Last year The Roots drew inspiration from a Sufjan Stevens track and turned it into Undun, the best hip hop album of the year (this writer’s opinion, not Paste’s). The Legendary Crew from Philly took a song that more or less loops the same piano chords nine seconds at a time and used it as the jump off for a 38 minute masterpiece. The end result was a concept album that tells the story of fictional character Redford Stephens’ foray into a life of crime and his ultimate demise. The diverse production offers up tracks as tough as the crowd at an Eagles game (“Stomp”), bass lines as smooth as a successful criminal (“Make My”) and of course a guest appearance from Sufjan himself to kick off Undun’s classically inspired conclusion. So if The Roots can join forces with a mastermind from another genre, borrow a few piano keys and spin gold of their own, what other possibilities are out there? I offer up five indie tracks that could (and inevitably should) generate more Roots brilliance.
1. “Samson” by Regina Spektor
For the purposes of this exercise, we’re assuming The Roots are easily inspired by piano chords. We'll start with "Samson," because its melody more closely resembles "Redford" than the other songs being examined. Spektor’s sweet sounds would match up well with Black Thought’s salty lyricism.
The Roots Concept: A journey through the Old Testament. All of the classics would be covered. “Burnin’ Bush” would allow the group to sneak in a few shots at George W., and ?uestlove’s drums on the Cain vs. Able track would be epic enough to make Cecil B. DeMille’s Ten Commandments look like something your grandfather shot in his backyard on an old Super 8 camera.
Alternate Roots Concept: Borrow from the original song’s line about hair loss, and depict the damage it can do to a man’s psyche. Guitarist Captain Kirk Douglas could use his receding hairline experience to pen a first person narrative. Bald guys need not just an anthem but an album full of them. (This writer would appreciate it. I can’t hold off my impending doom much longer).
2. The Song: “Hang On” by Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog offers up playful piano chords in mass quantities. “Hang On” is no exception. Toss in the fact that Dr. Dog also hails from Philly, and this one is really a no brainer.
The Roots Concept: Tracking the ups and downs of a couple that is obviously wrong for each other but neither can break free. They may or may not lose their house in a hurricane. Someone may or may not drown.
Alternate Roots Concept: A gripping narrative about a down on his luck Temple University medical student who rises to become a successful heart surgeon despite constant pressure from his father to become a banker. The doctor goes on to risk his job by providing a pro bono bypass on an uninsured man who has been sucking down Pat’s cheese steaks for the past 35 years. Does the doctor lose his job? Does the patient die? Does the doctor ever win the approval of his father? You have to stick around for the last song on the record to find out.
3. The Song: “Adventures in Solitude” by The New Pornographers
The song is kind of enigmatic. Such a sweet, cheerful melody accompanied by such desolate lyrics. The hook gives us hope, though.
The Roots Concept: An insomniac wanders the streets of New York and often winds up in remote towns after lengthy blackouts. Think a white Kid Cudi that blacks out Walter White fugue state style on occasion. These are his stories.
Alternate Roots Concept: Think Zack and Miri Make a Porno, but insert ?uestlove for Seth Rogen.
1. “Samson” by Regina Spektor
For the purposes of this exercise, we’re assuming The Roots are easily inspired by piano chords. We'll start with "Samson," because its melody more closely resembles "Redford" than the other songs being examined. Spektor’s sweet sounds would match up well with Black Thought’s salty lyricism.
The Roots Concept: A journey through the Old Testament. All of the classics would be covered. “Burnin’ Bush” would allow the group to sneak in a few shots at George W., and ?uestlove’s drums on the Cain vs. Able track would be epic enough to make Cecil B. DeMille’s Ten Commandments look like something your grandfather shot in his backyard on an old Super 8 camera.
Alternate Roots Concept: Borrow from the original song’s line about hair loss, and depict the damage it can do to a man’s psyche. Guitarist Captain Kirk Douglas could use his receding hairline experience to pen a first person narrative. Bald guys need not just an anthem but an album full of them. (This writer would appreciate it. I can’t hold off my impending doom much longer).
2. The Song: “Hang On” by Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog offers up playful piano chords in mass quantities. “Hang On” is no exception. Toss in the fact that Dr. Dog also hails from Philly, and this one is really a no brainer.
The Roots Concept: Tracking the ups and downs of a couple that is obviously wrong for each other but neither can break free. They may or may not lose their house in a hurricane. Someone may or may not drown.
Alternate Roots Concept: A gripping narrative about a down on his luck Temple University medical student who rises to become a successful heart surgeon despite constant pressure from his father to become a banker. The doctor goes on to risk his job by providing a pro bono bypass on an uninsured man who has been sucking down Pat’s cheese steaks for the past 35 years. Does the doctor lose his job? Does the patient die? Does the doctor ever win the approval of his father? You have to stick around for the last song on the record to find out.
3. The Song: “Adventures in Solitude” by The New Pornographers
The song is kind of enigmatic. Such a sweet, cheerful melody accompanied by such desolate lyrics. The hook gives us hope, though.
The Roots Concept: An insomniac wanders the streets of New York and often winds up in remote towns after lengthy blackouts. Think a white Kid Cudi that blacks out Walter White fugue state style on occasion. These are his stories.
Alternate Roots Concept: Think Zack and Miri Make a Porno, but insert ?uestlove for Seth Rogen.
