Review: The Roots - Rising Down
Thursday
Released: 29 April 2008
Label: Def Jam
Website: theroots.com
Listen to this album Free on Last.fm
Artist:
The Roots are a hip hop band from Philadelphia and present their 8th studio album 'Rising Down' along with the single Rising Up released at the same time. The Roots are infamous worldwide with their unique beats which have won a significant amount of awards since formation in 1994.
Opinion:
Rising Down does not appeal to me, no matter how many times I listen over and over - I just can't get into it. For a start, the 'Intro' doesn't introduce shit and the whole album seems to have it's sample loops based on "bass, snare snare, bass, snare snare", with rap just thrown over the top. I cannot stress enough how boring and unimaginative these background loops are throughout the entire album - then again they are a hip hop band, so it's not your everyday beat.
The album doesn't appear to possess any characteristics from past classics by The Roots such as Don't say nuthin' and Guns are drawn, regardless of the mass number of feature artists, seen on almost every track - they don't bring much extra into the music at all.
Rising Down is really nothing special.
Track Highlights:
Criminal (featuring Truck North & Saigon)
The chorus of this track is smooth and flows well but it still isn't perfect
Rising Up (featuring Wale & Chrisette Michele)
Excellent choice of single - Chrisette brings balance and a taste of soul to the track
Tracks that suck - big time:
Rising Down (featuring Mos Def & Styles P)
Mos Def was great in Black Star, but this track is far from interesting. That "hello hello hello" thing is REALLY getting on my nerves
Get Busy (featuring Dice Raw & Peedi Peedi)
So much overused bass, sounds like a mash of disorganised sounds
I Can't Help It (featuring Malik B., Porn, Mercedes Martinez & Dice Raw)
What the hell is this?
The Show (feat. Common & Dice Raw)
I'm a huge fan of Common but this track is really repetitive and boring
Overall:
Even though The Roots have a huge fanbase, the hip hop 'band' concept isn't for everyone...
With so many feature artists, you'd think they were trying to hide something. Surely
Some other reviewers have said 'there will be no other band like The Roots" - I say: let's hope it stays that way
The Roots have had their spotlight many years ago, this album proves we should move on
Breezy Rating: 2 out of 5
If you liked The Roots, you may also like:
Malik B. (solo), De La Soul, Mos Def
0 comments:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
 |
 |
 |
