Xavier Rudd - Food in the Belly

Xavier Rudd has all the qualities that make an artist great: timeless songs with memorable melodies, masterful instrumentation, and infectious energy. His American debut, Food in the Belly, only cements his stance as a force to be reckoned with in contemporary folk music. Marrying the genres of reggae, jazz, and folk-pop, Food in the Belly makes a case for indigenous cultures everywhere, social awareness, and environmental conservation.

Sure, most of Xavier Rudd's American fans have already heard Food in the Belly via iTunes downloads or copies they've acquired from friends. Nonetheless, this Stateside debut from one of Australia's best new(ish) singer/songwriters is a notable entry in the roster of up-and-coming contemporary folk artists.

On Food, Rudd shows his mad skills to his friends in the States; namely his ability to seamlessly, indeed masterfully, command ten instruments at once. At any given moment, Rudd plays an array of percussion instruments, various tones of didgeridoo, acoustic or slide guitar, keys, gongs, and instruments from around the world. But Food in the Belly is hardly a tribute to his freakish one-man-band-ness.

The album is full of truly great songs, utilizing styles that range from reggae to raga to straight-up American-style folk tunes. Some songs sound a little like Jack Johnson with a social conscience, whereas others call to mind legends and Rudd's heroes—artists like Paul Simon and Leo Kottke. With infectious energy and unforgettable hooks, Rudd swoops in.

Whether playing the grumble that starts in his gut and works its way out into the world via didgeridoo, swinging through a groove like "Famine" or "Fortune Teller," or an ode to a woman "Connie's Song," Rudd makes his American debut through honest words, fierce rhythms, and impressive instrumentation.