advice |work=The Gazette |date=6 Apr 1998 |department=News |page=12}}
The Telegram & Gazette determined that, "despite stylistic twists and turns, Agents of Good Roots offers consistently solid songwriting."{{cite news |last1=McLennan |first1=Scott |title='One by One' band hits road |work=Telegram & Gazette |date=9 Apr 1998 |page=C6}} The Indianapolis Star concluded that the "mix of modern rock, punk, pop, soul, jazz and country is almost mind-boggling." The Philadelphia Inquirer stated that the band "trades in numbingly ordinary, undisciplined noodling."{{cite news |last1=Moon |first1=Tom |title=Dave Matthews Band's Latest Work Sends the Copycats Scurrying |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=26 Apr 1998 |page=F1}}
AllMusic wrote that Agents of Good Roots "can write sturdy hooks, and there's an appealing party groove to the album that makes it a winning major-label debut." The Windsor Star listed One by One as the fourth best album of 1998, writing that it "combines the pop smarts of an R.E.M. with the adventurous spirit of a Steely Dan or Traffic."{{cite news |last1=Shaw |first1=Ted |title=Top 10 CDs of 1998 |work=Windsor Star |date=31 Dec 1998 |page=E6}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| title1 = Come On
| length1 =
| title2 = Two Buck in Cash
| length2 =
| title3 = Miss America
| length3 =
| title4 = Upspin
| length4 =
| title5 = Miss Misbelieving
| length5 =
| title6 = Shortchange
| length6 =
| title7 = Smiling Up the Frown
| length7 =
| title8 = Time Bomb
| length8 =
| title9 = Hoping, Waiting, Longing
| length9 =
| title10 = Hobby
| length10 =
| title11 = Where'd You Get That Vibe?
| length11 =
| title12 = I'll Be Back
| length12 =
}}
References
{{reflist}}