Despite their success in nighttime television, The Roots haven't lost their edge. They're still sharp, delivering a mature album that deals with despair and how it. If you felt, like me, that the first half of the album was hard to get through, it's because the album is divided into halves. The first half is steeped in melancholy and introspection whereas the second half is all about self-improvement and empowerment.The album starts off slow with A Peace of Light, an instrumental featuring a capella vocals by members of The Dirty Projectors. Walk Alone follows next, saddled by a heavy, uninspired piano part and a chorus that sounds's like The River of Dreams by Billy Joel. Finally, the album gets a pulse with Dear God 2.0, which couples harps with tender vocals provided by the Monsters of Folk.
We don't get the familiar smooth Roots sound until Now or Never and How I Got Over, which together serve as the emotional tipping point on the album. Now or Never illustrates the decision to stand up and make a change in order to get your shit together. How I Got Over is easily the catchiest track on the album. Black Thought and Dice Raw both give strong singing performances as Black Thought raps about life in the streets and importance of lending a helping hand.
The rest of the album continues the upbeat trend set by the last two tracks. The Day is a sunny call to action and Right On combines a catchy drum break with Joanna Newsom's quirky vocal stylings. Black Thought proceeds to lay his cards out on the table with the help of John Legend on, Doin' It Again and The Fire, returning to his hard-hitting form, confidence restored.
Overall, How I Got Over is a streamlined, focus work. This album has a solid concept, taking a journey from the depths of despair to the heights of empowerment. While it may be hard to get into at first, multiple playthroughs should prove rewarding.
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