It's Throwback Thursday time once again, and this week ("last week", for all you "time is linear" types) I'm going with another perennial throwback favourite of mine. This year will see At the Drive-In back together, if only for some live shows, so why can't 2016 also see the return of the Rage?
Your Rage Against the Machine song this time around is "Ashes in the Fall" from 1999's The Battle of Los Angeles, an album that I'm digging more and more the older I get. I think Evil Empire is still my favourite Rage album, but no longer do I rank Los Angeles number three out of hand. From its dentist drill guitar intro through its bass-driven, space guitar verses, "Ashes in the Fall" is a kind of a microcosm for the variety and willingness to experiment that marks The Battle of Los Angeles as a forward-thinking record that's held up very well indeed. Have a listen and get your rage on.
Showing posts with label Rage Against the Machine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rage Against the Machine. Show all posts
Thursday, 11 February 2016
Thursday, 17 December 2015
Rage Against the Machine - Year of Tha Boomerang
Sure, it might be the season for sharing, camaraderie, and joy, but that doesn't mean things will go peachy keen for you all the time. If any aspect of your life is grinding your gears on this Throwback Thursday, might I suggest a healthy, victimless target for your ire in the form of The Machine?
Yes, that Machine, the one we all used to rage against in our misspent youths. We're all a little older now, and maybe our anger has burned low over the years, but if ever there was a time when the world needed a band to speak out against the status quo, the tail end of 2015 is it. So as another year winds down, and you settle into your holiday routine of merry-making, put on "Year of Tha Boomerang" from 1996's classic Evil Empire, raise your fist once more, and remember that rage can be productive if it's pointed in the right direction. Use that fuel and make 2016 your best goddamn year ever. Class dismissed.
Yes, that Machine, the one we all used to rage against in our misspent youths. We're all a little older now, and maybe our anger has burned low over the years, but if ever there was a time when the world needed a band to speak out against the status quo, the tail end of 2015 is it. So as another year winds down, and you settle into your holiday routine of merry-making, put on "Year of Tha Boomerang" from 1996's classic Evil Empire, raise your fist once more, and remember that rage can be productive if it's pointed in the right direction. Use that fuel and make 2016 your best goddamn year ever. Class dismissed.
Friday, 26 September 2014
Album of the Week: Rage Against the Machine - Evil Empire
Grab your shovels and miner's headlamp helmets, kids, because today we're digging deep into the mountain of history for your Album of the Week. I know, I know, this one's not exactly topical, but it's just one of those albums that's completely badass, and possibly (but hopefully not) unknown to you young 'uns.
Fans of Rage Against the Machine will debate endlessly the question of which album represents the band's crowing achievement (trust me, I've been involved in several such debates over the years). But for my money there's really no question: 1996's Evil Empire is where it's at in terms of Rage.
Sure, the 1994 self-titled might have more youthful rage, and 1999's The Battle of Los Angeles might be the band's most polished, creatively varied work. Evil Empire, however, exists in the sweet spot between the two, in more ways than just chronologically: it's more confident and focused than Rage but it still retains some of the venom and rough edges that feel a little more absent from Battle.
Evil Empire, for me at least, is also one of those "all killer, no filler" albums: there aren't any tracks I skip, and every one is memorable for me. Maybe it's just because I grew up with this record and have been rocking it for more than fifteen years now, but all those riffs are locked in my head. I'm a terrible drummer, and I feel like I could play a lot of Evil Empire, the beats ingrained in my brain that deeply. Hell, I can't typically remember rap lyrics (or any lyrics...) worth shit, but I can still keep up with Zack on some stuff, all these years later.
So for the next week or so, do me and you both a favour and revisit this classic nineties record. Then have your own debate about which Rage album is best -- just as long as you're supporting Evil Empire.
Fans of Rage Against the Machine will debate endlessly the question of which album represents the band's crowing achievement (trust me, I've been involved in several such debates over the years). But for my money there's really no question: 1996's Evil Empire is where it's at in terms of Rage.
Sure, the 1994 self-titled might have more youthful rage, and 1999's The Battle of Los Angeles might be the band's most polished, creatively varied work. Evil Empire, however, exists in the sweet spot between the two, in more ways than just chronologically: it's more confident and focused than Rage but it still retains some of the venom and rough edges that feel a little more absent from Battle.
Evil Empire, for me at least, is also one of those "all killer, no filler" albums: there aren't any tracks I skip, and every one is memorable for me. Maybe it's just because I grew up with this record and have been rocking it for more than fifteen years now, but all those riffs are locked in my head. I'm a terrible drummer, and I feel like I could play a lot of Evil Empire, the beats ingrained in my brain that deeply. Hell, I can't typically remember rap lyrics (or any lyrics...) worth shit, but I can still keep up with Zack on some stuff, all these years later.
So for the next week or so, do me and you both a favour and revisit this classic nineties record. Then have your own debate about which Rage album is best -- just as long as you're supporting Evil Empire.
Sunday, 1 June 2014
Saturday: Dead Letter Circus - Killing in the Name
One of the magical properties of the Internet is that it gives us music fans access to so much more music than would otherwise be possible, access that is truly unprecedented in human history. This access can turn up so many wild and wonderful things, and every so often one of those things is radically re-imagined cover version of a well-known song.
Most cover version are not radical re-imaginings, but rather fairly faithful renditions that may reflect only a little of the covering artists' style, or none at all. Some cover versions are even note-perfect tributes, often performed in bars by "tribute artists", a.k.a. cover bands that look the part. But some covers are an altogether different animal.
Biffy Clyro's version of Weezer's "Buddy Holly" always comes to mind as my favourite example of this strange new beast -- a cover version of a song that bears so little resemblance to the original that it almost stands on its own as an entirely new piece of art. There is, however, a new contender for this crown: the Dead Letter Circus version of "Killing in the Name" that's been making the rounds online over the last couple of days.
"Killing in the Name " covers aren't that uncommon, but ones like this are. Aside from the familiar lyrics, you'd never know that this was a cover if you weren't told as much ahead of time. Dead Letter Circus just do that good a job of putting their own spin on things. (Incidentally, Biffy Clyro also does a pretty unique cover of "Killing in the Name", but what is this, a Biffy Clyro post?)
Some among you might argue that perhaps a song shouldn't be called a "cover" unless it bears enough of a resemblance to the original, and I can see you point. But, on the other hand, it's certainly refreshing to hear a cover that heads in some new creative directions and doesn't just sound exactly like the original. Have a listen to the Dead Letter Circus version of "Killing in the Name" and see which camp you fall in.
Most cover version are not radical re-imaginings, but rather fairly faithful renditions that may reflect only a little of the covering artists' style, or none at all. Some cover versions are even note-perfect tributes, often performed in bars by "tribute artists", a.k.a. cover bands that look the part. But some covers are an altogether different animal.
Biffy Clyro's version of Weezer's "Buddy Holly" always comes to mind as my favourite example of this strange new beast -- a cover version of a song that bears so little resemblance to the original that it almost stands on its own as an entirely new piece of art. There is, however, a new contender for this crown: the Dead Letter Circus version of "Killing in the Name" that's been making the rounds online over the last couple of days.
"Killing in the Name " covers aren't that uncommon, but ones like this are. Aside from the familiar lyrics, you'd never know that this was a cover if you weren't told as much ahead of time. Dead Letter Circus just do that good a job of putting their own spin on things. (Incidentally, Biffy Clyro also does a pretty unique cover of "Killing in the Name", but what is this, a Biffy Clyro post?)
Some among you might argue that perhaps a song shouldn't be called a "cover" unless it bears enough of a resemblance to the original, and I can see you point. But, on the other hand, it's certainly refreshing to hear a cover that heads in some new creative directions and doesn't just sound exactly like the original. Have a listen to the Dead Letter Circus version of "Killing in the Name" and see which camp you fall in.
Thursday, 10 October 2013
Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name
It's a Thursday night, which means only one more go at the grind before the weekend is upon us. What better place than here (what better time than now) to give a big "fuck you" to the week gone by than to do some raging against the machine?
When I was in high school and my buddies and I used to jam together on a pretty regular basis, we used to play a lot of Rage Against the Machine. The reason for this was likely twofold: Rage had a rebellious energy that teenagers can't help but relate to, and the songs aren't super hard to play to boot. Actually, make that a three-fold reason: those relatively simple songs with their rebellious energy are also pretty goddamn kick-ass.
Sometimes the music of your youth doesn't hold up over time, or only holds up because of the nostalgia value. Not Rage Against the Machine. I still put Rage on every once in a while and genuinely rock out to the combination of rap, rock, metal, funk, politics, and the kitchen sink -- like I did driving home from work today.
Evil Empire might be the band's finest moment (although I have some friends who argue strenuously, and somewhat convincingly, for The Battle of Los Angeles) but their 1992 self-titled debut has an intensity all its own. Zack and company come out swinging like they have something prove, and prove it they do. Crank "Killing in the Name" if you don't believe me, but consider yourself warned.
When I was in high school and my buddies and I used to jam together on a pretty regular basis, we used to play a lot of Rage Against the Machine. The reason for this was likely twofold: Rage had a rebellious energy that teenagers can't help but relate to, and the songs aren't super hard to play to boot. Actually, make that a three-fold reason: those relatively simple songs with their rebellious energy are also pretty goddamn kick-ass.
Sometimes the music of your youth doesn't hold up over time, or only holds up because of the nostalgia value. Not Rage Against the Machine. I still put Rage on every once in a while and genuinely rock out to the combination of rap, rock, metal, funk, politics, and the kitchen sink -- like I did driving home from work today.
Evil Empire might be the band's finest moment (although I have some friends who argue strenuously, and somewhat convincingly, for The Battle of Los Angeles) but their 1992 self-titled debut has an intensity all its own. Zack and company come out swinging like they have something prove, and prove it they do. Crank "Killing in the Name" if you don't believe me, but consider yourself warned.
Saturday, 27 July 2013
Song of the Day: Rage Against the Machine - Bulls on Parade
We're almost done our trip through the 90's, but such a journey could hardly be called completed without a song by today's band.
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
Pit Report: Billy Talent
OK, so like I said last night, I know Billy Talent isn't a metal band. Punk at times, maybe, but not metal. And I know, even if you don't, that I wasn't in the pit last night with all the tweens, so I guess technically I can't call this a bona fide Pit Report. But who cares? I haven't been to a show in a while, and my buddy works at the venue so we got comp tickets, so you're just going to have to hear about it. Questions? Good.
Thursday, 3 January 2013
Song of the Day: Rage Against the Machine - Tire Me
Another day of Resurrection Week here, and I've got a poll question for you: am I the only one who thinks the backing band that is Rage Against the Machine was way better with Zack de la Rocha than with Chris Cornell? Don't get me wrong, I love Soundgarden (well, old Soundgarden anyways), and Rage is awesome, but Audioslave was a poor man's bastard child of the two at best. I don't know if I'd actually want Rage Against the Machine back together and writing new material, but if I could hypothetically turn back the clock on some bands, Rage would be on the list.
Friday, 7 September 2012
Song of the Day: Rage Against the Machine - Calm Like a Bomb
I know, I know, Rage Against the Machine is neither terribly heavy nor terribly new, but they're still getting the Song of the Day nod today. Why? It's a bit of walk, but here goes. I've had people tell me that The Battle of Los Angeles is the best Rage record, to which my reply has always been (as it usually is) "No way! The old stuff is better!" or something similar. And while I still like older Rage better, today I finally get what my friends are talking about.
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