|
Though many people find it hard to understand what
rabid word purveyor Aesop Rock
says, and may still be deciphering the meat of it
hours or even days after a feeding, few can deny
that there is definite passion behind the man’s
madness. Although he has yet to dumb things down
for the lay person, his latest album None
Shall Pass, opens up a little more
than previous efforts in an attempt to be more digestible.
Take “Catacomb Kids,” a song also
produced by Rock, which is more accessible sonically
and even ends with a nod to MC legend
Slick Rick. Elsewhere, “Bring Back
Pluto,” rides an ominous bassline as it
discloses discussion about the dissolution of
the former 9th planet’s status. “Fumes,”
is dominated by a persistent wind instrument,
loping bass, and old school scratches to blend
together a tale of fidelity. While “Getaway
Car,” featuring Aesop brethren Cage
and Breeze Brewin, and produced
by the indelible Blockhead, is
an old school hip-hop track dominated by percussion.
Other notable tracks include “No City,”
a bluesy Noir tale that is helped along by a dash
of keyboard and moody lead guitar. And, “The
Harbor Is Yours,” a fairytale joint replete
with the lines “once upon a time…”
and including allusions to The Lady In The
Water and seafaring pirates. Bonus track
“Pigs” is all its title entails!
There’s still plenty of garage band oomph
and industrial noise intertwined with Aesop’s
wondrous wordplay and ill rhyme schematics. However,
this time around, that’s not all there is.
Maybe the title means none shall pass this record
by once they’ve had a listen?
definitivejux.net
aesoprock.net
myspace.com/aesoprock
D Tha Man, September 20, 2007
See More Reviews at our
Music Review Archive
|
