Skelethon

The album is entirely produced by Aesop Rock himself.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-aesop-rock-worked-harder-than-ever-for-sixth-album-skelethon-20120710|title=Q&A: Aesop Rock Worked Harder Than Ever for Sixth Album, 'Skelethon'|newspaper=Rolling Stone|access-date=2017-01-15}} Guest appearances include Allyson Baker, Hanni El Khatib, Rob Sonic, Kimya Dawson, Murs, and Blueprint.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/45929-aesop-rock-announces-album-details/|title=Aesop Rock Announces Album Details {{!}} Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|access-date=2017-01-15}} The album's artwork was done by Aryz.{{Cite news|url=http://www.juxtapoz.com/news/music/aryz-for-aesop-rock-qskelethonq-album-cover/|title=Juxtapoz Magazine - ARYZ for Aesop Rock "Skelethon" Album Cover|access-date=2017-01-15}}

Aesop has described death as a recurring motif on the album, stating: {{blockquote|It felt like everything around me was dying: people, relationships, all plant life in my apartment, you name it—it's dead. That's where the Skelethon title came from, and imagery associated with shit dying is prevalent. That said, I don't think there are many "sad" songs. It's more just like "ahhh I'm exploding"—I want it to sound urgent.{{Cite web|first=Ian |last=Cohen |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/update/8838-aesop-rock/ |title=Aesop Rock - Interview |publisher=Pitchfork |date=May 16, 2012 |access-date=November 13, 2023}}}}

Music videos were created for "Zero Dark Thirty",{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2300938/aesop-rock-zero-dark-thirty-video/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809031731/http://www.mtv.com/news/2300938/aesop-rock-zero-dark-thirty-video/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 9, 2016|title=Video Premiere: Aesop Rock, 'Zero Dark Thirty'|website=MTV|first=Charlie|last=Norwood|date=May 1, 2012|access-date=July 26, 2016}} "ZZZ Top",{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2696444/aesop-rock-gets-revenge-in-zzz-top-video/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809053145/http://www.mtv.com/news/2696444/aesop-rock-gets-revenge-in-zzz-top-video/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 9, 2016|title=Aesop Rock Gets Revenge in "ZZZ Top" Video|website=MTV|first=Jessica|last=Suarez|date=June 29, 2012|access-date=July 26, 2016}} and "Cycles to Gehenna".{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/08/video-aesop-rock-cycles-to-gehenna|title=Video: Aesop Rock "Cycles To Gehenna"|website=Complex|first=Sam|last=Weiss|date=August 22, 2012|access-date=July 26, 2016}} A music video for "ZZZ Top" features the martial arts master Patti Li.{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/today-in-music-videos-aesop-rock-calls-on-kung-fu--81985|title=Today in music videos: Aesop Rock calls on kung fu master Patti Li for "ZZZ Top"|website=The A.V. Club|first=Marah|last=Eakin|date=June 29, 2012|access-date=July 26, 2016}}

The album debuted at number 21 on the Billboard 200 with 14,000 copies sold in its first week.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2498596/frank-oceans-channel-orange-album-sales-land-him-at-2/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809045645/http://www.mtv.com/news/2498596/frank-oceans-channel-orange-album-sales-land-him-at-2/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 9, 2016|title=Frank Ocean's Channel Orange Album Sales Land Him At #2|website=MTV|first=Gil|last=Kaufman|date=July 18, 2012|access-date=July 26, 2016}} It has sold over 52,000 copies as of April 2016.{{cite magazine |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160413040511/http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases|archivedate= April 13, 2016 |url=http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |title=Upcoming Releases |magazine=Hits Daily Double |publisher=HITS Digital Ventures }}

At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, Skelethon received an average score of 79% based on 27 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

It was listed by HipHopDX as one of the "Top 25 Albums of 2012".{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.2015/title.hiphopdxs-top-25-albums-of-2012|title=HipHopDX's Top 25 Albums Of 2012|website=HipHopDX|date=December 26, 2012|access-date=July 26, 2012}}

{{Track listing

| title1 = Leisureforce

| note1 = featuring Allyson Baker and Hanni El Khatib

| length1 = 4:43

| title2 = ZZZ Top

| note2 = featuring Allyson Baker

| length2 = 4:15

| title3 = Cycles to Gehenna

| length3 = 4:00

| title4 = Zero Dark Thirty

| note4 = featuring Rob Sonic

| length4 = 3:21

| title5 = Fryerstarter

| length5 = 3:28

| title6 = Ruby '81

| length6 = 2:33

| title7 = Crows 1

| note7 = featuring Kimya Dawson

| length7 = 4:19

| title8 = Crows 2

| note8 = featuring Rob Sonic and Murs

| length8 = 2:30

| title9 = Racing Stripes

| note9 = featuring Kimya Dawson

| length9 = 3:23

| title10 = 1,000 O'Clock

| length10 = 3:58

| title11 = Homemade Mummy

| note11= featuring Rob Sonic

| length11 = 2:46

| title12 = Grace

| note12 = featuring Hanni El Khatib

| length12 = 3:38

| title13 = Saturn Missiles

| length13 = 3:37

| title14 = Tetra

| length14 = 4:41

| title15 = Gopher Guts

| length15 = 3:58

| title16 = Dokken Rules

| note16 = deluxe edition bonus track; featuring Rob Sonic{{cite web|url=https://aesoprock.bandcamp.com/album/skelethon-deluxe-edition|title=Skelethon (Deluxe Edition) by Aesop Rock|website=Bandcamp|access-date=July 26, 2016}}

| length16 = 3:59

| title17 = BMX

| note17 = deluxe edition bonus track; featuring Blueprint and Rob Sonic

| length17 = 3:34

}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Discogs master|452609|Skelethon}}

{{Aesop Rock}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2012 albums

Category:Aesop Rock albums

Category:Rhymesayers Entertainment albums