Fast Car Danger Fire & Knives (W/Book) [Limited Edition]

Aesop Rock | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 22, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Limited Edition
• Label: Definitive Jux
• ASIN: B0006V5QDE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,022 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An EXTRAordinary package of goodies, March 16, 2005

By 

Alan Pounds "Minnesota Hip-Hop Fiend" (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fast Car Danger Fire & Knives (W/Book) (Audio CD)

Forget the days when you would go out and buy an EP or a single, just to find that you only get two or three unreleased tracks. "Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives" includes 7 new tracks and covers the time length of your average full length punk rock album. As if the music wasn't worth it on it's own, Def Jux also added a beautiful 80-page book including the complete lyrics to all of Aesop Rock's three LPs and two EPs to date. I jumped out on a limb, and bought Aesop's "Labor Days" and this EP at the same time, as a first-time purchaser. I delved into "Labor Days" first, and have been hooked ever since. The other day I whipped out the book and started to read along with the lyrics as Aesop was spitting them out at an alarming rate. If you are the type that is easily intimidated by fast, complex and hard to understand metaphors, I would totally recommend this item to you as a learning tool.

I read that the music is closest to the production of "Bazooka Tooth". I don't have that one (yet), but I will make my comments about this one. The music is definitely funkier and more futuristic than "Labor Days". "Labor Days" had a very stylized minimalist feel to it, bombarded with an abundance of classical samples and string instruments. This EP's production, along with Bazooka Tooth seems even more complex, and leaves some listeners saying "It's too much for me." (Amazon reviews). I never let an album get the better of me. Complex or not, I will get to the roots of the music. When you finally get there, it turns out to be a very rewarding listen. Aesop's rhythm and patterns in his lyrics have evolved nicely since "Labor Days" (2001). Although I like all the tracks very well, my favorite would have to be the tongue twisting rhymes of "Zodiaccupuncture".

All in all, this package is well worth the purchase. Here's to another year of mind-blowing underground hip-hop. I know I'll be here for it!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A tighter, more polished def jux Aesop, March 3, 2005

By 

C. Lopez "Ian Desayuno" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fast Car Danger Fire & Knives (W/Book) (Audio CD)

I just got this album and so far it's sounding pretty good. If you're like me and are hoping for a pre-Bazooka Tooth Aesop Rock, you won't find that. However, it sounds like Aesop is finding his groove with the different production style. The beats and choruses complement him more than they did in Bazooka Tooth (there are a lot less moments where he sounds goofy and weird) and the 7 tracks are pretty consistent in quality. There aren't any songs that totally blew me away on first listen, but overall I'm getting a really good vibe from this cd. For me, it's definitely a step up from the last album.

The cd also comes with a lyric book with lyrics from float to this cd. This totally justifies the price of the package.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reading Comprehension For The Win, August 23, 2005

By 

Tomar (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fast Car Danger Fire & Knives (W/Book) (Audio CD)

Any long time fan of Aesop Rock will tell you this: It is by no means a simple task to decipher most of Aesop's lyrics. I think a large part of understanding Aesop is understanding where he comes from... his name that is. If you do a search for "bio of Aesop" on google you will be forwarded to a page with this paragraph:

"Aesop is famous for his fables: short tales which illustrated truths about life and human nature. Most of his fables feature familiar animals, including "The Grasshopper and the Ant" and "The Tortoise and the Hare." Little is known about the true life of Aesop himself, and some believe that no such person ever really existed. Those who believe Aesop existed generally agree that he lived during the 6th century B.C., lived for some time on the island of Samos, and was for at least part of his life a slave. It's also generally agreed that not all of Aesop's fables were actually created by him; has fame grew so great that many other fables were eventually put in his name."

The above pretty much sums up the intentions of Aesop Rock. It's also why he chose the name "Aesop". What is interesting is his response when he was asked about where his name originated; he says and I quote: "I had like a line in my friend's home video. The character's name was Aesop and it just stuck." To me this answer reflects exactly what Aesop wants from you. He wants you to think, and think you shall if you want any comprehension of his lyrics. I say this with confidence: They are by far the most complex lyrics you will ever hear. Every single line carries some sort of metaphore... and those metaphores require constant persistance to un-puzzle. He is in every since of the word a poet. And I believe that is what makes him unique. Confidence mixed with poems mixed with tight music loops. Welcome to Aesop Rock, a new and fresh drug. He wants something from his listenners other than your money, he wants you to gain new ideas and to expand your mind.

I have nothing against other rappers, in fact I enjoy a lot of them... even 50cent. But if I were to judge based on originality it would be like comparring a Van Gogh painting to your little sister's kindergarten drawing. I would also like to add that listenning and finally understanding some of his lyrics or even just a line or a word can be a very rewarding experience. This is a rare delicacy that you are hard pressed to find in other artists these days. In the words of Aesop: happy thinking!