Float (Aesop Rock album)
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Float
| type = studio album
| artist = Aesop Rock
| cover = Aesop rock float.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2000|09|05}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = {{Duration|m=69|s=20}}
| label = Mush Records
| producer = {{hlist|Aesop Rock|Blockhead|Omega One}}
| prev_title = Appleseed
| prev_year = 1999
| next_title = Labor Days
| next_year = 2001
}}
Float is the second studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock. It was released on Mush Records on September 5, 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.mushrecords.com/release/MH202.php|title=MH-202 Aesop Rock - Float|work=Mush Records|access-date=May 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404150536/http://mushrecords.com/release/MH202.php|archive-date=April 4, 2016|url-status=live}} Produced by Aesop Rock himself, Blockhead, and Omega One, it features guest appearances from Slug, Vast Aire, and Doseone.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/float-mw0000233439|title=Aesop Rock - Float|work=AllMusic|first=Brad|last=Mills|access-date=May 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404054616/http://www.allmusic.com/album/float-mw0000233439|archive-date=April 4, 2016|url-status=live}}
| rev2 = CMJ New Music Monthly
| rev2score = favorable{{cite journal|journal=CMJ New Music Monthly|title=Aesop Rock - Float|first=Kevin|last=John|date=October 2000|page=53}}
| rev3 = Exclaim!
| rev3score = mixed{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/aesop_rock-float|title=Aesop Rock - Float|work=Exclaim!|first=Thomas|last=Quinlan|date=September 30, 2000|access-date=May 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807215616/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/aesop_rock-float|archive-date=August 7, 2016|url-status=live}}
| rev4 = RapReviews
| rev5 = The New Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev5score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite book|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|editor1-first=Nathan|editor1-last=Brackett|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-last=Hoard|publisher=Fireside Books|year=2004|chapter=Aesop Rock|page=8}}
| rev6 = Spin
| rev6score = 7/10{{cite journal|journal=Spin|title=Reviews|first=Jon|last=Caramanica|date=December 2000|page=234}}
}}
Brad Mills of AllMusic gave the album 4 stars out of 5, calling it "surprising, analytical, darkness, mystery, lyricism, and jealous." 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." 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." 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."
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."{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1678264/aesop-rock-albums-from-worst-to-best/photo/|title=Aesop Rock Albums From Worst To Best|work=Stereogum|first=Joseph|last=Schafer|date=May 8, 2014|access-date=October 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026184121/https://www.stereogum.com/1678264/aesop-rock-albums-from-worst-to-best/photo/|archive-date=October 26, 2022|url-status=live}}
Track listing
{{track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Float
| extra1 = Aesop Rock
| length1 = 1:54
| title2 = Commencement at the Obedience Academy
| extra2 = Blockhead
| length2 = 3:45
| title3 = Big Bang
| extra3 = Aesop Rock
| length3 = 5:00
| title4 = Garbage
| extra4 = Aesop Rock
| length4 = 4:01
| title5 = I'll Be OK
| note5 = featuring Slug
| extra5 = Blockhead
| length5 = 3:00
| title6 = Breakfast with Blockhead
| extra6 = Blockhead
| length6 = 0:36
| title7 = Basic Cable
| extra7 = Blockhead
| length7 = 4:11
| title8 = Fascination
| extra8 = Aesop Rock
| length8 = 3:46
| title9 = Oxygen
| extra9 = Blockhead
| length9 = 5:17
| title10 = Skip Town
| extra10 = Omega One
| length10 = 4:22
| title11 = 6B Panorama
| extra11 = Aesop Rock
| length11 = 2:02
| title12 = Lunch with Blockhead
| extra12 = Blockhead
| length12 = 0:21
| title13 = Spare a Match
| extra13 = Blockhead
| length13 = 4:51
| title14 = Attention Span
| note14 = featuring Vast Aire
| extra14 = Blockhead
| length14 = 3:51
| title15 = How to Be a Carpenter
| extra15 = Aesop Rock
| length15 = 4:43
| title16 = Prosperity
| extra16 = Aesop Rock
| length16 = 3:56
| title17 = No Splash
| extra17 = Blockhead
| length17 = 4:02
| title18 = Drawbridge
| note18 = featuring Doseone
| extra18 = Blockhead
| length18 = 4:45
| title19 = Dinner with Blockhead
| extra19 = Blockhead
| length19 = 0:47
| title20 = The Mayor and the Crook
| extra20 = Aesop Rock
| length20 = 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
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|69964|Float}}
{{Aesop Rock}}
{{Authority control}}