John Legend & The Roots - Wake Up!

Album Reviews Mon, 20 Sep 2010 Written by Paul Kelly
Editor rating
 
 4.0 User rating
 
 0.0 (0)
John Legend & The Roots - Wake Up!

Wading-in-to the often maligned territory of the super-collaboration, this effort sees the immensely awesome The Roots join up with the equally good John Legend to deliver a stand-out album for 2010.

Essentially a cover album of protest soul-pop songs of sorts, with a few originals thrown in for good measure, Legend and The Roots have drawn from the '60's and '70's, and not the usual suspects either (not a R.E.S.P.E.C.T or River High, Mountain Deep in sight), and it still manages puts the unique Legend and Roots spin on each of the tracks.

From the sublime take on Compared to What (original Eugene McDaniels) and through to the reggae-cover of Prince Lincoln's Humanity (Love The Way It Should Be) it's a solid all-round effort. Other highlights on the record include the cover of Wake Up Everybody (original by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes), Marvin Gaye's Wholly Holy and Hang on in There (original by Mike Kirkland).

The funk-esque take on Baby Huey's Hard Times is a gem too.

That said, it's an album not without its flaws. One gets the feeling that this ends as many collaborations often end up being; a little too much indulgence and restraint. Legend's vocals are great, but not pushed, and The Roots, as always, have musically strung together a great record, but it all feels a little restrained.

This is a solid, well-rounded effort that updates, sensitively and uniquely, a number of more obscure soul classics, and with the addition of the original tracks. A handy addition to any collection.

TRIPLEW.ME TRACK OF CHOICE

Hard Times, Wake Up Everybody

BUY THIS CD

From Virgin Megastores or buy it from amazon.com

MAKSHOOF MUSIC SOUNDALIKE

Is it any of these?

JOHN LEGEND & THE ROOTS - 'WAKE UP EVERYBODY'


Editor review

Solid, touches of brilliance, but restrained

Rating:
 
 4.0
Reviewed by triplew.me
September 20, 2010
 
Last updated: September 20, 2010
The biggest let-down of this effort is that The Roots could've unleashed some old-school groove/hip/hop/?uestlove-driven awesomeness on the album. Both Legend and The Roots act as great partners in crime, and honestly, it's a well put together album that can spin easily through an afternoon.
 
 

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