Reviews (page 4 of 9)
There were portions of this I really enjoyed and others I was pretty lukewarm about. Was expecting more from this one tbh since I enjoy other Roots albums.
I really don’t like the monotony and repetitiveness of early hip hop, and I don’t really get why some people might prefer it over something like this album. Granted, I don’t care much about lyrics and vocals, and rap was intended to be a primarily lyrical genre, so that makes sense. But it doesn’t meant that this genre is incapable of producing something that appeals to me specifically. This album couples engaging flows with exciting production. Every song sounds very different and has its unique beat that incorporates influences from various other genres. It’s also just very well produced and sounds extremely clean. This is the kind of hip hop I like: fast-paced and with a lot of thought and variety in production. I wouldn’t say there’s anything in this album that stands out as exceptional, but it’s very consistent and exciting the while way through.
Pretty good, I fw the roots
Middle of the road listen for me Lots of different styles and sounds but was long and I got a bit bored of it about 2/3 through
1.5
Come on, 1001. Just entering that Friday night vibe and you drop Phrenology on my lap to crank on my headphones, as if to challenge me: “rate this one two-stars…I dare you.” The game is rigged. Listening to Phrenology is the best I’ve felt all week. Rolling Stone Magazine watch: I’m tired of this joke.
This was such a party album from university days I felt drunk listening to it again
Back before they sold out to become that turd Jimmy Fallon's house band, The Roots actually made really good and interesting music! Found myself grooving to nearly every song. The beats are immaculate on this album, and their use of actual instruments gives this hip hop album and edge that others lack. A very solid 4/5 from me.
The Seed is a very funny song. This album is ok.
Goed album! Stond vaak op bij mijn pa dus toch een dikke 3.4 wegens nostalgie.
"Phrenology" is a good album, neither bad nor great. There are some cool tracks on it. I really liked "Water", "Phrenology's own "Bohemian Rhapsody". However, I do have a headache, which affected my enjoyment of the album. The hardcore punk mini-song near the beginning was fun. 3 stars for "Phrenology".
This is a crazy album that probably goes in too many different directions at once. Most of them are enjoyable though. Though it does occasionally test my patience with Pussy Galore and Thirsty! In particular. Still, a fun ride overall.
8/10
Nice album! I’m not the biggest hip hop guy, but the first few songs were especially good! It lost the plot for me a bit later and the whole album was a bit overlong in general. But some great sounds!
I liked it, but I don’t think it had enough “whoa” to clearly mark it as an above average album.
Live gesehen: "The Seed" ist ein Banger und das Konzert damals im Kunstpark Ost war schon wahnsinnig gut, Hip Hop mit Instrumenten. Sehr gut! c
melodiöses hip-hop-dings, gefällt.
Guter Hip Hop
Amazong hip hop album. Way ahead of its time! Thoroughly enjoyed this. I was already a fan of The Roots, Black Thought specifically, and this just cemented that. 4/5
I don’t feel in any way qualified to pass comment on a hip-hop album but, based on sheer enjoyment, this is a definite yes from me. Plebty of genre hopping and variety to keep things interesting. Would I revisit it? Probably not, mainly due to feeling slightly uncomfortable as a middle-aged white guy with quite so many ‘n-words’, as well as a whiff of misogyny in some of the lyrics.
I did enjoy parts of this but found it went on a bit long. I admire the production and execution but didn’t find too many of songs grabbed me.
I like that it wears its influences on its sleeve and isn’t apologetic about it (is that ‘Apache’?!). Found that I wanted to like it more than I did. For all I’d heard about ?uestlove and his links with the roots, a lot of the beats seemed a bit…lacking? Probably benefits from repeated listens as found some of the lyricism hard to make out or follow.
Jimmy Fallon dances to this in his living room every night. Every. Night.
I'm not a big fan of rap and hip hop music, but I found this to be one of the more agreeable albums in the genre. Some of the tracks are really good, and there are others that I would not wish to listen to again. It's certainly full of variety, and the level of talent on display deserves four stars, I think.
*No music, just noise and RAP
Interesting and eclectic. Not my genre but it was not a bad listen.
cool vibe
3.5 stars
Really surprised by how much I enjoyed this album. One of the easiest albums so far to return to and just enjoy — really listenable. Favorite track is “Break You Off.”
Oh great. Another highly acclaimed edgy Hippity-Hop Rap album. It passes the time in an acceptable way, but there's little to really mark out as different from dozens of others of its ilk. Samples, harmonies, outrage, swearing, "edge", ...yeah, all the usual elements are here. Sigh
manero
I liked some of the songs but I didn't like some songs but could listen to this again
Couldn't get through it.
The Roots are the shit. This album spans so many genres.
Enjoying Phrenology today. It is interesting to listen to a rap album that is (mostly) sample free. Live instrumentalists make the whole thing sound fresh. Frequent style shifts between hip hop and neo soul. It is a deeply creative mix of songs.
For the first two thirds of this record there are an overwhelming number of things going on. Several layers of intricate instrumentation vying for space against vocal performances that include what is often thoughtful rapping and soulful singing. It’s a more layered sonic palette than most rappers would choose to work with. A skilled producer has done their damndest to hold all of these parts together and has been about as successful as you could hope, given the strength and complexity of the various flavours. It’s not a smooth or easy listen and I can’t decide how I feel about that. Part of me wishes the more gentle songs were pared back to make the most of the soulful, delicate vocal performances. Another part of me is in awe of how skilfully overloaded it is. It’s exciting - your brain is not given a second to rest. In the last third everything settles down and you get a more focused product, without losing any of the variety and experimentation. (Thirsty is such a wild way to close this album.) It could have been cool to hear some of these songs shuffled into earlier parts of the album, or for this approach to have been employed a little more elsewhere.
Roots is getting a low 4 from me, love the energy and variety and basically everything on show but do find it a bit long and unfocused in parts
5 stars
starts strong and ends kinda meh but still enjoyed this one 3.5
It's almost like a punk album in how the tracks are laid out. I generally like the Roots but this album is not one of their works I like.
Not my taste in Music, but a lot of pleasant songs
This is the type of thing I had hoped for with 1,001 albums: an album that isn't in my personal jukebox but is high quality and influential for other artists. Something that I wouldn't have listened to but for the book but should. That said, this isn't The Roots' best album (there is room on the list for another), but it does contain arguably their biggest hit. End of the day, I got something I like, something influential, some new-to-me songs that are good, and a hit.
Rough start but gets better. Some good stuff towards the end. 2.5 stars
Standout Songs: Rock You Sacrifice Thought @ Work The Seed (2.0) Complexity
Not a fan
It was pretty good but not my favorite
This isn’t for me.
sound set from tight band
Too many unnecessarily long songs and then a couple throwaway tracks. Questlove is great on drums. 3 but could’ve been a 4
i quite like the intro to the album, feels like whoever makes it has a really strong rock taste. the rest feels kinda heavy
I think this is the first time I've listened to a Roots album beginning to end and it was great!
Decent enough. Not particularly stand out for us - it's very rare hip hop is to us - but we enjoyed it well enough.
Favorite songs: Thought @ Work, Thirsty!, Rock You, Rolling With Heat, Quills Least favorite songs: WAOK (Ay) Rollcall (fuck skits), Sacrifice, Water, Pussy Galore, Something in the Way of Things (In Town) 3/5
Not a bad rap album, but too long for its own good. 2/5
The seed (2.0)
Alright
Bit of a different one, but not quite my thing
Thought @ work is the standout. Conscious and thought provoking
Great mix of styles
Great hip hop and neo soul album
Awesome
This gives Funkadelic vibes with Philly attitude, but it is frustratingly overlong. The live band atmosphere is cool and there’s great tunes, but the whole album loses momentum after a while and just can’t sustain itself. Clearly this was The Roots getting their pop style working; you just wish it was half the length.
aight
This is the most surprising album I've so far heard on this list! It's not what I thought The Roots were about, and even when I thought I'd got my head around what to expect they kept flipping on me! Great record, strong 4.5*
I don't really like rap but I liked this album.
These guys are such incredible musicians.
One banger
Hip hop, j'ai eu du mal à rentrer dedans mais ça a réussi à me convaincre
Excellent
Very good album
Surprised and impressed by this one. I'm not into hiphop at all, but this album hit the right spots and I ended up quite enjoying it - although quality dropped off during the second half. Really high quality stuff and The Seed was a dope track. Might revisit.
DNF
"Rock On" didn't make a very good first impression and "Water" felt way too long, but overall this one was a pleasant surprise! I hadn't cared for Things Fall Apart, and this one was over an hour long, but there's just so much variety to it that it doesn't feel its runtime at all!
The blend of styles and instrumentation that accompanies the smooth and poetic rap delivery. We even get a quick punch of punk on !!!!!!! It’s a great album that feels light and refreshing. A few well placed features help mix things up a bit too. The Seed has always stood out as one of their hits with its iconic beat and melodies but what stands out to me is what they bring on their 10 minute track, Water. It boasts its own terrific beats and lovely background vocal sounds. At about the 5 minute mark it delves into an almost ambient/jazz like track and it’s just super interesting. Great stuff. 4 stars
This was a chill rap album until the song "Water" took me into another dimension. The range on this project is very broad. Almost to a detriment as it feels disjointed. But there's no denying that Phrenology is fire from cover to cover.
!!!!!!! is a hardcore song? Lots of fluid Roots beats. Black Thought's flow is also fluid. Not a band that I ever seek out to listen to, but nothing to ever turn off. Rhymes and Ammo is a great one and favorited
Fed rap. Det er angiveligt virkelig godt men jeg kan ikke særlig godt lide det umiddelbart.
Just in my opinion, the group was over rated from the start. Given its history and cast, it was promoted far more than should have been
There were a few choice tunes on this album. But, it did not catch my ear. The Seed, Break You Off, and Quills were the strongest.
Hit and miss for me. I enjoyed the production but some of the specific melodies were not so great. Standout Track: Rock You
good album. Nothing really stands out about it
Still don't like rap
Says nothing to me about my life, Weapons, violence, drugs, wealth, expensive cars, parties, beautiful young women and lots of sex. 😭
I love The Roots, but Phrenology was never my favorite of theirs. Still obviously a quality record, but I'm going to revisit Things Fall Apart and Game Theory more often. Honestly, even How I Got Over. But Black Thought is incapable of sounding bad on a track. 3.5/5
Before listening, looking at album cover: Black face, black panther, Rosa Parks, a lynching, KKK, raised fists, etc. Oh boy, a socially conscious rap album. Can't wait. Well, the music didn’t match the cover art very much at all. That was a relief. There was quite a decent variety here — not all of it was good, but I actually enjoyed some of it.
Hit and miss. Big drop off from Seed 2.0 to the next tier of songs
Starta bra, blei litt for eksperimentelt etterhvert. Skal man være fair? Nei. Vurderer etter lydene som arbeider i ørekanalen i skrivende stund, og de er litt i overkant slitsomme. Neste!
10/10 - actually a super cool hip hop album, lots to respect here, even if a few songs were kinda corny lol
not bad, i'd give it a 3/5
Not my usual genre but very interesting
- war ganz moody insgesamt, aber es ist nicht wirklich was hängen geblieben 3 – War okay / Interessant 👌 Solides Album, einige gute Momente oder Ideen. Vielleicht nichts, was ich nochmal hören würde, aber spannend zu kennen.
Due to give this one another listen. I liked what I was hearing but didn't give it enough attention.
raz super raz słabo - takie 2.5
Raw, energetic and well done. I enjoyed this one. Hadn’t really listened to the Roots before but this one is a good one. 4.5 but on the 4 side.
I'm not a big hip-hop fan. All the nigga and hoe stuff is outdated, jarring and tedious. And whilst this album does have its fair share of that, I found it to be varied and surprisingly listenable. it may even stay in my library as my nod to hip-hop (you gotta have one I guess, just to be polite) 3
Excited to listen to more of the roots. Liked this one a lot, probs more than Dr Dre
Reminds me of Black Eyed Peas
Don't think I've ever heard a hip-hop album quite like this. Wildly creative and boundary-pushing, every song is completely different from the last and still manages to feel coherent. Even manages to use filler tracks in an interesting way. Something for everyone to enjoy. Top tracks: Sacrifice, Break You Off, Water, Rhymes And Ammo
Overall strong album!! 6.3/10
The Roots are incredible. There were a couple of songs which I wasn't too crazy about, including "Something In The Way of Things (In Town)" and the chorus on "The Seed 2.0" which is why it falls a bit short of a five.
Cool album!
pas pour moi
Rett album, feil dag, det traff på ingen måte og føltes for bråkate, på måter det ikke fortjene å bli lytta på, så det handla bare om lytteren og ikke om albumet. Kanskje nokka for en anna dag, om sånt skulle skje.
This wasn't too bad, switching it up between genres kept it interesting. Top track: The Seed (2.0)
Cool...
Trots hiphop/rap en intressant platta. De spelar en massa skönt sväng istället för loopar. Duktiga sångare gästar. Det är RnB, soul och EDM. Cool! Trea plus
I appreciate a live band playing hip hop and the different genres they weave through this album, but I just find the music average.
Phrenology is probably my favorite The Roots album. It's adventurous, spanning hardcore punk to chill neo soul to hard trance thanks to Rahzel. The first song I remember hearing from this record is “The Seed 2.0”, specifically the music video. It got me to listen to the rest of the album right away. I think it is their best work, creatively speaking. Everyone is at their best. The flow, the vibe, the lyricism is all there. “Rock You”, “!!!!!!!”, “Sacrifice”, “The Seed 2.0”, “Break You Off”, and “Complexity” are all favorites of mine from this album.
Enjoyed this new-to-me album.
3/5
I came in with high hopes and an open mind. This album is an hour-long snooze fest with most tracks being twice as long as they should be. Water drags on for almost 11 minutes, seriously!?? Thirsty is a decent, tight, and energetic closer after the auditory swamp I’d just finished wading through. From an objective point of view, the album is quite well arranged. However, there are certainly better conscious rap albums out there, and I have heard good things about The Roots previous album Things Fall Apart, but Phrenology just isn’t it for me. 2/10
Tight skiva. Har några avstickare som är sisådär men i övrigt najs hiphop. Covern the seed 2.0 är snorbra.
Älskar The Roots och när de är bra är de så jäkla bra. Black thought är en otroligt bra rappare. Den här skivan skulle dock kunnat ha varit lite tightare och utan exempelvis tre minuter outro på (annars suveräna) Break you off och ännu värre de sista sex minuterna på Water som, tillsammans med lite annat, bara är rent trots. Föregångaren Things fall apart är i mitt tycke deras bästa skiva och den här når inte upp på samma nivå, men är ändå en klar fyra.
Me ha gustado mucho, tiene canciones to guapardas
I really respect some of the more experimental parts.
Need a 3.5 for this one! Fun to listen to but put off a bit by "easy" rhymes in some places.
The Seed (2.0) is a really good song. It’s a shame about the rest of the album.
It’s too long, it’s overstuffed. With that out of the way, come on, it’s the motherfucking Roots. Black Thought, Questlove and co. are top-notch musicians with a hell of a discography. Thought honestly is in the GOAT conversation, with his lyricism and talent for rhymes and bars being at such a high level for so many years. This album has excellent production, a varied sound, intelligent and mature and thoughtful lyrics, an interesting concept, and is fun to listen to. Must-listen #179.
Not enough changes within songs.its less than fine but not bad, per se
A hip hop album with soul, but not great im afraid. The Seed 2.0 is a certified smoker, but the rest sort of passes by? Average I would say, I just can’t imagine too many people having this in their top ten albums to be fair.
Nice blend of hip hop and rock, middle of the park for me
Love these guys for so many reasons
Not loving the vocals.
Amazing live band!!
Surprised how well this album still holds up. More surprised it isn't still in my rotation.
Almost perfect. Would give it 9.8/10 if I could
Took a while to warm up to, but this is a great album. Huge variety of rhythms and styles from hardcore techno to dnb to boom bap, and a great depth of lyricism avoiding the obvious 'guns and bitches' clichés. The Seed is an obvious standout, and it just needed a couple more 5* tracks to get the full rating. One of the better hip hop lps on the list.
Oh, this has The Seed. I heard that many times. This is a great group. I liked Things Fall Apart, and really their first three albums, but I never really listened to anything after that. I love the music on this. It's different at points than other hip hop acts. The lyrics are good, as usual. Break You Off is a favorite. 4.
I feel like they're kind of on another level instrumentally to other rap groups/the general sound of the era. I really like how human everything feels, due to much/all of it being played in live. I feel like some beats can get really stale when they just loop the same short section over again. Black Thought is an amazing rapper and I think he balances perfectly between writing catchy choruses and lines, and being very deep and conscious. The features, both other rappers and the singers are great as well. I actually quite like the really long song which tapers of into strange abstract ambience, makes me wonder why a genre like ''progressive hip hop'' never really existed, because this song was really interesting. Favourite songs: rock you, !!!!!!!, sacrifice, rolling with heat, thought @ work, the seed (2.0), break you off, water, quills, pussy galore, thirsty! Overall around 8/10
Very much enjoyed. Starting to rate these albums by “make me dance” factor. 4/5.
Pretty cool. I think it will grow on me too with repeat listens.
I enjoyed it, but it took a bit for that. Beginning was not impressive.
eh, I don't love the Roots and this is definitely the least exciting thing I've heard from them band/production-wise, especially in the back half. Break You Off-Water is just, so insanely long. Black Thought is GOATed as always, though
Me and my para had a good time listening.
“Hey what’s the name of the album you’re listening to?” Uhhhh don’t worry about it.
some good songs, but even the normal songs are somewhat mid. I could have gone w/ a 3 here, but there were many weird parts of this album that made it uncomfortable to listen to.
int
Not my usual, but nice.
this is the band from that music! great beat, very fun but oh god why so long
7/4/25. Happy Independence Day despite a lot of negative feelings toward my country right now. However, receiving this 2000s gem improved my vibe! Love the instrumentation and storytelling throughout.
Really solid hip hop album with a lot to enjoy from the cool grooves to Black Thought’s excellent rhyming. Would soundtrack the summer vibes very well. As with a lot of hip hop albums, at over an hour, it outstays its welcome a little but there’s plenty of top tracks here to warrant a revisit and a more in depth listen
Hip hop again. When I heard the scratching in the first track, I thought it might be different this time. But that idea was quickly disproved. I listened to two more tracks. It was the usual hip hop crap. I don't need it. 1/5
Really not my vibe, but it's also way too long. Would never listen to what I did again, nor would I come back to finish the rest.
Listened to before: No I enjoyed this album. I always wanted to listen to the Roots, now I finally managed to. I knew The Seed 2.0 which is one of these magical tracks, that just are outstanding. The rest of the album is good to, but there are two things that prevent it from getting 5 stars. First, it is a little to long and incoherent for my taste. Second, the sound seems to be a little messy sometimes. That is probably a creative decision, but still keeps me fron liking the album more. Still: Well worth a listen
Listened to this while boppin' around Chicago this weekend, a day after The Roots were in town. Way more fun than I anticipated. Thought I was in for some backpack rap homework, but turns out these guys had other plans. There’s experimentation, but it’s not pretentious. It’s jazzy and intellectual but also pretty hook-friendly. Like a more refined version of what The Fugees were going for, maybe. I didn’t fall in love, but it was good. Spins: 3 Playlist Additions: - The Seed (2.0) - Break You Off - Complexity
Fun sounds and definitely different than what I usually listen to.
Solid sounds here. The highlight was “The Seed (2.0).” I liked this overall more than I expected. I wish there were half stars to rate things because I would give a solid 3.5, but it’s not quite a 4 for me.
I definitely enjoyed this album. I didn’t love all of it. I lost interest at moments here and there. I thought a lot of the stuff I didn’t like felt like filler. But I will say the thing I liked the most about the album is that it had a good variety of sounds on it. There’s legitimate hard left hand turns and those were my favorite songs usually. I just didn’t feel like it really stood out much overall and I’m afraid I’ll forget about this album pretty soon.
Not great
Good, but very much not for me.
not their best but still rlly good
Shockingly better than I thought it would be. Maybe not one I'll spin up on a regular basis but great rhyming and melody.
no notes this shit slaps
So much good here. I actually hadn't given it a proper listen in quite a while, and really hadn't given credit to the non-hit songs. Some weirdness in some of the latter half of the album, but not enough to bring it down for me.
garbage
Cool stuff going on but wanted this to be better than it is
No complaints. The Seed (2.0) is a great tune
J'me répète pas mal, mais le hip-hop gangster rap c'est pas mon truc, déso, ça sonne juste correcte, ça ne me génère aucune joie. Au contraire, l'album Junior par le band Corridor était pas mal top notch, drette dans ma ligne de mire
Continuación de su arrollador things fall apart, pero como cualquier disco suyo es de una calidad superior,
Cool album with a little bit of everything. Not usually a big fan of rap/hip hop, but I liked their flavor.
Masterpiece. I know of The Roots, and I even know a couple of their songs, but I never knew they could hit like this. I really missed out by skipping them in the early aughts. 4.5 stars.
Phrenology is an absolute beast of an album. I always was aware that The Roots are a very talented band with them doing some pretty great stuff in The Tonight Show but this album did show just how outstanding they really are. This is probably my favorite Hip hop album on this project so far because it goes beyond being a simple hip hop album and takes inspirations from many genres other than hip hop including rock, punk, folk, jazz, blues, R&B, electronica among many others. Every single element on this album is handled incredibly well from the flows to the beats to all the other elements. This is one amazing album and definitely one of the best hip hop albums ever. Best Song: Sacrifice Worst Song: Phrentrow
We gangstas
Not available on Apple Music
Musically, some tracks lined up with my tastes. Had decent beats and lyrical brainstorm moments. Only 4 as a few tracks threw me out of the album as a whole.
This is not for me.
-wow i actually really liked this one omg, was not expecting something so unique and abstract. the beats and use of drums are both absolutely insane on this album and got me into it immediately -there are definitely some tracks that i wouldn’t have missed, especially toward the end. but overall this was a cool experience, im glad i gave it the chance i did -Favorites are Sacrifice, Rolling With Heat, and The Seed (2.0)
someone pls tell men that anger is also an emotion
This is #day311 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I guess I'm just not in the mood for this kind of music today. It gives me a headache and makes me annoyed. The album's architectonics is at times fun, though. Still, this is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day312.
Pretty good, I liked it.
Some of this was awful, some pretty good. I find it hard to enjoy much rap of since the mid 90s because it’s almost exclusively profanity laden, misogynistic, hyper-sexualized chest thumping. At least what I’ve managed to listen to. And if this list includes the best examples, that’s what I’ve heard. This album definitely has its share of profanity (I don’t really care to hear the “n word,” regardless of who’s saying it. It’s derogatory, reinforces negative attitudes, and people should have more self respect). But at least it didn’t seem too far in the other categories. Plus I rather like ?uestlove. Seems like a good dude and a fine drummer. I appreciate their dedication to playing their own instruments as well. There are a few really cool grooves.
This is an almost perfect album. Again I need half stars to give it the correct rating. I didn’t care for the instrumental tracks, but the lyrics and beats of everything else was great. I was listening to Pussy Galore and I was at the chorus and thought “I wonder if they named this song pussy galore” and lo and behold, they did. If I was someone into vinyl records, I would buy this one. 4.5
BEST SONGS: - Sacrifice - Thought @ Work - Water
Phenomenal, loved the experimentation, loved the flow
Bizar album, wat een laatste track zeg hahahaha
A couple of weird tracks kept this from being a 5, but loved the creativity and unique sounds that came from this album.
It wasn't bad, it's just not the type of music I derive a lot of enjoyment from.
point8.
やはり2000年代のヒップホップの色が強く出たアルバム。 やはりグループが故に、ビート、バイブスは統一感あり。 初めて聞いたアーティストだったのでとりあえず出会えて良かった。 古着屋でかかってそうな曲が詰まってる。 自分の好みとは違かったけれど、雰囲気はあるし、カッコいい。
A pretty solid album
A lot of stuff going on today, so I got one cursory listen to this. Familiar with the Roots from their album with Elvis Costello, I was reasonably hopeful. While there is some sonic diversity here, this album doesn't have the lyrical, melodic, or emotional range of Wise Up Ghost, probably as the latter uses Costello's whole career as a sample base, while Phrenology is conjuring its own musical material and there isn't enough of it. Certainly not to justify the runtime. All Speakerboxx, no Love Below. 2 I note from a quite read-up about The Roots that they are often characterised as ‘alternative Rap’. Unusually what I am hearing is two-bar loops for minutes on end while someone talks about one or all of 1. How great I am at rapping 2. How great I am generally 3. How women find me irresistible 4. Where I am from (Philadelphia) Is this really the alternative to the other rappers we’ve heard so far? Let’s be fair though; occasionally they will throw us a chorus albeit in the form of the sort of mundane tune that would escape notice on a Dido album (Sacrifice, Thought @ Work). Or they might just make funny noises (!!!!!!!, the latter half of Water, Something in the Way of Things). A little differently again, Pussy Galore seems to complain about the omnipresent poison of the sexualised female body in human culture. It is not entirely clear if the contents of this album are excluded from that indictment. I note that they have their own drummer; kudos, although so did Huff N’ Doback and there is really nothing here as good as Boats and Hoes. No, I was unable to get crunk with this album. 1.5/5
87) Phrentrow - / 88) Rock You - 7,0 89) !!!!!!! - / 90) Sacrifice - 7,5 91) Rolling with Heat - 6,5 92) WAOK (Ay) Rollcall - 3,0 93) Thought @ Work - 6,5 94) The Seed (2.0) - 10,0 95) Break You Off - 8,0 96) Water - 7,0 97) Quills - 6,5 98) Pussy Galore - 7,0 99) Complexity - 7,0 100) Something in the Way of Things (In Town) - 5,5 101) Rhymes and Ammo - 6,5 102) Thirsty! - 6,5 TOTAL: 6,75 (68/100)
Tbh did not know the Roots made music like this
Enjoyed the samples and interludes, but the flow itself did not do much for me. Liked it, didn't love it ...
Honestly surprised to learn this is an album from 2002 - this has such a mid 90’s style to it. Tho saying that, going off that era, this wasn’t special for the time so yeah. Enjoyable experience tho
Nothing special about this, ordinary rap at best with random and nonsensical interlude tracks. Initially thought it was a 1 but I had my eq wrong in my car that completely ruined the album.
Early 2000s, getting a little miracle lyrical spiritual Too long, yeah this is meh
Very cool, definitely want to check out The Roots more at some point. Favorite songs: Rolling With Heat, Thought @ Work, Break You Off, Complexity
This one will Rock You!!!!!!! Need some Water after this.
I feel like I’m not familiar enough with the Roots to fully appreciate this one, but I wish I was. Things Fall Apart, from what I can tell, is a better introduction to them, but that’s not the way the cookie crumbled for me. The Roots are a band, unfortunately, best known as Jammy Fallon’s house band, but this album shows they are a hip hop powerhouse.
wow mate just dissapointing inactive for a whole year get back to work buddy.
A classic in a genre I usually don’t like. But the Roots have always been a very cool band.
## In-Depth Review of *Phrenology* by The Roots Released in 2002, *Phrenology* stands as one of the most ambitious and experimental albums in The Roots’ catalog. This review examines the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, and concludes with a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## **Lyrics** Black Thought (Tariq Trotter) is the lyrical anchor of *Phrenology*, delivering dense, cerebral verses that probe personal, social, and cultural issues. The album’s lyricism is notable for its intellectual rigor and emotional depth: - **Personal Narrative:** On “Water,” Black Thought pens a raw, sprawling letter to former bandmate Malik B., grappling with addiction and mental illness. The track is both a tribute and a tough-love intervention, showcasing vulnerability and nuance[5]. - **Social Commentary:** Tracks like “Phrenthrow” and “Thought @ Work” address hip-hop’s evolution, Black identity, and the commodification of culture. The lyrics are layered with allusions to history, politics, and the state of the genre itself[1][2]. - **Verbal Dexterity:** Black Thought’s technical prowess is on full display, especially on “Quills” and “Thought @ Work,” the latter paying homage to the rapid-fire delivery of Kool G Rap[5]. His flow is relentless, and his wordplay is intricate, rewarding repeated listens. The album largely eschews the bravado and materialism common in mainstream rap of the era, opting instead for introspection and critique. However, the density of the lyrics can at times be overwhelming, demanding close attention from the listener[6]. --- ## **Music** *Phrenology* is a sonic collage, blending genres and pushing the boundaries of hip-hop’s musical vocabulary: - **Genre-Bending:** The album traverses drum ‘n’ bass (“Rolling With Heat”), punk (“!!!!!!!”), neo-soul (“Complexity” featuring Jill Scott), R&B (“Break You Off” featuring Musiq Soulchild), and psychedelic rock (“The Seed (2.0)” featuring Cody ChesnuTT)[1][2][3]. This eclecticism is both a statement of Black music’s diversity and a challenge to genre orthodoxy. - **Live Instrumentation:** The Roots’ status as hip-hop’s premier live band is evident throughout. Real drums, bass, guitar, and keys provide a warmth and spontaneity absent from many contemporaneous rap records[1][6]. Questlove’s drumming is especially inventive, anchoring the album’s shifting moods. - **Melodic Hooks:** Despite its experimental edge, the album features memorable hooks and choruses, particularly on “The Seed (2.0)” and “Break You Off.” These moments of accessibility balance the album’s more avant-garde excursions[5]. The album’s musical ambition is both its greatest asset and occasional liability; the abrupt stylistic shifts can be jarring, and the album’s cohesion sometimes suffers as a result[3]. --- ## **Production** The Roots handled most of the production themselves, recording at Electric Lady Studios in New York. The production is marked by: - **Organic Sound:** The emphasis on live instrumentation gives the album a tactile, organic feel. The grooves are meticulously crafted, and the interplay between musicians is palpable[6]. - **Experimental Approach:** The production is daring, incorporating elements of jazz, punk, and electronic music. The transitions between tracks are often abrupt, mirroring the album’s thematic restlessness[1][2]. - **Collaborative Spirit:** Guest appearances from Musiq Soulchild, Jill Scott, Talib Kweli, Cody ChesnuTT, and others add variety and texture to the album, without overshadowing the core band[4][5]. While the production is generally lauded for its creativity, some critics and listeners found the album’s soundscape occasionally cluttered or unfocused, especially on the more experimental tracks[3]. --- ## **Themes** *Phrenology* is thematically rich, exploring: - **Identity and Race:** The album’s title references the pseudoscience of phrenology, once used to justify racial discrimination. The Roots reclaim and subvert this imagery, using it as a metaphor for challenging stereotypes and expanding notions of Black identity[1][2][3]. - **The Evolution of Hip-Hop:** The Roots position themselves at a crossroads between tradition and innovation, paying homage to hip-hop’s pioneers while pushing the genre into new territory[1][2]. - **Mental Health and Addiction:** “Water” stands out as a candid exploration of addiction and its impact on relationships, a topic rarely addressed with such honesty in hip-hop[5]. - **Community and Legacy:** The album frequently references the broader lineage of Black music, situating The Roots within a continuum that includes jazz, soul, rock, and rap[3]. These themes are woven throughout the album’s lyrics, music, and artwork, making *Phrenology* a deeply conceptual work. --- ## **Influence** *Phrenology*’s influence is substantial: - **On Hip-Hop:** The album demonstrated that hip-hop could be both experimental and rooted in tradition, inspiring artists like Kanye West, OutKast, Kendrick Lamar, and Anderson .Paak to embrace live musicianship and genre fusion[1]. - **On Black Music:** By traversing multiple genres, The Roots asserted the centrality of Black creativity across musical forms, challenging the compartmentalization of Black artists[3]. - **Critical Acclaim:** The album was widely praised by critics, earning a Grammy nomination and inclusion in numerous “best of” lists. It remains a touchstone for artists seeking to innovate within hip-hop’s framework[4]. --- ## **Pros and Cons** | Pros | Cons | |------|------| | Bold, genre-defying experimentation | Abrupt stylistic shifts can disrupt cohesion | | Lyrically dense and thought-provoking | Some tracks may overwhelm casual listeners | | Exceptional musicianship and live instrumentation | Experimental tracks occasionally feel unfocused | | Strong guest features that complement the core band | Less commercial than its predecessor, *Things Fall Apart* | | Thematic depth and conceptual ambition | Not all risks pay off—some genre excursions are divisive | | Influential in expanding hip-hop’s possibilities | May alienate listeners expecting straightforward hip-hop | --- ## **Conclusion** *Phrenology* is a masterclass in artistic evolution and experimentation. The Roots leveraged their formidable musicianship, lyrical intelligence, and willingness to take risks to create an album that both honors and challenges the conventions of hip-hop. Its blend of genres, live instrumentation, and conceptual depth set a new standard for what hip-hop albums could achieve, influencing a generation of artists across genres. While its ambition sometimes leads to a lack of cohesion and accessibility, *Phrenology*’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. It remains essential listening for anyone interested in the evolution of hip-hop and the possibilities of Black music. Even two decades later, its impact and relevance endure, solidifying The Roots’ legacy as one of the genre’s most innovative and enduring acts.
had to do a double check to see if they're the same roots that play on Fallon, for some reason thought they'd be more jazz but a pleasant surprise!
not bad
I don't really know what to think of this album. It's fine enough and it's distinctive enough from a lot of other hip hop (though I know they don't use that label exclusively) albums to not just fall away beyond everyone else doing this, but I don't think it's particularly boundary pushing or really exceptional. The live drumming and instruments are cool but there are plenty of programmed (or digitally enhanced) beats on here that it's only really obvious when they live mic the drums or use the full band on the big hit "The Seed (2.0)". The rapping is pretty good; Black Thought has a great flow though he sometimes falls back on rap cliches, occasionally for a whole song ("Pussy Galore"). The features are fine, nothing really exceptional and I think Nelly Furtado in particular is wasted on the track she's on, despite being a good song. The artsy interludes and tracks are pretty shit. For a few minutes I thought "Water" would actually be a great use of ambient/environmental/experimental noise if it actually divided the album in to two halves, but it didn't at all, unless it was between the good half and the not good half. I liked "Sacrifice", "Thought@Work" and "Water" the most. The rest, meh.
To think quest love would be reduced to the drummer for Fallon.
Among the deepest and most important questions of our age, perhaps the most pressing is whether or not The Roots’ decision to become The Tonight Show’s house band forever altered their credibility as an underground hip-hop act. Perhaps we will never know in our lifetime. But it is hard to think of this as the same band who helps support Jimmy Fallon’s mid-tier antics on that show. And at the same time, that level of exposure has brought very worthy attention to their music. Questlove is now in the same circles as Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen. Does that negate this album? I don’t think so. But I’m happy that I knew this album before any of that happened. They will always be underground pioneers to me, no matter how many of them wind up in the dunk tank on national TV.
9/10 Some classic Hip-Hop right here. Black Thought has been one of my favorite artists to get into and this is my first The Roots album. Masterful lyrics with great storytelling within the verses. Thought was surgical with crafting this project and Questlove did a great job on the production as well. Almost perfect other than it being slightly long and the addition of “Thirsty” (I don’t think it fits in this tracklist). Favorite Tracks: *Break You Off*, *Pussy Galore*, Thought @ Work
Mid rap, too abrasive for me nothing worth listening to again
This is my first impression of The Roots and my god was it a good one. I am not a hip hop/rap girl and most likely never will be but I really enjoyed this album. I personally find that most of the genre sounds the exact same with incoherent mumbling over a decent beat, but that absolutely does not apply to these guys. These guys are amazing and there is no doubting that. Comparing this to other mainstream hip hop acts and albums of the early 2000s, The Roots sound very experimental, which instantly made them stand out in the crowd. Although they do take on some of the more 'typical' elements of the mainstream music, mainly being very conscious socially, it's their individual style that makes them so different. Every track sounds so experimental, and in a way they sound very unconventional. Some tracks stay true to the traditional sound of the genre, while others take on more of a rock, soulful sound, making them one of the diverse groups of the time. These guys really push the boundary and the demonstrate what rap could be like if acts didn't stay true to the traditional conventions of the genre.
Good album. Not my style but appreciate the musicality.
A classic hip hop album from The Roots. Not their best album, but still a banger overall. It’s funny reading the reviews on this 1001 Albums site, as you can tell the truly ignorant by using the typical hip hop criticisms that don’t even describe this album. But the dumb will be dumb, while The Roots will continue to bring the fire.
Phrenology is one of those albums that feels like it should hit harder than it does, especially coming from a group as talented and respected as The Roots. But truthfully, it’s just... okay. The standout track is undeniably “The Seed 2.0” it’s the one moment where the energy, creativity, and production come together to make something memorable. Beyond that, the rest of the album struggles to leave an impression. Even the beats and rhythms, which are usually The Roots' bread and butter, feel oddly uninspired here. It’s not a bad listen, but for me this one doesn’t quite measure up.
Some songs are fun. Feels like I’m listening to the radio in GTA.
an hour and seven minutes. :/
We get it. You make music for intellectuals. We get it.
Actually liked it way more than I expected to. Was ready for some spiritual lyrical miracle boom bap jazz rap but was pleasantly surprised at how pop-minded it was and the different sounds going on. Ultimately not the kind of rap album I will ever voluntarily listen to again but I COULD and I wouldn't hate it In other words 3/5 needs more Nettspend Fav song: Sacrifice
It’s interesting .. and I like interesting,weird things.. but not sure I’d listen again. Can 100% appreciate it as artistic though and they’re talented.
Enjoyed this album, varied beats and instrumentals with enough stand out tracks to come back to
oooooh nice intro! Super diggin the style man. Damn this shit hits hard! 5 stars!
listened to again real cool
this album is so good. It’s got great everything. Music, vocals, rapping. Dj. It’s too bad they are now the band for corny ass jimmy Fallon.
Erm, probably quite creative? Not for me though, thanks. I'll either go 2 or 1, I'll decide in the morning. I try to reserve 1* for records that actually have something wrong with them musically (rather than just those that I don't like) but, I dunno, it's a strong dislike. But it's not bland, and I guess it contributes.
I tried, I really did. I just don’t like rap.
Not terrible but I didn’t listen to all of it.
This is my first time hearing this and I thought it was pretty decent. I don’t anticipate putting it on again but it didn’t make my day any worse.
I like the neo-soul and jazz elements, and I have a lot of respect for the musicianship, but as a whole album, I really didn't get into it.
Incredible album. Some great catchy hits and some real experimental stuff like "Water". Black Thought and ?uestlove are just perfect together
Fun
I like The Roots, but this record really is all over the place. The best tracks are excellent, attempting to be The Prodigy, not so much.
It was dense and never boring.
Not really my cup of tea. There were some good tracks in "The Seed" and "Complexity". I found the beats messy and the vocal rhythms uninspired.
3 - Bland
When I was hazy/ tired in the morning both the name the roots and this album cover made me think it would be the 1000th boring nameless early 00’s indie rock album… boy I was very obviously wrong. Really it’s a hip hop album that is mostly quite experimental but some bits are a bit boring 3/5
I wanted to listen to this one for a while, and I’m glad I did. Great album
First listen for me, and as an old white guy, I mostly dug it.
Eeeeeh. This was fine I guess. I don't think it's the classic that people have told me it is all these years.
it's like rap music before it was boring annoying and all sounded the same. great stuff
I dont really like this song. When i think of hiphop this isint really what i imagined. Its mostly the lyrics throwing me off.
I rate The seed a 4 star because the instruments are good and the dynamics are good ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I rate water a 4 star because the instruments are good and the dynamics are good and water is healthy and its good ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I rate break you off a 4 star because the instruments are good and the dynamics are good.
Song: the seed this song is very weird i do not really like it Song: Water this song is okay i have no idea what it is talking about but i guess it is good i really do not recommend this song Song: break you off this is very weird and i dont really like this album and this album is to long i think it is like a 1 star
I like this album because the songs are very upbeat. I enjoy the genre of music as well.
I like this song because of the beat. I would recommend this song. I like this song because the start is good. I would recommend this song. I like this song because I like the tempo of his rap. I would recommend this song.
Do you want to listen to some music that has a lot of guitar? Well in The Seed (2.0) you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐. I kind of recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has a lot of percussion? Well in Water you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐. I kind of recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has a lot of drums? Well in Break You Off you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I recommend this song.
i like this song i like the beat and i like how they sing . i like the second song i like the beat and the singers sing good . i like the third song to for the same reasons . i recommend this album
I like this because I like the beat and his voice. I would recommend this to someone else because I think they would like it since its kinda more popular type of music. I give it 4 stars.
I don't like this album because its not a song I would listen too and I just don't like it the lyrics are kinda weird I wouldn't listen to it on a Dailey basics the second song I kinda like it it has a nice vibe to it so I kinda like it its somthing I would listen too the third song I don't like becasue it sounds weird and its not something I would listen too
i kinda like thus ablum the hip hop sounds kinda cool i like that its fast
the first song was bad I didn't like the music or anything the lyrics were bad oms like hello what r these songs when are the good songs gonna come on. the second song is alr the beat is okay ig n the lyrics r weird like oms I do not like these. the last song weird to I do not like it I don like da beat or the instruments or anything 0
I kinda like this album because the first song is ok but I wouldnt listen to it again most likely. The second song Water is also just okay but I'm not sure if I would listen to it again besides today. The third song is probably my favorite one out of all these songs and I maybe would listen to it again.
This was not for me at all. I’m really not that into rap and this just did nothing for me. All I wanted was for it to end. Find it kinda wild that these guys are now the house band for the one of the whitest guys alive in Jimmy Fallon.
Maybe my favourite so far, the variety is insane.
pretty good! like the art and a lot of the songs
Okay. Not my favorite genre, but different
Enjoyed this, the rhythm section in particular stands out to me, great drumming and groovy bass. The lyrics are varied and touch on all kinds of areas and it's all very listenable, if that doesn't sound a back handed compliment Not quite consistent enough for 5 but a solid 4 to me
Favorite Track: Thirsty!
Yeah this was a cool, varied, ambitious album and I am excited to try out the other one that's on the lists.
No private session used for Spotify. Uncomfortable use of the N word. Music was a bit annoying. I wasn't desperate for this album to end, but I did welcome it.
Ooh... I can get behind this. I guess I like the Roots now. Who would've known that the band that plays for Jimmy Fallon would make music this good. I'm not really a fan of Jimmy Fallon. He's not the worst late night host. Hell, he's not even the worst late night Jimmy. But compared to someone like Conan O'Brien who is a literal blessing on humanity, Fallon just kind of exists. The Roots are cool though. This is their 2002 album Phrenology. I really like it! The style is pretty cool. The instrumentation from the band itself is pretty nice to see. Sometimes it's a bit overpowering in the mix, but that's not a huge issue. Black Thought's rapping is pretty solid. I like his style. Not only can he rap, but he definitely has enough, well, thought to make these songs feel like they actually mean something. The writing is good, as are the songs themselves. The balance and variety are quite good. The vibes are nice. The album has strong variety, which I always like. The fact that this isn't even considered their best album has me intrigued to possibly check out some of their other stuff. Good album. Strong 4/5. EDIT: I have a newfound respect for Jimmy Kimmel, so Fallon actually is the worst late night Jimmy after all. At least he made the Roots more popular.
Roots phrenology Cool album- Way more experimental than I expected: Favorite songs were the ones with the guest singers -I think I prefer the more melodic stuff to the rapping. Some Really cool instrumental grooves Favorite song the seed: complexity, something in the way of things, break you off, Least favorite:thirsty, rock you
Liked this a lot more than i thought i would. Some of the grooves are pretty sick. Love the production and drum sounds. Definitely more interesting/experimental than i expected.
Some parts of this are really cool. HOWEVER, then I joined the band, one of the first songs I had to sing was The Seed. I think it’s one of the worst songs ever and so with that, I can’t give this a great rating.
Pretty good. One banger!
The Roots are always kind of a conundrum for me. The idea of a band backed hip hop group is great, but sometimes I feel like they fall flat on albums. This is still good, but it’s just missing something to make it truly great. 3.5/5 Might listen again
this is overall pretty good, but i find it to be much more uneven and unfocused than Things Fall Apart, and i can't really fathom the rationale behind including this over that album
So mid
It's fine but not very interesting to me.
Has this underlying earthiness to it. Like it has…roots.
Not a fan.
I know of the Roots but never listened to any of their music before. Some songs had a great flow, but others were irritating enough that I hated them. Definitely overlong in my opinion, but for listeners more into the Hiphop genre I can see this being much more palatable. 2/5
I might have a longer piece in me on this, but I'm putting the note here Phrenology is to The Roots what Ill Communication is to the Beastie Boys
Not the Roots' good ones
Nice beats. But, as always, with this kind of music based on the lyrics, It just doesn't speak to me. Some interesting beats here and there but nothing really that excites me. Without the music being interesting, I couldn't care less about the lyrics.
strano ma interessante
flowy. bops. jazzy. Fav Songs: Sacrifice Rolling the heat Quills Pussy Galore
Kinda Repetitive
This album starts out so strong in the first half but then starts to wander on the back half with songs that run on too long. Solid album but could use a little trimming
Not my usual style but I liked Rolling With Heat the most.
Not my style, but a couple of good ones, will relisten
weird ahh attention grabbing intro right into pure rap gold. Lyric, tone and flow are good and occasionally great. At this point in my music journey I've had the pleasure of listening to some truly groundbreaking flow, beats, and lyrics, and while Roots are excellent, I'm not sure that this is the album of theirs that I needed to hear before I die! It's pretty hard to beat Do You Want More???!?! Like others have mentioned, this album is stylistically all over the place. I like each song individually, though I gotta say the album flow is not smooth and they definitely could have had a better flow in and out of genres. I also wish they'd taken a longer journey down the thrash punk of !!!!!. Overall the one thread that is pulled at consistently throughout the album is the addition of the ambient/house style electronica lurking behind the flows. I enjoyed that overall. Roots, like a lot of Black rappers, call out their bigoted listeners hard. I love the sentiment though I've always wondered why this is so common, because the people who need that message are the least likely to listen to the artists who would call them out period, much less dig into lyrical meaning. All the same I hope their message reaches people. I love love Rolling with Heat, it's the exact type of testosterone packed energy that I'm most attracted to, and Roots absolutely kill it. They aren't even super misogynist about it either. I also adore the shout track Thought@Work, as a scientist I love to say I'm standing on the shoulders of giants, you love to see the Roots acknowledge this too right before breaking into arguably the best song on the album. They are part of an entire legacy, a dynasty, and they know it and they cherish it. Then they turn it up even more by rolling Thought@Work right into The Seed, version 2, upgraded, polished, gilded. Absolutely beautiful song. Then right into the smoothness of Break You Off. Then cranking up the pace and bringing back the energy with Water. Interesting that halfway through the album they're starting to merge styles and genres much more gracefully. Another fave late on the album is Pussy Galore.
Okay, this one is tricky. Objectively, yes, this is a good album. But, good lord does it drone on and on, and when you realize, "Oh man, Thought is gonna rap for the entire duration of a bunch of 3 to 4 minutes songs." You start to dread the albums over an hour runtime. I love Black Thought, but good lord can he rap for a long time.
I love it when hip hop is performed with live music backing it and I really like Questlove, but I wasn't into this so much. I guess I didn't connect with it.
A really good album with a few down moments, usually outside of the formal songs. Not my favorite Roots album, but it's still really good.
Top notch. Will be listening to their discography. The randomness at the end, the different genres they put into it. Super excited this opened me to them.
Cool interesting rap
Phenomenal album. From start to finish.
Absolutely essential. Black Thought is so fucking good. And it has Nelly fucking Furtado.
The Roots go off, tight as all hell while still reeling off multiple 6 to 10 minute long jams, and scoring a monster single in "The Seed (2.0)" along the way. But don't sleep on the rest of the album, you got a hot Talib Kweli collaboration here in "Rolling With Heat", and Black Thought shows off and out on "Thought @ Work", and an interpolation of a Swing Out Sister song on the excellent "Quills", this has everything!
You're listening to 99.8ADHD, the only radio station that wait your oven is still running. Coming up, the absolute highest highs and truly the lowest lows - Thirsty will make you feel ten years younger, and Water will rip those years right away again. This album is unreviewable. It's an anomaly. It's fuckin good shit, except when it's dogwater.
Rhythmically intricate
The Roots used to be so much more enjoyable before Fallon made them too damn corny. Great listen!
3.5
Gritty and dynamic and here and there funky as all get out, with considerable sweet swinging, too and a heart in the right (historically-conscious) place, but too sprawling and ambitious to land with maximum impact (or coherence) on every cut. One wants to like it more than one actually does because man are their hearts are in it and man are they trying hard (too hard at some points). Still, this is vastly better than much of the rock-rap dross that was produced before (looking at you In Living Colour) or the chart-topping junk that came along at about the same time (looking at you Linkin Park). "The Seed" and "Break You Off" are best cuts. "Complexity" also good, likely because of its more straightforward soul music vibes. One admires some of the experimentation (or noodling diletantte-ism) more than one actually enjoys it (e.g., "Water"), a simulacrum of the album's overall effect: that is to say one digs this much less than one admires Questlove (though of course the clean, driving rhytms are a strength here). Whoever thought it a good idea to end with a song that sounds like a Prodigy outtake ought not be involved with the Roots anymore. That's exhibit A in the curse of '90s albums (excessive length because you could) lingering into the new decade and millenium.
It’s alright
first roots album and it didn’t disappoint. 👏👏
Not the best Roots album, its okay. Brings in elements of other genres (Soul, techno, rock) into hip-hop, with mixed results. Standouts: The Seed 2.0, Sacrifice
own
Not my type of music. Some of the instrumental sections and singing was nice, but overall the rap ruined anything good about it for me.
The Roots have better albums.
I want to give this more stars - but the second half drags and is up and down. On a whole this is musically all over the place - and I mean that in the best possible way. These guys are doing it all and mainly successful. But as I said the back half is a drag beyond a couple of songs and the last track is painful.
Det giver mening at det er det her album, der er med (det er den med hittet!), men synes den er et godt stykke for lang og rodet. De skulle have sat Things Fall Apart på i stedet!
Super fedt hvis jeg sammenligner med andre hiphop plader på listen fra den tid, varierede beats, lød godt. Alt for lang, obvsly
The Seed 2.0 is an obvious banger and is the reason this album gets 2 stars.. This album was all over the place and I did not appreciate the techno in the end..
This is pretty good. So some 2000s rap records are actually good wow. Light 4
The Roots' "Phrenology" is a bold exploration into the size and shape of music, featuring an eclectic mix primarily rooted in hip hop, while also incorporating elements of rock, jazz, neo-soul, and even touches of EDM and shoegaze. The album's standout feature is the band's exceptional musical talent and their ability to play various styles and genres. Notably, all percussion and beats are performed live, while avoiding excessive sampling. The tracks I enjoyed most are "The Seed 2.0," "Sacrifice," and "Rolling With Heat." While the album's musical exploration is largely successful, there are moments when it seems to hinder creating a fully cohesive listening experience.
Mülltonne kann gleich offen bleiben! Weg damit!
Phrenology. Wow, what a celebrated, self-assured lapse of wisdom we took seriously for a while. I mean studying the scull with calipers, not The Roots. I get it, I'm not the best qualified to comment since I completely missed this record to this point. 'The Roots' made me think of roots blues, like the Black Keys, not such ardently composed and eclectic kaleidoscope of rhythmic and tonal excursions. I freely grant their well of inventiveness is not shallow and their message seems not to be spiritually virulent. I mean - they're not lazy with the beats and they don't get all toxic about their grievances, and they mix it all up, probably with some roots blues in there too.
i’m not a big fan
Banger