Well, for calling themselves Rootless, they seem to display plenty of roots here, mostly on the party hip-hop side. But lack of roots isn't the major issue with ROTTEN WOOD FOR SMOKING BEES. Despite the fun, sunny vibe of "Savannah" or the blissful beats on "There's Music in My Mind," the album as a whole seems to lack much drive. The tracks are content to wander on in repetition, without any further development. Similarly, the tracks are awfully similar to each other -- there's not enough internal variation, despite valiant attempts, like the dub of "Forty Four Dub" or the pseudo-Skinny Puppy lyrics of "Gas" or even the quasi-African ethnics on "Mystical Purposes." Though there's no doubting the funkyness of the bass or the beats, I'm afraid that the loops just don't do enough. They end up just being dull.