By: Jed Forman
Published: Feb. 19, 2007 - Philadelphia, PA

Only six months after their release of Game Theory, The Roots are already back to work on their next album. As for an album title, ?uestlove explained, "I know somehow I'm going to find the common thread of all this stuff. I don't know what to call it, but it's something." Despite being nameless, the new LP has several tracks under its belt. "Pretty much five or six songs are done, and four of them are synth-heavy." This "synth-heavy" sound seems to be a theme for the album, Thompson continues, "We are using a lot of synthesizer, but I don't know if I could call this the electronic album or not."

Although heavy synthesizers may be a new direction for The Roots, ?uestlove feels that the new album, along with Game Theory, marks a homecoming to the sound that die-hard Roots fans originally fell in love with. "This is definitely a return to form for us. Critics say we got our mojo back and our fan base agreed. That's really all we were concerned about," says Thompson. "I Will Not Apologize" names one of the more anticipated tracks on the album, a re-make of a song from the famed Fela Kuti.

While Game Theory may have shown a return to the classic Roots sound, the overtones and lyrical content depict a melancholy previously unheard by fans, including commentaries on the war and a tribute to the late J Dilla. But since they have been back on tour in the US, the group has infused a new upbeat energy into their live performances of the album. "['Game Theory'] is so melancholy and emotional and moody that our current live show absolutely betrays the feeling of that album," Thompson elaborates. "I don't know what happened -- no one gave us the memo. We decided this is going to be our most exclamation point-filled show ever."

Recent reviews of the show mirror ?uestlove's sentiments, Jim Harrington of [the] Mercury News giving rave reviews of a show in Fillmore, "Overall, the music sounded even more alive than during past Roots outings. Credit that in large part to the work of the four-piece horn section, which really jumped into action during a super funky tribute to James Brown. Drum-kit king ?uestlove also delivered a bounty of highlights, especially during the old-school Brown number ``Funky Drummer.'' Perhaps then Game Theory was a necessary stepping-stone for The Roots to find new energy in their music, the new album fulfilling the promises of their live performances. The album is expected to drop October '07 or February '08.

In related news, ?uestlove is still working with Al Green on their two-year-in-the-making release.