(In this post, Phro commemorates the 20th anniversary of Rage Against the Machine’s debut album as only Phro can.)
So, all this talk about Hacktivist has mostly been like water off a horny duck’s back to me, but it has had one interesting effect: reminding me of how great Rage Against the Machine is. Well, apparently, November 3rd was the 20th anniversary of Rage Against the Machine’s debut, self-titled album. As I read this article on Stereogum (I ended up there from a link on The Atlantic because otherwise I would have no fucking clue something called “Stereogum” existed), I realized: holy fuck balls, I don’t think I’ve ever listened to this album. Obviously, like many people, I’ve heard “Killing in the Name” and “Wake Up,” but that’s probably the extent of my knowledge of the album.
“Well, that’s weirder than seeing Willy Wonka fucking a dentist to death with a strap-on made of candy corn,” I thought to myself. Especially considering how damn much I loved Evil Empire, The Battle of Los Angeles, and even their covers albums Renegades. So, I figured, why not review the album with almost completely fresh ears? And that’s what I’ve done. I’m writing this stream of conscious as I’m listening to each track only once.
Enjoy! And be sure to tell me why I’m a total fucking distended asshole in the comments.
Apparently, I’m going to burn. I wonder if that sounded menacing in 1992. Now, it just sounds like they’re threatening me with a horrible case of herpes. The verse riff is good. I think that if I had heard this when it was brand new in 1992, I would have blown a nut out of my mouth while head-bobbing so hard I got brain damage. I probably would have started jumping around my room in my underwear, too, trying to tear the arms off of teddy bears, waving my 9-year-old cock around like it was Indiana Jones’s whip. (I really wouldn’t have known what else to do with it.)
“Killing in the Name”
This first riff sounds eerily like a Korn riff, though I have no idea which one. (Actually, I guess there’s a Korn riff that sounds like the first riff.) This track has a slow, creeping build-up, like a porn star starting with gentle fucking only to switch to the ol’ legs-behind-the-head jackhammering that always reminds one of a horse fucking a wiener dog. (No? Just me?) But that build-up surely does work well. Again: teddy bears would be torn the fuck up.
The lyrics are slightly baffling to me: “Some of those that wear forces/ Are the same that burn crosses.” Is this some sort of code that I’m unfamiliar with? Or is Zack de la Rocha implying that some Jedis are part of the KKK? The little guitar widdly-widdly freak out just before the final chorus is kinda fun. Morello is good at making weird noises. Oh, snap, he said “motherfucker;” 9-year-old me just busted another nut.
“Take the Power Back”
Funky yet haunting bass line by Commerford. I don’t listen to much funk (or any at all, really), but I would say that this riff is super funky. I literally can’t pay attention to anything else going on in this song, because of how funky the bass is. I wanna shake my booty. Oh, the chorus is changing it up. Apparently, we need to take the power back, too. Nevermind, it’s getting funky again. How can Zach be so angry with such a killer bass line?? Hey, a real fucking guitar solo. I thought Morello never deigned to use regular guitar notes. How wrong I was! This song feels like it should have been about minute shorter. Not sure what they were going for at the end; it really feels like they have a few too many ingredients for one song.
The guitar works well in the intro. The haunting howls, like autumn wind through yellow leaves, reflects the depression of the lyrics about a young man who’s grown up in a horrible home life. (Is this about kids turning to gang violence as a way to escape a shitty situation?) I don’t have anything funny to say about this song. I think it works damn well so far. Okay, hold up, this weird Hawaiian sounding guitar solo is kind of ruining it for me. It seems totally out of place, like an upbeat musical interlude of Jews dancing and singing in the middle of Schindler’s List. (How embarrassed will I be if that happened and I just forgot about it?) After that, the song gets back in it’s groove and ends strong. But still…that was a damn weird interlude.
“Bullet in the Head”
This song is kind of slow. It’s got my head bobbing, definitely, and the fuzzy guitars are good. I’m not entirely sure what the lyrics are about (again). What the hell is an “in-house drive-by?” I have a feeling that much of what Zach is rap-shouting about made more sense in the 90’s. “A bullet in your head” seems to make up the bulk of the second half of the song, which I suppose tells us how they got the name for the song. (I would put money on them having come up with the title first and then deciding on a quota for how many times they would have use it to make sure that the audience doesn’t forget how edgy the song title is.)
“Know Your Enemy”
Another bombtrack, he says! Woo! I like this bombtrack, it’s going hard like a drunk dad at a little league game; no slow build like the other songs. Very direct. 9-year-old me is jumping around and slapping petulant teddy bears against the headboard of his bed. “Take that, coppers!” he screams, shoving his fist in the air. (Apparently “Know Your Enemy” is also the a name of a Green Day song, which I found out while looking up the lyrics to the song.) Oh, fuck, what the shit is happening in this bridge??? They’re all singing softly. I think they wanna take me out on a date—no, wait, they’re just sick of complacence. (It’s like some of Tool’s less-weird-but-still-freaky moments.) The guitar goes insane like Morello got hit with an alien spasm-ray before the repetitive outro about American dreams.
Oh, shit, this was in The Matrix! Damn, from the last scene, too. Oh, shit, you guys, that scene was fucking amazing when it came out. Neo was all like…actually, I don’t remember what he said into the phone, but then he flew off like Goth Superman before the credits rolled.
Zach sounds proper pissed-the-fuck-off and the whole band is coming correct here. They are flowing like Mohammed Ali in his prime. Seriously, if this song were a boxing match, it would be knockout in the first round. They are using the build up/release thing over and over in this song, but it works. Shit, I might even dick-slap a teddy bear before this is through. Oh, goddamnit, look, a “mellow” bridge. See, this why the nineties sucked: we don’t need no stinking mellow shit!! Oh, now he’s telling me to wake up. Dude, you wouldn’t have to yell like that if you’d skip the boring bridges. I’m not taking the blame here, buddy.
Damn, I gotta pee…be right back. Pause it, goddamnit!
“Fistful of Steel”
This song is starting out like an electric storm resolving into a coherent message from a minor thunder deity. A nice marching vibe at the beginning gives way to a shrieking guitar, a thick, fat bass, some angry spitting, and nice lock-step drumming. The verses in this song are very “thin,” if you will. Aside from the shrieking guitar, it’s very sparse, forcing Zach to sort of carry the song until the chorus. The chorus definitely gets you up and moving around. Oh, a guitar solo that sounds like it was stolen from Q-Bert’s Wave Twisters album. (That’s high praise, in my opinion.) Looking at the lyrics, I just realized that the “fistful of steel” is referring to a microphone, not a gun. That’s…actually, I like it.
“Township Rebellion”
The guitar and bass sound like a goddamn didjeridoo in this song. You gotta give it up for that. I like the instrumental parts between the verses more than the verses, but there is way too goddamn much cowbell. The choruses are fun though. What the fuck is with this solo? Seriously, it sounds like the soundtrack to robot porn. (80’s robot porn. Ewww…that’d be messy to clean up.) Ho’ fuck! Zach just hulked out!!! Then something about shackles, crosses, and ignorance reigning. What the hell is a silent platform???? Doesn’t matter because 9-year-old me is definitely hulking out too. He might even tear up a few newspapers.
Yes, this is starting good. (The lyrics I found on Lyricsmode.com include this little gem: “Wuh! (sung sorta like michael jackson).” Made me giggle.) Me and 9-year-old me are wearing buckets on our heads like helmets and stomping around outside with sticks for rifles. We’re going to war, gents, get your GRRRR faces on! Wait, a poker metaphor? I…I don’t get it. Tic-tac-toe? Does Zach have a gaming problem? TOO FUCKING MUCH COWBELL! Oh, back to the marching! Stab, stab, stoooooomp!!!!
The pent-up anger is very thick and tasty on this song, but every time he mentions tic-tac-toe, I can’t help feeling like he ran out of lyrics and just ripped a page out of a children’s book. And, now, I think he’s jerking off while moaning about freedom. This…just got awkward. Don’t look, 9-year-old me, don’t look. Or, actually, you know, in a few years, you’ll be doing this so much your dick bleeds, so, uh…just try not to stare.
*****
Well, that’s the album. I gotta say, as much as I loved their later albums, this one just doesn’t quite do it for me. You can hear how they were definitely still looking for their sound, but it’s hardly a bad album. Still, it definitely doesn’t have that 100% dedicated to ripping face off and pouring lemon juice all over bloody skin.
I think The Battle of Los Angeles will continue to be my favorite Rage Against the Machine album, with Renegades a close second. I like Evil Empire, and I’m glad I took the time to give the self-titled album a proper listen, because it definitely puts their whole oeuvre in perspective. Still, when I’m in the mood for good rap/rock, I doubt I’ll put this album on again. It’s hardly a bad album, but it lacks the focused refinement that I find on their later albums.
‘Rage Against The Machine – XX’ will come out on November 26 and contain a remastered version of the debut album, demos and previously unseen live footage as well as a film of their 2010 gig in Finsbury Park and new liner notes written by Public Enemy’s Chuck D.
The anniversary edition will be available as a Deluxe Boxset with two CDs, two DVDs, one 180g vinyl LP, one 40-page booklet and two-sided poster, or as a Special Edition with two CDs and a bonus DVD featuring six tracks. There will also be a single CD version with three bonus tracks and a 180g vinyl edition on a picture disc or as a remastered reproduction of the original LP.
I found this news plus a ridiculous amount of additional detail here:
http://www.nme.com/news/rage-against-the-machine–2/66551
My wallet is fucking dying inside right now.
I can’t imagine buying or caring about anything in that product.
I can only assume someone needed money.
“Some of those that work forces/ Are the same that burn crosses.” = Implying that some of the officers that “work forces” are also the same people who participate in cross burning/lynching etc. Basically saying just because they’re in uniform doesn’t mean they’re good people.
I agree with your write up even thought I’m made nostalgic for this album.
Oh! Yeah, holy fuck, that actually makes lots of sense. Now I feel bad for making fun of that line.
Well, it’s not like de la Rocha will track me down and kill me.
Will he??
at least almost certainly not personally
0.0
I better tell my fiancée to sharpen her knives so she can protect me.
That’s a double-edged sword, so to speak. My marital advice is to keep her away from knives as much as you can.
Bah, blood loss never hurt anyone, right?
Never know, better lock the doors and sharpen your dildos just in case.
I prefer cowering behind my fiancée. She’s much tougher than I.
Seriously, her grip is surprisingly strong. I think she could rip my……..arm off if she wanted. Keeps me in line, I suppose.
Honestly, I never really liked RATM. Some of the songs I heard from them were decent, but I couldn’t get into them. I did spend the time to learn to play “Killing In The Name”, though; I probably didn’t have it quite right, but it sounded alright to me, the rhythm guitarist and the singer. Granted, I was working from the guitar tab to get my part down (and looking at one tab online, I think I was pretty close). Sadly, we never got to play the song live; the drummer had problems following my lead on the song.
Was your drummer really bad or the song that hard to play?
No, he was good. It was just hard for us all to get the song to sound right, plus he wasn’t used to the bass taking the lead, as I was doing. He was more into hardcore and punk, myself and the lead guitarist were more into metal, the rhythm guitarist punk and rock… well, you get the idea.
Having five guys with different backgrounds and tastes, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. This wasn’t the only song we tried and failed to get going. Still, it sucked that I put so much time in to get it right for nothing. I think the same would have happened had we gotten around to trying “Perfect Strangers”, which myself and the rhythm guitarist had been working on.
Being Not A Musician…I kinda get what you’re saying. Either way, too bad you never got to perform the song.
Know Your Enemy was my favorite on this album and I believe the Tool sound is because Maynard is guesting on the track.
Ah! That makes sense.
I don’t know why, but the thought of Maynard working with RATM seems strange to me.
Apparently Maynard and Tom Morello were friends from way back. And mutual friends with the Green Jellÿ folks (on whose debut album Maynard also makes a cameo). If I’m remembering correctly.
I have a hard time imagining them in the same room…but maybe it’s because the feel of their bands’ music strikes me as being very different.
There is never too much cowbell!
That aside, One does agree about the lack of refinement in the style compared to the later albums. One thanks you for this.
I find cowbell more distracting than anything. It’s just so…obnoxious?
Glad you enjoyed the write up. Are you a fan of their older albums then? I mentioned in the article that the Battle of Los Angeles is my favorite. Thoughts?
One has listened to so much (or so little?) of Rage Against the Machine that One doesn’t really have a favorite album. But, One does tend to listen to The Battle of Los Angeles more often than the others.
I think The Battle of Los Angeles is my favorite of their albums…though Renegades is incredibly fun.
Ah, sweet nostalgia. RATM remain the band who best melded rap and metal, mayhap because they integrated some other styles as well. I remember this album fondly, and I believe that it may be my favorite work of theirs due to its raw energy.
I think they are definitely the best rap-rock-metal band..and it’s definitely because of their approach…less a combination and more an entirely new thing. I also think Morello’s approach was what made it work most…
“I don’t have anything funny to say about this song.”
But you didn’t have anything funny to say about the entire album 🙁
I suppose not…
No offense 😛 The fact that I rather disagree with your opinion might have something to do with it.
I’m not offended. 🙂
But which opinion do you disagree with? My assessment of the album? If so, I’d like to know what you thought.
Yeah. RatM is in my all time top 5 albums, I mean I only “appreciate” it nowadays but it’s been with me almost literally for my whole life (I have a picture of three year old me headbanging to Killing in the Name) and I’ve played it god knows how many times. Objectively, it’s what the band is best remembered for, so while I do see the rationale in your stance on it I can’t say that the whole dated/not-with-the-times thing is valid in this case.
Fair enough.
As to whether or not the album is dated, I can’t objectively say. But it didn’t work for me as well as Battle of LA, and I think it’s partly because they’re doing more stuff on this album. Experimenting more, if you will. I felt like the experimenting took away from the total package.
But I imagine my hearing it AFTER all their other albums heavily, heavily influenced my opinion. I can very much appreciate why others would enjoy and continue to enjoy it.
This album was an instant purchase for me as soon as I first saw the video for “Freedom” (back when MTV used to have videos on it). I was 13 when this came out, so this was probably one of the first ‘new release’ albums I ever bought for myself.
I’m not sure how well it has aged, but I still think there isn’t a bad song on the album. I was not nearly as impressed with any of their subsequent albums though.
Based on your and Riptide’s comments, I’m starting to think that whichever RATM album a person heard first is likely to be their favorite. I’m starting to think people might have taken my article the wrong way. I wasn’t trying to say that their first album was bad or out of date so much as it didn’t really fit what I think of when I think of RATM.