The Roots' first record since the beginning of their tenure as the in-house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, How I Got Over bridges the gap between hip-hop, psychedelic funk and indie rock, while presenting a work that exudes constant and brilliant social commentary. It might be a daring statement to make, but so be it: you would be foolish to even think about overlooking this record, for it represents some of The Roots’ strongest and most provocative work to date.

The album opens with the electro-soul of “A Peace of Light,” and is comprised entirely of closely-paired harmonies. Did I mention that Angel Deradoorian and Hale Dekle from Dirty Projectors make an appearance? The track is short, sweet, and just a preview of the indie rock collaborations that are scattered throughout the record. For a legendary hip-hop group hailing from Philadelphia, these guys have come a long way to incorporate indie rock into their jazzy, funk-filled music. Whether their career as Fallon’s house band has played a role in the prevalence of independent artists on How I Got Over, it seems to be plausible; the former SNL cast member has featured all sorts of indie favorites, from Santigold to Vampire Weekend to Dr. Dog to The National on his late-night program.

One of the album’s most exciting surprises is the hip-hop vets’ reworking of the Monsters of Folk song, “Dear God.” They even brought in My Morning Jacket/Monsters of Folk member Jim James to collaborate on the remix. The track masterfully retools the original’s indie folk sound, blending it with The Roots’ signature bass, keys, and drums. More, please?

“The Fire” is, quite arguably, the cornerstone of How I Got Over. With the dark percussion and piano set against John Legend’s vocals, this song is so damn soulful it hurts. This track is impossible to miss, being the golden thread that keeps the entire album together and serving as a fine explication of two things: The Roots’ undeniably signature sound and their ability to weave a story about life into the patchwork of the record.

The album closes with “Hustla”, a bonus track, featuring STS. A stellar ending track, it revives the dark themes that run through the entire record. Black Thought’s lyrical commentary on the societal pressures and strife of today is thought-provoking to say the least. The track’s opening lyrics: “Let me tell you what priceless is, some advice to give, a sacrifice is what I make for the wife and kids/ they say life’s a bitch, but it’s one life to live; I want my baby where that cake and the icing is.” STS is there, spewing his own thoughts on hustling and hard living, rapping “hope my baby boy grows up to be a hustla.” Strong stuff, but coming from The Roots, would you expect anything less?

Overall, The Roots’ ninth album is a stellar combination of their neo-soul sound, with a peppering of indie rock and a little old-school hip-hop. The guest appearances from Joanna Newsom, Monsters of Folk, and John Legend help to make the record far more interesting than any of us could have predicted. Likewise, the hip-hop contributions by Dice Raw, STS, Truck North and many others make the record more than just a soulful, funky hip-hop record. The Roots’ ability to collaborate effectively with many diverse indie rock artists proves just how far these Philadelphians have come, even in just the past few years. If this record is The Roots’ way of saying goodbye to their recording career for good, it makes for a hell of a swan song. How I Got Over is one of the year’s most memorable records, and if you haven’t gotten your hands on it yet, do yourself a favor and buy it. The $9.99 price tag makes it a steal, and we’ll bet you’ll have it on repeat all summer.

Track List:
1. A Peace Of Light (Feat. Amber Coffman, Angel Deradoorian, Haley Dekle)
2. Walk Alone (Feat. Truck North, P.O.R.N., Dice Raw)
3. Dear God 2.0 (Feat. Monsters Of Folk)
4. Radio Daze (Feat. Blu, P.O.R.N., Dice Raw)
5. Now Or Never (Feat. Phonte, Dice Raw)
6. How I Got Over (Feat. Dice Raw)
7. DillaTude The Flight Of Titus
8. The Day (Feat. Blu, Phonte, Patty Crash)
9. Right On (Feat. Joanna Newsom, STS)
10. Doin It
11. The Fire (Feat. John Legend)
12. Tunnel Vision
13. Web 20/20 (Feat. Peedi Peedi, Truck North)
14. Hustla (Bonus) (Feat. STS)