Rooty

The name of the album is taken from Basement Jaxx's regular club event called "Rooty", held at a small bar in Brixton. The cover art featured Snowflake, the world's only known albino gorilla.{{cite web |title=This is the original shot of a White gorilla called Copito (Snowflake) which then went on to form the main inspiration for the Rooty album artwork. |url=https://www.facebook.com/BasementJaxx/photos/this-is-the-original-shot-of-a-white-gorilla-called-copito-snowflake-which-then-/10150218294829956/?paipv=0&eav=AfZsB0_ro5-imXXbxyLJxbuu1LxbXiDUCG9wnzxjjb5kz2Nr2fjU4UHgEczevreDEOg&_rdr |website=Basement Jaxx's Official Facebook page |publisher=Basement Jaxx |access-date=27 May 2024 |date=8 August 2012}}

Felix Burton explained the album's concept as "not geared to one specific vibe. Musically, we made it so that it wasn't just for cokeheads who wanted pounding beats all night," a philosophy that gave the duo "musical freedom".

As the title for the album, it was explained by the duo as "raw" and "soulful", as well as "about being happy about things that don't fit in" and "things that are a bit different. That's why the album's got an albino gorilla on the cover."{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4724295/All-right-Jaxx.html|title=All right Jaxx|last=McLean|first=Craig|date=25 June 2001|access-date=9 September 2016|work=Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited}}

During a July 2000 appearance on TRL, Janet Jackson expressed admiration for Basement Jaxx's debut album Remedy, and contacted the duo to collaborate.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAbOdn1plMc|title=Janet Jackson on MTV TRL Pt1 - YouTube|via=YouTube|date=July 2000|access-date=1 May 2014}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}} Basement Jaxx approached Jackson to collaborate on "Get Me Off" for the album, though the singer ultimately declined.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4724295/All-right-Jaxx.html|title=All right Jaxx - Telegraph|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=25 June 2001|access-date=1 May 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://m.inthemix.com.au/features/1978/New_Jaxx_Swing_Basement_Jaxx|title=New Jaxx Swing: Basement Jaxx|work=Inthemix.com.au|date=July 2001|access-date=1 May 2014}} Buxton recalled the collaboration attempt as follows: "She told us she loved our stuff, but she thought we were Zero 7. We wished her every success in hooking up with a British dance duo eventually and said, 'Cheerio, Celine.'"{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/the-pop-idols-pop-idols-2461991|title=The pop idol's pop idols|work=The Scotsman|date=16 November 2003|access-date=14 June 2016}}

The album's first single, ""Romeo"", was released on 4 June 2001, three weeks before Rooty was released on 25 June.{{cite magazine|title=Dance Grooves|last=Smith|first=Gary|magazine=Music & Media|volume=18|issue=21|page=6|date=19 May 2001|quote=Romeo is released on June 4 with the album Rooty to be released June 25.}} Further singles released from the album were "Jus 1 Kiss" on 17 September,{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue603.pdf|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 17th September 2001|publisher=ARIA|page=24|date=17 September 2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue603.pdf|archive-date=20 February 2002|access-date=28 February 2025}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} "Where's Your Head At" on 19 November,{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue612.pdf|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 19 Nov 2001|publisher=ARIA|page=24|date=19 November 2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/Issue612.pdf|archive-date=20 February 2002|access-date=28 February 2025}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} "Get Me Off" on 17 June 2002,{{cite magazine|title=New Releases – For Week Starting 17 June 2002: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=15 June 2002}} and "Do Your Thing" in Australia only on 24 February 2003.{{cite web|url=http://remotecontrolrecords.com.au/releaseDetail.asp?ReleaseID=341|title=Basement Jaxx – Do Your Thing|publisher=Remote Control Records|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050623184424/http://remotecontrolrecords.com.au/releaseDetail.asp?ReleaseID=341|archive-date=23 June 2005|access-date=28 February 2025}} The album was reissued in late 2022, 20 years after it was first released.{{Cite web |last=Pearis |first=Bill |date=May 4, 2022 |title=Basement Jaxx reissuing 'Remedy' and 'Rooty' on colored vinyl |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/basement-jaxx-reissuing-remedy-and-rooty-on-colored-vinyl/}}

{{Album ratings

| MC = 82/100{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/rooty/basement-jaxx |title=Reviews for Rooty by Basement Jaxx |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=12 August 2012}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/rooty-mw0000005043 |title=Rooty – Basement Jaxx |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=10 September 2011 |last=Bush |first=John}}

| rev2 = Blender

| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.blender.com/reviews/review_840.html |title=Basement Jaxx: Rooty |magazine=Blender |issue=1 |date=June–July 2001 |accessdate=17 July 2016 |last=Matos |first=Michaelangelo |page=104 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040815060059/http://www.blender.com/reviews/review_840.html |archivedate=15 August 2004 |url-status=dead}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3score = A−{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2001/06/30/rooty/|title=Rooty|date=29 June 2001|accessdate=8 November 2022|last=Browne|first=David|magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416050509/http://ew.com/article/2001/06/30/rooty/|archivedate=16 April 2017|url-status=live}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2001/jun/22/shopping.artsfeatures13 |title=The real daft punks |work=The Guardian |date=22 June 2001 |access-date=16 March 2016 |last=Costa |first=Maddy}}

| rev5 = NME

| rev5score = 8/10{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-nme-5270-329752|title=Basement Jaxx : Rooty|last=Mulvey|first=John|website=NME |date=23 June 2001}}

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6score = 3.8/10{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/571-rooty/ |title=Basement Jaxx: Rooty |work=Pitchfork |date=18 September 2001 |access-date=17 September 2011 |last=Seymour |first=Malcolm III}}

| rev7 = Q

| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Basement Jaxx: Rooty |magazine=Q |issue=179 |date=August 2001 |page=122}}

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/basementjaxx/albums/album/107481/review/5940694/rooty |title=Basement Jaxx: Rooty |magazine=Rolling Stone |issue=872 |date=11 June 2001 |accessdate=12 August 2012 |last=Blashill |first=Pat |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111193054/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/basementjaxx/albums/album/107481/review/5940694/rooty |archivedate=11 November 2007 |url-status=dead}}

| rev9 = Spin

| rev9score = 8/10{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f4iBwoaNrbcC&pg=PT1 |title=Get Ur Freak On |magazine=Spin |volume=17 |issue=8 |date=August 2001 |accessdate=16 March 2016 |last=Reynolds |first=Simon |authorlink=Simon Reynolds |pages=127–28}}

| rev10 = The Village Voice

| rev10score = A−{{cite news |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv202-02.php |title=Consumer Guide: Throw Your Hands in the Air |work=The Village Voice |date=29 January 2002 |access-date=16 March 2016 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}

}}

Rooty has been well received by critics. John Bush of AllMusic gave it 5 out of 5 stars, calling it "so raw you can't believe they spent over an hour per track, so perfect you're glad they stopped noodling about long before most producers would, and so poppy they should get picked up by commercial radio in America as well as the rest of the world". David Browne of Entertainment Weekly gave it an A− grade and called the album "where heart and feet meet and lovingly coexist". Robert Christgau of Village Voice gave it the same grade, writing "no catchier collection of jingles has come to my attention since Steve Miller made his mint off jet airliners". Billboard said the album "revels in exploiting rhythms that shouldn't work—but definitely do".{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/billboard/reviews/review_displayprint.jsp?vnu_content_id=939588 |title=Basement Jaxx: Rooty |magazine=Billboard |date=7 July 2001 |access-date=12 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010703120012/http://www.billboard.com/billboard/reviews/review_displayprint.jsp?vnu_content_id=939588 |archivedate=3 July 2001 |url-status=dead}} PopMatters{{'}}s Andy Hermann was mixed, calling the album "either a brilliantly innovative record, or an unlistenable mess, depending on your point of view".{{cite web |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/basementjaxx-rooty |title=Basement Jaxx: Rooty |last=Hermann |first=Andy |website=PopMatters |access-date=17 September 2011}}

Pitchfork{{'s}} initial opinion on the album, however, was generally negative. While calling band members Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe "two of the weirdest, most innovative and talented house producers on the scene," reviewer Malcolm Seymour III wrote that "[Basement Jaxx] have taken kitsch too far," noting that the music is "often so tacky that it's impossible to stomach." However, Pitchfork would later name Rooty the 33rd best album of the 2000s.{{cite web |date=1 October 2009 |title=The Top 200 Albums of the 2000s: 50–21 |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7710-the-top-200-albums-of-the-2000s-20-1/?page=9 |access-date=17 September 2023 |website=Pitchfork}}

Q listed Rooty as one of the best 50 albums of 2001.{{cite journal |date=December 2001 |title=The Best 50 Albums of 2001 |journal=Q |pages=60–65}} Kludge ranked it at number three on their list of top 10 albums of 2001.{{cite web|last1=Perez|first1=Arturo|title=Top 10 Albums of 2001|url=http://www.kludgemagazine.com/articles.php?id=88|website=Kludge|access-date=25 November 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040722004951/http://www.kludgemagazine.com/articles.php?id=88|archivedate=22 July 2004 }}

All tracks are written by Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe, except where noted. Songwriting credits adapted from BMI.{{cite web|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/Catalog.aspx?detail=artistid&page=1&fromrow=1&torow=25&keyid=81386&subid=0|title=BMI {{!}} Repertoire Search|website=repertoire.bmi.com|access-date=2019-08-31}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Rooty track listing

| title1 = Romeo

| writer1 =

| length1 = 3:36

| title2 = Breakaway

| writer2 = {{hlist|Buxton|Ratcliffe|Bernard "Beloyd" Taylor}}

| length2 = 3:22

| title3 = S.F.M.

| writer3 =

| length3 = 2:39

| title4 = Kissalude

| writer4 = {{hlist|Buxton|Ratcliffe|Alma Duah}}

| length4 = 0:20

| title5 = Jus 1 Kiss

| writer5 = {{hlist|Buxton|Ratcliffe|Bernard Edwards|Nile Rodgers}}

| length5 = 4:24

| title6 = Broken Dreams

| writer6 = {{hlist|Buxton|Ratcliffe|Digno García|Glen Powell}}

| length6 = 3:07

| title7 = I Want U

| writer7 =

| length7 = 3:26

| title8 = Get Me Off

| writer8 =

| length8 = 4:49

| title9 = Where's Your Head At

| writer9 = {{hlist|Buxton|Ratcliffe|Gary Numan}}

| length9 = 4:43

| title10 = Freakalude

| writer10 = {{hlist|Buxton|Ratcliffe|Derrick Carter}}

| length10 = 0:29

| title11 = Crazy Girl

| writer11 =

| length11 = 3:20

| title12 = Do Your Thing

| writer12 = {{hlist|Buxton|Ratcliffe|Blue Mitchell}}

| length12 = 4:41

| title13 = All I Know

| writer13 =

| length13 = 3:47

| total_length = 42:43

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus disc

| title1 = Romeo

| note1 = Shinichi Osawa Tokyo Garage Mix

| length1 = 5:03

| title2 = Romeo

| note2 = Shinichi Osawa Tokyo Garage Mix Radio Edit

| length2 = 3:50

| total_length = 8:53

}}

Sample credits{{cite AV media notes |title=Rooty |others=Basement Jaxx |publisher=XL Recordings |year=2001 |id=XLCD143 |type=liner notes}}

• "Breakaway" contains samples of "Lady Sun" and "You Are a Winner", both written by Bernard "Beloyd" Taylor and performed by Earth, Wind & Fire.
• "Jus 1 Kiss" contains samples of "You Can't Do It Alone", written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers and performed by Chic.
• "Broken Dreams" contains samples of "Costa Brava", written by Digno García and Glen Powell and performed by Felix de Ypacarai y sus Paraguayos.
• "Where's Your Head At" contains samples of "M.E." and "This Wreckage", both written and performed by Gary Numan.
• "Do Your Thing" contains samples of "Fungi Mama", written by Blue Mitchell and performed by Kenny Barron.

Credits for Rooty adapted from album liner notes.

{{div col|colwidth=40em}}

Basement Jaxx

• Felix Buxton – mixing, production, vocals on "Breakaway", "Jus 1 Kiss", "Crazy Girl" and "All I Know"
• Simon Ratcliffe – mixing, production

Additional musicians

• Derrick Carter – vocals on "Get Me Off"
• Cassie – vocals on "Breakaway" and "S.F.M."
• Cherokee – vocals on "Get Me Off"
• Quentin Collins – trumpet on "Broken Dreams"
• Corryne – backing vocals on "Romeo"
• Crystal – vocals on "Get Me Off"
• Damien – vocals on "Where's Your Head At"
• Jill Draper – vocals on "Breakaway"
• Alma Duah – vocals on "Kissalude"
• Kele Le Roc – vocals on "Romeo"
• Lion – vocals on "S.F.M."
• Mandy – vocals on "I Want U" and "Get Me Off"
• Elliot May – vocals on "Do Your Thing"
• Michael Moog – backing vocals on "Where's Your Head At"
• Erick Morillo – backing vocals on "Where's Your Head At"
• Junior Sanchez – backing vocals on "Where's Your Head At"
• Sha – vocals on "Broken Dreams"

Production

• Mike Marsh – mastering

Design

• Anna Boye – photography
• René Habermacher – airbrushing
• Kidney – illustration, typography
• Mat Maitland – art direction, design
• Gerard Saint – art direction, design

{{div col end}}

{{col-start}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for Rooty}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Australia|award=Gold|certyear=2002|relyear=1998}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Basement Jaxx|title=Rooty|award=Gold|certyear=2001|relyear=2001|id=5621-1685-2|salesamount=286,000|salesref={{cite web|url= https://www.officialcharts.com/galleries/albums-turning-20-years-old-in-2021/?31971 |title= Albums turning 20 years old in 2021|date=29 December 2020|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=22 September 2023}}}}

{{certification Table Entry|title=Rooty|type=album|artist=Basement Jaxx|relyear=2001|region=United States|nocert=true|salesamount=162,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/69572/basement-jaxx-slips-kash-in-pocket|magazine=Billboard|title=Basement Jaxx Slips 'Kash' In Pocket|date=12 August 2003|access-date=22 September 2023}}}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Discogs master|35002}}

{{Basement Jaxx}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2001 albums

Category:Basement Jaxx albums

Category:XL Recordings albums