How I Got Over [Clean, Import]

Having no real idea what the Roots mean when they describe their new album "How I got over" as "depicting the everyman's search for hope in this dispiriting post-hope zeitgeist" should not detract you from its brilliance. This seminal Philadelphia hip hop band, formed in the late eighties by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson have produced nine fine albums (including an outright classic "Things fall apart") and are about as far from hip hop run of the mill braggadocio as you can get. Indeed check out the comments on the US Amazon site and the words "sell out" and "just make a rock album" are emblazoned on some angry reviews by those who do not like the progression the band is taking. Quite why some music fans want a band to make the same album over and over again remains one of life's great mysteries. Granted we must fully recognise that "rock music" does figure throughout "How I got over" with guest spots from various Dirty Projectors on the truly lovely jazzy opener "A piece of light", and samples drawn from Monsters of Folk and Johanna Newsom (how eclectic is that?), but in the final analysis this is a clearly definable and groundbreaking hip hop album albeit with a melancholy heart and a powerful view about our tough times.

The highlights come fast and thick.

- The sampling of Monsters of Folk "Dear God" works a treat since the Jim James original had a hip hop underpinning which is properly drawn out in The Roots version and the track broadly stays faithful to the original but with a rap which highlights impending ecological and economic disaster. A sort of hip hop "What's goin on"

- "Walk alone" ft Black Thought. Truck North, Porn and Dice Raw starts with loud piano chords, a storming rap and a hook laden chorus that echoes a phrase about "walking alone". It conveys that sort of urban atmosphere that Gil Scott Heron captures so brilliantly on his albums.

- The song "The Fire" featuring John Legend has single written all over it and could be a monster hit.

- You don't think that Joanna Newsom's voice would work in a hip hop song? Check out "Right on" which is classic rap duelling combined with the eerie sample of Newsom interspersing the Roots masters.

- "How I got over" - is a stunning hip hop crossover which sounds like a mix of Steely Dan and Curtis Mayfield. It is truly fabulous and the download starting point for the curious.

- "Now or never" is pure city beats and a rap/soul song of huge force infused with brilliant pop sensibilities.

Not unlike the music of The Roots this review is about highlighting samples but this is no substitute for listening to the unified whole of this exceptionally mature and polished album from a legendary outfit. Over the glorious sunshine weekend of late June 2010 this album has soundtracked just about every move and action in this humble abode and parameters beyond. As an album it clocks in at a relatively short 42 minutes which is almost a "single" when you bear in mind that previous Roots albums have been very long. The great news however is there is not a wasted minute to be found on here and after listening to this album by the these master musicians you sense a bar has been raised which others may not be able to get over.

Still at the head of the game, The Roots produce consistantly good,rhythmic,intelligent,technical hip-hop.Aided by a lot of guest artists this album is one of the most soulful hip-hop jazz albums I have ever heard.Long may they keep pushing the boundaries of this artform without the mindless,raccist,sexist drivel of gangsta rap.If you like real Hip Hop like the late great,pioneering J.Dilla (a tribute track is on this set)along with acts like Talib Kweli,Dilated Peoples,Jurrasic 5 and Common then you will definately rate this album very highly.Buy it.

The Roots are back again..

The album flows very nicely and generally has a lighter tone than the last LP. Black thoughts lyrics are as strong as ever. The samples used are very clever and give an example of the Roots thinking outside of the box to tell a story (as per usual). This is an essential purchase for anyone interested in this wiley band of brothers.