None Shall Pass
by Aesop Rock

Album details

US: 28 August 2007 on Def Jux
UK: 10 September 2007 on Def Jux

Although indie rapper Aesop Rock (Ian Bavitz) has been busy with books, collaborations, film scores, and Nike soundtracks in recent years, ‘None’ marks his first full-length studio recording since 2003’s ‘Bazooka Tooth.’ John Darnielle, El-P, and Rob Sonic guest, with Blockhead once again handling the bulk of the production..

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The critical consensus

Paste labels None Shall Pass his "most uncompromising LP to date," while All Music Guide calls it "as powerful as anything the MC has ever created" and Treble deems it "a Def Jux essential." Under The Radar doesn’t go that far, but says, "None Shall Pass–while not as thrilling as his last few releases–is another stellar chapter in a brilliantly penned book." The Wire adds that "the restraint of None Shall Pass might be his best work since Labor Days" (a thought which MusicOMH seconds), and Pitchfork–while not calling it his best album–states, "None Shall Pass is not a case to make him famous, but more a hyper-speed revision of what makes him worth following."

A frequent criticism of Aesop Rock is his cryptic and obscure lyricism, but the BBC doesn’t seem to mind, suggesting that "if it’s next to futile to try to find coherent narrative in Aesop’s rhymes, truthfully it’s little issue." Similarly, Entertainment Weekly says that "his dazzling verbal pointillism resolves into clever rants and full-blown stories," resulting in a "moody, eccentric brain-teasing set." Prefix decides that "None Shall Pass is filled with precise lyrical detail and head-nodding production, and the result is his most accessible record of his career to date." The Stranger, too, hears a step forward: "Improved storytelling is only one facet of None’s refinement; the biggest change is a newfound sense of the organic."

The BBC Collective, however, warns that while dedicated fans might be satisfied, Aesop’s "robotic flow and the generally funkless beats make this a hard slog for all but the most committed." Urb dismisses the album as "nearly impenetrable" and compares Aesop’s writing style to that of William Burroughs. Vibe–although noting better-than-normal beats–states, "Once, Aesop had managed to make his oddness a virtue; here it’s becoming a liability." Now Magazine finds the album too "predictable," but solid nevertheless. The Village Voice takes issue with some of the lyrics ("you can’t decipher most of what he’s saying, and sometimes you’re better off"), as well as the music ("the beats … are rarely more than serviceable"). And Blender isn’t fan: "Bitter, cold and insular, None Shall Pass is also profoundly (if proudly) out of step."

If there’s a more inventive, original rapper than Aesop Rock working today, they’re keeping pretty quiet about it.

- Andy Gill, The Independent

Review roundup

Tracklisting and media

1. Keep Off the Lawn
2. None Shall Pass
   
   
3. Catacomb Kids
4. Bring Back Pluto
5. Fumes
6. Getaway Car
7. 39 Thieves
8. The Harbor Is Yours
9. Citronella
10. Gun for the Whole Family
11. Five Fingers
12. No City
13. Dark Heart News
14. Coffee

Also on the web

• Official Artist Site
• Aesop Rock @ Def Jux
• Aesop Rock @ MySpace