Rage Against The Machine

[bune]

So they hired the guy (B-Real) who was their first choice for what became Audioslave? Ka is truly a wheel.

[LoathedVermin72]

I used to feel that way with them too...i mean, its not Bono´s ¨lets all be friend in freedom!!¨ mantra, which i despise and think its so fuckin horrible and wrong, i do appreciate Zach´s point of view in a lot of subjects but i dont think he will move me like i used to...i feel Rage political output is really cool for a teenager.

I totally get that. But like I said earlier, their music - politics included - has held up for me much better than I expected it to.

[Simple Torture]

Thats my main problem with a new album. I already know whats going to sound and whats going to be about...there will be nothing surprising or infuriating or, i dont know..new about it.

Also, im kinda tired about rock stars preaching about politics.

Fair enough, but I would still be more than happy with a new Rage album. Sure, I know what to expect, but that's okay because I love what they do. Music doesn't necessarily have to be unexpected to be compelling.

I totally agree with you about celebrity-politics exhaustion. And usually I find it completely insufferable. But I think there's often an extra layer of depth and nuance to RATM's political lyrics that's missing from other stuff out there. Their anger feels earned and genuine. It never felt like liberal pandering to me. It never felt comfortable. And I don't think that would change if they came back.

This. And let's not be coy about the reasons why: for me, at least, a lot of this has to do with Zach being a person of color; his perspective doesn't come from a place of, "Oh, we've got to help people / Be nicer to each other / whatever," but rather from hundreds of years of frustration, oppression, and exhaustion. I was thinking the other day of the chorus to "Sleep Now In The Fire" ("I am the Niña, the Pinta, the Santa María...") and I think there are lots of nods like that in RATM's catalogue to how their righteous anger has deep, deep roots.

[LoathedVermin72]

The key difference for me is that their lyrics, while overtly political, always seemed to be written as art and poetry first and foremost. It wasn't just a liberal dude haranguing; it was a group of artists making art. It's not like they were saying trite things "NO WAR! PEACE NOW! DOWN WITH FASCISTS!" etc., they were saying things like:

The world is my expense, the cost of my desire
Jesus blessed me with its future and I protect it with fire
So raise your fists and march around, don't dare take what you need
I'll jail and bury those committed and smother the rest in greed
Crawl with me into tomorrow or I'll drag you to your grave
I'm deep inside your children, they'll betray you in my name

That's poetry, man.

[tragabigzanda]

[VinylGuy]

I feel its more of a question of ¨why bother¨ with them. Specially given the case they dont seem to get along enough to work on music.

Im ok with their legacy and expect yes, to see Brad, Timmy C and Tom doing new thing like this one. As for Zach, im not quite sure.

[Simple Torture]

The key difference for me is that their lyrics, while overtly political, always seemed to be written as art and poetry first and foremost. It wasn't just a liberal dude haranguing; it was a group of artists making art. It's not like they were saying trite things "NO WAR! PEACE NOW! DOWN WITH FASCISTS!" etc., they were saying things like:

The world is my expense, the cost of my desire
Jesus blessed me with its future and I protect it with fire
So raise your fists and march around, don't dare take what you need
I'll jail and bury those committed and smother the rest in greed
Crawl with me into tomorrow or I'll drag you to your grave
I'm deep inside your children, they'll betray you in my name

That's poetry, man.

Oh, definitely. And I think they didn't reach the peak of that until BOLA. Now go listen to "No More."

[Leatherhead]

I used to feel that way with them too...i mean, its not Bono´s ¨lets all be friend in freedom!!¨ mantra, which i despise and think its so fuckin horrible and wrong, i do appreciate Zach´s point of view in a lot of subjects but i dont think he will move me like i used to...i feel Rage political output is really cool for a teenager.

I totally get that. But like I said earlier, their music - politics included - has held up for me much better than I expected it to.

I've said this before, but RATM's lyrics may be even more topical in today's politically and socially polarized society. Also, I didn't really understand probably 80% of RATM lyrics when I was a teenager, and I suspect that's true for a lot of teenagers.

[Simple Torture]

I used to feel that way with them too...i mean, its not Bono´s ¨lets all be friend in freedom!!¨ mantra, which i despise and think its so fuckin horrible and wrong, i do appreciate Zach´s point of view in a lot of subjects but i dont think he will move me like i used to...i feel Rage political output is really cool for a teenager.

I totally get that. But like I said earlier, their music - politics included - has held up for me much better than I expected it to.

I've said this before, but RATM's lyrics may be even more topical in today's politically and socially polarized society. Also, I didn't really understand probably 80% of RATM lyrics when I was a teenager, and I suspect that's true for a lot of teenagers.

Probably also true for me, and I'm more than happy to admit that, like many, I was probably first drawn in by the irreverence of, "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me." When you actually start to dig into the context of a tune like that, though, there are layers and layers you can pull.

[LoathedVermin72]

Now I'm listening to Battle of LA. Talk about an epic three song run: Testify > Guerilla Radio > Calm Like a Bomb. They OPENED with that! CLAB fucking rips.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Testify and Calm Like a Bomb are so great.

Also, Maggie's Farm

[VinylGuy]

Now I'm listening to Battle of LA. Talk about an epic three song run: Testify > Guerilla Radio > Calm Like a Bomb. They OPENED with that! CLAB fucking rips.

i did it that today. Those 3 are amazing.

[LoathedVermin72]

This is easily RATM's most consistently great album. Though I still have trouble choosing between it and Evil Empire as my favorite (the latter has a No Code-esque "more than the sum of its parts" thing going).

[E.H. Ruddock]

you guys wanted a rage album?

To be honest I just wanted something with the whole band. Zack is so unique I just love when he does stuff. His One Day As A Lion EP was fantastic. Just a tour would have been fine with me too.

[LoathedVermin72]

I love when Morello's guitar makes Nintendo noises in the "Voice of the Voiceless" intro

[E.H. Ruddock]

This is easily RATM's most consistently great album. Though I still have trouble choosing between it and Evil Empire as my favorite (the latter has a No Code-esque "more than the sum of its parts" thing going).

Battle of L.A. is easily my favorite.

[Norah]

Pfft, Evil Empire ftw. Vietnow is the best.

[Zantac Junkie]

Pfft, Evil Empire ftw. Vietnow is the best.

[swan]

Real talk: I saw Audioslave at the Paramount in Seattle in 2003, and it was one of the best shows I saw that decade. Weird, right?

[E.H. Ruddock]

I know I've said it before, but RATM's cover of "How I Could Just Kill A Man" is better than the original. By a mile.