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Rage Against The Machine’s explosive debut album changed everything

loudersound.com

101–110 of 187 posts

Re: Rage Against The Machine’s explosive debut album changed everything

#101
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They had a tremendous effect on many young peoples politics at the time. At least on my politics. That is much more than most political bands by a wide margin. Anyway, I don’t really think music can have a big effect on politics per se, but music can be important for political movements.

I do think music's effects are underappreciated. You can hear about plenty of artists uniting or representing a movement in the USA esp 60s. The story of Rodriguez is one of my favorites. He literally had no idea he had been the root of music for social change in Apartheid South Africa. https://www.npr.org/2012/07/28/157478577/rodriguez-forgotten... "The first white anti-Apartheid movement derived [inspiration] from…

> artists uniting or representing a movement in the USA esp 60s.

They sold music to the huge boomer population when they were young, by the 1980s those same Boomers voted for Reagan in considerable numbers and were buying Debbie Gibson and Rod Stewart albums. RATM sold music to pissed off GenXers when they were young, by 2020 they were voting for Biden. It’s not revolution, it’s youthful angst that gives way to responsibility and lower testosterone levels.

Re: Rage Against The Machine’s explosive debut album changed everything

#102
post #11

I've been a huge fan of RATM since the early 90s, but I don't think that "A brand new band mixing metal and hip hop like no one had done before" is quite true. My understanding is that the music scene in LA had a lot of bands like this. I believe the band Downset pre-dates them, and they had a big hit called "Anger". I only wish they had a bigger impact in politics. For all of their incredible songs, almost nothing c…

Downset was heavily influenced by Zach’s old band Inside Out. I was in an old hardcore band from that era and know Ray and played with shows with Inside Out. Updated for autocorrected error.

And in turn, much of the diversity in metal and alt-rock of the late 80s and thereafter throughout the 90s owes quite a bit to Mr Bungle.

Re: Rage Against The Machine’s explosive debut album changed everything

#103
post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I’m American and I’m thinking about this third world country (please, this is how they refer to themselves - not as a developing nation, so just hard stop right there) ps no lo basurees asi gringo, da? > I try and try as someone who grew up as the only white kid in my area in Chicago, dirt poor, to understand how, in my opinion, we as the United States, and therefore the world, are going backwards. puro cringe

Well, I employ people from here and pay them double what they’d make and give them opportunities where there are none. Like one of my ML guys - thanks me everyday - he knows it - he was working security at a hospital before I hire him. So not sure where you’re from or your story, but to say my story is cringe…I assume you had a pretty easy life then and didn’t go through the struggle myself or others I’m describing w…

Wait, wait. Small coast town in Uruguay, you employ people there, and you've got at least one ML guy. Do you have a Rodrigo working with you? If yes, tell him I said hi!

Re: Rage Against The Machine’s explosive debut album changed everything

#104
post #34

Caught them live a couple months ago at Madison Square Garden. I couldn't believe how good they sounded or how energetic they were. Zach had to sit down throughout the whole performance due to an injury, but it didn't bring down the intensity at all. And you'd have absolutely no idea Tom Morello was 58 years old. I found myself wondering how much better their shows could have been 30 years ago -- it didn't seem like…

Saw them as well in Canada this summer, same thing Zach was sitting but it quite literally the best show I've ever been to.

Re: Rage Against The Machine’s explosive debut album changed everything

#105
If you like RATM then it's worth watching this early video of theirs from 1992. So many hits on their debut album and about 10 people in the crowd in the middle of a record store. This video is a definite gem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ8YAv2rcQU

Re: Rage Against The Machine’s explosive debut album changed everything

#106
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Downset was heavily influenced by Zach’s old band Inside Out. I was in an old hardcore band from that era and know Ray and played with shows with Inside Out. Updated for autocorrected error.

I'm getting old but I am still straight-edge right now because of bands like Inside Out and Minor Threat. Also I wish Tom would still write his op-ed on NYTimes, I really enjoyed his history and writing.

He's really articulate. I listen to his show "Comandante" on XM just for the history stuff he brings up. Tonight he was talking about being in a legit spandex, hair metal band WHILE he was still attending classes at Harvard. It was such a funny, yet totally Tom Morello thing to do, right?

If you get a chance, have a listen, he has a lot of fascinating things to talk about - would love to see him get a regular spot in the Times just as a culture writer. Would be really interesting to see what he's write about.

Re: Rage Against The Machine’s explosive debut album changed everything

#107
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> The Beastie Boys were never out to change things Musically there is pre-Paul's Boutique and post-Paul's Boutique. They changed things. If you haven't listened to it for some reason, listen to it.

Gettin' old like Ali Boomba Yay So fed up with racism today It's time to speak up and not turn away Make the sun shine when it's cloudy and gray Dip dip dive, so-so-socialize Open up your ears and clean out your eyes If you learn to love, you're in for a surprise It could be nice to be alive

I want to say a little something that's long overdue The disrespect to women has got to be through To all the mothers and the sisters and the wives and friends I want to offer my love and respect to the end

Re: Rage Against The Machine’s explosive debut album changed everything

#108
post #62

Great band but these articles always need to talk up the originality or uniqueness of a given band when they just don't need to. Rage against the machine came at the right time, had/have great energy, technical skill, an important message etc. all of which make for a great piece. But mixing metal and hip hop in some new way? There were a dozen big name acts at the time doing exactly that.

In 1991? Who?

FNM

Re: Rage Against The Machine’s explosive debut album changed everything

#109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm getting old but I am still straight-edge right now because of bands like Inside Out and Minor Threat. Also I wish Tom would still write his op-ed on NYTimes, I really enjoyed his history and writing.

He's really articulate. I listen to his show "Comandante" on XM just for the history stuff he brings up. Tonight he was talking about being in a legit spandex, hair metal band WHILE he was still attending classes at Harvard. It was such a funny, yet totally Tom Morello thing to do, right? If you get a chance, have a listen, he has a lot of fascinating things to talk about - would love to see him get a regular spot in…

Thanks for the recommendation, I will take a listen. I think he wrote about that in his op-ed about being in a band in Harvard. https://www.nytimes.com/column/tom-morello

Re: Rage Against The Machine’s explosive debut album changed everything

#110

I know this is a joke, but this is really what it was like hearing RATM for the first time: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TTXPvD5iYxs

At 0:45 it perfectly represents how that song takes my emotions up to the point I can hardly hold them. I barely ever get overstimulated like that.
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