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Labor Days
: Aesop's best release ever. Creativity on a new high. Aesop Rock's Labor Days is the one of the best hip hop releases with Cannible Ox, Ozomatli, Roots Manuva, Atmosphere and others. The beats this time around match aesop's excellent proformance. This is lyrical beauty at its finest!
Aesop Rock's 'Float' introduced the rapper as one of the most proficient underground mcs. He had a novel approach to rapping - his unusual lyrical flows to slow melodious beats oozed with poignancy and gave off a fresh vibe, unlike anything heard before. Aesop used the opportunity to create a masterpiece of underground hip-hop, 'Labor Days', where he and producers Omega One and Blockead expand the themes they began to explore in 'Float'. The result sears with its abruptness, impresses with its lack of bad taste, and overwhelms lyrically. In addition, Aesop Rock's beats, most of which he produced himself, are never monotonous, always subtle and adding poignancy to the spoken lyrics. 'Beatbox' is a shiver-inducing masterpiece, and one of the album's highlights; a thoughtful track that showcases Aesop's ability to sustain a beat which emphasizes the lyrical impact. 'No Regrets' is Aesop at his pinnacle - a masterpiece of epic proportions, with a delicate mournful tune, and lyrics that are not only quotable, but could be almost defined as artful. Metaphorical, ingenious, 'No Regrets' observes its protagonists', Lucy's, life, and demonstrates the common societal inability to maintain a fulfilling existence. Lucy has a dream, "you gotta live it" Aesop says, and she does - the last verse, "Lucy blew a kiss to each one of her pictures and she died" will remain in the listener's consciousness; inevitably, the track will be played over and over again, its extraordinarily subliminal impact marveled at and discussed. Overall, Aesop Rock's "Labor Days" is an intelligent and thoroughly engrossing album, one that proclaims that hip-hop yet still has boundaries to explore. Deltron 3030, Ugly Duckling, People Under the Stairs, Slug, Murs, Stoupe from Jedi Mind Tricks - move over. Ya'll are good, but make room for Aesop. HIGHLIGHTS: 'Daylight', 'No Regrets', 'Boombox', 'Shovel'
LOWPOINTS: none
Oh my, he's done it again. I thought Float was groundbreaking, his beats may have been a little weak but once you listen again and again they grow on you like a fungus. This cat is so ILL he needs to be quarrantined. Now I don't really have desire to listen to any other M.C.. Slug is nice, I like the Sebutones, Moka Only, Binary Star, Sage, Grouch, etc. but no one flips flows like Aesop. Multi syllablic rhymes that talk about more than ice & dough. He even attacks some underground heads in " Save Yourself " These tracks have more substance to them, they don't need to grow on you, at first listen your jaw will drop to the floor. He still comes with mad complexity but it's easier to understand in a way. He even has tight hooks now, " You can dream a little dream & you can live a little dream, I'd rather live it cause dreamers always chase but never get it " I can't find a flaw on this album, it is definitely perfect. A bit short compared to Float but no filler, no more eating with Blockhead & the guest spots are nice too. Do yourself a favor, pick this up, search the net for Float, and even d/l his old stuff somewhere ( he made an LP and an EP b4 Float ) equally nice, I haven't heard any thing truly weak from this dude. I would name favorite tracks but I don't have one, they're all sick, quotables upon quotables. I hope he never stops makin music and drops every year. Aesop Rock is the greatest M.C. ever..... Overground!
 As much as I loved the sheer wit of Aesop's lyricism, I couldn't help but gag on every bland and dpressing beat accompanying his words! The basslines are weak and musically the tunes just didn't bring me along with his lyrics, as intricate and edgy they are.
AS VOCABULARY STRONG AS HE IS, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR AESOP IN AN MC BATTLE JUST TO SEE IF HIS WITTY STYLE OF LYRICISM WOULD FARE WELL UP AGAINST ANOTHER MC. IT'S A TRUE TEST OF WHETHER OR NOT AN MC REALLY IMPROVISES OR MERELY MEMORIZES. Every four bars of music production on this album sounded outright hastily made. SLOW DOWN! TAKE SOME TIME IN THE STUDIO AND RIDE YOUR LYRICS PROPER WITH SOME MORE IMAGINATION - THERE WERE BARELY ANY SAMPLES EVEN. NO SOUL.
Any real hip hop head knows that a tight beat (doesn't even have to be all that elaborate) makes up half the feel of hip hop. If you don't know already, go to a local or professional MC cipher and you'll most likely hear some dope beats (minus the lyrics, so the MC's can battle) like Rasco's Unassisted, or KRS-ONE's Get Yourself Up.
Aesop's Lyrics, on Labor Days, need better beats behind 'em - BOTTOM LINE.
I'm totally blown away by the energy and lyrical brilliance displayed on this record. Aesop Rock takes what he does very seriously and that shines bright here. His flow is incredibly tight...incredible control. His beats and rhythms are original, provocative and creative. Def Jux are here to reform hip hop. I stand behind them with my fist in the air. This music moves.
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