rage against the machine

Video: Rage Against the Machine Singer Returns, Kills AudioSlave

Published March 24th, 2009 by Karen

Almost 10 years after political rap-rock outfit Rage Against the Machine released its final album and wandered off into the sunset, former leader Zack de la Rocha has finally resurfaced with some new music.

While his new project, One Day as a Lion, will probably never be as popular as RATM guitarist Tom Morello’s band, AudioSlave, the music will probably still appeal to the same fanbase. In fact, diehard Rage fans will probably enjoy this record much more than AudioSlave’s oddly-sensitve radio-ready balladry.

And, if nothing else, de la Rocha can rest easy knowing that his album is nowhere near as awful as ex-AudioSlave singer Chris Cornell’s latest, Scream.

So, how does One Day as a Lion stacks up against Rage? Continue reading »

"Rage is the greatest band packed with the most talented musicians of all time. It's sad that people who have no talent OR brains themselves can take such..."
  rockovermars

Rage Against The Machine Reunion, Tour, New Album Mp3s

Published August 18th, 2008 by Karen

Well, they’re as politically ineffective as President Bush, but maybe not quite as bad as the band Bush. Maybe.

During one of the most tumultuous times in US politics in recent memory, one of the most outspoken bands in recent memory has been dead silent.

Of course, we’re talking about Rage Against the Machine.

When this rap-rock band exploded onto the scene in 1992, the group became known for its fiery politics perhaps more than its music. Speaking out against censorship, racial injustice and political and economic corruption, the band seemed unstoppable.

Until it stopped.

The group folded in 2000 and, aside from guitarist Tom Morello’s lame pop sidetrip with Chris Cornell in AudioSlave (whose melodramatic pop was only slightly less annoying than U2), the members all-but-disappeared. Formerly outspoken frontman Zack de la Rocha seemed to have nothing to say until he reemerged earlier this month with tracks from his new band, One Day as a Lion.

Still, the fact that this band and its members had nothing to say about 9/11 or the Bush administration seems suspicious. Are they afraid to speak up during an actual time of conflict and crisis? Do they only raise hell when they’re preaching to the choir—reassuring wealthy white kids that Democrats rock and Republicans don’t? It all seems too easy.

If cheap shots are the name of the game, count these guys in. The band has announced plans to play a reunion concert coinciding with the 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver (no word on a new album, yet). This will give them the chance to complain about Bush (now that he’s on the way out anyway, real brave, fellas), and it will also allow them to attempt to regain some punk cred as they follow in the footsteps of punk pioneers MC5 who infamously played Chicago at the time of the violent protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. (Mc5 guitarist Wayne Kramer is also on the bill.)

Is history repeating itself? Maybe. But this seems like one rerun/reunion we could do without.

Is Rage Against the Machine too political? Not political enough?
Leave a comment and tell us what you think.

Listen!

free Rage Against the Machine–Bombtrack mp3

Scared to Write Protest Songs for Iraq War? Plus Top Political Songs

Published February 27th, 2008 by Karen

During this Presidential campaign season, one of the biggest issues being discussed by candidates is the war in Iraq.

While this is certainly one of the most controversial wars the US has been involved in, it seems that few musicians and artists are tackling this issue in their music.

With that in mind, we’re taking a look at some of the best political songs, political rock songs and peace rally songs. This time around, we’re focusing mostly on numbers from the outspoken Vietnam Era. Next time around, we’ll check out some songs from other wars and social causes.

If you have suggestions of Iraq-themed songs we should include on our next list–please leave a comment and let us know.

Top Protest Songs

“Give Peace a Chance”—John Lennon

“Born in the U.S.A”—Bruce Springsteen

“Where Have all the Flowers Gone?”—Pete Seeger

“All You Need is Love”—The Beatles

“Fortunate Son”—Credence Clearwater Revival

“Ohio”—Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

“Masters of War”—Bob Dylan

“Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag”—Country Joe and the Fish

“Imagine”—John Lennon

What’s your favorite political song?
Leave a comment and let us know what’s on your list.

"Queen of the Supermarket - Working On A Dream... ...The best Bruce Springsteen awesome disc, 'Working On A Dream', is published January..."
  Bruce Springsteen superstar

Top 10 Campaign Songs. Plus, How Springsteen Won the Election.

Published December 26th, 2007 by Karen

In the current round of campaigning, some noise has been made over Hillary Clinton’s decision to use Celine Dion’s horrendous “You and I” as her theme song, while Barack Obama is using the somewhat more hip “Better Way” by Ben Harper.

But does it matter?

The idea of campaign songs is nothing new, with the practice dating back at least as far as George Washington (“Follow Washington”) and Thomas Jefferson (“For Jefferson and Liberty”). Since then, there have been some good and bad songs blaring on the campaign trail, so we’ve decided to take a look at a few of them with our new list:

Top 10 Presidential Campaign Theme Songs

10. Frank Sinatra—“High Hopes”
Sinatra’s hit song “High Hopes” was fitted with new Kennedy-themed lyrics to provide the optimistic theme song for John F. Kennedy’s presidential bid in 1960.

9. Simon and Garfunkel—“Bridge Over Troubled Water”
McGovern lost to Nixon in the election 1972. The pretty but depressing song probably didn’t cheer him up after the loss.

8. Bruce Springsteen—“Born in the U.S.A.”
“California Here We Come” provided the upbeat soundtrack for Ronald Reagan’s 1980 campaign, and while he won again in 1984 with Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A” as his anthem, Springsteen, a democrat, requested that Reagan stop using the song.

7. Woody Guthrie—“This Land is Your Land”
George H.W. Bush made it to the Oval Office in 1988 with this classic. Although it’s difficult to believe that Guthrie would’ve endorsed Bush, the President won the vote.

6. Neil Diamond—“Coming to America”
Michael Dukakis had a glitzy anthem, but that didn’t keep him from losing to the first President Bush in 1988.

5. Fleetwood Mac—“Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow”
In addition to appearing on television playing his saxophone and having fun, President Clinton tore up the campaign trail with Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop.”

4. Patsy Cline—“Crazy”
In 1992 wealthy Texas businessman Ross Perot was an entertaining entry in the presidential race, but his theme song’s title may have described him a little too well.

3. Bruce Springsteen VS Brooks and Dunn
John Kerry campaigned to the tune of Bruce Springsteen’s “No Surrender,” but even the Boss couldn’t save him from George W. Bush and Brooks & Dunn’s “Only in America.”

2. Sam & Dave—“Soul Man”
A Bob Dole-themed take-off on Sam & Dave’s Stax Records classic, “Soul Man,” the reworked “Dole Man” is embarrassing for everyone involved, both politically and musically.

1. Tom Petty—“I Won’t Back Down”
George W. Bush was using Tom Petty’s song “I Won’t Back Down,” but Petty—a supporter of Bush’s opponent Al Gore— threatened to sue him if he didn’t stop using it.

Which campaign songs would get your vote? Leave a comment and let us know!