Brand new studio LP & the 13th overall from New York emcee/producer Aesop Rock. Universally revered for his massive vocabulary, the man has put out a handful of underground hip hop essentials throughout the decades whether it be his solo catalogue or his membership of groups like Hail Mary Mallon or Malibu Ken. As far as his solo stuff: I recommend his sophomore effort & Definitive Jux Records debut Labor Day alongside The Impossible Kid, which was his 2nd under Rhymesayers Entertainment whom Aesop had made himself home with for over a decade at this point. Blockhead had fully produced Garbology to acclaim & Integrated Tech Solutions has quickly received the same love The Impossible Kid, coming off both Black Hole Superette & I Heard It’s a Mess There Too to reunite with Blockhead for Trouble Mountain.
“Swedish Death Cleaning” hooks up a bare piano loop talking about a decluttering method popularized nearly a decade earlier whereas the 2nd single “Coyote Summer” instrumentally leans towards a jazzier vibe he can discuss escape & memory in a abstractly conscious manner. “Church Key” experimentally talks about hooking up a homie who was checking for a threat to the broadcast leading into “Easter” advising not to come around since there isn’t anything for them.
Meanwhile on “Hound Selector”, we gave Aesop smoother talking about a finding a dog who he took in that reminds him of himself just before the experimental lead single “Trouble Trouble” after the “TM Tours” interlude goes for a jazzy boom bap direction for an abstract observation of labor. “Mom 1” talks about the potential his mother had of becoming the greatest graffiti writer of all-time simply because he believes he’s never seen finer handwriting in his entire life.
“1 Thing” featuring Open Mike Eagle references 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, former 16-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, 6-time WWE United States Champion, 6-time WWE tag team champion & 9-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair and 8-time WCW World Tag Team Champion Ole Anderson while the 3rd & final single “Ants” moves the 2nd half of Trouble Mountain forward talking about everyone looking small when you survey the land from his position.
Continuing from there, “Oatmeal” describes him eating the same ground oats & playing word games every single morning while “No Interviews” makes a brutal critique of the media’s current state. “The Bag” expands the conscious side of things topically for a poignant exploration of the negative side effects that capitalism can bring while “Eat & Grow” featuring Cavalier & 4ize finds all 3 of them linking up to talk about building up our own strength.
“Ewok” winds down the last few moments of Trouble Mountain admitting he’s never at where he says he’s going due to him realizing this shit ain’t for him or savor the moment whenever he’s partway there while “High & Outside” talks about counting down from 10 to 1 whenever he rests his head on a husk whenever he gets tired & sets his belongings aside. “Buffering” wraps up the album advising it won’t matter who’s on course to count you out when light begins exploding from our eyes & mouths.
Exploring the themes of escapism through the lens of a fictional resort inspired by the Poconos getaway commercials that Aesop Rock & Blockhead grew up watching during their respective childhoods, Trouble Mountain reveals itself as a surreal psychological landscape where everyday anxieties twist into something stranger in attempt to convey the message of the places we flee to being equally disorienting as the lives we’re trying to leave behind instead of the reinvention initially promised.
Score: 9/10