View source for Surface Paradise

{{Short description|2009 studio album by Root!}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Surface Paradise
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Root! (Australian band)|Root!]]
| cover      = RootSurface.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = {{Start date|2009|7|24|df=yes}}
| recorded   = 2008–2009
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Country music|Country]], [[spoken word]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[Comedy music|comedy]]
| length     = 60:50
| label      = [[Shock Records|Shock]], Meek Joe
| producer   = Meek Joe
| prev_title = [[Get Up Yourself]]
| prev_year  = 2008
| next_title =
| next_year  =
}}

{{Album ratings
| rev1      = The Dwarf
| rev1Score = positive<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thedwarf.com.au/nd/albumreviews/surface_paradise_root |title=ROOT! - Surface Paradise (Album) review |access-date=28 July 2009 |archive-date=25 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025095351/http://www.thedwarf.com.au/nd/albumreviews/surface_paradise_root |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

{{Infobox album
| name       = First Root
| type       = demo
| artist     = [[Root! (Australian band)|Root!]]
| cover      =
| alt        =
| released   = {{Start date|2009|7|24|df=yes}}
| recorded   = 2005–2006
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Country music|Country]], [[spoken word]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[Comedy music|comedy]]
| length     = 35:32
| label      = [[Shock Records|Shock]], Meek Joe
| producer   = Meek Joe
| prev_title = [[Get Up Yourself]]
| prev_year  = 2008
| next_title =
| next_year  =
}}
'''''Surface Paradise''''' is the second full-length album by Australian rock band [[Root! (Australian band)|Root!]], released on 24 July 2009. The album follows the previous year's [[Extended Play|EP]] release ''[[Get Up Yourself]]'', of which several references are made to. Continuing the band's more rock-oriented explorations since their debut, the album features several recurring [[Motif (music)|motifs]], both musical and lyrical and can be considered a loose [[concept album]]. The album's concept is that of the fictional, and perhaps metaphorical, 'Surface Paradise', which is most specifically referred to in the album's title tracks. The paradise itself is directly mentioned as a being like a supermarket, yet it is likely to be a non-physical place, where the world's trendy and elite are seen to reside.

The album features extensive [[liner notes]], tying into the album's conceptual themes. Rather than featuring any traditional descriptions of the songs, the notes are exhibited as several pages taken from a book. The book appears to deal with the band's self-titled 'Root' character, as well as the characters 'The Unit' and 'Tyfani'. In addition to the full-length album, early runs of the CD are accompanied by a bonus disc of early Root! demos. This disc, titled ''First Root!'', is accompanied by its own set of liner notes which detail the band's formation and early years.

== Track listing ==
=== ''Surface Paradise'' ===
{{tracklist
| total_length    = 60:50
| extra_column    = Written by
| title1          = Surface Paradise Parts 5, 18, 35, 36, 47 & 92
| extra1          = Root/Root/Root
| length1         = 2:41
| title2          = Surface Paradise Part 13
| extra2          = Root/Root
| length2         = 4:04
| title3          = My Other Bumper Sticker Is Intelligent
| extra3          = Root/Root
| length3         = 3:23
| title4          = (Sort of) [[Emo]]
| extra4          = Root/Root/Root
| length4         = 3:10
| title5          = Thank God You're Here
| extra5          = Root/Root/Root
| length5         = 4:58
| title6          = Famous for Being Famous for Being Famous
| extra6          = Root/Root
| length6         = 3:16
| title7          = Orange People
| extra7          = Root/Root
| length7         = 5:18
| title8          = Joe Blogs
| extra8          = Root/Root/Root
| length8         = 2:24
| title9          = Everybody Loves You (Longtime)
| extra9          = Root/Root/Root
| length9         = 5:53
| title10         = Uncle Vom Vom
| extra10         = Root/Root
| length10        = 3:25
| title11         = [[Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex|Crown Tower]] Blues
| extra11         = Root/Root
| length11        = 2:41
| title12         = I Hang Out with the Guys In [[Jet (band)|Jet]]('s Uncle)
| extra12         = Root/Root
| length12        = 3:33
| title13         = Home?
| extra13         = Root/Root/Root
| length13        = 3:35
| title14         = I Fought the Groove Police
| extra14         = Root/Root
| length14        = 4:15
| title15         = Surface Paradise Parts 25–31
| extra15         = Root/Root
| length15        = 8:20
}}

=== ''First Root!'' ===
{{tracklist
| total_length    = 35:32
| all_writing     = Root/Root
| title1          = School Mum
| length1         = 4:21
| title2          = Johnny in the Wilderness
| length2         = 2:56
| title3          = Rooted
| length3         = 3:52
| title4          = I Met [[Ray Davies]]
| length4         = 3:16
| title5          = I'm a Country Member
| length5         = 4:29
| title6          = I Still Call Australia 'HO'
| length6         = 2:48
| title7          = The Rites of Springy
| length7         = 4:34
| title8          = Bejesus
| length8         = 3:43
| title9          = Three Cheers for the [[Boost Juice]] Lady
| length9         = 2:51
| title10         = Henri Lee
| length10        = 2:50
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{youtube|wLAFy7o7Zvo|"My Other Bumper Sticker is Intelligent" video clip}}

{{Root!}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2009 albums]]
[[Category:Root! albums]]


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