Customer Reviews

Phrenology

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Here's the deal... I lament for the good ol' days just as much as the next man. Some times I'll pass by some kids who'll be bumpin some of the recent [garbage] and it saddens me to think that they don't know what they've missed. But I also know that a good deal of the problem is actually me. We can't replace the times that were - be it the sights, sounds, tastes or loves and that's not only a fact but it's a good thing. Something living on in memory is part of human experience and you can't convince me that our lives wouldn't be a little diminished if what was was for all time (if you can follow that). There's no way I could enjoy this album as much as "Do You Want More?" and I'm glad for it. But the fact of the matter is, this is a high quality set. There isn't any unlistenable music here. Yes... the shout out track and the noise at the end of Water are worth little more than the light aerobic exercise you'll get moving for the 'skip forward' button. And yes... I too was put off a bit by the relentless r&b vibe of Break You Off (though I've come to enjoy the song on it's on merits). Yes, the...er, 'cat' word is said a few too many times on track 11 (though isn't that kind of the point). And yes, any child could come up with a better refrain than shouting "We will rock you!" Nonetheless, all that "The Roots have changed and I don't like it" jazz needs to stop. I too have noticed that there's been a great decrease in the number of MCs that appear but the argument (made a couple here) that Black Thought can not carry the lyrical side of things by himself is baseless and perplexing. I've long thought that the man was underrated but after giving this a couple of twirls I've come to the conclusion that he's just one of the greatest to ever hold a mic. It is his verbal dexterity that makes the... shall we say... more poppy numbers like Break You Off, Sacrafice, Complexity more than bearable for fans of the pure element. Despite my disdain for Nelly Furtado, Sacrafice is a very solid joint especially due to the lead in, though it's chorus has a tedious old negro spiritual thing going on. The album is pretty much listenable straight through from track 6 to the end despite the inevitable bypass of the end of Water (I've given it a couple of listens out of respect for the artist - trust me, it's not worth it). For me Water and Complexity are standouts (along with The Seed though it has too little rap, too much for my taste), the former being the best reminder of The Roots older stuff. Something in the The way of Things is definately the best poem reading to close out a roots lp (again - my opinion). The bonus tracks really aren't too bad either though, I've still barely listened to Something to See. If you love the past more than music, good for you... at least you've got something but this is definately a gem amongst recent albums of any genre.

This is in my opinion the best Roots album I own, and I have all of them except the live cd (by the way, you got to see these guys live- seeing ?uestlove on the drums is amazing). Each of their other albums gets 4/5 stars from me. I love good hip hop (Roots, Blackalicious, Common, GangStarr, Mos Def, Jurassic 5 etc) but I am almost always disappointed with the albums. They are either repetitive, use intro/outro/midtros that ruin the flow of the album or are cool for one listen, or they are not solid throughout. This album has none of those traits, and that is why I give it 5 stars. They do use an intro and a midtro, but it flows with the album. They mix up the songs and the beats like on all their albums, and do not get repetitive (be warned: in order to not get repetitive they include some rock songs and even a head banging song). And every song is at least 4/5 in my book. I highly recommend this album to anyone who enjoys hip hop, and to anyone who enjoys good music. These guys are really impressive; get all their albums to see what I am talking about.
If you like this try Common "Like Water For Chocolate" Mr. Lif "Emergency Rations" Mos Def/Talib Kweli "Black Star"& Blackalicious "Blazing Arrow" (which is the other 5 star album I own).

Ironically, my first introduction to the Roots was from their concert cameo of The Seed w/Cody Chestnutt in some atrocious Mandy Moore movie. Thankfully, it opened me up to the world of The Roots. I immediately bought Phrenology, in hopes of finding more of the Neo-soul/rock combo of The Seed. The singular song was a promo for Chesnutt, whose album I also raced out to buy (which turned out to be a stinker). Fortunately, The Roots' unique style, universally agreed as raw & organic, is nothing like the droning trash spewed out by hiphop stations. At this point, I cannot contribute much opinion in the way of a real rap aficionado but I can say that The Roots have converted me into a devout fan and I have been listening to all of their albums everyday for the past month. The intelligent lyrics and unforgettable melody have a musicality that is achieved only by real musicians. Phrenology is the ultimate fruits of this labor. Subsequently, I bought their other albums: The Tipping Point, Things Fall Apart, and Come Alive and I would say that Phrenology is the most cohesive of all of them, though the best performance would have to be their live album, Come Alive (with a phenomenal performance of "You Got Me" w/Jill Scott!!!). I definitely recommend this album as an intro to the Roots to those who are curious and interested in hip-hop/rap but are put off by the inanity of the modern mainstream hits.



Standout tracks: Sacrifice, Thought @Work, The Seed 2.0, Water, Pussy Galore

The roots took it on a different level this time around which is something I like. Well when you look at the steps they made they always try to take it one step forward with every new project. This album brings it all tho....rock, a lil reggae, blues and R+B all on one live mix of tight beats and rythms that keep you listening all the way through. Songs I was feeling here:

*Break You off
*Rock You
*Thought@work
*The Seed(2.0) -- this is the song right here
*water
*Quills
*P**y Galore

*Something in the way of Love

They came on a very abstract vibe this time around while still using a famailr sound everyone knows. Anyone trying to hear hip-hop on a not so typical level with more deeper lyrics.....on a more alternative vibe should check this out.

Get it!

I've heard them perform live and on their album....they are absolutly incredible. If you're a diehard roots fan, yes, their music has become a bit more commericalized but that doesn't mean it isn't orginal. The roots are not exactly underground, and their not exactly mainstream either, they're in-between, which makes them great. They don't talk about bling-bling, guns, and all the crappy stuff that they have. They are musical geniuses, being one of the best REAL live hip-hop groups with a drummer whos a genius. It's straight music from the heart, even if its not as good as their past albums. The song "thought @ work" is just plain insane...all I'm gonna say is...go see them live, you'll be impressed. Once you buy this CD, you'll be even more impressed, I'll guarantee you.

I've been a roots fan for 10 years now and everytime they come out woth a new project, they surprise the hell outta me!! It's amazing what hip hop can do (don't you agree?) Now they come with Phrenology. For those who don't know what "Phrenology" means, its the sturcture of a particular human beings brain and what its made of. The Roots brilliantly describe this very well with this album due to the various personalities they bring to this album. In order to grasp this comcept, you must first have an opened mind. There are moments in this album that are undescribable but understanding. Some of the music on this album can disturb you mentally, such as the teary-eyed ending of "Break U Off", the happy-go-lucky sound of "Sacrifice" (which was originally conceived by keyboardist Kamal's daughter), and the 3 part intoxicating journey of "Water". The Roots know how to get their point across when it come to making music. I just wish rest of hip hop can do the same!!!

Just before the release of "Phrenology," the Roots seemed to be at the peak of a brilliant career; just 4 albums of their full-band hip hop had brought them moderate popularity and a Grammy for their collaboration with Erykah Badu, "You Got Me." A follow-up to this success seemed impossible, but the Roots pulled it off with their most consistent album to date.

The album's first song, "Rock You," is a heavy bass and percussion bash full of ego and, as the title promises, rock. The piece climaxes with "!!!!!!," a dash of punk sounding like an outtake from Minor Threat's "Anthology."

The Roots are the pepper and salt of hip hop; they can do so much and sound so good that it seems like this album is a compilation that definitely doesn't fit in the 2000s. It is a pure mixtape from 1970, taking sounds from every genre and reinventing hip hop. "Sacrifice" is a feel-good spiritual flowing like water from a faucet. With a light-techno bass and back-up singers straight from the Grand Theft Auto III soundtrack, this is one of the more immediately accessible songs on the album. So, probably not intentionally, is this song's follow-up, "Rolling With Heat." A simple low-brass riff and old-school drummin' on trash cans percussion provides a perfect backdrop for Talib Kweli and Black Thought's sharp lyrics.

While the radio-skit gig has been tired out in the music world by artists like Queens of the Stone Age ("Songs for the Deaf") and Redman ("Doc's Da Name"), the Roots do it with a flawless sense of class on "Rollcall" by name-dropping all their influences a little more subtly than Missy Elliott. This is followed by the explosive "Thought @ Work," a politically-minded word play backed by the Africaans-percussion section from Sugarhill Gang's "Apache" and jungle horns. Continuing the four-song stretch that highlights this album is "The Seed 2.0," the album's second single and biggest hit, sounding like college rock narrated by MC Oz from "Wizard of Oz" and sung by a suave Michael Stipe.

"Break You Off," the album's best piece, is a neo-soul masterpiece with a devastatingly playful organ accented by the perfectly-rhythmed spit dished by Black Thought, who throughout this album proves his worthiness as the best MC in the rap world. After this 7 and a half minute eclipse, "Water" opens with the funkiest bass line ever written by the Roots and eventually morphs into an audio tour of world evolution in the eyes of the Roots.

"Quills" is truly an adventurous experience. With a staccato piano line, it sounds like a getaway anthem for a hip-hop James Bond, with danger possibly lurking around every lyrical corner. The fear dies down, though, when the cool-voiced Tracey Moore steals the piano line and replaces it with a peaceful harp. "Pussy Galore" was the blueprint for Busta Rhyme's "I Know What You Want," and "Complexity" is a light acoustic soul piece just like the rest of Jill Scott's music, which is a great touch on this album.

"Phrenology" is a step forward; the Roots have stepped into the realm, now they're rollin' with heat through a second realm. This album has pop-hip-hop (Pussy Galore), ego (Rollin' With Heat), soul (Break you Off), funk (Water), rock (Rock You), progressive hip hop (Quills), old-school hip-hop (Thought @ Work), and even alternative rock (The Seed 2.0). Every "composition," as the Roots call them, is its own original thought, with lyrics and sounds to paint the mind of conscious Black American in society today. In the liner notes of "Break you Off," the Roots explain how a record exec felt that their artist needed the Roots less than the Roots needed him. Clearly, as this album shows, the world needs the Roots more than the Roots need the world.

First off, I would just like to say that that "Tony Montana" guy has no idea of what he's talking about. No one would stab their ears after listening to the "Phrenology" album...the ears would be too delighted because of what they just heard.
Alright. Now for the album review...

1.Phentrow-It's an intro. Need I say more?
2.Rock You-A great song with a great beat and pretty good lyrics.
3.!!!!!!!!-I don't get this track.
4.Sacrifice-Simple beat,good lyrics, and a smooth chorus sung with Nelly Furtado.
5.Rolling With Heat-Not bad,not bad. Great beat, so-so lyrics.
6.Woak (Ay) Roll Call- On this track, Ursula Rucker says the names of 230 people who formed the hip-hop culture.
7.Thought @ Work-A great song. My 2nd fave on the album
8.The Seed (2.0)- My first fave on the album. Black Thought spits the best flow in almost all of rap music on this song.
9.Break You Off-A great love song with Musiq. About 2 1/2 minutes of cellos and other strings at the end.

10.Water-Broken in three parts. The first part is a song with a great beat and some good lyrics. The last two parts are a collection of avant garde sounds and samples.
11.Quills-One of the greatest beats i've ever heard. Not the best lyrics, but a good song anyway.
12.P***y Galore-A song about all the sexual content in our world today.
13.Complexity-A slow, simple song in which Jill Scott sings the chorus.
14.Something In The Way Of Things (In Town)-The best closer track for an album. Ever. But even though this is shown as the closer song on the album, you get 4 hidden tracks.
15.(Untitled)-20 seconds of silence.
16.(Untitled)-20 seconds of silence.
17.(Untitled)-15 seconds of silence.
18.Rhymes and Ammo/Something To See-This hidden track is about 8 minutes long,split into two parts. the first, "Rhymes and Ammo" is a rap song with an outstanding beat and,well,rhymes and ammo. The second,"Something To See," is a techno jam that makes your head bob.

Well there you have it. Phrenology-The Roots' classic album.

"phre-nol-o-gy \ n : the study of the conformation of the skull based on belief that it is indicative of mental faculties and character"

No matter how promising an idea it sounded at one time, the live hip-hop experience has proved difficult territory for The Roots. Take one defiantly technological movement (even hip-hop's origins in the cutting and scratching of DJ performance was, at the time, a radical reappropriation of technology) and try to recreate its character with a kind of 'house band'. It could appear reductive in principle and The Roots have certainly been open to the criticism at times.

The journey to 'Phrenology' has been one of indulgent bass solos, occasionally dubious fusion and frequent greatness but never have The Roots managed to totally convince by delivering their 'Paid In Full', 'It Takes A Nation Of Millions...' or 'Step In The Arena'.

Bringing a completely live equation in almost removes the ensuing music so far from 'Hip-Hop' that it can't even be judged according to the music's usual criteria. The Roots' albums can frequently sound a little like one of the band's protracted live shows: loose, improvisational, overlong and hard to penetrate. 'Phrenology' is no exception offering 17 tracks that swerve from some of the tightest hip-hop they've ever made to strung-out instrumental jams set to spoken word.

What is different about the overall feel of this messy and ambitious album is that it marks The Roots' liberation from genre, the neo-soul meanderings of 'Things Fall Apart' only appear when they're wanted and never outstay their welcome. Instead, 'Phrenology' could be loosely termed 'psychedelic soul' or some such but genre tags don't do its diversity justice. There are ample neck-snappers that, whilst deeper than the average sample cut, stick to hip-hop's principles fairly rigidly with elastic basslines and irresistible hooks on repeat. The best of these is 'Water' - possibly the most concise musical statement that The Roots have ever recorded.

At times they still seem alarmingly unconcerned to eliminate 'bagginess' from the sound: the intro to 'Water', at best, evokes the spirit of Jimi Hendrix right there in Electric Lady Studios, at worst, sounds like an outtake from a lesser-known Santana album of the 1970s. And, compared with Talib Kweli's recent indie hip-hop tour de force 'Quality', this album needs to be lived in for a week before the jewels emerge shining. But there are jewels aplenty from the sweet soul of Jill Scott collaboration 'Complexity' to the 'Roots' era Curtis Mayfield fuzz of 'The Seed (2.0)'.

By once again sticking by their instincts and experimental impulse, The Roots may well have blown a chance to capitalise on the profile they gained backing Jay-Z on his 'Unplugged' session but they have done their legacy not one bit of harm. And the best thing about 'Phrenology' is that, like all its predecessors, it still sounds like the next record will be even better.

This rating system really does need 1/2 stars. This album is actually a 4.5 stars in my opinion. There has not been a bad Roots album. Each album had its own strengths and weaknesses that never reflected any particular deficiency within the group. The latest addition, "Phrenology," is a diverse arrangement of music sytles, a talented live band, thoughtful (no pun intended) lyricism, and a feeling of musical expansion. "Rock You" revisits the days of the battle rap - when MCs proved themselves as being a force to be reckoned with. Black Thought delivers strong verses over a beat that is much harder than the Roots' conventional image; the track is aggressive, almost challenging the listener to foolishly say something in opposition. However, Thought's repeated chants of "We will rock you; we will rock you" for the hook terribly detract from the song's come-and-get me tone. His hook is almost comical considering the urgency the song imparts. The collaboration with Talib Kweli ("Rolling With Heat") is a head nodder. The rhythm is infectious but not lingering. Kweli spits lovely and, in my opinion, outshines Thought similarly to Mos Def's verses on "Double Trouble" from "Things Fall Apart." The old-school highlight "Thought @ Work" harkens back to days when a single MC could carry a cut by himself/herself. The early rap feel of the drumbeat captures adequately the heyday of Big Daddy Kane. One of the most incredible tracks on the album is "The Seed 2.0" featuring a newcomer, Cody Chestnutt. Chestnutt's voice sounds like Terrance Trent D'Arby, but his vocal style sounds like a restrained Corey Glover from Living Colour. The beat is a clear rock n roll performance, which the Roots handle without extra effort. This is a BAND, after all. They play every track without regard for what rap music is SUPPOSED to be. They play music - rock n roll ("The Seed 2.0"), soul ("Sacrifice"), and even psychadelic, chaotic electric jazz (a la Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew" on the closing minutes of "Water"). The Roots think outside of the norms of rap music's limited scope of jiggling bodies, posh clubs, and champagne bubbles. The Roots give back to rap something that has been missing for too long: music.