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Album Review
by SashaS
23-12-2002
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| The Roots speak organic 'Phrenology' |
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The Roots/Common: 'Phrenology’/‘Electric Circus'
(MCA/Universal)
The Roots and Common in the rap’s Big top
The Roots
‘Phrenology’
The Roots’ love for real instruments, human beatboxes and traditional song structures just seem to get deeper to benefit production of ever-better albums. ‘Phrenology’, a successor to their 1999 breakthrough disc ‘Things Fall Apart’, is another example of fusion of soul, funk and rap with wilful and intelligent lyrics to create another distinctive listening workout.
The Philadelphia crew’s new platter is not a guest-fest: it is an aural trip that takes you to the beatulicious dominion of Jill Scott vocals gracing ‘Complexity’ or to the edge of post-rock on ‘Water’, to simply confirm that The Roots are true custodians of Hip-Hop’s true spirit. And we could sing a long list of praises but reckon you’d rather have a drink and get festive!
And, as it is often stated, there is less to say about goodies than… The Roots are an organic alternative to turntable culture and long may be their reign!
8/10
*
Common
‘Electric Circus’
Common had a different take on Hip-Hop, the nu-soul one, but that has been discarded on ‘Electric Circus’ in favour of pursuing an interest in plethora of musical styles that result in somewhat mixed tracks. ‘New Wave’, featuring Stereolab’s babe Laetitia Sadier, is interesting, to put it mildly although it is more like challenging; Common makes his singing debut on ‘Jimi Was A Rock Star’, duetting with Erykah Badu, and it is a touch indulgent activity.
‘I Got A Right Too’, produced by The Neptunes (do these guys ever stop?), a deft dirty-blues, Mary J Blige’s guesting on ‘Come Close’ and the big-band swing of ‘I Am Music’, featuring (again) Jill Scott, are the real gems here. These are the moments of exciting innovation hitting the high notes. WKD man, and make mine a treble!
It can help cure any Crimbo blues in spite of dropping conscious rhymes.
7/10
SashaS
23-12-2002
The Roots’ album ‘Phrenology’ is available now on MCA/Universal
Common’s album ‘Electric Circus’ is available now on the same label
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