MOG Editorial Review

Inspired by the feelings of unity and togetherness they experienced while campaigning for Barack Obama’s presidential bid in 2008, ?uestlove of the Roots set out to create an album that perfectly captured this moment in time. Joined by neo-soul vocalist John Legend, the Roots created an album comprised of song covers from the '60s and '70s by artists like Curtis Mayfield and Nina Simone, highlighting a period where music frequently addressed America’s social issues. Together, this group of talented musicians create updated versions of vintage soul that infuse just enough edginess and hip-hop savvy to satisfy today’s crowd while staying true to the original works. While the legendary Roots crew does outshine their vocalist collaborator at times, John Legend performs masterfully outside of his comfort zone.