Al Green

Most producers who supervise reclamation projects for aging stars make the mistake of trying to contemporize the artist's sound — the equivalent of dressing your eighty-something Uncle Jake like a 21st-century club kid. Not so Roots drummer Amir "?uestlove" Thompson, who helmed the Al Green comeback platter Lay It Down...

By Michael Roberts

May 22, 2008

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Most producers who supervise reclamation projects for aging stars make the mistake of trying to contemporize the artist's sound — the equivalent of dressing your eighty-something Uncle Jake like a 21st-century club kid. Not so Roots drummer Amir "?uestlove" Thompson, who helmed the Al Green comeback platter Lay It Down. Instead of larding the tracks with loops, he aims for the gorgeous soul simplicity of Green's '70s-era classics. Sure, guest stars like John Legend turn up — but the focus stays on Green, who seems invigorated by the pristine settings heard on the title track, "Too Much" and the rest, including elegant horn work and Thompson's approximation of the singular Hi Rhythm Section that powered the Reverend's greatest hits. The enjoyable results prove that change isn't always good.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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