Amazon.com If you were wondering what the heck phrenology means, the Roots wouldn't have it any other way. Hip-hop's hardest-working live band continues where they left off with Things Fall Apart, forcing listeners to think outside of the Hot 97 FM box--or just plain think. On "Thought at Work," lead emcee Black Thought--the most criminally underrated wordsmith of his time--weaves captivating flows over a neck-snapping break beat, while on "Water" he boldly addresses the controversy surrounding his partner-in-rhyme Malik B's alleged substance abuse. While collaborations with Nelly Furtado ("Sacrifice") and Talib Kweli ("Rhymes and Ammo") read much better on paper than they sound, the catchy, up-tempo call-and-response routine utilized by the crew on the latter song will amp up Roots nonbelievers. As a bonus, Jill Scott's dreamy falsetto refrain hammers home some finer points about love on "Complexity." --Dalton Higgins
Customer Reviews:
ExcellentSeptember 1, 2008 Ryan Sarno(Philadelphia) It always astonishes me that Phrenology only has a 4/5 rating on Amazon. I'm am going to chalk that up to this album being widely popular and the scores of uninitiated listeners who were introduced to the Roots by this album. I consider this their best album, although I'd accept an argument for Illadelph Halflife as well.
Phrenology is stunningly good. The music, lyrics, narrative, and presentation are beyond anything else available in the genre. "The Seed 2.0" and "Break You Off" are indeed genre benders. The psychadelic half of "Water" is a brainscrew and it can run with anything Pink Floyd and Hendrix could conjure up in the late 60s (that is high praise from me). "Something in the Way of Things" still drags me in neck deep. The Roots (especially Black Thought) have a propensity for dark and thought-provoking music that is often depressing. There is a calm confidence evident in the music that makes Phrenology a less exhausting listen than Halflife or Rising Down.
This is one of the better albums of the past ten years.
Put down the Lil' Wayne CD and let your mind go.....May 8, 2008 Jake Allen(Las Vegas) I am a liberal and openminded fan of music in general. The Roots and this release by The Roots are not just some of the best hip hop has to offer; they are some the best MUSIC the world over has to offer. These guys have many great albums, and in my opinion, the greatest musical talents grow and evolve with each release; giving a unique listening experience with every album. If you are looking for the same sound as "illadelph" or any of their other previous works, which stand alone with greatness, you are not giving yourself a chance to truly experience this great album as well as many others. I'm not going to tell you what songs to listen to here; just listen to the whole thing. I listen to many genres of music and I've come to pigeonhole artists only as great musicians or not. This is great music, this is a great album...enjoy.
Way too eclectic for me.November 23, 2007 Dri the Complex Lonely(USA) 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I fully enjoyed Break You Off, The Seed (2.0), Complexity (Their best song EVER), P.U.S.S.Y. Galore and Something In The Way Of Things which is quirky and scary. VERY scary sounding.
For that it gets a 3 star rating.
The production is on point for these songs. I like their lyrics for the most part too. Black Thought seems to be very intelligent. But I can't get past the fact that this CD is just too weird for me to listen to it regularly. Things Fall Apart was the same way, except it wasn't *this* weird!
3.4 stars.
I love this albumJuly 27, 2007 Ms. Meredith K. Tips-mclaine Rn(Windham, VT) 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Had it, lost it, bought it again, still love it just as much as I did originally.
Caught up in a....mix up of....Phrenology.January 23, 2007 2 out of 5 found this review helpful
This album by The Roots is mix bag of songs. I totally like it when artists do different stuff and keep tight. Tracks like Quills and Break You Off (Musiq) keep it real and have tha groove. But sadly this album goes in a mix of....uhm $#%@. Why would they do something like Sacrifice(Nelly Furtado= weak artist) and a crappy track take it back.Plus the Rock You over and over and over again Yuck!! Overall not a good/bad album just a little odd.
