Album A Day: Flobots – Fight With Tools

Listening to their debut album, Flobots sound like they might be fellow communications students. Fight With Tools is a musical treatise on the evils of big government, mass media, and advertising. But unlike the socially conscious sonic assault of  Rage Against The Machine, Flobots are significantly more level-headed, opting to simply plant the seed in the listeners mind with thoughtful lyrics and complex arrangements, rather than play angry and incite a riot. Flobots best feature is their musicality; nearly every track is backed by brass and strings, instead of the crunch of guitar, drum and bass. The beats on Fight With Tools are interesting and elaborate, which when combined with the intricacies of an orchestra and the intense verbal attack of band leader Jonny 5 create thought-provoking and affecting songs.

Flobots’ worst quality lies in its straightforward delivery. The rhymes here are delivered with the matter-of-factness of a college essay; where other performers may have witnessed atrocities firsthand, Flobots knows about the troubles affecting America the same way most do, by paying attention. On the downside, this means they aren’t as emotionally connected with the subject as some might hope. But the tradeoff is that Flobots look at it objectively. In spite of all the hate and destruction around them, Flobots still see the sunrise. They might be upset about race relations or violence, but that anger doesn’t fuel these songs. Instead, they convert that energy into something positive. As a result, songs like “Rise” or even the title track aren’t a call to arms, but rather an urging to band together. Fight With Tools may be an ambitious venture that strays from its core focus, but its intentions are of the best variety, and that charm and willpower, along with its unique music, carry this record from start to finish.

Flobots – Handlebars [iTunes] (YSI)

==TJ==

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