Roots Retrospective (Part IV): Phrenology

It's hard for me to believe that this album has existed for 10 years!  Every time I see the CD jacket in the holder I feel like it's the most recent release.  There are some timeless hard hitters on this album.  The energy starts with Phrentrow and doesn't settle down until well after Pussy Galore.

While the two releases Break You Off and The Seed (2.0) are pretty accessible they are by no means the best songs on the album (IMHO).

So...standout tracks...let's see.  Rock You (Track 2) sets the tone for most of the album. Even soulless zombies have to bob their head when the beat for Quills drops, Thought @ Work is a nice illustration of Tariq's skills and to round out this album I've got to go with Pussy Galore.  The title is a bit misleading but give it a minute and be sure not to miss the message.  Also, while Rhymes and Ammo may not be the highest quality Roots track it's a fun anthem that makes a great fight song.  Not to mention pretty much anything Talib Kweli touches is pretty much gold.

Track Listing
Phrentrow
Rock You
!!!!!!!!
Sacrifice (featuring Nelly Furtado)
Rolling with Heat (featuring Talib Kweli)
WAOK (Ay) Rollcall
Thought @ Work
The Seed (2.0)
Break You Off
Water
Quills
Pussy Galore
Complexity (featuring Jill Scott)
Something in the Way of Things (In Town)

Bonus Track

Rhymes and Ammo/ Thirsty!

Next....The Tipping Point

Roots Retrospective (Part III): Things Fall Apart

You would be doing yourself a disservice to not listen to Things Fall Apart from beginning to end. Sure, there's some highs and lows but there are really no bad tracks on this album.  Things start off quite strong with the first three tracks...settle down for a little bit and then pick up with one of my favorite Roots tracks of all time.  Ain't Sayin' Nothin' New.  If I were forced to pick my 3 favorite...The Next Movement, Adrenaline and the elusive Hidden Track!


Track Listing
"Act Won (Things Fall Apart)"
"Table of Contents (Parts 1 & 2)"
"The Next Movement"
"Step Into the Realm"
"The Spark"
"Dynamite!"
"Without a Doubt"
"Saturday Night"
"Ain't Sayin' Nothin' New"
"Double Trouble"
"Act Too (The Love of My Life)"
"100% Dundee"
"Diedre vs. Dice"
"Adrenaline!"
"3rd Acts: ? vs. Scratch 2... Electric Boogaloo"
"You Got Me"
"Don't See Us"
"The Return to Innocence Lost"
"Act Fore (The End?)" (Hidden track)

Next Up: Phrenology

Roots Retrospective (Part II): Illadelph Halflife

Wow! It looks like I need to do a little more homework.  My awakening must not have happened until 1999 with Things Fall Apart.

Here's the track list:

"Intro"
"Respond/React"
"Section" "Panic!!!!!!!"
"It Just Don't Stop"
"Episodes" (featuring Dice Raw)
"Push Up Ya Lighter" (featuring Bahamadia)
"What They Do" (featuring Raphael Saadiq)
"? vs. Scratch (The Token DJ Cut)"
"Concerto of the Desperado"
"Clones" (featuring Dice Raw & M.A.R.S.)
"UNIverse at War" (featuring Common)
"No Alibi"
"Dave vs. Us"
"No Great Pretender"
"The Hypnotic" (featuring D'Angelo)
"Ital (The Universal Side)" (featuring Q-Tip)
"One Shine" (featuring Cassandra Wilson & Joshua Redman)
"The Adventures in Wonderland (performed by Ursula Rucker)" "Outro"

I have heard a few of these tracks but not enough to say that I can really recommend the premier tracks off of this one.  The (unedited) video for What They Do is pretty clever and from what I know of the tracks I have heard...I think I've been missing out.  Damn!

Next Up...Things Fall Apart