Labor Days
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Labor Days
| type = studio
| artist = Aesop Rock
| cover = Labor Days.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2001|09|18}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Alternative hip hop
| length = {{Duration|m=61|s=03}}
| label = Definitive Jux
| producer = {{hlist|Aesop Rock|Blockhead|Omega One}}
| prev_title = Float
| prev_year = 2000
| next_title = Daylight
| next_year = 2002
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Labor Days
| type = studio
| single1 = Coma
| single1date = {{Start date|2001}}
| single2 = Boombox
| single2date = {{Start date|2001}}
}}
}}
Labor Days is the third studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/26/arts/pop-review-the-evolving-definition-of-underground-hip-hop.html|title=Pop Review; The Evolving Definition Of Underground Hip-Hop|work=The New York Times|first=Kelefa|last=Sanneh|author-link=Kelefa Sanneh|date=January 26, 2002|access-date=April 19, 2016|archive-date=April 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428113927/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/26/arts/pop-review-the-evolving-definition-of-underground-hip-hop.html|url-status=live}} It was released by Definitive Jux on September 18, 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/04/the-30-greatest-months-in-rap-history/september-2001-in-rap|title=The 30 Greatest Months in Rap History: 9. September 2001|work=Complex|first=Ernest|last=Baker|date=April 26, 2013|access-date=April 19, 2016|archive-date=June 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611183851/http://www.complex.com/music/2013/04/the-30-greatest-months-in-rap-history/september-2001-in-rap|url-status=live}} It is a concept album about work.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/thats-what-hes-saying/Content?oid=917995|title=That's What He's Saying?|work=Chicago Reader|first=Robert|last=Mentzer|date=2005|access-date=April 19, 2016|archive-date=April 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428040226/http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/thats-what-hes-saying/Content?oid=917995|url-status=live}} The album's production was handled by Aesop Rock, Blockhead, and Omega One.{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/aesop_rock-labor_days|title=Aesop Rock: Labor Days|work=Exclaim!|first=Thomas|last=Quinlan|date=June 30, 2001|access-date=April 19, 2016|archive-date=July 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701132248/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/aesop_rock-labor_days|url-status=live}}
"Labor" was featured on the soundtrack of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 92/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/labor-days/aesop-rock|title=Reviews for Labor Days by Aesop Rock|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=April 19, 2016|archive-date=May 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510134737/http://www.metacritic.com/music/labor-days/aesop-rock|url-status=live}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/labor-days-mw0000014047|title=Labor Days – Aesop Rock|publisher=AllMusic|first=Dan|last=LeRoy|access-date=September 3, 2012|archive-date=August 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805163348/http://www.allmusic.com/album/labor-days-mw0000014047|url-status=live}}
| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev2score = A{{cite journal|title=Aesop Rock: Labor Days|work=Entertainment Weekly|date=September 28, 2001|page=74}}
| rev3 = HipHopDX
| rev3score = 4.0/5{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.120/title.aesop-rock-labor-days|title=Aesop Rock – Labor Days|work=HipHopDX|author=J-23|date=December 4, 2001|access-date=April 19, 2016|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305201731/http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.120/title.aesop-rock-labor-days|url-status=live}}
| rev4 = Muzik
| rev4score = 4/5{{cite journal|title=Aesop Rock: Labor Days (Def Jux)|work=Muzik|issue=78|first=Will|last=Ashon|date=November 2001|page=99}}
| rev5 = Pitchfork
| rev5score = 8.7/10{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/65-labor-days/|title=Aesop Rock: Labor Days|work=Pitchfork|first=Nitsuh|last=Abebe|date=January 23, 2002|access-date=September 3, 2012|archive-date=August 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824230945/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/65-labor-days/|url-status=live}}
| rev6 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book|chapter=Aesop Rock|last=Catucci|first=Nick|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|publisher=Simon & Schuster|edition=4th|year=2004|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/8 8–9]}}
| rev7 = Stylus Magazine
| rev7score = A−{{cite web|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/aesop-rock/labor-days.htm|title=Aesop Rock – Labor Days – Review|work=Stylus Magazine|first=Tyler|last=Martin|date=September 1, 2003|access-date=September 3, 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060515203215/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/aesop-rock/labor-days.htm|archivedate=May 15, 2006|url-status=dead}}
| rev8 = Uncut
| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|title=Aesop Rock: Labor Days|work=Uncut|issue=54|date=November 2001|page=103}}
| rev9 = The Village Voice
| rev9score = A−{{cite news|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv11-01.php|title=Consumer Guide: Salaam|work=The Village Voice|first=Robert|last=Christgau|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=November 20, 2001|access-date=April 14, 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081551/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv11-01.php|url-status=live}}
}}
At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, Labor Days received an average score of 92 based on 5 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".
In 2010, Rhapsody included it on its "10 Best Albums by White Rappers" list.{{cite web|url=http://blog.rhapsody.com/2010/06/whiterappers.html|title=The 10 Best Albums by White Rappers|publisher=Rhapsody|date=June 22, 2010|access-date=July 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626034450/http://blog.rhapsody.com/2010/06/whiterappers.html|archive-date=June 26, 2010}} In 2015, Fact placed it at number 17 on its "100 Best Indie Hip-Hop Records of All Time" list.{{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2015/02/25/the-100-best-indie-hip-hop-records-of-all-time/85/|title=The 100 best indie hip-hop records of all time|page=85|work=Fact|first1=Alex|last1=Piyevsky|author2=Geng|first3=John|last3=Twells|first4=Son|last4=Raw|first5=Jeff|last5=Rascobeamer|date=February 25, 2015|access-date=April 19, 2016|archive-date=April 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417081916/http://www.factmag.com/2015/02/25/the-100-best-indie-hip-hop-records-of-all-time/85/|url-status=live}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Labor
| extra1 = Aesop Rock
| length1 = 2:32
| title2 = Daylight
| extra2 = Blockhead
| length2 = 4:26
| title3 = Save Yourself
| extra3 = Blockhead
| length3 = 4:59
| title4 = Flashflood
| extra4 = Blockhead
| length4 = 3:54
| title5 = No Regrets
| extra5 = Blockhead
| length5 = 4:31
| title6 = One Brick
| note6 = with Illogic
| extra6 = Aesop Rock
| length6 = 4:32
| title7 = The Tugboat Complex Pt. 3
| extra7 = Blockhead
| length7 = 3:46
| title8 = Coma
| extra8 = Omega One
| length8 = 3:56
| title9 = Battery
| extra9 = Aesop Rock
| length9 = 5:07
| title10 = Boombox
| extra10 = Aesop Rock
| length10 = 5:05
| title11 = Bent Life
| note11 = with C-Rayz Walz
| extra11 = Blockhead
| length11 = 4:49
| title12 = The Yes and the Y'all
| extra12 = Blockhead
| length12 = 4:04
| title13 = 9-5ers Anthem
| extra13 = Blockhead
| length13 = 4:38
| title14 = Shovel
| extra14 = Blockhead
| length14 = 4:45
| all_writing =
| total_length =
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.
- Aesop Rock – vocals, production (1, 6, 9, 10), recording
- Illogic – vocals (6)
- C-Rayz Walz – vocals (11)
- Blockhead – production (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- Omega One – production (8), turntables
- Cryptic One – mixing
- Emily Lazar – mastering
- Dan Ezra Lang – art direction, design
- Owen Brozman – illustration
- Ben Colen – photography
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|69968|Labor Days}}
{{Aesop Rock}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Definitive Jux albums