Stand up and listen to this. (Fight With Tools - Flobots)

Member Name: paulhanton

Product:	Fight With Tools - Flobots
Date:	03/02/09 (366 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliantly politically aware, good tunes.

Disadvantages: None really.

Fight with Tools

Flobots 2008 (first released 2007)

Flobots are perhaps one of the most exciting bands to have 'broken through' in America in recent years. I say broken through as they seem to have been around for some 8 years yet until last year I had never heard of them and then they released the single 'Handlebars' and I was instantly hooked.

Who are they?

Jonny 5 is the main MC
Brer Rabbit is also an MC and they work together
Mackenzie Roberts plays Viola
Andy Guerrero, Guitar
Jesse Walker, Bass
Joe Ferrone, trumpet player (and some trumpet player I have to say)
Kenny Ortiz, Drummer

This band is overtly political and does a great job of mixing rap with rock, like Linkin Park, but better. You can download this album from iTunes but you do not get the UK bonus track....so I cannot in all honesty comment too much on that track as my purchase was from iTunes.

1. There's a War Going On for Your Mind
Great opener and we see from this short number already that Flobots are clever and very politically aware; they have something to say and want us to listen. I love the background drumming which is militaristic in style in places and the viola in the background, which is almost a Flobots signature, is haunting and appropriate. The rapping is purposeful and clear. 8/10.

2. Mayday!!!
More metal orientated in style this track again has some cracking lyrics and the rapping punctuated by some nifty drum work. 7/10.

3. Same Thing
Gotta love the trumpet and funky style to this track, almost a new genre funk/rap. We get more of a vocal singing style breaking out from the rap here and that is cool. 7/10.

4. Stand Up
To me, this is the track of the album, absolutely stunning. The intro is almost Celtic with the viola, then the rap comes in accompanied only by the viola. This is then joined by some sparse drumming, before it all builds, slowly but surely. The lyrics start off by criticising the response in New Orleans to the Levees bursting, goes on to highlight American Foreign Policy. We then get some lyrics related to the American use of fossil fuels, and all of this is punctuated by some nice basslines. The end of this track is quite bizarre with some random (seemingly) exerts of radio stations. Top track, and perhaps one of my favourite tracks, ever, and that is saying something. 10/10.

5. Fight with Tools
More traditional in terms of the rapping and though it is the title track it is a little wanting as it sways (after the initial rap) into rock electronica. Not a bad track at all, just pales in comparison to the last track. 5/10.

6. Handlebars
Quite rightly a huge hit. I so love the beginning of this track, and if anyone gets the chance to see the video, it is fantastic. The rapping is laconic and clear. The words flow so well into each other it is lyrical genius. The bit where the trumpets join in is sublime. This song builds in a way that is almost perfection, the metal like ending is brilliant. Lyrically this is as good as it gets, these guys hit the nail on the head and I should imagine upset as many Americans as the delight. 9.5/10.

7. Never Had It
We get some female vocals on this track and somehow it doesn't seem right. I am certainly not against female vocals, far from it, but I love the male anti macho style of all the songs so far and this one does not really work for me. 4/10.

8. Combat
Much faster metal rap, not as clear as the other tracks, very rhythmic and interesting though. Reminds me a bit of some bands I heard in the late 80's in the London alternative scene. For difference I'll give it 6/10.

9. The Rhythm Method (Move!)
More difference here, much more old style rock riffs (a la Santana) not sure about this one, okay, not great. 6/10.

10. Anne Braden
Love this, very much a story of an unknown (to me) equal rights activist who was amongst the leading white anti segregationists. I learnt a fair deal from this song, good stuff Flobots, I like the almost menacing tone to the track too. 7/10.

11. We Are Winning
A nice song; rap mixed with (false) news reporting, very much in the same social commentary/politically aware vein as the other songs, but again, different enough, 7/10.

12. Rise
As the title suggests, a call to be more 'noticeable' not to just let the crap that is going on in the World to continue unchallenged, I like this, it touches a chord. 8/10.

13. Iraq (UK bonus track)
I had to listen to this, even though it is not on the iTunes download....so I watched it on Youtube...cracking: Very clever use of rap verses around the letter I, R, A, Q, such as the war It Resuscitates Al Qaeda. 8/10.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=57wpewgplvA


~~~Finally~~~

This just has to be one of the best albums of last year (I know, originally released in 2007). It could not have come at a more poignant time either. With Obama in office I have started to look at America in a different light, and to know there are bands like this that are overtly critical of previous US policy, and that are talented enough to get the message across to an audience that will appreciate their music as well as the sentiment, well, things can only get better. This one is in it's entirety on my iPod and is likely to stay there.

I am giving this 5 stars, not just because of the music, as clearly, from my review, some tracks do not warrant that, but mainly the 5 stars are for the 'force' of this album and the sheer 'sit up and listen' factor.

Summary: Flobots, Fight with Tools.