undun, or, the enigmatic character of a concept album

A concept album is an intimidating task and a perilous project. For the Roots, the audacious project of doing one was met with great voracity. But, first, some background information...

The Roots have a history of bringing a unique twist to rap and hip hop music. Working with indie artists, as well as more mainstream innovative talents, How I Got Over kept adding to their overall progression as artists. Their dynamic has kept them true to their background (something I, as a young and slightly entitled Caucasian can never relate to) while modernizing and adapting to music. Whereas most rap has either been stagnant or dumbing down for a more simplistic appeal, the Roots have been challenging that dynamic...

There was the introduction of Joanna Newsom and Sufjan Stevens to their music (and now Stevens has helped produce this record); there's the idea of creating a sound that has elements of rap and classical for a unique hybrid that has garnered critical praise...

Undun, in itself, is a concept album. Or, to be more precise, it is a reverse-chronological narrative, but that really entails the former (and really, I should abandon such pretentious language). The character the album centers around, Redford Stevens (coincidentally named after a Stevens song), grows in poverty, the setting for his brief, yet tragic, life. Songs like "Lighthouse" and "The OtherSide" show signs of regression and death before the climatic, well, beginning to the album. But what makes the album so special is the natural growth and decline in reverse order. That catharsis that builds in the middle, the hectic conclusions that reflect the unruly birth into an unfit setting, all of this follows a somber and slow beginning in death. The whole process is poetic in itself without overstating the idea. The Roots have done something incredible by taking a common (and quite honestly, overdone) artistic process and brought a new innovative approach...

Just that alone should be enticing enough to garner a listen. How did they approach life in reverse order? The task was daunting and yet they exceeded mere success. In my experience, I find concept albums underwhelming. Stories get lost beneath ominous layers of noise; well orchestrated selections find themselves contained by the morals and concepts of words. The Roots created a world and character drawn from inspirations in both media and life to create a ubiquitous wall of emotions and sound. Sorrowful notes hold but are often countered by high points. What "Redford Stevens" lacked in his life was a clarity, class and wealth. For each of these components, Undun is abundant. It isn't BlackThought's lyrics that carry the story, but the cohesion of dynamic beings molded with guest spots that never cause a misstep or queue. This album, released early December, may get lost in the transition from 2011 to 2012, but you owe it to yourself to give this incredible album a listen.