Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine
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Free Music Notes for Rage Against the Machine
Free Music Review: One of a kind
Hit: 5 Stars
Never before had a band so successfully meshed metal with hip-hop. Sure, it had been done by others, but nowhere near the level of RATM. When this album was released, there was nothing remotely like it (nor has there been since, with the exception of other RATM albums). Songs like Killing In The Name are so bold and so unique, and sound so good. A kid listening to this album today will probably be inspired to pick up a guitar or drum kit in the same way the Jimmy Page's and Jimi Hendrix's of the rock world inspired kids so many moons ago.
This debut album is undoubtedly one of the best hard rock albums of all time. It just gets better with each listen.
Free Music Review: Best RATM Album
Hit: 5 Stars
Pre-Script: the reason I refer to the band as RATM throughout rather than the simple "Rage" is because I take my reviews seriously and I like to be as proper and precise with them as I can. "Rage" is a band hailing from Germany, although popular in the U.S. that plays Hard Rock, but it they are not "Rage Against the Machine". Also, This being my first review I want people to get used to my format and how I write my reviews. I thoroughly break down and discuss each song (if reviewing a CD) and then give it a number rating _/10.
That out of the way, My Review:
This is the best RATM album out there. Personal Favorites/ highlights include "Bombtrack", "Killing in the Name","Take the Power Back", "Settle for Nothing", "Bullet in the Head", "Know your Enemy", "Wake Up", "Fistful of Steel", "Township Rebellion", and "Freedom". I just realized I named every song on the album. This is practically a greatest hits album. Every album of theirs is a hit, this and Evil Empire being the best.
I'm going to thoroughly breakdown and discuss each song now so you can really understand what RATM is all about and so you can better understand and prepare yourself to listen to this.
The opener "Bombtrack" is a song about the media and how it twists the mind and helps to influence how people view political factors. "see through the news and the views that twist reality". On the musical side, the beat/rhythm of "Bombtrack" is pretty catchy and loud as well. 9/10
"Killing in the Name" is a good track, and is one of my favorites (beyond this album; by RATM in general) with a catchy guitar riff, a simple yet outstanding bass interlude, awesome drumming ( I like the cowbell addition myself), and a catchy end mantra of "____ YOU I WON'T DO WHAT YA TELL ME!". This is a good track, however it's got 5 lines of lyrics. slogan after slogan: "Some of those that work forces" :those that died are justified for wearing thee badge and the chosen white", etc. The lyrics allege that some officers of the Police Force and the government in general are racist and are members of the KKK. This song goes beyond that topic, however, and becomes a great rebellion track towards the end, becoming loud. this song also has a GREAT solo. 10/10
"Take the Power Back"'s track title is pretty self-explanatory" The U.S. has too much power and is abusing it, and us as Americans must "Take the Power Back"! "Bam here's the plan, Mother ____ Uncle Sam!" and the vocal interlude in the middle is amazing. (BUY THIS! and you'll see what I mean!). This song has incredible guitars that sound "anti guitar", an over-rated bassline (it's good, but it's not the best bassline RATM has like some people say it is), and outstanding double bass drumming (it's not heavy metal fast DB drumming like you're thinking, it's a simple, catchy, yet AMAZING! two-foot tap or boom boom. (BUY THIS! and you'll see what I mean!). A Personal Favorite with another great solo and a semi-melodic ending, "TTPB" is an easy... 10/10
"Settle for Nothing" was the first RATM song to feature melody. A soft Bassline starts off the song, and then it erupts into a loud scream. This song toggles that format throughout: Loud, Soft, L, S. s all great RATM songs do, this song has another great solo. Enough said... 9/10
"Bullet in the Head" is my personal favorite tied with the next 2 songs and has a funky bassline that gets my vote as the best bassline RATM has. the guitars on "BITH" are really high pitched and "anti-guitar" sounding again. The drumming is slow and then switches up to a bit faster before the solo (sort of like a drum bridge) and then when the guitars erupt at the end, Brad's drums switch up again to fast, thrashy, and perfect in this mix. "BITH" is about propogand on television and how it influences people's minds and opinions on political matters. Tom uses amp feedback to create an incredible solo for this song. One of RATM's heaviest songs and A Personal Favorite (yet again) ... 10.5/10
"Know your Enemy" is my number one favorite song on here, tied with "Wake up" and the former. "KNE" starts off with a catchy toggle switch riff (Tom turns one pickup to 0 and the other to 10/11 (full) and uses the pickup selector to toggle between the two) and then turns into a regular guitar riff. It features a catchy, heavy bridge (part of a song before the solo) feturing Maynard james keenan from Tool on vocals, and then Zack taking over with "Know your enemy!!!!!!" and that is suceeded by an awesome yet complex, highly technical solo with many parts to it. "KNE" alleges that America touts itself as "the land of the free" yet lies and behind the rest of the world's back takes freedom away. Listen to the ending vocals: "YES I KNOW MY ENEMIES, THEY'RE THE TEACHERS THAT TOLD ME TO FIGHT ME: COMPROMISE, CONFORMITY, ASSIMMILATION, SUBMISSION, IGNORANCE, HYPOCRICY, BRUTALITY, THE ELITE, ALL OF WHICH ARE AMERICAN DREAMS!" 10.5/10
"Wake Up" is my favorite song tied with both of the formers. "Wake up" starts out with an awesome bassline overdubbed with a highly experimental guitar, and awesome drumming (my favorite to air drum to).Later in the song, tom creates a catchy-as-hell solo using a talkbox (that patented box that was made famous almost single handedly by Peter Frampton), followed Zack whispers "what was the price on his head" and then 5 seconds later "WHAT WAS THE PRICE ON HIS HEEEAAAADDD!!!!!" and then nothing but drums can be heard. After that, a bass interlude takes up about 30 seconds of time, and then Zack screaming "WAKE UP!!!!!!" 8 times, and that is suceeded by an awesome solo that is probably my favorite solo on this album (tied with the next songs solo). "Wake Up" is pretty much a message to the listener: het man "WAKE UP!!!!!" don't believe the propoganda, AMERICA SUCKS!, etc. 10.5/10
"Fistful of Steel" is an awesome song as well, probably my 2nd favorite on the disc. "FOF" starts out with an odd sounding guitar (Tom scratches the strings with his pick while rapidly moving the whammy bar) and then the guitar switches to a catchy riff, underdubbed/supported by bass- and drum-work. "FOF" has an AWESOME solo (Tom slides his guitar slide up and down on the string while flipping the toggle switch up and down rapidly to create a flippin awesome effect!). "If the vibe was suicide, then you would push the button, but if you're bowing down THEN LET ME DO THE CUTTING! YEAH!!!". Zack alleges that if suicide was the issue it's your doing, your choice, YOU'D push the button, but if you're bowing down to the system let him or anybody elese do the cuttin, because you're better off alone or dead. Excellent song off of an excelllent album... 10.5/10
"Township Rebellion" has an awesome/weird bassline, I've never really payed attention to the drumming, and guitar sound that I can only guess as to how to even emulate it. Another technical, complex solo with many parts to it goes into making this song even better, and the lyrics are better yet: "Why can't freedom be fundamnetal, from Johannesburg to South central, on the mic yes someone should tell them to kick it to the township rebellion" "Why stand on a silent platform, fight the war, ____ the norm!". Zack is saying that african cities (i.e. Johannesburg) do not have freedom and is talking about slave rebellions (like the Stono rebellion). Zack also makes references to the American Revolutionary War. 10/10
"Freedom" is an excellent finisher (my personal favorite, better than "Evil Empire"'s "Year of the Boomerang and a great breakdown song. this is one of RATM's heaviest songs and a personal favorite. This song was definitely made for Zack's vocals (he's got so much to say in this song he has rap fast just to make it sound in place). The intro is real heavy and fast, and The first verse is all bass, drums, and vocals until the next verse and the solo. After the solo Zack shouts "Shot-Back!" and then a really cool bass/guitar breakdown occurs. the end is "Freedom Yeah" "Freedom, Yeah right" "Freedom.... YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! "Freedommmmmmm!!! Yeah!!!!!" (and repeat that about 8 times). Zack tells the story of Leonard Peltier in this song. Leonard Peltier was the leader of the Native American Indian Movement of the late 70's. he was convicted of killing 2 FBI agents (he's innocent though) and was thrown in jail. The government actually found evidence of his innocence but they decided to cover it up. Today, leonard still sits in that jail cell that he's been in since 1980-something. Zack, however, is speaking about freedom for everyone in the U.S. though. 10/10
I would also like to say the liner notes, too, are very interesting, an awesome picture of Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc burning himself to death at a protest for freedom in vietnam 1963, and liner notes are interesting, Zack thanking everybody from Chuck D. of Public Enemy to Ian Mckaye of minor threat and his Weird, ascetic dad. Lyrics to every song are included except for "Killing in the Name" in which the liner notes display
2.) Killing in the Name
and thenskip to track 3 "take the Power back"'s lyrics.
I hope I've been helpful and REALLY RECOMMEND that you BUY THIS ALBUM TODAY!!! BUY 2 copies!
Zack is a great lyricist and makes you think while having a good time about what his lyrics mean, Brad is a great, fast drummer, Tim Bob is a great bassit, and Tom Morello isn't just great , he's one of the best, most technical guitarists in the world.
This is an incredible album and is the Magnum Opus of my CD case. I honestly consider this a prized posession of mine, when I get some extra cash, I'm going to BUY A 2nd copy. BUY "RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE" TODAY!!! (if you BUY THIS new, RATM gets 50% royalties) TOTALLY WORTH IT!!! Every song on here is a masterpiece.
I also recommend:
"Evil Empire" (April 16th, 1996) by RATM
"The Battle of Los Angeles" (Nov. 2nd, 1999) by RATM
"Renegades" (Dec. 5th, 2000) by RATM
"Live & Rare" (1998) by RATM
"Live at Grand Olympic Auditorium" (2003)by RATM
"Live at Grand Olympic Auditorium"(DVD) (2003) by RATM
"The Battle of Mexico City" by RATM (DVD)(Feb,2001)
"Rage Against the Machine" (DVD)(1997) by RATM
"Significant Other" (1999) by Limp Bizkit
"3 Dollar Bill Y'all" (1997) by Limp Bizkit
"The Real Thing" (1989) by Faith No More
"Solid Gold Hits" by Beastie Boys (2005)
"Licensed to Ill" by Beastie Boys (1986)
"Power to the People and the Beats" by Public Enemy
Well my hands are tired as ____. My future reviews probably won't be quite this long (by the way)
Credits:
Zack De la Rocha-Vocals
Tom Morello-Guitars
Tim Bob-Bass/Backing Vocals
Brad Wilk-Drums
Produced by GGGarth
MJK-vocals on bridge of "Know Your Enemy"
Thank You for reading! :)
Free Music Review: Revoluntionary!
Hit: 4 Stars
An album from the early 90s that sounds so similar to what we have today is revolutionary. Rage paved the way for many of these garbage bands we have today that sing about lying in bed and running away from some girl that broke their heart. But these new bands have mucked it all up and forgot to sing about what is relevant in our nation and the world. Rage may use profanity a lot, but they have to get their point across somehow, or else no one would listen to them. Listen to this cd with an understanding of our country and what its done before you question and expel it. This is the first bombtrack Rage fans!Free Music Review: Still the Best Rage
Hit: 5 Stars
I be lovin' me some Rage and it be showin' like a mother...! :-) I have several Rage CDs and this is the oldest (and still the best). This is one of my favorite rock/alternative rock albums. Sounded like rap to me at first, which I don't typically like, but people who enjoy rap, tell me this is NOT rap. Okay, so this is great alternative rock. I am sure it will be classic rock of the future!Free Music Review: Enter RAGE!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Rage Against the Machine's debut album kicks heavy. It's got a good sense for lyrics and they're aimed somewhere they should be. Rage gets written off as an anti-goverment band but I see them differently. They're anti-control. They want the proper democracy just as much as everyone else. This is a great CD. Higly recommended.
My favortie tracks are: Bombtrack, Killing in the Name Of, Bullet in the Head and Wake Up, but all the tracks are excellent.
Highly recommended.
Also check out
Evil Empire
The Battle of Los Angeles
Renegades