If you get a chance, do please take a gander at my review, in Wednesday’s Village Voice, of the Roots’ new, this-is-the-way-the-world-ends-ish album, Rising Down, above.
“Get Busy,” the first single, burns like the bombing of MOVE, mating a weighty kick-and-snare to a morbid chorus of fuzzy synth drones. “My squad half-Mandrill, half-Mandela,” rapper Black Thought intones. “My band ’bout 70 strong, just like Fela.” Coupled with guest lyrical maestros Dice Raw (“I’m half-dead/Never felt more alive”; “I’m kinda W.E.B. DuBois meets Heavy D & the Boyz”) and the reedy Peedi Crack, the whole fest bristles with the nervous energy of riot control on dust.
It’s a jaunty read, if I, myself, say so. Enjoy!
2 comments ↓
I just wanted to say that listening to the blogger’s roundtable on NPR has inspired me to start a modest little blog with a long name. lol Her segment has turned me onto people like yourself. I posted your review of Rising Down on my page. I just wanted to say that I’m a fan.
The album is amazing, but am I wrong to want less of the new crew and more Black Thought?
Leave a Comment