Float (Aesop Rock album)

Float
Studio album by Aesop Rock
Released	September 5, 2000 (2000-09-05) [1]
Genre	Hip hop
Length	69:20
Label	Mush
Producer	Aesop Rock Blockhead Omega One
Aesop Rock chronology
Appleseed (1999) Float (2000) Labor Days (2001)

Float is the second studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock. It was released on Mush Records on September 5, 2000. ^[1] Produced by Aesop Rock, Blockhead, and Omega One, it features guest appearances from Slug, Vast Aire, and Doseone. ^[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
CMJ New Music Monthly	favorable [4]
Exclaim!	mixed [2]
RapReviews	9/10 [5]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide	[6]
Spin	7/10 [7]

Brad Mills of AllMusic called the album "surprising, analytical, darkness, mystery, lyricism, and jealous." ^[3] Jon Caramanica of Spin gave the album a 7 out of 10, commenting that "Aesop's voice is a rich, flat bass cut with a thin growl; through its resonance, he's able to explore the variations within a timbre to access a vast emotional range." ^[7] Thomas Quinlan of Exclaim! gave the album a mixed review, writing: "While there are no bad songs, the consistent similarity between all of the tracks in regards to drum samples and vocal sounds causes the album to have a bit of a tiresome feel as it nears its conclusion." ^[2] He added: "The guest MCs add different vocal styles to the album, which helps take your mind off Aesop's vocals long enough to appreciate them when they come back." ^[2]

In 2014, Joseph Schafer of Stereogum named it the 3rd best Aesop Rock record, saying: "The whole record sounds more anxious than his more assured later work, which makes for an exciting listen." ^[8]

Track listing

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Float"	Aesop Rock	1:54
2.	"Commencement at the Obedience Academy"	Blockhead	3:45
3.	"Big Bang"	Aesop Rock	5:00
4.	"Garbage"	Aesop Rock	4:01
5.	"I'll Be OK" (featuring Slug)	Blockhead	3:00
6.	"Breakfast with Blockhead"	Blockhead	0:36
7.	"Basic Cable"	Blockhead	4:11
8.	"Fascination"	Aesop Rock	3:46
9.	"Oxygen"	Blockhead	5:17
10.	"Skip Town"	Omega One	4:22
11.	"6B Panorama"	Aesop Rock	2:02
12.	"Lunch with Blockhead"	Blockhead	0:21
13.	"Spare a Match"	Blockhead	4:51
14.	"Attention Span" (featuring Vast Aire)	Blockhead	3:51
15.	"How to Be a Carpenter"	Aesop Rock	4:43
16.	"Prosperity"	Aesop Rock	3:56
17.	"No Splash"	Blockhead	4:02
18.	"Drawbridge" (featuring Doseone)	Blockhead	4:45
19.	"Dinner with Blockhead"	Blockhead	0:47
20.	"The Mayor and the Crook"	Aesop Rock	4:10
Total length:			69:20

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

• Aesop Rock – vocals, production (1, 3, 4, 8, 11, 15, 16, 20)
• Blockhead – production (2, 5–7, 9, 12–14, 17–19)
• Omega One – production (10)
• Slug – vocals (5)
• Vast Aire – vocals (14)
• Doseone – vocals (18)

References

1. "MH-202 Aesop Rock - Float". Mush Records . Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
2. Quinlan, Thomas (September 30, 2000). "Aesop Rock - Float". Exclaim! . Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
3. Mills, Brad. "Aesop Rock - Float". AllMusic . Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
4. John, Kevin (October 2000). "Aesop Rock - Float". CMJ New Music Monthly : 53.
5. Noixe (December 5, 2000). "Aesop Rock :: Float :: Mush Records". RapReviews.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
6. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). "Aesop Rock". The New Rolling Stone Album Guide . Fireside Books. p. 8.
7. Caramanica, Jon (December 2000). "Reviews". Spin : 234.
8. Schafer, Joseph (May 8, 2014). "Aesop Rock Albums From Worst To Best". Stereogum . Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.

External links

• Float at Discogs (list of releases)