Rage Against the Machine - The Battle of Los Angeles

Having successfully fused music and politics from their start, inspiring both moshing and young minds in the process, Rage Against the Machine emerges in peak form with merely their third album in seven years. Guitarist Tom Morello is one of the most distinctive and innovative players of his era, and his foil, vocalist/lyricist Zack De La Rocha, is as unrelenting and inspiring as ever on The Battle of Los Angeles. Rage, whose past antics include performing naked with duct tape over their mouths to protest censorship, released Battle on Election Day, but the politics of the group can be separated from the sounds. Indeed, the 45 minutes of mayhem heard here can be enjoyed solely as rousing aggro hip-hop rock. There's more variety found on Battle than on its predecessors, however. "Sleep Now in the Fire" is one of their most straight-ahead rock tunes. The trippy guitar on "Calm Like a Bomb" is out there even for the adventurous Morello. And "Born a Broken Man" serves up lovely musical interludes. Overall, the more finely honed Rage heard on Battle may not inspire a generation of young revolutionaries, but they still stir up more mutinous spirit than the rest of the current rock pack. --Katherine Turman Amazon.com

Hit after hard hit!!

Rage it is one of the greates bands of the 90s and on this album they prove it! It starts with Testify which is a really good song, and just keeps getting better and better, you just wanna keep listening to it over and over again, I totally recommend it!! for an excellent price it is a must have!! August 5, 2008

the album that sets the standard

This album is both defiant and poetic. Classic Rage Against the Machine. Rage's innovative combinations of hip hop, funk, and hard rock have influenced bands such as Kongcrete who followed a decade later. Rage and their successors Kongcrete showed that - when it comes to social justice, anger, and other human emotions and ideals - there is no distinction between black and white. We're all on the same boat. Battle of L.A. to this day remains at the top of my playlist. July 16, 2008

Great Album - shame about some of the reviews...

Why is it that all the negative, one-star ratings of this album rant about its anti-capitalist messages and fail to discuss - um - the music?

Solid, rocking angry music. Yes, it is political - and not everyone's gonna agree with the politics - but then imagine political rock that was in favour of the system... it would be boring.

Listen to this album and decide for yourself... March 14, 2008

Most ROCKING album for Rage

This was my first (sorry, late adopter) album for Rage, and still my favorite -- every track explodes!

If you only buy one Rage album, get this. January 9, 2008

Simply Amazing

Rage Against the Machine's The Battle of Los Angeles is my favorite Rage CD. It's perfect, from the opening chord of Testify to the last sound War Within A Breath. I can't recommend this CD highly enough. The political lyrics are in top notch form and everyone is in a groove with the musci making. Superb.

My favorites: Testify, Guerilla Radio, Calm Like A Bomb, Mic Check, Sleep Now In the Fire, Born of a Broken Man, Maria, Voice of the Voiceless, New Millenium Homes, War Within a Breath. That's only TWO songs not mentioned. This is definitely one of my favorites and one of the best of all time.

Must Have.

Also check out
Rage Against the Machine
Evil Empire
Renegades September 9, 2007

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