With bombs falling in Iraq, tensions rising with Iran and Russia and the stock market at its shakiest in years, what would be a better album to bring back than Rage Against the Machine's controversial, self-titled debut album? Powered by Zack de la Rocha's poetically political lyrics and Tom Morello's infectiously funky guitar rhythms, this album promises to get your toe tapping and your mind juiced. The record hits the ground running and doesn't relent until its dizzying frenzy of social satire and thundering grooves climax in the final song "Freedom."
Though a great listen on a purely musical basis, don't overlook the album's occasionally cloudy lyrics. De la Rocha's sentiments, such as "You know they went after King when he spoke out on Vietnam / He turned the power to the have-nots / And then came the shot," and "When ignorance reigns / Life is lost," are considered by many to still be relevant in the current political atmosphere. Perfectly blended into a harmonious bazooka blast of social commentary, Rage Against the Machine is guaranteed to stir your opinion, if nothing else.
