The Impossible Kid (album)
The Impossible Kid is the seventh studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock.[10] It was released on April 29, 2016 through Rhymesayers Entertainment.[11] The production is handled by Aesop Rock himself.[12] The cover art is created by Alex Pardee.[13]
The Impossible Kid | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 29, 2016 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 48:32 | |||
Label | Rhymesayers | |||
Producer |
| |||
Aesop Rock chronology | ||||
|
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 85/100[1] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
The A.V. Club | B+[3] |
Clash | 8/10[4] |
Consequence of Sound | B+[5] |
Exclaim! | 8/10[6] |
Pitchfork | 8.2/10[7] |
PopMatters | |
Spin | 5/10[9] |
To accompany the release of the album, Rob Shaw directed an abridged shot-for-shot remake of The Shining using small figurines, which was set to the album in its entirety.[14] Additionally, music videos were created for "Rings",[15] "Blood Sandwich",[16] "Lazy Eye",[17] "Dorks",[18] "Kirby",[19] "Shrunk",[20] and "Get Out of the Car". This song was released eight years after the death of the song's subject and Aesop's good friend, Camu Tao.[21]
Reception
At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, The Impossible Kid received an average score of 85 based on 11 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[1]
Kyle Mullin of Exclaim! gave the album an 8 out of 10 and said: "For years, Aesop Rock has been beloved for his ambitious, loquacious lyricism, but on The Impossible Kid, he's reached new artistic heights by using that elaborate wordplay to offer us a simple yet powerful glimpse at his scarred psyche."[6]
Track listing
All songs written and produced by Aesop Rock, except where noted.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Mystery Fish" | 3:09 |
2. | "Rings" | 3:47 |
3. | "Lotta Years" | 1:59 |
4. | "Dorks" | 3:33 |
5. | "Rabies" | 3:06 |
6. | "Supercell" | 3:51 |
7. | "Blood Sandwich" | 4:25 |
8. | "Get Out of the Car" | 1:53 |
9. | "Shrunk" | 3:09 |
10. | "Kirby" | 2:47 |
11. | "TUFF" | 3:51 |
12. | "Lazy Eye" | 2:45 |
13. | "Defender" | 3:11 |
14. | "Water Tower" | 3:51 |
15. | "Molecules" | 3:23 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
16. | "Syrup" (featuring Homeboy Sandman and Open Mike Eagle) | Aesop Rock | 3:00 | |
17. | "Dorks" (Blockhead Remix) | Bavitz | Blockhead | 3:42 |
Notes
- "Lotta Years" features additional vocals by Hanni El Khatib.
- "Rabies" features additional vocals by Rob Sonic.
- "TUFF" features additional vocals by Kimya Dawson and beatboxing by Carnage the Executioner.
- "Lazy Eye" features additional vocals by Chuck D.
- "Defender" features additional vocals by Onry Ozzborn.
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[22]
Musicians
- Aesop Rock – lead vocals, songwriting (all tracks)
- Allyson Baker – guitar (track 7)
- Carnage the Executioner – beatboxing (track 11)
- Chuck D – additional vocals (track 12)
- Kimya Dawson – additional vocals (track 11)
- Hanni El Khatib – additional vocals (track 3)
- Grimace Federation – synthesizer (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 13, 14), Rhodes (track 3), guitar (tracks 4, 12), organ (track 6)
- James Lynch – bass guitar (track 2)}
- Homeboy Sandman – featured vocals (track 16)
- Open Mike Eagle – featured vocals (track 16)
- Onry Ozzborn – additional vocals (track 13)
- Rob Sonic – additional vocals (track 5)
Production
|
Design
|
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
References
- "The Impossible Kid by Aesop Rock". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- Jeffries, David (April 29, 2016). "The Impossible Kid - Aesop Rock". AllMusic. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
- Anselmi, J.J. (April 29, 2016). "Aesop Rock blends the personal and abstract on The Impossible Kid". The A.V. Club. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- Gray, Josh (May 3, 2016). "Aesop Rock - The Impossible Kid". Clash. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- Nguyen, Dean Van (May 2, 2016). "Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- Mullin, Kyle (April 27, 2016). "Aesop Rock - The Impossible Kid". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- Pearce, Sheldon (May 4, 2016). "Aesop Rock: The Impossible Kid". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- Fiander, Matthew (May 3, 2016). "Aesop Rock: The Impossible Kid". PopMatters. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- Farah, Safy-Hallan (May 4, 2016). "Review: Aesop Rock Won't Shut the Hell Up on 'The Impossible Kid'". Spin. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- Dick, Jonathan (April 25, 2016). "Aesop Rock Premieres 'The Impossible Kid' and Explains How It's a Re-Creation of 'The Shining'". Noisey. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- Lee, Morgan (February 17, 2016). "Aesop Rock announces new album The Impossible Kid, shares surreal 'Rings' video". Fact. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- Hernandez, Victoria (April 26, 2016). "Aesop Rock "The Impossible Kid" Album Stream, Tracklist & Video Featuring Recreation Of "The Shining"". HipHopDX. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- Fagerberg, Jerard (February 18, 2016). "Aesop Rock announces new solo album on Rhymesayers". City Pages. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- Nordine, Michael (April 25, 2016). "'The Shining' Remake: Aesop Rock Releases Miniature 48-Minute Adaptation for 'The Impossible Kid'". Indiewire. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- Walsh, Peter (February 18, 2016). "Aesop Rock Announces 'The Impossible Kid' Album, Drops Video for "Rings"". XXL. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- Robinson, Collin (March 31, 2016). "Aesop Rock – "Blood Sandwich" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- Geslani, Michelle (April 20, 2016). "Aesop Rock shares new song/video for "Lazy Eye" — watch". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- Robinson, Collin (May 6, 2016). "Aesop Rock – "Dorks" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- Warren, Jay (June 27, 2016). "Aesop Rock Becomes a Puppet, Plays With Cat in New "Kirby"". [Pitchfork](Website). Retrieved June 28, 2016.
- Leight, Elias (October 12, 2016). "Aesop Rock Announces Hey Kirby Tour, Battles Through Therapy in 'Shrunk' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- Blais-Billie, Braudie (May 25, 2017). "Watch Aesop Rock's New Video "Get Out of the Car"". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- The Impossible Kid (Media notes). Aesop Rock. Rhymesayers Entertainment. 2016.CS1 maint: others (link)
- "Aesop Rock Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
- "Aesop Rock Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
- "Aesop Rock Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
- "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
External links
- The Impossible Kid at Discogs (list of releases)