Aesop Rock – Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives
welcome back folks! this week, we’re continuing our discography of Aesop Rock with 2005’s Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives.
i think the thing i liked most here is the shift in tone on the instrumental components of the tracks and the usage of samples. the opener and title track, Fast Cars, has a sting it keeps playing with, and i like the way the track keeps looping around the same couple parts of the sample. it feels, musically, like theyre planning and pacing, its v fun. Number Nine, Holy Smokes, and Food Clothes Medicine are really fun in their own ways. i think the only one that doesnt really land at all for me is Zodiaccupuncture, where i feel kinda mid on the hook.
lyrically, this feels like its grappling with some more self-damaging elements of masculinity. the opener specifically calls out a bunch of action movie tropes, Winners Take All talks quite a bit about war and ends with that outro of troops marching, and Holy Smokes is a FASCINATING track about religion.
Rickety-Rackety features the two guests on the album, El-P and Camu Tao. its pretty solid – def not my favorite track, but theres some sections i dig.
ultimately, i think im pretty favorable on this shorter, punchier release – i think im both acclimating to Aesop’s writing style and he’s shifting and changing as he learns, and that made this a bit easier to chew on. i know for a FACT im gonna be re-listening to many of these records at the end of this project, but this is one i feel i have a pretty good grasp on at the moment, haha.
faves – Fast Cars, Holy Smokes
dislikes –
Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives – 7/10
next, we’ll be jumping to 2007 for None Shall Pass
first: Music For Earthworms | previous: Bazooka Tooth | next: None Shall Pass
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