Phrenology in 2002 was another big success for The Roots. Huge singles like "Seed 2.0" are still performed at their live shows and represents the beginning of The Roots' efforts to mix rock elements into their music. This is not to suggest they abandoned jazz and neo-soul, but the rock elements are a bit stronger on this release than everything that preceded it. Besides "Seed," other great songs include "Water" and "Something In the Way of Things."
"Complexity" featuring Jill Scott is the best R&B-tinged song on the record. Jill's lofty vocals and the smooth musical backdrop work together well.
"Pussy Galore" got some interesting beats
"Rhymes and Ammo" is another standout track I neglected to mention. Perfect funky drumming and bass playing in addition to the cool keyboard hook.
"Rolling With Heat" has Talib Kweli, fat hip-hop drums with Latin percussion, and a great hook.
"The Seed 2.0" is one of those rare fusions of funk and rock that became popular with both funk and rock audiences (like Funkadelic's "Maggot Brain"). It's a cover and funkified version of Cody Chestnutt's "The Seed." Despite the somewhat misogynistic lyrics, Cody's vocals are good and The Roots definitely improve the song.
Original "Seed"
"Something in the Way of Things" is another favorite of mine. Though it's a spoken word piece, it features Amiri Baraka reciting a poem over music provided by The Roots. Musically, it's an interesting mix of jazz with more contemporary styles. Excellent playing throughout the entire song.
"Thought @ Work" is another great one. Funky drumming (a sample of "Apache" by The Incredible Bongo Band) make this song work. Essential Roots. "Apache" was famously covered by Sugar Hill Gang in the early 1980s.
"Water" is more proof of The Roots musicianship. It begins as a standard hip-hop song and mourning a former Roots MC's drug addiction, it turns into an avant-garde collage of sounds.
Second part of the song
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