The Roots
How I Got Over
Def Jam
Jun 29, 2010
Web Exclusive
When The Roots signed on to be the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, it promised to be the first domino to fall in the famously accomplished band’s evolution from hyper-competent musical innovators to near-ubiquitous NPR-friendly hip-hop stars. After all, can you imagine Public Enemy showing up five nights a week to trade jokes with Jay Leno? But The Roots assuredly have charted their own path over the past 23 years, steadfastly expanding their lyrical and thematic scope while simultaneously broadening their commercial appeal. In 2010, if any act can descend in the belly of mainstream entertainment and emerge clean of contamination, it’s them. How I Got Over is the sound of a band not ready to compromise.
Following 2008’s uniformly overcast Rising Down —at the time reported to be the band’s final album —The Roots push the pendulum toward collaboration and eclecticism with their ninth studio release. Drawing on outside MCs (Dice Raw, Truck North, Peedi Peedi) and a surprising number of indie rock royalty (Joanna Newsom, Monsters of Folk, Dirty Projectors), it’s arguably their leanest, most economic release, using smoky jazz flourishes, aching soul, and lushly arranged backdrops to glide through a tight 14-song set. Despite the cast of guests, this is still The Roots’ show, as Newsom and the Dirty Projectors’ female chorus end up being unobtrusive supporting players more than centerpiece collaborators, and they lift the hook from Monsters of Folk’s “Dear God” and replace its quiet longing with frustrated questioning. A bit slight to be among their best handful of releases, it’s still their most immediate, another album that transcends any attempts at categorization. (www.theroots.com)
Author rating: 7/10
Average reader rating: 8/10
Current Issue
Issue #70
Nov 18, 2022 Issue #70 - My Favorite Movie (Sharon Van Etten and Ezra Furman)
Most Recent
- 10 Best Songs of the Week: Geese, Hannah Jadagu, Lael Neale, Mega Bog, and More (News) — Songs of the Week, Geese, Hannah Jadagu, Lael Neale, Mega Bog, Caroline Rose, Bully, Westerman, Noel Gallagher, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Bernice, Wednesday
- 20% Off Subscriptions This Week as Under the Radar’s New Issue is Shipping Soon (News) —
- Great Expectations (Review) —
- Rianne Downey @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester, UK, 23rd March, 2023 (Review) — Rianne Downey
- Premiere: Constant Follower and Scott William Urquhart Share Single “Watching The Black River Run” (News) — Scott William Urquhart
Comments
Submit your comment
September 4th 2011
2:14pm
Some time before, I did need to buy a house for my firm but I did not earn enough money and could not purchase anything. Thank goodness my sister adviced to try to take the credit loans at creditors. Hence, I acted so and was happy with my financial loan.
September 19th 2011
2:19pm
Don’t have cash to buy a house? You should not worry, just because that is achievable to take the business loans to work out such kind of problems. So get a sba loan to buy everything you need.
March 8th 2012
11:58pm
what an awesome site. Your information helps me with my studies. I am going to school and I have a school assignment to produce. I was most likely going to get custom essay on politics over the web, however right now your web page has helped me manage freelance writers block and so i feel as though I could proceed on my own. Appreciate it all for this great materials.
August 22nd 2012
9:02am
The mortgage loans suppose to be essential for people, which want to organize their own career. In fact, it is very easy to receive a sba loan.
February 13th 2013
5:28pm
Qualified college essay writing service is , if you view our home page and purchase perfectly composed custom essay from the reliable company of writers.
March 25th 2013
4:24am
Check out our Essaysservice company if you have a great desire to buy an essay online and drink in the whole beauty our professional academic writing help.
March 28th 2013
11:50am
When I found myself in a desperate need to submit my research paper I was nervous as I could not create it on time. However, my mate advised using custom writing service and buy school essays goldessays.com from them.
September 21st 2013
6:51am
Click here if you are in need to purchase writing services uk.
September 21st 2013
9:15am
Consequently, people ask questions like: “In what way should I compelte my paper?”, “Who is able to help me compelte my academic paper?”, “Should I say someone to compelte my essay?” or “Could it be worth to buy essay?”. Thus, I should say that seems to be worth to look for support at writing services!
September 24th 2013
9:33am
Purchasing custom papers on the Internet is very popular procedure, because a lot of sophomores are overloaded to develop Narrative Essay; so they get in contact with superior service that provides them with excellent academic writing help.
September 24th 2013
9:34am
Have been given a task to write History Essay but you have no idea how to do this? Get in contact with the most respectful writing centre online.