The Battle of Los Angeles

Every song on this recording feels like it's headed to a destination. What I'm talking about is purpose. Every track features the rare ability to make one understand within the first 3 seconds that the musicians are speaking from their soul on all accounts.First, Zach dela Rocha's lyrics are bold and complete from start to finish. In former "Rage" releases...sparsely...but there...his lyrics sometimes had the feeling of an undiscovered visionary. They were never "bad" per say...but something about them felt incomplete although his intent and intensity commonly masked these minor blemishes. In this release...dela Rocha has completely erupted into his own. He takes chances. He also lays back like a true musician. He's found that fine line. He has completely arrived as an activist, a lyricist and an artist like all Rage fans knew he was out of the gate.Tom Morello. He is THE "Generation X"'s answer to Jimi Hendrix. He's down to earth in his delivery. He's out there in his statements. His sound is timeless. His sound is revolutionary. If you aren't amazed by this guitar players grasp on sound emphasis...we don't have anything to talk about. Anchoring his genius is his innate ability to rock the "F" out while hanging on F sharp which every guitar player worth their weight in salt knows. :)Brad Wilk is probably the most underrated drummer in rock. Wilk absolutely SLAYS the kit when he turns the band aggressive...and absolutely lays back when it's time for the song to shine. This man knows what GROOVE is all about. He is the backbone and skeleton of this masterful performance. Just like his bandmates...he knows when to lay back...and my GOD...when he steps up...watch out. If you don't groove to this recording...specifically because of the effort from Brad Wilk...in the words of David Letterman: "You ain't hooked up right."Tim Cummerford: Timmy "C" has been Morello's counterpart in genius musicianship since the inception of Rage. Tim is the most complete bassist out there...period. He's never been given the credit he deserves. Between his rhythm choice...his note choices....his sound...but honestly... "F" all that noise....the bass sound is created first by the soul and second by the hands. Tim C IS the soul of Rage. Bet you never noticed in "New Millennium Homes" how he does a "Call and Answer" bass line to himself during the verse. Yeah...most people don't. BTW Tim C likes to play upright bass in his spare time. There's a lot more going on there than just pop rock definitions of this guy. Check into him. Genius.Lastly...the "fifth" members of the band...the producers and Engineers...Kevin Dean – Assistant EngineerNick DiDia – EngineerRuss Fowler – EngineerKevin Lively – Assistant EngineerStephen Marcussen – MasteringBrendan O'Brien – Producer, Mixing.Brenden O'Brien again shows his prowess as a musician and producer. Amazing ideas and direction. The recording itself is a masterpiece. Pay attention to the "folk" listed above. They are as genius as the bands playing. Unsung heros. Find out what they are doing and listen/watch it. :)

But still capable of making good music. Good condition on CD and case.

This type of scorched-earth blare-fest my seem like good-natured fun, but I think it can be damaging to small children and household pets. Elderly people as well may become disoriented and confused. The pervasive ringing and waxy-ooze from my right ear also bespeaks the further dangers to one's auditory health from listening to these rambunctious rockers. If anyone has taken a Geiger Counter reading of this CD, please advise the rest of us so we can avoid having children with birth defects.... The thing that I think comes through about RATM is that the Rage is real. These guys are sizzling mad about something or everything and that kind of passion makes for real rock, rather than the phoney junk that they mostly try to pass off in today's hermetically-sealed, overwhelmingly mediocre music scene. RATM delivers the real goods, like so many rounds out of a .44 magnum. Also extremely cool is that RATM's music is made from guitars, a bass, drums and a vocalist. No synthetic electronic gizmos....just hand-made, organic, rip snortin' rant and roar. And, behold the astonishingly innovative guitar work which renders new sounds that even Eddie Van Halen would have respected in his prime and now probably envies. But, unfortunately, there is a defect: RATM utters at least some stupid sentiments, mostly the vacuous thoughts about Mumia-what's-his-face-convicted-murderer. Mumia is apparently the big icon for today's affectatious champagne radical set, the chic politically correct. Why RATM would send this type of cliche and ignorant message when they could be ranting about destruction to the environment and overpopulation and habitat eradication and child labor and..... I guess some of the awesome bands from the 60's wasted their moment in the sun talking about equally embarassing nonsense, but it sure is a shame that a major talent like RATM doesn't scream and their message for the benefit of the planet in its time of need, rather than pandering to their handlers' notions of hip rebel causes.

My first indoctrination into Rage music was a video from their first album, "Freedom". It tells the story of a Native American Indian, Leonard Peltier, who was found guilty in 1977 of murdering 2 FBI agents. The song's lyrics struck a chord with me personally because I have been a follower of Leonard's case (and cause) for a long time. Without getting into a long discussion of how he was railroaded by our government and denied a fair trial by the bureaucratic system of our courts, the song was not only a calling out of the "Machine", but the music surrounding it was outstanding and nothing short of heroic. I personally became an instant fan and have been a die hard follower of them ever since.Whether you're a fan of only the music, like Paul Ryan, or are a hardcore fan due not only to the greatness of the musicians but the heavy undertones of the lyrics, this band of artists is not to be missed. This album is just another example in a line of greatness for these talented individuals. And bless Tom Morello for putting into awesome perspective the hypocrisy of one sad individual, Republican VP nominee Paul Ryan, for loving the riffs but not paying one ounce of attention to the real message of this bands' music. Ryan has just proven again of how far-off politicians are from the heartbeat of America. Of course, you'd have to go far away from Fox News to have seen anything of Morello's response to Ryan's total ignorance, but one sided reporting by the clueless worshipers of anything elephantine working at that "news" network is nothing new.

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Empowering down-with-the-system rap rock. Great lyrics, vocals, instrumentals, and rhythms. Phenomenal album. Just wish it was a bit more diverse.

Hours of listening, great album