Rage Against The Machine

^^ I agree with ya on Aero/Run DMC, but if Scott Ian wants to blame his own band, I'm OK with that.

RATM were completely original. You cannot compare them to anyone. They were, and ARE, American icons. They say a lot of things you do not want to hear but are truth, none the less. Tom Morello is an insanely talented and unique guitarist. And, lyrically, they were on target. Fan boy here, and not ashamed. F you, I won't do what ya tell me.

I LOVE Rage Against the Machine!!!!!

Speaking of KORN, I ate corn on the cob at a BBQ once and ad kernels in my poop. How appropriate

UNCLE SAXON'S KICKASS CDS wrote:

lyrically, they were on target

It's really hard to take them seriously, when they preached this socialistic type agenda and lived in a mansion. But oh well, having an electric guitar sound like a kazoo while preaching the evils of only 1/2 of the total political echelon is bitchin man, as well as naïve.

Back in the 90's i used to enjoy some of their songs. Haven't spinned any in years...

James B. wrote:

UNCLE SAXON'S KICKASS CDS wrote:

lyrically, they were on target

It's really  hard to take them seriously, when they preached this socialistic type agenda and lived in a mansion.  But oh well, having an electric guitar sound like a kazoo while preaching the evils of only 1/2 of the total political echelon is bitchin man, as well as naïve.

Truth!

https://youtu.be/yHLCMTeE8Cw

James B. wrote:

UNCLE SAXON'S KICKASS CDS wrote:

lyrically, they were on target

It's really  hard to take them seriously, when they preached this socialistic type agenda and lived in a mansion.  But oh well, having an electric guitar sound like a kazoo while preaching the evils of only 1/2 of the total political echelon is bitchin man, as well as naïve.

I guess any band/artist that has a bit of success should be hard to be taken seriously then. Sound like a touch of envy for an artist that never tasted that success.

UNCLE SAXON'S KICKASS CDS wrote:

RATM were completely original.  You cannot compare them to anyone.  They were, and ARE, American icons.  They say a lot of things you do not want to hear but are truth, none the less.  Tom Morello is an insanely talented and unique guitarist.  And, lyrically, they were on target.  Fan boy here, and not ashamed.  F you, I won't do what ya tell me.

The only thing original about Rage Against the Machine was Tom Morello. Beyond that, their first album is complete rip-off of what Downset had been doing for years. The vocal style, repeated refrains/choruses, lyrical themes, vocal quirks ("yay-ya," for instance), etc. All Downset.

It's why this song originally dissed Rage.

EVERYONE is a rip off of someone else. But a band can still put their own spin on things.

UNCLE SAXON'S KICKASS CDS wrote:

I guess any band/artist that has a bit of success should be hard to be taken seriously then.  Sound like a touch of envy for an artist that never tasted that success.

Perhaps, but a if a band sells millions of albums and the lyrical content is about getting your noodle wet, how does that apply? They preached a certain message and lived an opposite lifestyle. I guess it only applies when directed towards a certain political affiliation? From my seat in the peanut gallery, it comes across hypocritical and quite pretentious.

UNCLE SAXON'S KICKASS CDS wrote:

RATM were completely original.  You cannot compare them to anyone.  They were, and ARE, American icons.  They say a lot of things you do not want to hear but are truth, none the less.  Tom Morello is an insanely talented and unique guitarist.  And, lyrically, they were on target.  Fan boy here, and not ashamed.  F you, I won't do what ya tell me.

I kind of agree with all of that but I still don't really dig them. I'd rather get my preachy moralising from Public Enemy

UNCLE SAXON'S KICKASS CDS wrote:

EVERYONE is a rip off of someone else.  But a band can still put their own spin on things.

Downset were doing something pretty unique, though. They started as a punk band called Social Justice, then slowly morphed into a kind of crossover/rapcore hybrid before going full-on rapcore and changing their name to Downset. I don't know of any band that sounded like them once they did that, to be honest. Truly unique at the time, I think.

I will admit that both Downset and Rage kind of diverged stylistically on their second albums. Both changed things up a bit and the similarities became much less prevalent.

Gonna have to check out Downset. I am ignorant of that band, but sometimes you are correct, Ken.

UNCLE SAXON'S KICKASS CDS wrote:

Gonna have to check out Downset.  I am ignorant of that band, but sometimes you are correct, Ken.

Check out the self-titled and Do We Speak a Dead Language? After that their albums were very hit or miss. The first two, for me, are classics of the genre.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I've never been a fan much of the whole rap-rock genre or of Zack's political rants, but I do like a handful of songs by them. If I had their entire catalog laid out in front of me, I could probably cherry-pick a decent comp of Rage tunes.

Tom Morrello's multiple appearances on the old "That Metal Show" really helped change my opinion of him and by association, the band.

So a few weeks ago, I picked up Rage's first 2 albums at a thrift shop for shits-and-giggles. Rap-rock and hardcore political bands have never really been my thing, but I'll admit I'm kinda digging them. The music is pretty bitchin' and the lyrics don't bother me. Digging them enough to get their other 2 studio albums on their way to me via ebay to round out their studio collection. Whoda thunk it? Some old dogs can learn new tricks.