The consistency of The Roots is extraordinary. They have seemingly interjected themselves into pop culture as the current house band for "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" while remaining incessant leaders of hip hop. The latest effort, undun, is the testament. A concept album revolving around a fictional character of Redford Stevens as the listener follows his hopeful ascent into his eventual demise following short life of crime. The story is told in reverse chronological but either direction you listen, undun is great. The story is affecting and all too familiar; it doesn't glorify the fleeting glitz of drug-induced riches but in fact focuses on the inevitability of falling. Black Thought is still at his lyrical best however, his vocal tone is dimmer as is undun's story. The collaborative efforts of featured artists is usually in highlighting the artist's distinctiveness; on undun, artists such as Dice Raw, Greg Porn, and Phonté, while distinctive, seamlessly meld into The Roots' composition. "Make My" featuring Big K.R.I.T. and Dice Raw is the haunting first single where Redford unconvincingly attempts to convince himself the ends will justify the means. Bilal on "The OtherSide" is Curtis Mayfield reminiscent of social soul music. Indie artist Sufjan Stevens, whose song influenced the main character of the album, plays piano on the instrumental "Redford". The production primarily by the group's most characterized leader Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson is neo-soul in tone, less jam band and subtle snare, strings, and piano melodies. The Roots shed light on the real game, beautiful and tragic, on undun. And while the story is a disappointing tale, undun is-and The Roots are-still great.