Phrenology

Four critically acclaimed albums and a Grammy haven’t freed the Roots from their rep as an earnest hip-hop jam band. Backing Jay-Z on his Unplugged session raised their profile a bit, but Phrenology delivers the kind of wallop that might finally give them a solid identity all their own. Whether it’s speed funk or energetic hip-hop, the Roots flip it with panache. MC Black Thought sounds fiercer than ever, and guests Nelly Furtado and Talib Kweli are happy to take supporting roles for a change.