Poor student. Should probably steer away from buying things; but they're just too shiny.
Poor student. Should probably steer away from buying things; but they're just too shiny.
Member since:18.05.2004
Reviews:34
Members who trust:4
Rage against the machines first album, the self titled R.A.T.M, is known is some circles as a modern classic, and I heartily agree. In my opinion, the 90's were at a loss as regards rock music. Britpop hadn't really kicked off yet, the stratospheric rise of Nirvana had unfortunately killed off the rest of the grunge genre and eventually their frontman too, and even worse, manufactured pop was really doing quite well.
Thank god for RATM, I say. Praise be the powers that gave this awesome foursome the talent, audacity and power to get out there and cause some ripples.
As soon as I put this CD in, and listened to the start of Bombtrack, I knew something great was here. The riff kicked in, and I was in love. For anyone who grew up listening to their parents vinlys of Hendrix, Cream, Sabbath and that whole blues-rock genre will love this album because of the way it takes the blues-rock DNA and splices it with genes from the funk, rap and metal genres. Add a powerful message and voila!
More on this CD though...All the tracks are riff based one way or another, which sound boring, but each one is fantastic in its own right. Top marks (or should that be Marx?) goto Tom Morello, possibly the most inventive guitarist in the world; as Kerrang put it: 'It sounds like R2-D2 being beaten with the funk stick' Brad and Timmy C form the excellent rhythm section, pounding out tight beats like there's no tomorrow. Finally, Zach half growls half swaggering raps over the top way with prescion and power.
The structure of this album is second to none in my opinion. I know what you're thnking, 'structure? what the hell has structure go to do with it?' but believe me, it does.
Bombtrack starts you off, with a quality hook and solid chorus. Then it goes up a notch to the truely awesome Killing in the name of; a simple but thumping track with the classic ending. Take the power back is a bit weak, but still ace. Then we get the aggressive Settle for nothing, that all the lame-asses will skip past instantly because it has shouting in it. Boo hoo!
The next three tracks mimic the first three of the, with a classic, an anthem and a popular one. Bullet in the head goes for Zachs skill as a funky hip hopper, with really cool guitar work as well. Know your enemy, is a real party tune, good to bounce around too, showing off how tight the drums and bass are. Wake up is 'that one from the Matrix' and is instantly memorable; probably the most polished sound from the whole album.
The final third goes a bit deeper, and explodes right at the end. Fistful of steel is brutal, with a great bass drum sound, kind of flat but really hard and thumping. Township rebellion was a bit pants to start with, but is probably one of the best songs on the album; great switches between riffs and less melodic-but-just-as-good pounding. Freedom (one of my favorite songs of all time is fantastic, and if you can watch the live version at Rock AM ring in Germany, you get treated to Zach crawling about screaming which is infinately more fun than it sounds. Anyway, it all comes together in Freedom, with the best mix of violence and melody possible. What a classic.
Despite heavy criticism from the alternative rock crowd, RATM carried on giving us their unique blend of funk-rap-rock-metal for a good couple of years to come and no band has really equalled this record in the funk rock stakes.
Oh well. Listen to it. Buy it if you like it.
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1. PROGRAMME START.2. THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD.3. VIETNOW.4. PEOPLE OF THE SUN.5. BULLS ON ... more
PARADE.6. BULLET IN THE HEAD.7. ZAPATA'S BLOOD.8. KNOW YOUR ENEMY.9. BOMBTRACK.10. TIRE ME.11. KILLING IN THE NAME.VIDEO CLIPS (UNCENSORED VERSIONS).12. KILLING IN ...
Not since the days of the Clash and the MC5 has rock seen such political force as in the ... more
uncompromising debut from this American quartet. Expanding the hip-hop/metal style of bands such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage tap the spirits of vintage Blac...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Not since the days of the Clash and the MC5 has rock seen such political force as in the ... more
uncompromising debut from this American quartet. Expanding the hip-hop/metal style of bands such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage tap the spirits of vintage Blac...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Not since the days of the Clash and the MC5 has rock seen such political force as in the ... more
uncompromising debut from this American quartet. Expanding the hip-hop/metal style of bands such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage tap the spirits of vintage Blac...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Great vocals, amazing guitar (as a guitarist I must say I'm impressed), Tim C rocks on bass, Brad Wilk, great drummer. Poitical, loud. Disadvantages: absolutely none whatsoever
Sep 19th, 2004
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![Live At The Grand Olympic Auditorium [PA] - Rage Against The Machine](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/315/prod_small-5859315.jpg)
