Hokey Fright
by The Uncluded
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Expert Witness (MSN Music)
    May 10, 2013
    100
    The tunes are Dawson's because Ae-Rock doesn't do tunes, but his beats beef up those tunes just like his gruff, clotted flow beefs up her itty-bitty soprano.
  2. PopMatters
    Jul 9, 2013
    90
    As the album moves forward, the number of moments, musical and lyrical, that sneak up on you and tear you apart increases.
  3. Paste Magazine
    May 7, 2013
    82
    The blending of their styles creates an alchemy that is intensely personal and oddly alluring.
  5. RapReviews.com
    May 15, 2013
    70
    I'm not even sure I like it, but I do respect that it's exactly the unusual artistic vision these collaborators conceived.
  6. AllMusic
    May 7, 2013
    70
    Expect the expected with plenty of xylophones, campfire guitars, and Dawson's breathy cuteness mixing with Aesop's serious severity, but expect to be thrown as well, mostly by ideas of community and how strangers can leave lifelong impressions.
  7. Consequence
    May 7, 2013
    70
    The short interludes (“Superheros” and “WYHUOM”) break the album’s pace and hold back some of the flow. Overall, though, the combination of Rock and Dawson is undeniably addictive.
  8. Under The Radar
    May 7, 2013
    65
    [Depending on the listener] This is either an utter disaster or a charmingly off-center leftfield classic. whatever the case, there's never been [an] album like it. [Mar-Apr 2013, p.106]
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  9. Mojo
    Jun 18, 2013
    60
    Grief therapy has rarely sounded so groovy. [Jul 2013, p.85]
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  10. Exclaim
    May 8, 2013
    60
    It's evident that the two were having a good time recording Hokey Fright, and though the album isn't always successful, it's encouraging to see creative individuals ignore genre boundaries in order to bridge gaps.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
  1. sweetcacodemon
    Jan 21, 2014
    9
    It's an odd but pleasant fusion of the brilliant and out-there lyrics of Aesop who provides as always a bizarre way to describe his views withIt's an odd but pleasant fusion of the brilliant and out-there lyrics of Aesop who provides as always a bizarre way to describe his views with some brilliant rhymes that flow with an earthy smoothness that I think most will find attractive. And then there is the incredible song-writer Kimya Dawson who provides a ying to Aesops yang with a soft but original country twist on the albums songs with her lovely voice that almost seems to contrast yet work amazingly with Aesops. A pair that might drive some away but i believe have been formed with substantial elegance.… Full Review »
  2. Mab_987
    Oct 11, 2013
    8
    On paper, a genre fusion like this might sound like a terrible idea. But somehow these 2 manage to make this meshing of styles work. Even mostOn paper, a genre fusion like this might sound like a terrible idea. But somehow these 2 manage to make this meshing of styles work. Even most of the more alienated respective fans of each artist at least admit that this effort is a creative one but just one they personally can't get into, which is perfectly understandable. But considering this is my full-length introduction to both of them, I was easily able to go into it with an open mind since I wouldn't have a bias towards one or the other. An interesting thing about the dynamic between Kimya & Aesop is their very different approaches lyrically & musically. It makes for a nice, if jarring, contrast when the verses are switched between Aesop's dense woldplay-laced lyricism that takes a few listens (and maybe a visit to Rapgenius) to fully get, and Kimya's extremely blunt & straightforward expression of certain themes that at times is delivered like some bizarre adult nursery rhyme. Of course this isn't always the case, since sometimes one will get closer to the other's level, but you can tell where their respective comfort zones are. And admittedly I prefer when Aesop is a little easier to understand as opposed to when he's so cryptic that what he's saying is overly difficult to “get”, but it's at least nice when a songwriter writes lyrics that make you think. Not only that, but there's various switches in instrumentation, which will in one track consist of nothing but an acoustic guitar (working surprisingly well when rapped over), then switch to a layered percussive hip hop beat. It builds up variety & keeps all 16 tracks interesting, even if it's not always serviceable for the track flow. But the main attractor here is in the lyrics, which no matter how all-over-the-place conceptually always stay sincere & likable. I don't wanna go too in-depth with every song, but if you're not gonna listen to the whole thing at least listen to at least all of my top 5 to get the scope of this album's subject matter. It can get very personal, deep & moving at times, even if there's always that underlying charismatic smirk that keeps things from getting too heavy-handed. Aside from that there are some playful interludes here & there, like “Superheroes” (where they basically yell out types of sandwiches for 30 seconds in a track that's way cooler than it should be) or “WYHUOM”. I might get more into Kimya & Aesop in the future, but for now I'm really enjoying this.

    Top 5 tracks: TV on 10, Delicate Cycle, Organs, T*ts Up, Alligator
    Score: 83/100    … Full Review »
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