Xavier Rudd - "No Woman No Cry"

We’re heading down under for this week’s song-of-the-weekend. Today we’re featuring the earthy sounds of Australian native Xavier Rudd.  The thirty-three year old Rudd has recorded six studio albums and has had a good deal of success in his homeland as well as in North America, particularly in Canada.  Many of Rudd’s songs incorporate socially conscious themes, such as environmentalism and the rights of Aboriginal people. In addition to playing the didgeridoo in many of his songs, he has also included both Australian and Canadian Aboriginal vocals in some of his songs.

How would I describe his musical style?  I’ll defer to the Boston Globe:  “Xavier Rudd… offers a strikingly original mix of music. Some of his sound (and idealism) echoes the surf-folk of Jack Johnson, while his Weissenborn guitar-playing evokes Ben Harper. But mostly, Rudd is on a plateau of his own, playing a one-man blend of guitars, didgeridoos, stomp boxes, djembe drums, and even slide banjo.” 

Today’s song is a cover version of the very popular Bob Marley song “No Woman No Cry” and it comes from Rudd’s second album, the 2004 release ‘Solace.’  I always LOVE new and different arrangements of songs and this one fits that bill but…I think it still maintains the essence of the original at the same time.   ENJOY!

Listen to “No Woman No Cry”

 
From the album ‘Solace’

Click here to view Xavier Rudd tour dates.
Click here to view live video of Xavier Rudd “No Woman No Cry.”