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Amazon.co.uk Review
Slime and Reason presents an altogether more cheery Rodney Smith to the troubled soul we met on 2005's Awfully Deep, a record that found its creator battling depression and fighting demons from the psychiatrist's chair. Indeed, lead-off single "Buff Nuff" is possibly Roots Manuva's plain silliest track to date, a wobbly dancehall number produced by Sheffield newcomer Toddla T. Elsewhere on Slime and Reason, though, we find Roots Manuva seeking a happy mid-point between gloom and frivolity, musing on life and love with his unique philosophy of world-wearied wisdom, fire-and-brimstone religion, and sly British humour. "Again and Again" is one of Roots' finest tracks to date, a bumping British digi-reggae cut featuring a cameo from Ricky Ranking. "Let the Spirit Move You", produced by Metronomy's Joseph Mount, is balmy electro-pop in a minor key. And "It's Me Oh Lord" finds Smith revisting his past as the child of a Pentecostal preacher, a chilly gospel number swathed in thick, gloopy synthesiser, heavy with spiritual musings. Slime and Reason might be diverse in tone, but it's the sort of record that allows a talent like Smith to show off his range, and on this evidence, there's few who can touch him. ––Louis Pattison
Review
Three years on from the darkness that was Awfully Deep, Stockwell's Rodney Smith returns. In an genre rife with up-and-coming MCs all vying to knock the crown from the head of current rulers of the mic, such a gap may seem like a suicidal career move. But when you're as original, interesting and well, deep as Mr Manuva the usual rules don't apply. Slime & Reason should shut up any young pretenders out there, at least for a while.
Of course another reason for the hiatus has been Smith's not-so-private battles with his own demons. Those worried that his flow has been...erm...blunted by indulgence will be relieved at the first play of this many-sided album. Jauntily bringing a hefty slice of Studio One deep end and dancehall smarts to the opener Over And Over, it seems like Roots has had time to lighten up as well. That's not to say that he doesn't address personal issues. It's Me Oh Lord details his struggles trying to preach the gospels of truth and light. The pentecostal strand learned in childhood rings as loud as ever here. And On I'm A New Man he makes atonement for past indulgences.
As if to signal his awareness of the post-pubescent competition he does upgrade the sound somewhat. There are more burbling analogue synth sounds and the mix is sparser, relying on the bass to carry you through. Oddly it's this head nodding towards newer hybrids that mark the album's low points. The Toddla T-assisted Buff Nuff visits the same priapic territory that Dizzee Rascal's recently visited. But urban music's about asserting your pedigree and as he points out in that fabulous mocknee growl on Well Alright, "They got a little chatter but they got no brain". Elsewhere the string-led R'n'B of A Man's Talk is merely too squarely hip hop compared to the other delights on offer here.
But it's really the Carribean flvours of the hilarious Do Nah Bodda Mi or the dubwise Well Alright that show that his pen is just as sharp as it was. As always, the man serves up a blinding mixture of fun, doomy retribution, guilt-ridden dread and loping oddness. Welcome back Rodney... --Chris Jones
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Manuva's bizarrely titled fourth album is more accessible than some of his previous work. More overtly laid-back and with a dancehall-oriented flavour it is a quirky and ruminative effort that is chock-full of cheerily danceable tracks. Outstanding opener 'Again and Again' will have you swaying along and the album continues in this vein throughout. First single 'Buff Nuff' is a faintly daft but eminently catchy dancehall flavoured song, and 'Well Alright' showcases Manuva's range and new-found optimism in style. A great album with only one or two mediocre tracks.
20 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
South London's finest Rooty-Toot Maunva (aka Rodney Smith) is back with his fourth and most varied album yet. 3 years since his last release proper, Roots Manuva has shown he is an artist who hasn't been afraid to experiment with his sound, implementing a host of influences from the classic roots-reggae to electro; analogue dub to rocksteady funk. His ability to fuse these base elements into a product that is undeniably his own has led to his music being instantly recognisable, what with the warping dub-plates and skanking electroid melodics. Add to this his sharp, patois-tinged, tongue-in-cheek lyrics that address issues from the music industry to urban society, gal-dem to relationships, and you have the proof behind why Roots is deservedly one of the UK's biggest hip-hop stars.
With `Slime & Reason', Roots ability to craft catchy skeletal melodies out of fractured beats and warped sonic's has reached a new level. From the entrancing Dr Dre meets Burial tuneage of `The Show Must Go On' to the analog synth-attack of `It's Me Oh Lord' he injects a danceable aesthetic into already animated soundscapes. The superhero leftfield jazz-hop of `Well Alright' is like The Herbaliser meets a stripped down Cinematic Orchestra at a New Flesh concert, whilst the sidewinding 8-bit melody and out-of-sync bass burble of `Do 4 Self' proves to be an entrancing backing to Roots energetic and on-point flowage. Not content to rest on his laurels, Roots injects a wider range of Caribbean-influences into his sound, influences which are distorted and molded into the playful yet focused Manuva aesthetic. `Again + Again' is playfully ruptured calypso complete with rastafied Elephant Man-esque flows whilst `Buff Nuff' is a dirty piece of pounding bashment designed for mega-bumper shakage with its repetitively engaging choral section and fluttering tribal percussion. On `Let The Spirit', he carves out a wonderfully tranced-out 90's arcade-game synth and burbling bass oozes to create a dark and progressive instrumental for his powerful vocals.
Roots Manuva's previous albums have been (ever-so-slightly) blighted by some lazy word-play as in some tracks his flows have been less than rhythmic and are reduced down to talking pace, thus not triggering off any energy. With `Slime & Reason', his verbage is perfectly aligned to the beatscapes, accelerating and decelerating with the beats to create smooth-flowing energy as well as consistency. This alongside the matured arrangements and (trademark) warm analog production techniques have led to a lavish and challenging album which is sure to delight fans of old and invite newcomers. Although there is no epic stand-out track like `Motion 5000', the release ultimately proves to be an extremely consistent long-player which continually impresses with its exciting variety, meticulously crafted and interesting beatscapes and focused, tongue-in cheek rhyming. (AM)
For fans of: The Herbaliser, New Flesh for Old, Skinnyman
With `Slime & Reason', Roots ability to craft catchy skeletal melodies out of fractured beats and warped sonic's has reached a new level. From the entrancing Dr Dre meets Burial tuneage of `The Show Must Go On' to the analog synth-attack of `It's Me Oh Lord' he injects a danceable aesthetic into already animated soundscapes. The superhero leftfield jazz-hop of `Well Alright' is like The Herbaliser meets a stripped down Cinematic Orchestra at a New Flesh concert, whilst the sidewinding 8-bit melody and out-of-sync bass burble of `Do 4 Self' proves to be an entrancing backing to Roots energetic and on-point flowage. Not content to rest on his laurels, Roots injects a wider range of Caribbean-influences into his sound, influences which are distorted and molded into the playful yet focused Manuva aesthetic. `Again + Again' is playfully ruptured calypso complete with rastafied Elephant Man-esque flows whilst `Buff Nuff' is a dirty piece of pounding bashment designed for mega-bumper shakage with its repetitively engaging choral section and fluttering tribal percussion. On `Let The Spirit', he carves out a wonderfully tranced-out 90's arcade-game synth and burbling bass oozes to create a dark and progressive instrumental for his powerful vocals.
Roots Manuva's previous albums have been (ever-so-slightly) blighted by some lazy word-play as in some tracks his flows have been less than rhythmic and are reduced down to talking pace, thus not triggering off any energy. With `Slime & Reason', his verbage is perfectly aligned to the beatscapes, accelerating and decelerating with the beats to create smooth-flowing energy as well as consistency. This alongside the matured arrangements and (trademark) warm analog production techniques have led to a lavish and challenging album which is sure to delight fans of old and invite newcomers. Although there is no epic stand-out track like `Motion 5000', the release ultimately proves to be an extremely consistent long-player which continually impresses with its exciting variety, meticulously crafted and interesting beatscapes and focused, tongue-in cheek rhyming. (AM)
For fans of: The Herbaliser, New Flesh for Old, Skinnyman
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
My my my oh my. Now I've listened to Brand New Second Hand and Run Come Save Me and forever they will remain absoloutely tip-top hip-hop from any nation, yet only two weeks after getting a hold of a big jar of green highest grade slime Im locked on...big time. Virtually every track is absoloute. Mr Smith doesn't half present a rare old mixed bag of styles that works superbly well from dancehall to dubstep, bouncy hip-hop to better versions of the angry stuff from the Awfully Deep record.
Hey if you can splash the cash just buy this cd because if you're a fan or encountering Mr Rodney Smith for the first time you'll think this is the dog's dangly bits.
Hey if you can splash the cash just buy this cd because if you're a fan or encountering Mr Rodney Smith for the first time you'll think this is the dog's dangly bits.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Let tha Spirit Move Ya
Roots has progressed further into dub for much of the album, and while that's not necessarily a bad thing, it's not what I'm feeling. Read more
Published 4 months ago by The Red Hood
Patchy
I love Roots Manuva and I was really looking forward to this coming out but I can't lie - it was a disappointment. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr. R. M. Tyson
do i have to enter a title for the review
roots manuva on fine form i reckon, get it, british rap is so underrated, and so much better than us rap, well part from mos def talib kweli, and a few others, but on a par!
Published on 9 Dec 2009 by Mr. O. Dyson
bad news
Sorry to drop this on anyone who's looking forward to a great new album from roots manuva based on the so-far glowing amazon reviews, but this is a very bad album. Read more
Published on 24 Dec 2008 by Samson Harper
best british hip-hop album by a mile
I've been a fan of Roots Manuva for a while but it only took me one listen to be sure this is the best thing he's ever done. It hasn't been off my stereo since. Read more
Published on 18 Sep 2008 by Mark Smith
The best album yet!!!
This is the best album Roots Manuva has done to date. Even better than 'dare i say it' Run Come Save Me. Buy this album you wont be disapointed.
Published on 7 Sep 2008 by craig roberts
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