Rage Against The Machine
The Battle of Los Angeles (1999)

review by: Stephan Finch
Date: 7/7/00

Remember when you first realized that even though you didn't have much in common with the Chuck D., you really liked Public Enemy? Okay, you weren't from the ghetto, and you couldn't find Compton on a map if you tried. But hell, when Chuck D. and his buddy Flavor Flav hollared "Don't Belive the Hype!" you were hollaring right along with them! They were pissed off. You were pissed off. And it felt good. Damned good.

Rage against the Machine is like that. I don't know the first thing about these guys. All I know is that when the singer-dude says, "Lights out – turn on the radio! Turn that shit up!" I'm reaching for the volume knob and I'm ready to lash out.

Hey, I'll be honest. I haven't got a reason in the world to be angry. I've got a job that pays pretty well, a decent apartment with a reasonable rent and peanut butter still sticks to the roof of my mouth. But I need Rage Against the Machine. Deep down, music like this lets something loose, and I'm not talking about my bowels. Though now that I think about it...

Never mind that. There's one more thing. It kinda feels good listening to this just knowing that it's, like, the latest thing. Remember when Nirvana and Public Enemy were once the latest thing? Didn't it feel good to be "in" with them a little early?

Get this CD. And turn that shit up!