The Roots have always come original, and the fans know better than to expect a trendy album in '06.  "Game Theory" definitely stays true to that.  So, although this album does not do the dummy retarded, snap fingaz, trap, or drink yak, it will remedy your spirits from the everyday bs when the party is done and the money is gone.  I remember bumping their first shit back in 93'.  Since then, they have become masters of their own universe, and the vision here on this release is perfectly executed.  They give you all the usual goodies.  Black thought comes with that razor sharp wit, ?uest on those fire drums, displaying his entire palette of rhythms (especially on the track,  "In The Music". Whoooo!"), and the band is tighter than ever.  But in the midst of all that fire, the entire album kind of has a meloncholy tone running through it, as seen from the hangman on the cover.  Check the title track,"Game Theory, "Don't Feel  Right", and "In The Music" for a lesson on how to start your LP.  Three heaters in a row with every song flowing into the next one, so smooth.  From the energy of "Here I Come", to the slowed down cruise of JDavey on "Atonement" the whole album is more like listening of a concise movement than a ,"listen to this track, skip that track" album. Of course ?uestlove is overseeing all the mixes and direction, so you know the shit is going to be flawless.  Nice touch on the record insert: all lyrics included.  Haven't seen that since tapes. 

• music label: Def Jam / 2006

reviewed by C'mish 09/2006