Game Theory

Bad times give rise to good songs. And with the war in Iraq dragging through year four, the Roots prove this maxim correct. Game Theory—their first record since signing with Jay-Z at Def Jam—is protest music you can dance to. Gone are the jazzy flourishes, replaced by gritty funk from a band that’s mad as hell and don’t wanna take it anymore. OK, so the world’s going to shit, but it’s nice to have the Roots describe the trip.