By By Mike Fordham
The first Australian jam band import this year was the John Butler Trio. The second offering to the jam scene from “the Land Down Under” is Xavier Rudd. Along with a stint on the String Cheese Incident’s 2005 summer tour, Rudd is making strides in the United States, courtesy of his album Solace.
Rudd mixes together folk, funk and world music into an earthy outing (his dual Australian and Canadian citizenships might influence his worldly vibes).
This is Rudd’s sophomore album, which is surprising because Solace feels much more like a debut. Rudd possesses a muted yet precocious musical sensibility. When combined with his Paul Simon-like vocals, this adds up to a soft opening statement-but one with an understated fire. Listen to bluesy burner “A 4th World,” which details the sad situation of Australia’s Aborigine people or the stompbox-led groove of “GBA.” Both show the passion and drive Rudd is capable of.
Such intensity, though, is rare on Solace. Many of the tracks, despite Rudd’s multi-instrument wizardry (Rudd plays didgeridoos, lap steel guitars, harmonica and djembes), feature just Rudd and an acoustic guitar. His take on the Bob Marley classic “No Woman No Cry” isn’t a rote version, but surely Rudd could conjure up something more unique. Songs like “Partners Hip,” “Chances” and the title track, would benefit from additional instruments. What’s frustrating is Rudd does experiment on Solace and those fleeting instances are some of the better ones. The acoustic folk of “Let Me Be” is beautifully accented with harmonicas and djembes, and “Silence” brings to mind Ben Harper, as does Rudd’s lap steel talent on “Shelter.”
Xavier Rudd has the tools to be successful here. If Rudd can focus on his emotions, he may have to get a third citizenship in the United States. Solace is a step towards that.

The Chronicle gives “Solace” by Xavier Rudd three out of five stars