Fight With Tools

10 Friends 100 Albums: Album 14 (Josh)

Flobots are that one group that had that massive rap-rock song Handlebars, and that's about all I knew about them. The meaning of that song obviously becoming clearer and more real as I would get older, I always had a curiosity for what the band's other material would be like, so this record was already on my radar before it was suggested to me.

Coloradoan band Flobots debuted with Fight With Tools in 2007, and re-released it a year later. It's style I would describe as Rap Rock meets Dave Matthews Band, as the group implements a more stripped down approach to alternative rock, with the addition of a prominent viola lead, as well as allusions to various forms of folk rock and even hints of jazz. This approach can come across as a bit all-over-the-place but for the most part it works rather well.

This is a political album, no doubt about it. The lyrics are about as politically charged as a RATM album would be, with a lot less overwhelming vulgarity. Songs like "Mayday!!!" and "Fight With Tools" are rallying cries to come together to overthrow an oppressive regime (hint: it's ours) and songs like "Same Thing" and "Never Had It" and "Anne Braden" highlight issues within our society and government that should be cause for alarm. The aforementioned "Mayday!!!" is a fun track with an urgent viola part, and a unique song structure featuring multiple switchups to keep the listener on their toes.

The much lauded "Handlebars" is definitely the best track, with it's quick rapped flows and memorable lyrics, the intense build-up in lyrics as well as instrumental crescendo to the climax is honestly breathtaking and jaw dropping. Illustrating the harshness of the prioritization of talent and artistic creativity being used as a means to achieve destruction over ways to improve our society. It's quite a powerful song and one that deserves your attention.

The middle of the record has a brief respite from the political messaging to bring us a song titled "The Rhythm Method" where it's a quick jam with everyone's talents on full effect. The rapping is nimble and clever, the band plays off each other really well also. It may not mean much as a song on the surface, but I think it's hidden message lies in the ability to cherish each other and times of relaxation despite the harshness of reality or else it's easy to lose yourself amid the strife and struggle. Or I'm too sappy and reading too much into it. Who Knows.

The album closes strong too, "Anne Braden" is a biographical ode to a civil rights champion who passed away a year prior to the album's release, and the final track "Rise" is a last hurrah to urge listeners to take their words to action and not remain on the fence when it comes to important matters regarding society and progress. A pretty satisfying conclusion.

There are one or two weaker tracks in the list I didn't quite vibe with. The title track had a sort of annoying chorus that detracted from the impact of the song for me, "Combat" was pretty forgettable unfortunately and "We Are Winning" hasn't aged well considering the state of things in 2023... So that one feels a bit hollow to me. The album's lyrics and overall instrumental palette can be a tad corny in parts as well, so I can understand this record feeling a bit off for some listeners. I for one had to hear this a few times to be able to appreciate the approach more. I do think this record is pretty good overall though. It's messaging is clear and consistent, the musical prowess is there and it contains one of the best alternative songs of the oughts so really, if you like music with a message this is one to check out for sure.

"I can tell you all about Leif Erikson, I know all the words to De Colores and I'm proud to be an American"~