The Roots: undun (2012)

(Def Jam)

RECOMMENDED

There’s no better measure of the increasingly broad influence of college rock than its presence on the last couple of Roots albums. 2010’s How I Got Over included guest spots from Joanna Newsom and Monsters of Folk, while this low-key new release is purportedly inspired by Sufjan Stevens’ “Redford,” a pretty cut buried on Michigan. The other trend in recent Roots projects, though, completely overwhelms all else: a fascination with stark ‘70s soul. The pounding pianos and downbeat What’s Going On arrangements ebb and flow underneath Black Thought’s usual brilliant verses, plus such fine guests as Big KRIT, Bilal, and Stevens himself on piano.

There’s always a caveat on recent Roots LPs; in this case it’s the socially charged “concept album” formula, another byproduct of the ‘70s. The time devoted to the Redford “character,” a troubled, unlucky everyman we meet upon his death Sunset Blvd style, is just another distraction from the consistent musical greatness of the Roots and especially Black Thought, one of America’s most articulate and underrated MCs. There’s nothing wrong with being artful, but the Roots are best when they drop the costume drama and let loose.

[Note: Though this is a 2011 release technically, it showed up so late that I'd already compiled my end-of-year lists; it'll be in consideration for at least the "liked" list at the end of 2012. The year in the title is off by one for cataloging purposes. FYI.]

[SEE ALSO:]
Rising Down (2008)