Rage Against the Machine

Rage Against the Machine's self-titled debut: another 90s classic.

The record opens well. Bombtrack, which very much serves as an overview of what Rage is about (being that the government sucks and all forms of war after 1980 are evil), has a really, really cool riff that sounds all too similar to Audioslave's Cochise. But anyway, Bombtrack goes on to say that it is just another extreme-left track, and while it may mean nothing to the political figures above, its going to assist in taking them over someday. Yeah... kinda dumb. But it sounds cool, and that's all that matters here. Once more, I really could care less about Rage's politics.

Killing in the Name is also a pretty good track, repeating itself over and over again, probably to drive in the message, which is something Rage tries to do a lot. However, I don't really get the point. I mean, I get it, but I don't get why its right, which is something that Rage does all the time- trying to make a point, but failing to unless you are on their side. They say over and over again, "Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses," and "Those who die are justified, for wearing the badge of your chosen wife." Huh? I don't know. Cool song, though. At the end, when Zach de la Rocha repeats "F#$% you, I won't do what you tell me," its especially sweet.

Bullet in the Head is pretty nice. I hate when Timmy C. does that dumb porno guitar, and its fortunate that he skips it here. Morello, on his guitar, adds a nice little touch before the chorus, with a squeakier sound. Wilk's drums are pretty nice, also. Damnit, why can't I think?

Wake Up is a great song from beginning to end, and I've loved it since the first time I heard it at the end of the Matrix. It has a cool little part inserted that includes a Radiohead-like guitar part, and this is the song that got me to start listening to this band. It's easily the best song on the record.

Fistful of Steel has that "I'm going to kick your @$$" attitude to it, and the delivery on it is bad on all sides. Morello's weird guitar doesn't really here, and when Rocha starts up the chorus, it reminds me of the sh*t I hear when listening to many songs by Korn.

Township Rebellion is alright, but its nothing special. It gets off to a good start, and I do like the funky drums that Wilk creates. The band makes the song work on all sides here, but still, it comes short of greatness.

I like some aspects of Freedom, such as the beginning, but it isn't the "powerful" track that it is claimed by so many people to be, and Rage has done so much better with other songs. Being the last track on the album, Rage tries to make it six minutes long with a ridiculously extended ending, and it ruins how seriously I can take the song.

Morello isn't that great of a guitarist, but he's a brilliant musician. The way he can use weird effects when he needs to is perfect, and he does a fine job of restraining himself from using them when he should. I like Tim Commerford for the most part. Wilk never fails with the drums, so he's not to blame for the album's faults. And Rocha... he's cool, but how ridiculous he is is directly proportional to how much one likes the song. Woo-ee. Yeah.

Wow, I think I'm the first one to say that.

Additional notes: The album art is particularly horrifying. A man burning in fire... I don't know whether or not its real (I think its not), but either way, it still scares the hell out of me.

Rating: A