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Revision as of 00:54, 29 January 2019
| Malibu Ken | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | January 18, 2019 |
| Recorded | 2018[1] |
| Genre | |
| Length | 34:34 |
| Label | Rhymesayers Entertainment |
| Producer | Tobacco |
| Singles from Malibu Ken | |
| |
Malibu Ken is the eponymous debut studio album of American hip hop duo Malibu Ken, composed of rapper Aesop Rock and multi-instrumentalist Tobacco. It was released on January 18, 2019 through Rhymesayers Entertainment to generally positive reviews.
History
In 2007, Tobacco's band Black Moth Super Rainbow opened for part of a North American tour headlined by Aesop Rock.[2] According to Aesop, he and Tobacco had wanted to work together on a project since their meeting during this tour, with Aesop calling Tobacco's production "something special".[1] The following year, Aesop featured on the track "Dirt" from Tobacco's debut album Fucked Up Friends.[3] In November 2018, the pair announced that they were releasing their debut album under the moniker Malibu Ken in January 2019, and released the album's first single "Acid King" and its accompanying music video at the same time.[1] The second single, "Corn Maze", released the following month, also with a music video.[4] On January 18, 2019, Malibu Ken was released by Rhymesayers Entertainment.[3]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 77/100[5] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| The 405 | 7/10[6] |
| AllMusic |    [7] |
| Pitchfork | 7.7/10[8] |
| Sputnikmusic | 4/5[9] |
Malibu Ken received generally positive reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 77, based on four reviews.[5] Evan Rytlewski of Pitchfork praised the album for focusing on Aesop Rock's sense of humor, saying "he just needed the right producer to highlight that wit, he's found a choice one in Tobacco". He positively referenced many of Aesop's lyrics, particularly on "Tuesday", "Churro", and "Acid King", and commended the album for being "more fun than most of" Aesop's discography.[8] Paul Simpson of AllMusic complimented the chemistry between Tobacco and Aesop, saying "Tobacco's music often seems disturbed and damaged yet somehow cool and carefree, and his style is so compatible with Aesop's that it's hard to imagine him working with any other rapper", calling them "a fitting match for each other".[7]
Channing Freeman of Sputnikmusic called Aesop's flow "chameleon-like" and drew attention to his unique delivery choice of lyrical topics, including an eagle snatching a cat and murderer Ricky Kasso. He criticized the album's formulaic qualities near its end and compared it negatively to The Impossible Kid, but concluded that "it works perfectly despite the predictability".[9] Kyle Kohner of The 405 described the project as "quite unnerving and even extraterrestrial", praising its "comically dark and foreboding atmosphere". He compliments Tobacco's "retrofuturist" production, calling it "an influx of psychedelic mania that ends up enhancing his counterpart’s festering lyrical voyages".[6] Adam Finley of PopMatters also praised Tobacco's production, specifically on "Tuesday" and "Sword Box", and likened it to "an acid trip come to life" when paired with Aesop's lyrics. He shared Rytlewski's view that Aesop is "funny as hell when he wants to be", and that the album highlights his "silly" side. He did, however, criticize the production on "Churro", saying that it "overwhelms and ultimately detracts from the lyrics".[10]
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Ian Bavitz; all music is composed by Tobacco
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Corn Maze" | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Tuesday" | 3:30 |
| 3. | "Save Our Ship" | 3:29 |
| 4. | "Sword Box" | 4:01 |
| 5. | "Dog Years" | 3:05 |
| 6. | "Acid King" | 3:32 |
| 7. | "Suicide Big Gulp" | 3:30 |
| 8. | "1+1=13" | 3:46 |
| 9. | "Churro" | 2:27 |
| 10. | "Purple Moss" | 3:51 |
| Total length: | 34:34 | |
References
- ^ a b c Schatz, Lake (November 20, 2018). "Aesop Rock and Tobacco form new group Malibu Ken, announce debut album". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
- ^ Octigan, Cameron (July 24, 2007). "Aesop Rock Tours with Black Moth Super Rainbow, Cage". XLR8R. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
- ^ a b Breihan, Tom (January 18, 2019). "Stream Aesop Rock & Tobacco's New Album Malibu Ken". Stereogum. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
- ^ Leas, Ryan (December 18, 2018). "Malibu Ken (Aesop Rock & TOBACCO) – "Corn Maze" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
- ^ a b "Malibu Ken by Malibu Ken Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
- ^ a b Kohner, Kyle (January 22, 2019). "Review: Aesop Rock and TOBACCO enter a dysfunctional state of matrimony as experimental hip-hop duo Malibu Ken". The 405. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
- ^ a b Simpson, Paul. "Malibu Ken - Aesop Rock, Malibu Ken, Tobacco". AllMusic. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
- ^ a b Rytlewski, Evan (January 17, 2019). "Malibu Ken: Malibu Ken Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
- ^ a b Freeman, Channing (January 18, 2019). "Review: Malibu Ken - Malibu Ken". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
- ^ Finley, Adam (January 23, 2019). "Aesop Rock and Tobacco Are Malibu Ken and They're Here to Get Weird". PopMatters. Retrieved January 28, 2019.