The Roots‘ newest album, Rising Down, was just released yesterday. And on the heels of a clutch of great videos, we here at Philebrity have been hotly anticipating the record — although it’s a dark one, to be sure. Much like we did with Man Man’s Rabbit Habits, Philebrity regulars Joey Sweeney and Doug Wallen listened to the album in full together; a full transcript of their conversation follows after the jump, along with videos and streaming tracks from the album.

JS: 3 2 1 Start! Track 1: “The Pow Wow”

DW: Hmmm, samples.

JS: OK, this record starts off with some recorded conversation of apparently some drama happening inside the Roots camp.

DW: The cloak of darkness drops. This is a record about conflict.

JS: This is some bummer shit that I do not wanna be a part of. It’s like that Wilco documentary except that these guys are not pussies.

DW: Bummer is right. But now we’re on track 2, which makes me happier. “I know where I’m going even when I’m dark”: key lyric. It’s dark: Pretty skeletal production, with thin percussion. Reminds me of Things Fall Apart.

JS: Speaking of, let’s put the elephant in the room on notice straight away. We are two white men in our 30s discussing the new Roots album, which depending on which side of the hip-hop fence you stand on, makes this record either a great success or abysmal failure before a note is even played.

DW: Speak for yourself — I turn 29 tomorrow!

JS: Oh snap, but you get my point: Are the Roots stuff white people like?

DW: Yeah, they are, but they’re like the thinking man’s stuff white people like. That was the title track, btw, with Mos Def & Styles P; now, it’s “Get Busy” featuring Dice Raw & Peedi Peedi — the two dudes who contributed memorably to Game Theory:

JS: Stuff white people like presumes that ALL white people are thinking. But let’s not get mired down in somebody else’s war. I agree with you, I like how this is crazy Steve Albini-ish drumwise.

DW: “better deadbolt the door, it ain’t safe no more”

JS: This is a lot like The Tipping Point, which apparently I am a poser for liking.

DW: The Tipping Point is the only Roots album (i’ve heard) that i don’t love. Poser.

JS: So far, I am not having fun. But I’m keeping an open mind.

DW: I like that it’s dark and angry but not retreating into rap-rock-isms, as Public Enemy can. In other news, go Peedi!

JS: Jazzy Jeff, you should be ashamed of yourself; This “get Busy y’all” sample is played. it’s like from The Big Book Of Rap Samples (Sucky Edition). But yeah, I like Peedi.

DW: He makes me smile with almost no effort whatsoever.

JS: Part two of fly-on-the-wall convos, this one, “@15,” a freestyle. By the way, hey, guess what? Almost all freestyle rapping sucks.

DW: I like that this kind of puts Black Thought out there, utterly naked and unable to hide between the music. I actually like that track, despite the obvious limitations of a freestyle track.

JS: Oh shit, “75 Bars.” I’ve heard this. This is definitely going on The Roots’ Greatest Hits.

DW: Yeah, remember the video. Damn. GRABBY, this one. Makes me want to spar with a punching bag. Dig those fucking drums.

JS: This is like one of those long tracking shots in an Altman or an Orson Wells movie, where the whole trick and beauty of it is how unceasing it is. Holy shit, how much do I not miss being a music critic. It’s nuts. But yes, “75 Bars,” go get it off the Hype Machine now, people.

DW: I like all the background buzzes on this record. Ominous but not overpowering. I agree. We keep waiting for the fever to break. It’s like that shot in Children of Men.

JS: Yeah, I was just thinking about that — krazy Korgs and low prowler sounds. It definitely sets a mood. Here’s the problem though, it’s a BAD mood. This is a moody bitch of an album. I’m starting to get why they cut out the Fall Out Boy song.

DW: It’s like the Halloween cassettes people put on their porches. Whoa, track 6, “Becoming Unwritten,” is only 30 seconds.

JS: “Criminal (featuring Saigon & Truck North)”: Not into this track.

DW: Skip it! Saigon was supposed to be something like years ago, when he was just starting on Entourage. It seems too late for him, from my stuffwhitepeoplelike perspective.

JS: Seriously: Why should we suffer? My fear, though, is I may not be able to stop skipping once I start. There’s something really “woe is me” about this track that taps into the bad energy of the whole record. Is this the Roots megabummer?

DW: Game Theory had some songs like this, like a dark spin on neo-soul. I’m not crazy about it but it’s more likely to bring in a wider audience.

JS: Like goth chicks? Yeah, this track sucks. Next.

DW: This record is a BUMMER. But I like it. I like feeling bad if this is what it’s like. Not sure how often I’ll come back to it, though. Hopefully more often than not. Next up:”I Will Not Apologize (featuring P.O.R.N. & Dice Raw).” This feels like a single.

JS: Oh, see, this is where the Dark starts working for them. I could swear that is a clip of some kind of King Tubby riff or something.

DW: It’s got a sort of subdued Timbaland feel too.

JS: P.O.R.N.: World’s Most UnGoogle-able Rapper. And he will not apologize!

DW: True. Why should he? More power to him, I say.

JS: I wanna hear crazy remixes of this, like just go with it and get some dub dudes on here. I wanna hear the dub guys on WKDU read the weather over the instro of this. And also bring back Joe Strummer from the dead and get him to do some weird reverbed out wailing in the back.

DW: I like how you can totally miss the lines about government and america if you’re just nodding along to the beat…. You can choose your level of involvement.

JS: Same way that you can ignore government and america if you’re just nodding along to the beat IN REAL LIFE!

DW: Someone should mash this with the song from John From Cincinnati.

JS: I’m giving this a thumbs up. Let’s shut up and listen to the rest for a second.

DW: Ok, moving along…. “I Can’t Help It (featuring Malik B & P.O.R.N.)”

JS: MORE PORN!

DW: Not crazy about the beginning. Too easy.

JS: Is PORN going to join the Roots?

DW: The crew has a revolving door policy, sir. People come and go, leaving their mark on different albums.

JS: Is he like their Billy Preston? You know, like the guy who comes into the fold with great energy but you know, it’s just too late?

DW: Side note: I would LOVE to hear a Roots record made today with not a single guest.
Sayin.

JS: Seriously. But listening to this record makes me feel like the Roots are going to break up immediately.

DW: Album #10 too late? You’re talkin’ crazy. It’s their “Foolish”! Nice Harold Melvin mention in this song.

JS: Dummmmmmb hook on this one. Get that money back. PORN is hanging on for dear life here, but he hooks it up at 2:30. Phew! It’s over! WAIT IT’S NOT! FUCK!

DW: HATE the hook. that line about abortion is nuts. very dark shit here man. it’s like the ennui gas the onion made up….

JS: I need a drink.

DW: This song and the last should’ve ended at the four-minute mark. Yeah, i’m eyeing a shot of whiskey in my head.

JS: I got enough of my own dumb shit. Now I gotta get roped into The Roots’ problems? Oh come on.

DW: Hahaha

JS: “Singing Man (featuring Truck North & P.O.R.N.)”: PORN is determined to save this record!

DW: PORN FOR PRESIDENT! BUTTER BEANS FOR VICE! He’s like the understudy that takes over, ala All About Eve.

JS: Seriously, this is like watching a couple argue, and PORN is like the child caught in the middle.

DW: Like this okay but not the chorus.

JS: Yeah, again with the dumb chorus!

DW: Kinda cheesy. Black Thought’s parts are great but they’re wasted on this track, I believe.

JS: I know the Roots fancy themselves as producers, but these guys need to find some other people to work with. The beats, album-wide, have been great, but this has been one bad hook after another.

DW: I dunno. That’s like an auteur directing someone else’s script…. but I half agree. But I actually like the downcast vibe, and even the cheesy stuff gets a pass from me in the context of the whole record.

JS: Here’s the weird thing: This album is not half-ass. It doesn’t suck. What it is, though, is just sooooo ANGSTY.

DW: Yeah, i mean, they’re still at the top of their game, but they’re just determined to keep up the GLOWER POWER on this record

JS: OK, “Unwritten (featuring Mercedez Martinez)”: Ms. Martinez’ vocal and hook is great. This track is only 1:25 tho. WTF?

DW: A girl? Ten tracks in? Thank fuck. Yeah, it’s like a discarded demo that COULDA BEEN SOMETHIN.

JS: Seriously. ‘Cos Rising Down is a fucking SAUSAGE PARTY. I would not take my girl to this record. Next up: “Lost Desire (featuring Talib Kweli & Malik B)”: “Niggas out here don’t give a fuck because they lost desire.” No shit, Sherlock.

DW: Okay, this new song WORKS for me. More background buzzing and solid rapping, regardless of how pedestrian the observations.

JS: Dude, this is like the opposite of the Man Man record we did: I was totally ready to hate that one, an liked it. I was megaready to LOVE this record, and it’s… this.

DW: Remember Talib Kweli? Well he’s GUESTS on this track. Go back to your Tipping Point, pussy! The Roots are pissed. Let them vent.

JS: There’s something kinda UNKLE/San Fran late 90s backpacker about this track. Alright, and the intro section at the end is fucking awesome with the submarine signals and shit.

DW: Oh, totally, esp on the drums at 3:21. Hip-hop needs more sonar, definitely.

JS: “The Show (featuring Common)”: OK NOW WE HAVE SOMETHING HERE. Thank fucking Christ!

DW: Agreed. Shouldn’t be buried in second-to-last place. Even Common sounds pissed though! Common! Pissed!

JS: Really super inventive beat, strange LL Cool J-ish hook, and lots of little things like backup “oohs”…. this and “75 Bars” are the only reason to show up at this record.

DW: Yeah, but you’re hearing it for the first time. I’ve been through a bunch of times. It grows on ya. Like I said, though, not sure how much it makes you wanna reach for it in the future…. I wonder how Def Jam is trying to sell this.

JS: I don’t think Def Jam actually tries to sell Roots records.

DW: I hear ya. Curious what they’re saying about it at the office though.

JS:I have this fear that they are the cred piece that Def Jam hangs on the wall, and therefore doesn’t view them as an act that could have a big hit. But guess what? At this point, neither do I.

DW: Totally.

JS: LAST SONG! “Rising Up (featuring Chrisett Michelle & Wale)”: Way too much going on in this track.

DW: I do not know these guest stars. I am out of the loop.

JS: But once it settles on the latin beat, it totally delivers. Is this the only “Party Track” on the album? It would seem so.

DW: Yeah, it’s the big finish. The first dense, poppy song here (except maybe the Common one).
The first half is definitely darker and sparser than the second. And the guests really start dogpiling. It’s still a pretty introverted party track. This sounds like ?uestlove DJing — thick and tasty.

JS: This is like church, where you have to sit through all this shit for 45 minutes before you can stand up, shake your buddy’s hand, and get to the good vibes that it’s supposed to be about all along. Could it be that my problems with organized religion and The Roots are ONE IN THE SAME?

DW: For you maybe, ya lapsed Catholic….. I’m digging this song, though. Black Thought’s actually having fun from the sound of it.

JS: So what do you think? The Roots’ Rising Down. Are you into it?

DW: I am, very much so. But it’s still behind Things Fall Apart and Phrenology in my books.

JS: Definitely. It’s no Tipping Point, either.

DW: And we’re not exagerating here: It’s a DOWNER. But lots of great music is. Thank fuck it’s no Tipping Point…. HIDDEN TRACK!

JS: I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that.

DW: They are hip-hop’s Joy Division for this one brief (we hope) moment. Hidden track sounds like an ooooold demo.

JS: Yeah. Shoulda not been a hidden track. Just like “Unwritten” should have been at least 2 minutes long. Rising Down should get a mulligan. There’s a good record in here, but everybody just needs to coooooooool out.

DW: THEY FEEL THE PAIN OF EVERYONE / THEN THEY FEEL NOTHING, or: EVERYBODY HURTS. Final question: How will it play live? At a fucking giant PICNIC no less?

JS: Badly, but this is where the Roots-as-Jam-Band really comes in handy.

DW:They were awesome at Artists For Heat, so that’s a good sign. Ah, the hidden track was a radio thing.

JS: It doesn’t seem to me that these guys feel a necessity to make half their shows their new album, if anything, they seem to really separate the two. Which is great, and which everybody should do.

DW: That is certainly true. Ah, Roots. What’s next?

JS: I strongly recommend some vacation jamz.

DW: The Roots: Live In Hawaii!

JS: I’m so there.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 at 2:36 pm.