I kinda hope that Aesop gets some kinda sudden boom of popularity and respect like other old school underground dudes like Mf Doom and El-P this past decade.
It’s incredible how Aesop is still crafting amazing songs and albums at such a high level. His lyrical ability is still as creative and dense as it’s always been and yet he still continues to improve with age. I feel Aes is also underrated when it comes to flow and rhyming, I know his verbose language is what he’s know for but the way he can flow over the strangest beats is mind blowing to me. He’s just an amazing artist. I also feel like he’s improved a lot as a producer. The beats on this album hit hard and have so much detail to them. Great review Myke.
Honestly Aes is a very underrated producer. You can’t work with Blockhead for a decade and not build some kind of chops. Once I learned Aes produced Big Bang off of Float I’ve had mad respect for dude when it comes to producing
While listening to "Jumping Coffin" I came to the conclusion that Aesop Rock doesn't get nearly enough credit for how catchy his music can be at times.
You're right. It's even evident as far back as float with Big Bang and Commencement at the Obedience Academy. Aes could pump out catchy trash pop if he wanted to, i have no doubt. I think his sense of honor and ability to convey it so well is also understated as well. Especially evident on flies and dog at the door etc.
Ayyy been excited for this review since the album dropped! This album is the AOTY for me... It's Aes' most accessible production to date imo, I love the video game soundscape and I love how aggressive Aes is (imo the most since Fast Cars... and Bazooka Tooth). It's not Labor Days, Float or Impossible Kid, but it is still one of Aes' best projects! Also I have to thank Aes for making a song about back pain, I feel it everyday!! My favorite tracks are Attaboy, Gauze, Sleeper Car, Jumping Coffin and Kodokushi. Great review as always Myke!! Edit: I agree with the "same-y" feel and would've enjoyed maybe a Homeboy Sandman or Rob Sonic feature or hook here or there, but I also think that may have been purposeful. As I perceive Aes' Spirit World as forest-like (from the music videos, album cover, etc.) and most forests are usually very similar feeling throughout an entire hike and if one were to be lost in it, you may feel like you're "walking in circles" with each new part, hence the same-y feel. Aes also seemed to create the project to not be listened to as a collective, where the listener picks parts to study and utilize on their journey. Hence the intro line, "Users should skip to whatever section most directly applies to their impending scenario." But that's just my feeling... Again, great review as always!
Love you & your reviews alot man. Thank you for taking the time to review this, this might be my favorite album of the year. When i saw that you uploaded a review I was pretty excited because you're a very insightful individual so i knew with how cryptic Aes' writing is you would break certain things down that i might not have caught yet. This & the new clipping. album "Visions of Bodies Being Burned" have been in heavy rotation for me lately. Anyway, thanks again. Wish you nothing but the best in these peculiar times we're living in. Take care ✌
I first saw you on Punk Rock MBA ran across this and knew I had to sub. Great review and the description of his ideal house is one on my favorite lines from the album as well. When I learned that the first verse on the song shrunk was him filling out the paperwork in his therapist office I was mind blown.
There was a lot of rap albums that make reference to aging and being remembered this year. No Pressure, Anime, Trauma, & Divorce, All My Heroes Are Dead, and once again Aesop Rock brings his signature style to a variety of topics -- new and old. If you ask me, this year has been wonderful for hip-hop fans who are having growing pain or aging anxieties. Tracks like Dadbod, Sweatpants Spiderman, Every Thing Ends Last Season, and Golden Oldies were already highly contemplative but Aes' aptitude for introspection really pushes these to the nth degree.
@@Ty91681 Where are you seeing those comments? All I see are people jerking him off about how great he is. And he is, just not completely my cup of tea.
@Lunar Orbit I can't speak to your struggle understanding his lyrics, but these are the most cogent and coherent bars I've ever heard from him. May take you some time to Google some words you don't know. There is a story there that fans like myself are here for. It's not about mixing an album, it's about mindset, metaphor and I believe spiritual/drug states. You don't need to be in those but you need to see where he's coming from.
I really love this album. It's great to see him go from a guy who hides behind recondite vocabulary and esoteric references to a guy who uses recondite vocabulary and esoteric references to reveal himself as an awkward, middle-aged introvert with a lot of wisdom and a great sense of humor. Also, I don't always connect with Aesop's production when he handles it himself. I'm not even criticizing really, there's just something that doesn't always hit with me, especially Impossible Kid. But Spirit World isn't like that. Pizza Alley has one of my favorite beats of the year, and almost every track has similarly killer production.
Man, given that we’re on the verge of another national quarantine, I think that we might all need a journey into the Spirit World. 2020 has sucked, but music has been a big help.
1:15 I remember Aesop dropping a freestyle to a joint off Darkest Before Dawn so it’s possible that he’s a fan of Pusha and was inspired by his flow on Mercy, or he might’ve just really liked the beat off that joint a couple years back who knows
If The Impossible Kid was Aesop Rock letting ppl into his life a little bit in a slightly more straightforward manner, Spirit World is a quick exit from that road. This is as dense and esoteric as ever, maybe giving us a glimpse into the rabbit hole of his mind.
I'm a big Aesop fan. I like the new album, but it's not connecting with me the same way that The Impossible Kid and Skelethon did. Perhaps it just needs a few more spins!
I could see that. It's a bit more dense and heady. Also the production, while great, does start to get a bit samey. I didn't feel that way on The Impossible Kid or Skelethon.
I thought 21 songs was a bit much, but I enjoyed it. I like that over the years his raps have become more laid back, it makes all of his word play easier to follow (for me). I enjoyed this album and look forward to playing it while I hike through a forest
There's a lot going on here and if you take the time to digest it, the payoff is worthit, culminating in the climax where he says "the moat's supposed to keep the rivals out/ the calls are coming from inside the house."
So funny, I posted that same line about his dream home a few months back on my instagram. I loved The Gates but since the full album drop Holy Waterfall has been played MANY times. Loving that sound.
Aesop has said that a younger him would’ve trimmed the album down to 12 or so tracks, but he said fuck it and left all the tracks there because maybe someone will enjoy some of the tracks he considered weaker. So while it’s still very fair to call this album long, I’m thankful we got as many great songs as we did
The only Aesop album I have ATM is Malibu Ken, which I think is brilliant. I think it was probably the best album of 2019, and it was released in January. Your review of this one intrigues me.
Hey mike hope ur doing well, I wanted to ask how do u find the time to listen to as much music as u do and digest it? I often feel like I never have time to digest music as much as I’d like.
Great video. I didn't think as deeply about the line about saying nobody's home not really being a lie. I took it more as a reference to that saying, "the lights are on but nobody's home" which made it feel a little lighter to me because he often pokes fun at his own mental health. I appreciate the more serious read though, and as always with his lyrics who knows lol
great review! nice and honest and insightful! my opinion is that no aesop album is to long or bloated, the more the merrier for me haha i’m greedy. now if he released full lengths more frequently then the usual 4 year mark id be ok with shorter, but due to the long waits i love how much is on here. subscribed, digging your videos!
DAAAMN, that Lamp of Murmuur shirt is shining hard, love you Mike, would love to meet you ant talk to you, you seem a very centered and interesting dude, keep it up, bruh, regards from Argentina
Aw man, I was hoping you'd gush about this album a little more. Would have also been nice to hear the rest of the Dead End Hip Hop crew wage in on their thoughts of the project. I personally believe this album is the best thing to come out of hip hop in a good 5 years, I like it more than the latest RTJ album.
@@mykectown haha yeah its good enough. I guess I was just expecting yourself and the rest of dead end to have a full on dissection of each track but to be fair I liked your review...I like all your reviews, I'm just a sucker for anything new from Aesop Rock, and I feel this album cant be talked about enough.
I just noticed that at the start of Kodokushi, Aesop says "I shouldn't even be here, mum's the word". This might be a reference to the El-P song For My Upstairs Neighbor (Mums the word). The way he started the song reminded me of El-P for some reason, and I might've just been recognizing that phrase.
Hey myke great vid as always! Figured I'd recommend this show I've been watching on Netflix. Its a documentary on history of toys and the episode i just watched was of star wars and thought you might be interested
To me this is his best produced record, and might possibly be my favorite from him and I hold Labor Days and Impossible Kid in high regards, I absolutely love those records. But this record right here is special, I love that there are no featured artists, all production by Aesop and no fillers. It’s a complete personal record like a book or diary of Aesop’s life, simply amazing.
I loved the record, but I feel like Aesop needs someone there with him to ease up on the amount of ciphered word play and poetry his bars bring. Maybe a feature, like you suggested, or songs that aren't as mind-bending. I enjoy listening to Aesop, but I do feel exhausted after a few tracks.
@@AnxiousMo-Fo Definitely. I'm sure it's a personal thing, but I've felt like these moments are dar and few between. Especially with the bloated tracklist
This was kinda one if his more straight forward albums, pretty consistent with the themes of western esotericism. I can see why it wouldn't be for everyone but if I had to guess hes probably going to keep on this path if he makes more music
This guy is super insightful knows his stuff but my only disagreement if you can call it that is when he says the album would need features so Aesop doesn't begin to sound Sammy I'm a huge 70s classic rock and blues fan but if I need to work for 8 hours and listen to One artist all day without getting bored it's Aesop so I just thought that was an interesting tidbit
I think you were more fair than fantano. Anyway, it's hard for me as a big aesop fan to make an opinion about which project is better or worse. I don't dislike IK but felt people just overrated it and this one I slightly enjoyed more much like skelethon 8 or so years ago. I think aesop embodies the sentiment of "the more things change, the more they stay the same" when you look at production or lyrics in his songs. I do agree that for it to not sound tiring to listen he should've asked a couple people to do vocals much like rtj 4 surprised us with.
I'll give you that the album could use one or two fewer tracks, but no feature could ever live up to his own lyrics. It would only serve to lessen the album. Great review though!
This album was ABSOLUTELY dense. It's best to sit down with headphones on and read the lyrics, even write them down as they strike you, press pause and let it marinate before moving on. I really don't like when artists feel that an album needs TWENTY GODDAMN SONGS. I never rejoice when I see that an album has upwards of 12 to 15 tracks. I've listened to the entire album, but I'm not done digesting it. That can be a good thing AND a bad thing.
Album is a banger front to back. I like this better then impossible kid, in fact it might be one of my favorites he's made. Even though that's not saying much considering the dudes never made a bad album imo...well except one i won't mention.. Now i wounder if we will see another hail mary mallon 🤔
I feel like the mixing in this one wasn't great in spots and it kinda makes it a hard listen sometimes. There are a lot of great lyrics, flows and instrumentation throughout which makes it still engaging but can't help but feel like the mixing needed maybe another take.
This guy is an incredible rapper, but I wish I knew what he is talking about, maybe I’m just not intelligent enough to get it, I found the impossible kid a lot easier to understand though
Underrated, blah blah, consistent, blah blah, next level, blah blah, god like punisher of the mundane blah blah, lord of beats and wielder of the sun, blah blah
Honestly, those takes are good, but it also has a double meaning for heavy psychedelics use. Button masher is almost exactly how it feels to peak on a heroic dose. I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if he was writing while he was fucked up
I don’t think the album would benefit from features. If you choose the interpretation of this as him talking about a guide through life and his experiences then I don’t see how they would really highlight HIS experience and would the features be as good as Aesop I don’t think so. And especially don’t want the features if you follow the story line on the album.
@@wvccradio208 I take his music in a spiritual sense. Maybe like a spiritist sense. If you were to study the occult and Egyptians along with the stars and some darker path stuff, it would make sense. For me personally its like he's tuned into my life in a way. Its hard to explain through a msg. Its crazy.
@@jessicapoepping Hmmmm...That is a very interesting interpretation. Especially since Aes has always been tongue and cheek about spiritual dogma. I have seen more Occult referrences in his last couple of releases, like on Malibu Ken the song about the teenagers killing that kid for a Satanic Ritual for instance. But i always thought of it as him poking fun at something he feels that alot of people take way to seriously. He does make several referrences to really scary things that can meet you on the "OTHER SIDE" on this album tho, and his acceptance of them ( LET UM IN) . I personally think the whole album is his most introspective work under the influence of some sort of Mind Altering Substance (Hallucinogenics). Maybe he did some Iawaska in Peru and it opened up his Mind to THE GATES. Every song sound like he is using the random imagery that goes through your head during a trip.
I'm not talking spiritual like religious. Im talking spiritist which is slightly different. If you dealt with spirits it would make different sense to you. Or im way off, I suppose it doesn't really matter : )
Exactly. I know what the dude is talking about on this album. I've been in the spirit realm on more than a few occasions. Its no guess work. You either know or you do not know. A person who doesn't know could never understand or even pretend to understand when discussing these matters with someone that does know. Some people are in over their head.
Aesop Rock is one of the most consistently great rappers out there.
Aesops lyrics are denser than some black holes 🕳
I kinda hope that Aesop gets some kinda sudden boom of popularity and respect like other old school underground dudes like Mf Doom and El-P this past decade.
Aesop and Rob Sonic would be an awesome opening act on the next RTJ tour. Do a mash of Aesop Rock and Hail Mary Mallon stuff.
Very cool Myke
Eyyyyyyyy
YOURE EVERYWHERE WHERE I GO!!!!!!!!
@@ryanthegreat805 We have shared interest...woah
@@Bandstand Im afraid yes😭
Thanks for checking it out!
It’s incredible how Aesop is still crafting amazing songs and albums at such a high level. His lyrical ability is still as creative and dense as it’s always been and yet he still continues to improve with age. I feel Aes is also underrated when it comes to flow and rhyming, I know his verbose language is what he’s know for but the way he can flow over the strangest beats is mind blowing to me. He’s just an amazing artist. I also feel like he’s improved a lot as a producer. The beats on this album hit hard and have so much detail to them. Great review Myke.
Honestly Aes is a very underrated producer. You can’t work with Blockhead for a decade and not build some kind of chops. Once I learned Aes produced Big Bang off of Float I’ve had mad respect for dude when it comes to producing
While listening to "Jumping Coffin" I came to the conclusion that Aesop Rock doesn't get nearly enough credit for how catchy his music can be at times.
You're right. It's even evident as far back as float with Big Bang and Commencement at the Obedience Academy. Aes could pump out catchy trash pop if he wanted to, i have no doubt.
I think his sense of honor and ability to convey it so well is also understated as well. Especially evident on flies and dog at the door etc.
@@Ty91681 Yeah, Commencement at the Obedience Academy is so ballin good. Damn it's so good.
I agree that thing was stuck on repeat for 10 days. The start of the 3rd verse and the goddamn instrumental
This album came out at exactly the right time in my life.
Safe travels bro
I've said that at least 3 times with his records. Thankful when music helps get us through, just when we need the help the most.
Ayyy been excited for this review since the album dropped! This album is the AOTY for me... It's Aes' most accessible production to date imo, I love the video game soundscape and I love how aggressive Aes is (imo the most since Fast Cars... and Bazooka Tooth). It's not Labor Days, Float or Impossible Kid, but it is still one of Aes' best projects! Also I have to thank Aes for making a song about back pain, I feel it everyday!! My favorite tracks are Attaboy, Gauze, Sleeper Car, Jumping Coffin and Kodokushi. Great review as always Myke!!
Edit: I agree with the "same-y" feel and would've enjoyed maybe a Homeboy Sandman or Rob Sonic feature or hook here or there, but I also think that may have been purposeful. As I perceive Aes' Spirit World as forest-like (from the music videos, album cover, etc.) and most forests are usually very similar feeling throughout an entire hike and if one were to be lost in it, you may feel like you're "walking in circles" with each new part, hence the same-y feel. Aes also seemed to create the project to not be listened to as a collective, where the listener picks parts to study and utilize on their journey. Hence the intro line, "Users should skip to whatever section most directly applies to their impending scenario." But that's just my feeling... Again, great review as always!
I also noticed he gives the listener permission to skip around.
Might be my new favourite rap album of the year, basically tied with RTJ4 depending what I’m in the mood for.
I wanted to like RTJ4, your comment makes me want to give it another go
@@averylopez2296 watch the live adult swim performance
Love you & your reviews alot man. Thank you for taking the time to review this, this might be my favorite album of the year. When i saw that you uploaded a review I was pretty excited because you're a very insightful individual so i knew with how cryptic Aes' writing is you would break certain things down that i might not have caught yet. This & the new clipping. album "Visions of Bodies Being Burned" have been in heavy rotation for me lately.
Anyway, thanks again. Wish you nothing but the best in these peculiar times we're living in. Take care ✌
I first saw you on Punk Rock MBA ran across this and knew I had to sub. Great review and the description of his ideal house is one on my favorite lines from the album as well.
When I learned that the first verse on the song shrunk was him filling out the paperwork in his therapist office I was mind blown.
There was a lot of rap albums that make reference to aging and being remembered this year. No Pressure, Anime, Trauma, & Divorce, All My Heroes Are Dead, and once again Aesop Rock brings his signature style to a variety of topics -- new and old.
If you ask me, this year has been wonderful for hip-hop fans who are having growing pain or aging anxieties. Tracks like Dadbod, Sweatpants Spiderman, Every Thing Ends Last Season, and Golden Oldies were already highly contemplative but Aes' aptitude for introspection really pushes these to the nth degree.
On whole other level when it comes to lyricism.
Makes my head hurt trying to figure what he's talking about.
@@Mr.Truxton its not nearly as difficult to understand as some people claim. Im so sick of reading this comment everywhere.
@@Ty91681 Where are you seeing those comments? All I see are people jerking him off about how great he is. And he is, just not completely my cup of tea.
@Lunar Orbit I can't speak to your struggle understanding his lyrics, but these are the most cogent and coherent bars I've ever heard from him. May take you some time to Google some words you don't know. There is a story there that fans like myself are here for. It's not about mixing an album, it's about mindset, metaphor and I believe spiritual/drug states. You don't need to be in those but you need to see where he's coming from.
I absolutely love this album. Great review man.
Dang, can't believe the full crew ain't checking this out. Love the review as always Myke.
Great review, Myke! I knew you would appreciate this album but wanted to see you introduce it to the other guys.
Dope review. Didn't even know this came out but I'll definitely listen to this
If only one person was going to review this, I’d want it to be Myke
I almost wanted the whole crew to review this one. I wanted to hear Feefo say Kodokushi bumps in the whip
Avery Lopez Hahahaha “After his last project I didn’t know what to expect.”
Now I really want to hear Beezy’s point of view on the production
Agreed
Love this project. I've been on a Rhymesayers binge this year. They've been on point!
I really love this album. It's great to see him go from a guy who hides behind recondite vocabulary and esoteric references to a guy who uses recondite vocabulary and esoteric references to reveal himself as an awkward, middle-aged introvert with a lot of wisdom and a great sense of humor. Also, I don't always connect with Aesop's production when he handles it himself. I'm not even criticizing really, there's just something that doesn't always hit with me, especially Impossible Kid. But Spirit World isn't like that. Pizza Alley has one of my favorite beats of the year, and almost every track has similarly killer production.
@@MiLKSOP "ah yes, I remember my first beer too."--Steve Martin
Super interesting album! I already know I'm gonna have to listen to it many more times to grasp the different messages and meanings.
Man, given that we’re on the verge of another national quarantine, I think that we might all need a journey into the Spirit World. 2020 has sucked, but music has been a big help.
1:15 I remember Aesop dropping a freestyle to a joint off Darkest Before Dawn so it’s possible that he’s a fan of Pusha and was inspired by his flow on Mercy, or he might’ve just really liked the beat off that joint a couple years back who knows
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Absolutely love the record. I agree that it would’ve been interesting to hear a couple of features on it.
If The Impossible Kid was Aesop Rock letting ppl into his life a little bit in a slightly more straightforward manner, Spirit World is a quick exit from that road. This is as dense and esoteric as ever, maybe giving us a glimpse into the rabbit hole of his mind.
Kodokushi is one of the greatest songs I've heard this year 🤩 The beat is so infectious, and his flow on it is mesmerizing
This is basically how I feel about Holy Waterfall
That and attaboy
I’m 20 with back pain, believe me, I know, haha. Great review as always man
I'm a big Aesop fan. I like the new album, but it's not connecting with me the same way that The Impossible Kid and Skelethon did. Perhaps it just needs a few more spins!
I could see that. It's a bit more dense and heady. Also the production, while great, does start to get a bit samey. I didn't feel that way on The Impossible Kid or Skelethon.
I thought 21 songs was a bit much, but I enjoyed it. I like that over the years his raps have become more laid back, it makes all of his word play easier to follow (for me). I enjoyed this album and look forward to playing it while I hike through a forest
Are we going to get an OME review? Would love to hear your take on it.
Dope review, Myke!
Aes is a legend.
The flaming arrow isn’t just a game of thrones reference it also refers to Viking and Norse ceremonies
I actually like the length. It’s finally nice to hear an album that’s longer than 9-12 tracks this year.
There's a lot going on here and if you take the time to digest it, the payoff is worthit, culminating in the climax where he says "the moat's supposed to keep the rivals out/ the calls are coming from inside the house."
So funny, I posted that same line about his dream home a few months back on my instagram. I loved The Gates but since the full album drop Holy Waterfall has been played MANY times. Loving that sound.
Aesop has said that a younger him would’ve trimmed the album down to 12 or so tracks, but he said fuck it and left all the tracks there because maybe someone will enjoy some of the tracks he considered weaker. So while it’s still very fair to call this album long, I’m thankful we got as many great songs as we did
The only Aesop album I have ATM is Malibu Ken, which I think is brilliant. I think it was probably the best album of 2019, and it was released in January. Your review of this one intrigues me.
You need to listen to this album and impossible kid. All self produced.
Myke, have you checked out the new Mr Lif album yet?
Not yet but I will.
Awesome review man. Really in depth. I wonder if the lack of features could be somehow covid related? Seems like some verses could have been features.
Hey mike hope ur doing well, I wanted to ask how do u find the time to listen to as much music as u do and digest it? I often feel like I never have time to digest music as much as I’d like.
Great video. I didn't think as deeply about the line about saying nobody's home not really being a lie. I took it more as a reference to that saying, "the lights are on but nobody's home" which made it feel a little lighter to me because he often pokes fun at his own mental health. I appreciate the more serious read though, and as always with his lyrics who knows lol
great review! nice and honest and insightful! my opinion is that no aesop album is to long or bloated, the more the merrier for me haha i’m greedy. now if he released full lengths more frequently then the usual 4 year mark id be ok with shorter, but due to the long waits i love how much is on here. subscribed, digging your videos!
DAAAMN, that Lamp of Murmuur shirt is shining hard, love you Mike, would love to meet you ant talk to you, you seem a very centered and interesting dude, keep it up, bruh, regards from Argentina
I can see that with the people here in South Africa, they have nothing but they laugh every day!
Great review!
Great review on a great album. Nice.
As a Costa Rican I can confirm the whole thing about the dogs! BTW Aesop Rock didn't disappoint cause this album its great! Salt it's my fav song
Myke I love you
Aw man, I was hoping you'd gush about this album a little more. Would have also been nice to hear the rest of the Dead End Hip Hop crew wage in on their thoughts of the project. I personally believe this album is the best thing to come out of hip hop in a good 5 years, I like it more than the latest RTJ album.
Saying it's one of the best albums of the year isn't good enough?
@@mykectown haha yeah its good enough. I guess I was just expecting yourself and the rest of dead end to have a full on dissection of each track but to be fair I liked your review...I like all your reviews, I'm just a sucker for anything new from Aesop Rock, and I feel this album cant be talked about enough.
Good album but I agree on the length and samey vibe I started getting. His voice also wore on me a bit. I like TIK more but this was cool
yeooo been waiting for this
I just love hearing Aesop flow and these beats are definitely a great backdrop for it
Awesome video. Can you review Homeboy Sandman's new album?
R we gonna get an open mike eagle review? Great review tho Aesop is 1 of the deepest and most technical emcees ever
I just noticed that at the start of Kodokushi, Aesop says "I shouldn't even be here, mum's the word". This might be a reference to the El-P song For My Upstairs Neighbor (Mums the word). The way he started the song reminded me of El-P for some reason, and I might've just been recognizing that phrase.
Hey myke great vid as always! Figured I'd recommend this show I've been watching on Netflix. Its a documentary on history of toys and the episode i just watched was of star wars and thought you might be interested
To me this is his best produced record, and might possibly be my favorite from him and I hold Labor Days and Impossible Kid in high regards, I absolutely love those records. But this record right here is special, I love that there are no featured artists, all production by Aesop and no fillers. It’s a complete personal record like a book or diary of Aesop’s life, simply amazing.
Just listened to Mercy again. You're freaking right.
Why does myke always seem happier on his personal channel. 🥰
Aesop doesn't do features much anymore. He said if he thinks an MC is dope he would rather do an album together(HMM, LICE, uncluded)
Hey myke love from uk 🇬🇧
I loved the record, but I feel like Aesop needs someone there with him to ease up on the amount of ciphered word play and poetry his bars bring. Maybe a feature, like you suggested, or songs that aren't as mind-bending.
I enjoy listening to Aesop, but I do feel exhausted after a few tracks.
telling Aesop to dumb it down?
But he does have "songs that aren't that mind-bending" on this record, like Flies, 1 To 10 and Dog at The Door
@@AnxiousMo-Fo Definitely. I'm sure it's a personal thing, but I've felt like these moments are dar and few between. Especially with the bloated tracklist
This was kinda one if his more straight forward albums, pretty consistent with the themes of western esotericism. I can see why it wouldn't be for everyone but if I had to guess hes probably going to keep on this path if he makes more music
Great review
bro flies are the worst
love the review!
This guy is super insightful knows his stuff but my only disagreement if you can call it that is when he says the album would need features so Aesop doesn't begin to sound Sammy I'm a huge 70s classic rock and blues fan but if I need to work for 8 hours and listen to One artist all day without getting bored it's Aesop so I just thought that was an interesting tidbit
thank u for the insight shit that was going completely over my head much appreciated
I think you were more fair than fantano. Anyway, it's hard for me as a big aesop fan to make an opinion about which project is better or worse. I don't dislike IK but felt people just overrated it and this one I slightly enjoyed more much like skelethon 8 or so years ago. I think aesop embodies the sentiment of "the more things change, the more they stay the same" when you look at production or lyrics in his songs. I do agree that for it to not sound tiring to listen he should've asked a couple people to do vocals much like rtj 4 surprised us with.
Greatest poet of our generation
@M C I am not well versed in poetry. I'll give you that. He's just dope
great album as always - thank you aesop
I liked 10 songs off this thing. Thats a lot of damn songs in my playlist...sheesh
Definately a good album, he kinda lost me with malibu Ken but the production and delivery is insane on this album
I'll give you that the album could use one or two fewer tracks, but no feature could ever live up to his own lyrics. It would only serve to lessen the album. Great review though!
Nice Shirt, Bro!
This album was ABSOLUTELY dense. It's best to sit down with headphones on and read the lyrics, even write them down as they strike you, press pause and let it marinate before moving on.
I really don't like when artists feel that an album needs TWENTY GODDAMN SONGS. I never rejoice when I see that an album has upwards of 12 to 15 tracks.
I've listened to the entire album, but I'm not done digesting it. That can be a good thing AND a bad thing.
very nice
Album is a banger front to back. I like this better then impossible kid, in fact it might be one of my favorites he's made. Even though that's not saying much considering the dudes never made a bad album imo...well except one i won't mention..
Now i wounder if we will see another hail mary mallon 🤔
It feels strange, hurdling emaciated strays
Even stranger days later when I'm no longer phased
Awsome Review :)
I feel like the mixing in this one wasn't great in spots and it kinda makes it a hard listen sometimes. There are a lot of great lyrics, flows and instrumentation throughout which makes it still engaging but can't help but feel like the mixing needed maybe another take.
How specifically?
I really like this album
Spot on with the Pusha T comparison
Amazing album
Not much I disagree with here, I read in an interview he did that he wanted this project to be closing in at 50 songs, can you imagine😆
This guy is an incredible rapper, but I wish I knew what he is talking about, maybe I’m just not intelligent enough to get it, I found the impossible kid a lot easier to understand though
Doc Pel "" maybe because
I like the album and to be honest it doesn't feel long. And it actually is easier to understand what he's saying lol🙂🙂
Aesop is the god
Underrated, blah blah, consistent, blah blah, next level, blah blah, god like punisher of the mundane blah blah, lord of beats and wielder of the sun, blah blah
This album is so damn good
Side Quest is a banger, 6/8 rap music always hits different
Honestly, those takes are good, but it also has a double meaning for heavy psychedelics use. Button masher is almost exactly how it feels to peak on a heroic dose.
I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if he was writing while he was fucked up
Everybody on the fake four facebook tell me the boycott aesop and rhymesayers... i get so confused nowadays.
I don’t think the album would benefit from features. If you choose the interpretation of this as him talking about a guide through life and his experiences then I don’t see how they would really highlight HIS experience and would the features be as good as Aesop I don’t think so. And especially don’t want the features if you follow the story line on the album.
Oh boii, lol I guess Aesop Rocks music makes totally different sense to me than anyone else. Hahaha wow.
What's your take Jess? I still haven't heard anyone touch on what I'm hearing in between the lines
@@wvccradio208 I take his music in a spiritual sense. Maybe like a spiritist sense. If you were to study the occult and Egyptians along with the stars and some darker path stuff, it would make sense. For me personally its like he's tuned into my life in a way. Its hard to explain through a msg. Its crazy.
@@jessicapoepping Hmmmm...That is a very interesting interpretation. Especially since Aes has always been tongue and cheek about spiritual dogma. I have seen more Occult referrences in his last couple of releases, like on Malibu Ken the song about the teenagers killing that kid for a Satanic Ritual for instance. But i always thought of it as him poking fun at something he feels that alot of people take way to seriously. He does make several referrences to really scary things that can meet you on the "OTHER SIDE" on this album tho, and his acceptance of them ( LET UM IN) . I personally think the whole album is his most introspective work under the influence of some sort of Mind Altering Substance (Hallucinogenics). Maybe he did some Iawaska in Peru and it opened up his Mind to THE GATES. Every song sound like he is using the random imagery that goes through your head during a trip.
I'm not talking spiritual like religious. Im talking spiritist which is slightly different. If you dealt with spirits it would make different sense to you. Or im way off, I suppose it doesn't really matter : )
bruh i just got bitten by a dog a few weeks ago in costa rica lol and my neighbour's dogs hate me lol
It’s probably a trap
This review is a trap.
Definitely a trap.
Utilizing some technology I didn’t know we had
It must be a trap
hmmm, this album. Maybe it's a trap :)
Dudes review is way off man.
Sure.
@@mykectown great effort though
@@backfromtheotherside9254 Uh huh.
Exactly. I know what the dude is talking about on this album. I've been in the spirit realm on more than a few occasions. Its no guess work. You either know or you do not know. A person who doesn't know could never understand or even pretend to understand when discussing these matters with someone that does know. Some people are in over their head.
@@backfromtheotherside9254 Cool, dude.