Aesop Rock announced the album on September 14, 2023, and released a music video for "Mindful Solutionism", the lead single of the album.[2] On October 5, Aesop released "By the River", the second single of the album,[3] and three weeks later, he released "Infinity Fill Goose Down", the third single for the album.[4]
Music
Integrated Tech Solutions has been characterized as a "loose concept album" that explores technology and consumerism.[5][6][7] It also features narratives inspired by Aesop's own life experiences,[8] leading the album's prevailing mood to be described as "reflective".[5]
Lead single "Mindful Solutionism" discusses the history of technological advancement, including its harms.[5][6] Conversely, the album's second single – "By the River" – features "soft percussion and a jazzy horn" and explores Aesop's appreciation of rivers and his memories of deceased friend Camu Tao.[7][8] "Living Curfew", in which Aesop and featured artist Billy Woods describe the feel of cities at different times of day, includes production that has been likened to trip hop.[5][7] "Aggressive Steven" tells the story of Aesop's encounter with a home invader and reflects on society's treatment of mental illness;[5][7][8] other storytelling tracks are more lighthearted, such as "100 Feet Tall", in which Aesop recounts a childhood experience meeting Mr. T at a restaurant.[5][7] "On Failure" is a spoken word track in which Aesop considers the life and legacy of Vincent van Gogh.[5][7]
At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, Integrated Tech Solutions received an average score of 84 based on 7 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[9]
Aesop's writing on the album received particular praise, with Paul Simpson of AllMusic characterizing him as "a master of telling playfully outlandish tales".[5] Stephen Kearse of Pitchfork was similarly approving, noting that "elite technique is clearly second nature for [Aesop] at this point" and describing Integrated Tech Solutions as containing "some of his most fully realized songs".[7] Comparing this record to Aesop's earlier work, reviewers have described him as adopting a "more conversational than combative" delivery, as well as "rein[ing] in his tendencies toward word salad".[7][8] Critics also praised the detailed storytelling that occurs throughout the record.[5][7][8]
The production on Integrated Tech Solutions also achieved acclaim. Kitty Empire of The Observer described Aesop's beats on the album as "bouncy retro production that crackles with vim",[6] and Kearse described it as "accomplished and purposeful" work that "emphasize[s] rhythm as much as texture".[7] Reviewers identified the major elements of the production as including "funky boom-bap with touches of psych-rock guitar", as well as "bubbling synthesizers and turntable scratches".[5][8]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Ian Bavitz, with guest artists also credited as writers.
