Masterful look at politics through music (Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine)

Member Name: shaneo632

Product:	Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine
Date:	13/09/09 (3 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great themes

Disadvantages: None

As far as debut albums go, this is quite a doozy indeed, and one of the very best albums released throughout the 1990s. It mixes rap with rock in a way that isn't goofy like a lot of "rapcore" and Nu Metal, and he also mixes a socially incisive political commentary that, admittedly, can grate a little, but is at least poetically composed and therefore a recognisable artistic triumph.

Zack de La Rocha really carries the band on his shoulders with his distinctive vocal work, but guitarist Tom Morello is also a stunning addition to the outfit and belts out some superb axe-grinders throughout. There are so many great iconic tracks on here that it's difficult to choose what's the best. Anyway, here's a run down of my favourites from this very talented band!

Bombtrack is the album's first track and a very intense way to kick off the album - it was also used to jarring effect in Oliver Stone's fantastic film Natural Born Killers as one of the psychopaths attempts a jailbreak. It's intense and really sets the tone for the rest of the album - intense and hard going.

Killing in the Name is the second track and arguably the best on here - it's composed with such care and enthusiasm that it's almost impossible to escape from. It has an alluring and intense charm that topples even most of the other Rage songs.

Bullet in the Head does give Killing in the Name a run for its money, though - it's a very famous song and has an absolutely thumping beat, and again De La Rocha's vocals are very unique and reinforce the agenda that he is trying to convey, that in the corporate world, you'll get a bullet put in your head if it means the big-wigs can make a few bucks.

Wake Up is a slightly lesser known song but still fantastic - it's most famous from the ending of the first Matrix film, and is absolutely intense and a favourite at rock and metal clubs when they're looking to create a mosh pit.

This is an intense and powerful album that really takes a lot of pride in the message it tries to put across, and for that I really commend it, considering a lot of other bands (Green Day) have put across political messages in their music recently that just seems very half-baked.

Summary: Intense and profound