Fight With Tools

The Flobots | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 20, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Universal Republic
• ASIN: B0017PE9I6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,383 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #35 in Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Experimental Rap

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

2007 was a good year for the Flobots. We played Red Rocks, sold out our CD release show, charted on CMJ, and even had our album listed in Rolling Stone Magazine. Four days before the year ended, we were voted first place in the KTCL Hometown for the Holidays contest. As 2007 closed, we wondered if there was any way 2008 could top it. "In only two months, the answer seems to be pretty clear. On January 26th, Denver's KTCL put "Handlebars" in regular rotation. In the weeks following, Fight With Tools began outselling major national acts at local record stores. Word of mouth spread to California and attracted the attention of The Agency Group, who quickly added us to their roster of national hip-hop groups and punk bands. During the days leading up to our "Heart Attack" show at the Gothic, the show sold out, our CD sales hit 450 in one week, and we received phone calls from every major label. The night of the show, we felt great. We were proud to be sharing the stage with a host of talented performers, excited to be recruiting for our Street Team, impressed by the dozens of people registering to vote, and blown away by the incredible love being shown by a groundswell of friends, community organizers, and supporters. After the show, a representative from Universal Republic approached us and offered us a formal record contract. Our first reaction was to be skeptical. We had always doubted a major label would provide a proper path to accomplish our goals. Creative control and political freedom are important to us, and we did not expect a major label to offer us those things. But, in the conversations we had with this representative at The Falcon, at Denny's, and eventually at the Universal Republic office in New York, Universal offered us this and more. Not only did they want to release Fight With Tools untouched, but they were excited to help us continue to integrate music, activism, and community-building. To fully comprehend the opportunity, we had to imagine the possibilities. We imagined a world where the message of Fight With Tools is the mainstream, with the airwaves broadcasting honest statements about our nation's past violence and calling for a new vision of a fully engaged, non-violent society. We imagined a network of music fans in cities around the globe organizing to implement this vision. We imagined major recording artists rallying people to become involved in a grassroots peace movement. We imagined the full weight of the music industry mobilizing to stop the next war. We imagined all this happening while our country is already rallying for change like never before. We realized that signing with this particular label would mean adding a large array of powerful tools to our belt, and that doing so would give us a decent shot at birthing these imaginations into reality. It would mean the opportunity to fulfill our longtime dreams of creating music full-time. It would mean representing Denver on the national stage. It would mean building Street Teams in every city, and basing them on the incredible group of dedicated individuals who are piloting the Denver Street Team. Our next step was clear. We decided to sign a deal with Universal Republic Records. We take this step forward knowing that the outcome is uncertain. Our goals are ambitious, and success is in no way guaranteed, but a better world is worth fighting for, and the opportunity to fight from an international platform is a challenge for which we are more than ready. We couldn't be more excited about this opportunity. Join us!"

Product Description

Explicit Version. When a pair of intelligent, visionary emcees joins forces with a battle-hardened, groove-fusing rhythm section, a classically trained violist, and a jazz trumpet player, the result is a sound that explores and expands the frontiers of live hip-hop. Progressive in both style and message, the band's ability to drop from symphonic rock-infused crescendos into stripped-down string-laden breakbeats has earned Flobots a reputation for both originality and authenticity. After originally forming as a side project in 2005, Flobots brought together Emcee's Jonny 5 and Brer Rabbit with violist Mackenzie Roberts, guitarist Andy Guerrero, bassist Jesse Walker, trumpet player Joe Ferrone, and drummer Kenny Ortiz. By the end of the year, it was clear that the band's refreshingly positive message and nontraditional instrumentation gave it both a universal appeal and a marketable buzz factor. Whether sharing the stage with jam bands, indie rock acts, or hip-hop groups, Flobots connected with audiences and quickly reached a tipping point to became one of Denver's most influential bands.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing, positive music with a hip hop twist December 16, 2007

By Paul Alminas

Format:MP3 Music

As a Coloradoan, I am lucky to have found this band on my local scene here in Denver. They are growing in popularity, and with good reason. Fight With Tools is their second release, but their first 'full' album.

It starts off strongly with a poem called "There's a War Going on for Your Mind" which manages to effectively set the mood for the remainder of the album. While Flobots' lyrics may be a bit idealistic for some, they are certainly progressively oriented, and are presented in a positive manner. Explicit language is used sparingly, and the hip hop traditions of glorifying big money, fast women, and violent lifestyles are nowhere to be seen.

Certainly this release is less than traditional in more ways than that. The music stylings are somewhat reminiscent of Cake during much of the album, though the lyrical delivery is very different from that of Cake. There is heavy use of instruments traditionally reserved for orchestral use, as well as guitars and a drum set.

Regarding the lyrics, if you like socially progressive hip hop, you will not be disappointed. I would guess that this album would potentially appeal to fans of Common, Rage Against The Machine, Sweatshop Union, and Talib Kweli, based solely on the lyrics.

Weak points of the album are few. The title track (track 5, Fight With Tools) is a bit bewildering at the end when it calls for you to gather your platinum, gold, silver, bronze, and aluminum, and melt them all down. Why this would be useful is one question, but why bronze (the only alloy on the list) and aluminum (which is hard to melt and quite worthless compared to platinum, gold, and silver) are included is even more head scratching.... Track 8 (Combat) is fun to listen to sometimes, but other times the repetition just gets annoying. Track 9 (The Rhythm Method) is okay, but not all that lyrically fulfilling.

Stand-outs include Mayday!!!, Stand Up, Handlebars, We Are Winning, and Rise. If you ever have those days when you feel like the whole world is messed up beyond anyone's control, pop this cd in and soon enough, you will be thinking differently. It really is that moving and meaningful if you are open to new kinds of music.

I highly recommend this album. It is currently in my personal top ten list. Read more ›

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars There's more to it... April 11, 2008

By Dufmeizer

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

Hear this: Don't just buy "Handlebars". Save yourself a few bucks and just click on "Buy MP3 album". You'll be glad you did.
You've come for the catchy tune, but you'll stay for its catchier & stirring lyrics. They're filling a much needed void in my music library left by Rage Against The Machine's impromptu disappearing act.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Exciting, moving and politically charged July 30, 2008

By Terry Mesnard VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

I'm usually very hesitant purchasing an album based off one song when the genre (rap in this case) isn't one I usually listen to. Generally speaking, I'll love the one song and not listen to the rest of the album. In this case, though, I'm glad I broke my rule and picked up Fight With Tools because "Handlebars" isn't the only terrific song on this album.

Flobots reminds me of a couple different bands. They have hints of the politically charged Rage Against the Machine, but are more optimistic. There's the hornwork and a tinge of punk of some 90s ska bands, like Real Big Fish, only more hard-biting. There's the meticulous and nicely flowing rap like a lot of hip-hop artists today, only with more important things to say. But not only are there specific inspirations at work here, but a multitude of genres from rock to jazz to soul to hip-hop and beyond.

When the introduction opens, I realized that Flobots was presenting a thesis and that the rest of the album would be in support of their point. In fact, the words "There's A War Going On For Your Mind," as the opening states, are repeated a couple times throughout to stress this point. "Mayday!" starts wonderfully, adding a nice violin to the mix, an unexpected addition but a great one. "Same Things"'s jazz roots show through, with a kind of old school feel in new school shoes. From here, the CD takes off, but it's the last three songs that really pack the punch.

The ending starts with the song "Anne Braden," about the advocate of racial equality. Interspersed through this touching song are audio clips of Anne speaking about her thoughts on race. It creates a very introspective and moving song about her life and the the trials she and similar individuals went through. Her story is a good one....

Then we move to "We Are Winning," a plea for the people to become involved and active. It also tries to present a different picture; a different idea than ones crammed down our throat by showing the opposite of what we usually hear, with lyrics like, "Rival gangsters sit down to plan an after school program / A religious fanatic posts footage of an interfaith service project." They close with "Rise," which continues the plea of activisim.

All in all a very good album. Do I agree with everything professed in this album? No. Some of it steers a bit outside my scope and, sometimes, comfort zone. But isn't that what the best material should do? Take you outside your comfort zone and provoke thought? That's exactly what we have here; Fight With Tools not only provokes, but does so in an intelligent and witty fashion. But it's not all serious. Even if you strip away the political connotations, the music is what first hooked me. It's been a long time since I've heard music that's daring, different and similar all at the same time. A very good CD and one I heartily recommend. Read more ›

23 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Prius Sittin On Fourteens Son. June 13, 2008

By Mike Liddell VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you do some searching you'll find rap/hip hop is making a comeback or a throwback to when it said something. Rappers like Flobots, Eyedea & Abilities, Dead Prez, and many others are rhyming about issues, politics, and making change like the man in the mirror. Switching it up from bling bling to something with meaning. Rappers like Flobots aren't just fighting for your right to party but are fighting for your rights.
Checking out the oil in your Cadillac spilling isn't cool anymore it's just Ludacris.
The sweat dripping from people around the world isn't from skeet skeet skeeting but from stress stress stressing from watching the news we are one nation under a groove we might as well get down just for the funk of it.
Flobots aren't hardcore or negative their stuff does have a message, is honest, and not crazy complex. Wolf Blitzer will not have them on his I pod. They also follow these lyrics with good beats mixed in with some instruments via violin in some instances.
Very highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great and uplifting album! December 9, 2007

By entplex

Format:MP3 Music

If you haven't heard of the Flobots before, then I strongly encourage you to check them out. This album is their first full album, but sounds like they have been at it a long time. The sounds and ideas that will fill your head are bold and thought provoking. I must say they are one in their own genre and fuse many types of music with a important message.