Less than 25 years old, Robert Randolph, a black, pedal steel guitar player from New Jersey, is taking the musical world by storm with his new CD, Unclassified, and it is just plain weird. For the past two years, music's elite (Eric Clapton, Nora Jones, Los Lobos, John Medeski and Blind Boys of Alabama to name a few) have clamoured to have him on their records; they are lining up to promote Robert Randolph and make sure you hear what he does.

The pedal steel, widely thought to be exclusive to country music, has become somewhat trendy in recording circles with “Roots Country” being back in vogue. You’ll hear it everywhere from Pam Morgan to Dire Straits. The style of music may vary but the pedal steel in the background is always the familiar melancholy sound associated with country music.

Randolph's sound, though, is not from country music. He grew up the son of a minister within the Keith Dominion of the Pentecostal Church, House Of God Denomination, one of two Dominions (Jewell and Keith) within the House Of God Church that use lap steel and pedal steel guitars in worship services. The music that is now known as "Sacred Steel Guitar" was essentially created in Florida in the mid 1940's, and Willie Eason is widely credited as the father of the style. It became the darling of the folklore world upon its "discovery" a few years back (favourites being Sonny Treadway, Aubrey Ghent and the excellent sampler called Sacred Steel). Arhoolie Records has lead the way in documenting its growth and has produced a series of CD's and videos. The Sacred Steel bands are becoming the new "jam bands" that people religiously (no pun intended) follow around like the Grateful Dead (and as of late Phish and Dave Matthews).

This music is over-the-top, fervently hypnotic, soulful, infectious and just about every other exuberant descriptive word you can think of. It really makes people feel good, and Robert Randolph's Family Band takes it to another level completely on Unclassified. Its mix of drums, bass, pedal steel and Hammond organ core is like taking the stratospheric heights and soulful virtuosity of Jimi Hendrix and adding it to the greasy tight funk of Sly and the Family Stone all for the glory of a Higher Power. Prior to Unclassified, only two such recordings were available: an umbrella project called The Word (a CD of all instrumental praise music on Atlantic Records) with John Medeski of Medeski, Martin and Wood,and Cody and Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi All Stars and Live At The Wetlands, Randolph’s live solo debut which was also mostly instrumental.

The goal of any praise band is to suck you in and the job is done well on this recording, which has 11 original tunes, four of which are instrumentals. This despite the fact that the CD was produced hurriedly to meet a demand for product that had “hit” potential - I. E. a non religious track with a vocal. Randolph rose to the challenge and wrote some infectious songs, which not surprisingly, he sings wonderfully. He shares vocal duties with his cousin Lanesha and Ricky Fowler, both taking lead on the song Shine, plus I must mention the beautiful falsetto singing from bass player Danyel Morgan. The lyrics don't hammer you over the head with preaching as you might expect, though. Basically, its just positive message music; unless you were told it was praise music you might not even notice. Not every song will change your life and these are not the best songs ever but you will be walking around singing "and now I'm go-wing in the right di-rect-shun!!!" or "I need more love every day of my life" to yourself over and over again for days. Trust me. You might think these words are elemental lyrics but with this band they move mountains. I really like the first five songs and all the instrumentals a lot and that’s a pretty good score for sure. This album is pedal steel "set on stun" praise music that is heavier than hell and has a brand new sound. I suggest you give it a try. It will do you good.