The Roots - Phrenology
Reviewed by
 GaNGsTaZo

Rating: 9/10
Best Song: Pussy Galore

The Roots are one of the few rap groups who are actually a band who makes their own music. They play their own instruments while flowing over the beats. Their style is mostly mellow, but that seems to have changed quite a bit on their newest installment, Phrenology.

It starts off with the intro, which is just introducing the CD. It goes straight into the first track called “Rock You”. The track is amazing, one of the best on the CD. The beat is hot, and the metaphors are good. The Roots lyrically deliver as usual.

“!!!!!” is the next skit, which is just a skit of a punk song really quick. It transitions into “Sacrifice”. The message of the song is basically that you’ll have to sacrifice to get good things. There will always be the disadvantages to good things. The beat sounds great. It’s one of the more mellow beats on the CDs.

“Rolling With Heat” features Talib Kweli, who is amazing. The beat is great, and seems like a good driving beat. Talib Kweli spits like fire, along with the boys from The Roots. They could’ve made the song a little bit longer, but it’s still a good song. It comes with a skit after it called “WAOK (AY) Rollcall” that’s just dedicated to all the great MCs who did it before The Roots.

“Thought @ Work” is the next song, with a rough beat that sounds great. If you’ve heard “Holler If You Hear Me” by 2pac, it’s along those lines. I think they both use the same sample. The flow is nice, but the chorus doesn’t fit the song well. The song is still very enjoyable though.

“The Seed (2.0)” comes next, with a very unique style. I didn’t like it at first, but it grew on me. The chorus has a rock singer in it. The beat is also similar to a rock song, which makes the song unique. It’s not all hard like metal though. It might take some time to grow on you, but it is a decent song.

The next track is “Break You Off”, which features Musiq Soulchild. It’s a great mellow song that fits what it’s about perfectly. It’s about how a girl shouldn’t be with the man that she’d with, but be with the person rapping. Unfortunately, I haven’t learned all of the guys’ of the Roots voices, from the others. The beat sounds great, and this is one of the best songs on the CD. It’s also the first single for the CD, which is a good choice.

“Water” is the next song, which is one of my favorites. The beat sounds cool, and it’s about how rappers need to start being real again. The last half of the track is just an instrumental by the band, and sounds really trippy. The stoners will love it! It does sound very cool though, and some parts are scary.

“Quills” is the next track, which has an ok beat, along with a nice flow. The beat can get repetitive, but it’s nothing too bad. It sounds like one of those songs you could listen to if you were pissed off.

The next song is “Pussy Galore”. I know what you’re thinking when you hear the track title, but it’s the complete opposite. It’s not a song about bragging about getting all these girls, is a song saying that the world is being taken over by all the rappers showing females dancing around. Also that sex is controlling America, and is always on TV. Everywhere they look is nothing but pussy galore.

“Complexity” featuring Jill Scott is next. It’s similar to “Break You Off”. It’s another great love song to fit the style of The Roots that is on their previous albums. The next 7 minutes after this song is the “last” song on the album, but not really. According to the booklet and back, it is. It’s just a long skit, which shouldn’t have been on the album if you ask me. It’s called “Something In The Way Of Things” and is kind of just a waste of space.

Fast forward your way after track 14, until you find the Bonus Track. I don’t know of a title of it, but it’s a great track. The beat is amazing, and the song talks about how the world is corrupt. After the song is finished, there is a DJ solo. You are tuned in to the best DJ on the planet!