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 Fight With ToolsSales Rank:1760List Price: $10.98 Lowest New Price: $6.63 Lowest Used Price: $5.98 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 Total Reviews: 44 Customer Reviews:Rating: 4 Power to the People The Flobots are not your typical band. They didn't get big by selling out. Instead they acquired fans similar to the way a grassroots organization would although they call them "Street Teams". Their fans told people who told people. It's a great early effort by a band with a lot of potential. Their themes are political but not over the top. They seem more interested in getting people to think then necessarily siding with a political ideology. Of course, there is a bit of pro-liberal/anti-conservative messages but it doesn't detract from the quality of the music. 'Handlebars' is by far the track most will recognize but there are other gems here. 'Rise' and 'Stand Up' seem to reflect the feeling of the band that it's time to get off the sidelines and do something. One almost thinks of Public Enemy in the late eighties early nineties or Rage Against the Machine in the nineties for inspiration. They want people to start questioning the world so it can change for the better. I'd love to rate the album higher but this is simply to early in the bands career. I am eagerly looking forward to their next release Rating: 5 Takes you on a substantive journey Admittedly I had only heard "Handlebars". Being a fan of the band Cake (ex:Fashion Nugget), it really reminded me of their genre-bending style. Since Flobots were going to be playing at a music festival I picked up the CD so I can enjoy their show. I got much more than I bargained for. I was inspired by their social consciousness and the urgency they give to get up and do something, make a difference, take a stand. Go out and seek knowledge, information, action. Just by doing that, you are separating yourself from the mass consumerism message we are constantly being assaulted with. From the beginning we are warned about this with quickfire references such as dodging "silicone shrapnel". Progressively we are led through political stances we should re-examine and prophetically the calling of change in the Presidency. Then we are taken further down to examine the exponential capabilities of us as humans which the song "Handlebars" is about. Our capabilities are as limitless as they are dangerous. A very deep song and not just a constant blithering about riding your bike as some seem to think. The disc culminates in the encouragement that we have come a long way, but we need a call (Rise) to action if we want to make things better in the long run. The beauty of it all is this journey the Flobots take us on is without bitterness, specifically toward the country, and is simply an enlightenment to educate yourself and take some form of action (Fight with tools). The melting pot of musical styles just made it all the better. 70s retro funk? Rapping with a violin? An elderly lady freestyling? They make it work. So go fight with tools, rise, we are winning. Rating: 5 A fantastic album I was first introduced to the Flobots while I was driving to pick up Rock Band for a party. The guy in the car with me popped in his mix cd and put on Handlebars. I thought it was a pretty okay song. After hearing it on the radio a few times, I decided to go buy the album. This was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Fight With Tools is one of my favorite albums ever, now. I'm not normally a fan of rap music, but this album spoke to me on a level that few other albums have. I kept saying to myself as I listened, "Yeah! Alright! These guys totally get it!" The thing you have to understand before you listen to this album is that these guys are about as liberal as you can get. If you voted for Bush both times, avoid this album. If you've ever protested the war in Iraq, but it twice. The Flobots combine hip-hop stylings, masterful delivery, rockin' instrumentals, and a truly meaningful message to create a true masterpiece of an album. Even though iTunes says it is "hip-hop/rap", Fight with tools can't really be shoehorned into one genre. There are wicked guitar riffs in "Same Thing", a wonderful and unexpected jazzy saxophone solo in "Handlebars", and an interesting beat-box track in "Combat". The lyrics are politically charged and angry, but optimistic about the future. I half expected "Rise" to start playing everywhere when Obama was announced the President Elect. I guess my point is this: If you want something truly different, and you want an album that makes a point instead of just blabbing on about nothing, pick up Fight With Tools. You won't regret it. Rating: 1 -facepalm- Yeah, brag about your ability to ride your bike with no handlebars and you have the hit of 08. Jeez, I wonder what other things these guys can do... Rating: 5 Great songs, Great Message This band is outstanding, their songs flow seamlessly and they have great instrumentals as well. The songs also send out a great message about current events and the songs get you pumped. I would definitely recommend this band and this CD |