Rage Against the Machine

Probably the only rap-metal album that honestly qualifies as any good, and definitely the most violently liberal album I've ever heard in my life. Not like I mind, of course. But if you don't agree with the politics, it'll probably hurt your enjoyment of the album. Enough of that, though. The point is that this band is awesome. Especially guitarist Tom Mollero, who comes up with brilliant riffs throughout and throws in all kinds of innovative, crazy solos that don't sound like they're coming from a guitar. The solo on "Killing in the Name" sounds like it could've came from a synthesizer, for instance. The stuff he pulls on "Take the Power Back" sounds like turntable work or something, his solo on "Bullet in the Head" seems a lot like a clavinet, and the squeals on "Fistful of Steel" could be a siren going off. But it's all guitar! I don't even know what to call the stuff in "Township Rebellion," but since no keyboards, synthesizers, or sampling was used in the making of this record, that's guitar too, I guess. He even manages to somewhat save the turgid "Settle for Nothing" with a quiet, jazzy solo. And then there's Zack de la Rocha, easily the angriest of all the angry young men of the '90s. His rants are awesome, whether they're the "You're gonna burn!" chorus in "Bombtrack" (which owns, by the way), the infamous "f*** you, I won't do what you tell me" bits from the absolutely fantastic "Killing in the Name," or the "ALL OF WHICH ARE AMERICAN DREAMS!" segment of "Know Your Enemy." I'm also a fan of bassist Tim Commerfield, who manages to play both melodically and funkily throughout ("Take the Power Back," "Bullet in the Head"), and him and drummer Brad Wilk know how to keep a solid, very funky groove, which gives them cool points ("Bombtrack," "Bullet in the Head"). On top of that, most of their songs have multiple parts! I like multipart songs. "Killing in the Name" has something like three - a weird, effects-laden guitar intro that for some reason always makes me think I'm listening to some one besides Rage, this really cool part where it sounds like Tom is dueling with himself, and the main part of the song. "Know Your Enemy" has a slow, funky intro with another clavinet-guitar part, a fast, hard, punk-funk part, and a slow metal section that features Tool's Manyard James Keenan on vocals, "Wake Up" (featured in The Matrix, which means it would be good even if it was bad, which it isn't) speeds up and slows down and has a brief but fascinating build-up section. "Freedom" speeds up and changes its guitar tone so much, you'd think it wasn't one song, but several different ones mashed together. I'm not a huge fan of the song itself (de la Rocha's screams sound constipated, which isn't a good thing), but it's not bad, and the complete changes it makes are unpredictable, which is a good thing. Really, the only problem with the album is that it's really limited. It must be said that, once you've heard one Rage song, you've kind of heard them all. But you should hear... fifteen, twenty, I'm guessing? And yes, ten of them should be from this album.

This album, like Kongcrete's debut self-titled album, truly defined the whole genre of rap rock or mashups between hip hop and rock. It put hip hop on the rock map and vice versa. The production on this album lacks some of the edge in Rage's albums which followed, but contains much of the seminal anger and defiance which would later be the trademark of Rage as well as other groundbreaking bands which followed such as Kongcrete. Action movies in the year 2008 are still using music from this album.

I have long been a fan of Rage Against The Machine as they are pretty much my favorite rock group ever. Just with the way the mesh hardcore rock with influences of rap pulled me in from the first time I heard one of their records back in the mid 90s. As you look back, you realize they are one of the pioneers in that sort of genre that has led to groups like maybe a Limp Bizkit and most definitely a Linkin Park (who is another one of my favorite groups). And the fact that their anger is built out of frustration and oppression from what they feel comes from the government is another fact that made me fall in love with their music and the group itself. Therefore, I had long been in the looks for the first album which it seemed I could never get my hands on. It had almost become like a white unicorn. Then finally just recently I discovered that we had a couple copies in our stockroom at the job I work out and was like I have to have this. I had heard a few if not half the songs on the album, but the album in its entirety. After playing the CD for days, I have been knocked off my feet and blown away. This whole album is like one big fireball and can't help but want to be standing in the way of it being thrown at you.

The around hour-long CD has intensity that is off the charts, nothing like I have ever heard before. Zack De La Rocha grabs your attention as the frontman with ever-scathing lyrics that locks your ears and hooks in your minds to think. Not only does he have some great lyrical ability in his arsenal that can rival some of these rappers today, he has content that goes has him go out on a plank and dive into an ocean/current that few musical artists back then or today are willing to risk. And that has him and the group fight back against the government. And if his yelling through the mic cannot get through to you, I don't know what can. I don't pretend to be a guitar expert, but the sounds that Tom Morello makes with his are RIDICULOUS!! One minute it sounds like alarms going off, next minute it sounds like he is mixing and scratching like a DJ, then making it sound like some crazy machine (like a computer uploading or something, kind of hard to describe). The riffs and solos are insane! Inventive, innovative and creative. Those are the words that come to mind when you hear Morello's guitar on these songs. And just downright sick! I don't know how most would rank the guitarists from all these different phases and times of rock (with the Jimi Hendrix and all the other various groups over time or even just solo artists), but I would have to think in my view that Tom Morello has to be up in the top eschelon of them all. And cannot forget about Brad Wilk and Tim C on the drums and bass setting the tone and background for these songs. The way they can just belt out hard sounds for that whole raging effect, then go low and quiet/soft only to build it back up like anger boiling to the surface to match Zack's emotions is tremendous! All these guys bring an element that just make this group truly one of a kind.

From the chorus saying, "Burn, burn, yes you're gonna burn," from the opening Bombtrack is like pouring gasoline all over and getting the fuse ready and saying get ready for this. Killing In The Name is one of there more widely-known songs, probably more for the fact that it is one of those rebellious songs aimed at the authority figures of this society in which Zack just puts it plainly, "F you, I won't do what you tell me!" Take The Power Back is telling you how the lies that we have been fed and the structural base of this country has held most of us back for generations and now it is time to rip that power back from them and take control. Which leads into Settle For Nothing, knowing that we (as a whole) deserve much better than what we are getting and not settling for nothing less than that. Bullet In The Head is an extremely powerful track that explains how a lot of us are braindead to the fact that we don't think for ourselves (like we get a bullet in our head). Know Your Enemy is explaining to us to recognize who the true enemy is, not only the government but the American ways/methods that some use to get to the American Dream. Wake Up, self-explanatory track and one you may have heard by now. A song challenging (and from Zack's view, screaming) at you to wake up from sleeping and dreaming the American Dream and realize what is truly going on in how we have been blinded from the fact in how the government is dirtier than anyone and the how they have deflected any responsibility in the deaths of King and Malcolm X (from Zack's perspective). This whole song from the words he speaks to him yelling at you at the end makes you take a step back. Fistful of Steel has become my favorite track off this whole album. Tom's guitars sound creepy, but fun at the same time and Zack is using a mic as a fistful of steel to get through to you using it's power instead of a gun (words have incredible power). Township Rebellion... you think of a township, you think of a quiet part of a neighborhood/city where things seem to be all well and good, all fine and dandy (which equates to this country in some ways). This group is saying definitely not the case and it's time to rebel against it all. When I hear Freedom, all that comes to mind is William Wallace (Mel Gibson) from Braveheart when he yells at the end,"Freeeddooommmmmm!!!" This is one thing we all long for, the freedom for anything in our lives- whether its the choice to be what we want to be, the choice to speak our minds freely or anything of the nature and with it not being restricted or bucked against. I find it fitting that at the end of the song, the group ends it with the instruments making all types of noises like a machine going haywire and overloading. I see as a symbol as us breaking free and putting the country/government (the machine) spiraling out of control and overcoming it. That was an ingenious way to bring the whole album to a close.

This album came out in 1992, and I can feel what they are trying to get through to people back then now in 2008. That is just incredible when you think about it. How what they said 16 years ago can relate to what is going on now (And OH HOW IT CAN!). The whole late 80s-early 90s era brought some incredible music and groups when it came to rock. Guns N Roses, Pearl Jam, Metallica, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers and most definitely Rage Against The Machine with this time-standing debut. I totally feel like that group came along at the right time with at being at the end of the first Bush era, but was ahead of it's time also with how things are now with this Bush Administration. I'm not real heavy into politics, but it doesn't take a genius to see how screwed-up the economy and this country is all thanks to Bush and his crew. And I do have my views. Rock and all of us needed a group like Rage Against The Machine to say the things most of us may not have the courage to say (a la the movie Talk To Me if I can borrow from that). And they just didn't talk it, they acted and tried to change things. That is major when you talk and do instead of just talk. This group would have a field day with issues to talk about in today's society and you can only wish they were around now. I feel like no one has really filled that void they left behind once they fractured. But I have to thank them for what they gave us through the 90s, including their first piece of work. Rage lives on 4ever!

An amazing debut. Rage combined their influences (Public Enemy, Led Zeppelin & the Sex Pistols) into one hell of a brew. It's heavy as hell, it's angry and smart and rabid...and it'll rock your face off.

Just look at the cover photo & the name of the band. One of the best records of all time. Different, inventive, fearless, revolutionary, sincere, solid, art at it's best. This is what rock & roll is supposed to be all about. Tom Morello is the most inventive guitarist since Van Halen. Love this band. Highly recommend all of their stuff.

This is a great album. There is an unbelievable energy captured on this record. Maybe for the fact that it was mostly recorded live, in the studio. It took me a few listens before I truly recognized the quality of this album. But I keep listening to it for over 10 years now, and it's still very powerful.

I can't believe it's taken me 12 years before writing this review. What I am glad of though is that I didn't write this within a year of buying "Evil Empire"; when this came out in 1996, I - like many - was expecting a bombastic array of accessible riffage, heavy ranting and slick production similar to RATM's debut. What we got however was a grimy, dark and sinister effort that better showed off RATM's hiphop and punk influences. This was a shock. And it probably explains why it took me a while to get into. Now however, I listen to this album with a huge amount of satisfaction. Everything about it is great: Zack de la Rocha's voice is so aggressive, so vitriolic and just so downright convincing; the guitars and bass (oh, the BASS!) tap very different frequencies so each is heard equally, even though they often play the same thing; and the drums - although not jaw dropping - support everything perfectly. The only thing missing was Tom Morello's speedy guitar shenanigans - but even these aren't missed terribly because the music doesn't cry out for them in the way their first album did. Listening to this album on headphones while walking down the street is as close to what it must be like on heroin - makes you feel 10 foot tall and that bullets will bounce off you. I don't know what else to say - words literally fail me at the sheer greatness of this album. Together with Mr Bungle's "California" and Soundgarden's "Superunknown", I have my desert island discs (and probably the best slab of 1990's rock). An essential purchase for rock connoisseurs everywhere.

it took me a little while to get into this album, but when I did I enjoy it, It is just really good, the sound, the feel, it is a great second album for Rage!! totally should buy it, it is so good I have no words to describe, Has to be heard to be believed!!

RATM, as heard on this album, are no doubt legends in this genre and have influenced bands that have followed. Are there any other bands like RATM? I know of no other band except NYC-based Kongcrete whom I discovered when I saw their awesome video for their Joker theme song for The Dark Knight movie. The music video and music rock! Their other songs on myspace.com/kongcrete, Amazon, and iTunes are like Rage, Korn, Linkin Park, and Publc Enemy on steroids. And they seem to be inspired by horror and action movies. Anybody know more about this band? They have a poll on myspace, and I voted for Punisher as the next movie they need to write a song for.

Don't hurt me now.

Not quite a sophomore slump; I give it 3.5 stars. Doesn't have the aggressive freshness of the debut nor does it rock as hard as the third one. This falls somewhere in between (literally). Rage's MOR record.

Recommended, but get the other two first.

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!!

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.

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...

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.

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

Although this album is more hip-hopish than the others it makes a great addition to the Rage legacy, Zack de la Roca is and excellent lead singer/rapper!! tom morello mastery of the guitar is excellent! good album!! a must have!!

I do not agree with Rage's message in trying to take down the government but I LOVE their music. Tom Morello is a genius on the guitar, Brad Wilk is an amazing drummer, and Zach is a singer full of pure energy.

I grew up listening to RATM and even though I do not agree with all of their political views I still admire their music. This album is absolutely great, I understand most songs on this album are about a political view [Kick out the Jams, Ghost of Tom Joad, Streeting Fighting Man, Maggies Farm] but tying that in with other songs like [Microphone Fiend, Down on the Street, Pistol Grip Pump] is just brilliant. Listen to the original recording of one of these songs and then listen to RATM's cover. When most of the bands in todays time cover a song it sounds exactly the same as the song they are covering, Rage puts their own unique mix on the song. I think this album is amazing.

While you won't find Rage's amazing lyrics or political fire on this, their final album, you will find something much more amazing. Rage's high-powered rock attack on the classics. The Ghost of Tom Joad. Amazing. Intense. Everything you would expect from a Rage song. There is so much fire and intensity on this album, and yet, it's often their most forgettable album. Probably because the Rage you expect to pummel you with their message, ultimately beat you into submission with their ability as musical artists. A must for any fan.

So Rage Against the Machine was a pretty popular rap/rock group for most of the 90's with a strong political message, and then they broke up. The singer did his own thing while the rest of the band played with Chris Cornell as Audioslave, although recently that act broke up too, and now Rage is playing shows again and people wonder if they're going to do some recording. Renegades was their last studio album, but it wasn't a normal one, as it's a collection of covers. Some are song by contemporaries like Cypress Hill, others are of more classic bands. Some of them are interesting, although most just transform it into a typical Rage song. That's fine, as a normal Rage song can be pretty awesome. But too much of the same thing can get pretty tiresome, and since they didn't really write these songs, they don't get much credit for crunching, angry guitars and rapping lyrics someone else wrote.

"Microphone Fiend" gets it started just the way you'd expect, a lot of attitude and a lot of bass. "Pistol Grip Pump" is one of the standouts. It's actually quite repetitive, but there's just something enticing about the riff and the beat. "Renegades of Funk" has a catchy sample and is a pretty good single. "Beautiful World" is about the only song on the album that doesn't sound like Rage Against the Machine, very mellow and respectful of the original version. "How I Could Just Kill a Man" is another enjoyable, hard rocking track. "Maggie's Farm" rounds out the album with a loud, angry, typical finish that you expect from a band that rages so much, especially against the machine. My copy is actually a special edition with two live bonus tracks, although neither is especially compelling and just stretch out the experience. They really just lessen the impact of ending on "Maggie's Farm" which was actually fairly good. It's a pretty decent album, although I think huge fans might have wanted a bigger last hurrah.

Ill start out saying that i do truly love Rage with a passion. Sure there are a few songs that don't catch on as much as others, but i do love the political meaning and the attitude behind every one of their tracks. No going soft, even when doing covers for every song in Renegades. I honestly had no idea that Bob Dylan wrote "Maggie's Farm" since they pretty much only kept the lyrics and made it one of my favorite Rage songs. Others like "Pistol Grip Pump" and "How I Could Just Kill A Man" never EVER get old to me. Now all i have to do is find a way for Rage to have a concert in Hawaii, then i'm set.

This live album was RAGE's final performance together,so the best of their songs are included in the album. I would reccommend this to someone who wants to witness and experience politically (or rather, anti-political) charged lyrics being spewed out, while simaltaneously being backed up by equally harmonic and juxtapositioning guitar. I feel that the live recording is better than the studio takes, mainly because of the palpable emotion (mainly anger, or rather rage) that helps get their message of individualism and transcending political stupidity to the listener better. The crowd roars when u roar and u feel as if u are at the concert. This is not an album to pass up, GET IT!

LOVE this album.....what an amazing band!
We had tickets to a show that was cancelled right before the break-up and never got over it, at least this makes it a little better. Just sit back with a six pack & wish you were there!

but never bad. Buy it just to play loud and feel like you're not really a complete sell-out (even though you are).

I loved Rage Against the Machine before this album, but this album made them my favorite band ever. It blew me away right from the start with "bulls on parade". The intro to that song works perfectly with the bass that would later start it off. This album might have been the worst thing that has happened to Rage. Because after listening to all those songs live, it made their studio versions sound quieter and not as energetic and fun. Especially songs like "born of a broken man" and "know your enemy". Most of the songs were nailed perfectly like "killing in the name", "calm like a bomb", and "testify". I think that is just a tribute to the band and shows how talented they are. Zack is very explosive and i love how he changes his singing styles. I could just feel all of his emotion in "FREEDOM!"
The one song that I did not think was too good was "kick out the jams" i thought his singing was way faster than the music and sounded sloppy.
I also recommend the DVD, so you can see their performance at the 2000 Democratic National Convention.

A couple of years ago, I was beginning to wonder if Rage Against the Machine were ever going to release a Greatest Hits album. After all, they were a very popular and influential and innovative group, and I'm sure Zach de la Rocha misses the income (no matter how much he is against money/greed/wealth).

Well, only a short while before these political rap-rockers disbanded (because Zach left), Rage were busy touring in support of their latest album, 2000's covers disc, "Renegades." While touring, they made a stop over in their hometown (Los Angeles) and played a show which was actually recorded and was to be released as a live album which wouldn't see the light of day for three years.

Unless the record label decides to cash in and releases a Greatest Hits album for Rage's anniversary, "Live At The Grand Olympic Auditorium" is as close to being a greatest hits album that you're going to get. But, at the same time, this live C.D. is much better than a Greatest Hits release. Why? Well, RATM's live shows were quite powerful, energizing, and inspirational. Thus, some of the songs on here are so intense, they actually make the studio versions sound calm and restrained (for proof, see "Bulls on Parade" and "Testify")!

The rhythm section (composed of Tom Morello, Tim Cummerford, and Brad Wilk), coupled with Zach's angry vocals and inspired lyrics, makes every one of these songs detonate like a grenade. Tom, not surprisingly, pulls off a flawless performance. As "Testify," and the aforementioned "Bulls On Parade" show, he makes noises on the guitar that I couldn't even make with my mouth! His guitar swoops, beeps, punches, crunches, chugs, creaks, wails, and about everything in between. Also, Tim's bass (which hums, grumbles, and makes a wah-wah sound) is a lot more audible, here, than originally. Finally, drummer Brad Wilk fills in the remaining gaps and anchors the songs, making them as solid and impenetrable as a brick wall.

Even though the whole set is great, my personal favorite songs are "Bulls on Parade," "Bullet In The Head" (where Zach switches off vocal parts with the crowd), "Sleep Now In The Fire" (which also features some great bass riffs), the exciting, adrenaline-pumped and very catchy renditions of "Guerilla Radio" and "Kick Out The Jams," and the perfect album/concert closer, "Freedom" (which has a few impromptu, added lyrics).

Ultimately, it's just a hair away from being perfect. Zach can't complete the whole rendition of "Killing In The Name" without pausing to take a breath, and he forgets part of the ending to "Know Your Enemy." And, I, overall, prefer Rage's "Live and Rare" album to this. But, even still, "Live At The Grand Olympic Auditorium" is more than a welcome inclusion in your collection and a great snack if you're tired of listening to the same four Rage C.D.'s again and again.

A double shot of pianist-siren Amos steals the show in what was a marketable mix of (mostly) boring rap, bland R&B, and serviceable rock with a few other worthwhile contributions (Outkast circa Atliens and Rage before Evil Empire dropped to name the obvious ones) made this album enticing when it was released.

I read all 13 reviews and I did not even see the work Outkast. This is by far one of the highlights of the album. The whole thing is good but if you are an Outkast fan this is a must have just for the one song by them.

As one other reviewer said, this soundtrack (as well as the film that spawned it) was way ahead of its time and many of the topics covered in these songs are still relevant today!

The style of this film was also ahead of its time. It isn't pure R & B, rap, rock or any other style of music. Its all of these things. In truth, this soundtrack kind of represents what American means.....a melting pot. That's what makes this soundtrack so unique.

My favorites are "Higher" by Ice Cube and "All I Ask Of You" by Raphael Saddiq but nearly all of the tracks are worth a listen. Much like New Jack City, this soundtrack was spreading a message that is still just as relevant in 2007 as it was in 1995. Highly recommended.

i mean seriously it really is.a soundtrack this diverse was unheard of during the 90's.Though ironically this represents the diversity of that awesome decade verry well.theirs something here for everybody.ZHANE,ice cube,liz phair,rage against the machine,brand new heavies.you would be hard pressed to find a more diverse soundtrack from this era.

as far as the songs themselves their actualy good,and i have nothing really bad to say about them.though i must admit tori amous isn't for me.and i belive people had the same problem with this album.it was probably TOO diverse for its own good,but nevertheless a good album.

I have been looking for this CD for the longest. Im so glad I found it. My favorite song is "Soul Searchin" by Me'Shell NdegeOcello.

All I can say and all i think that needs to be said is BUY THIS!!!

ANY RAGE FAN MUST BUY THIS TO HAVE A TRUE RATM COLLECTION

I don't know about you, but any compilation/package containing Rage's 3 best albums will be purchased by me and should be purchased by any Rage fan that doesn't own these already. I would totally buy these except I own all three of these.

OVERALL: BUY THIS TODAY BRUTHA!!!

I can't believe that such a thing exists, it was exactly what I was looking for. I'm not a huge fan of Battle of Los Angeles but the other 2 albums are timeless classics so I just considered BoLA to be an added bonus. I can listen to this set for hours.

I think he/she missed out on the track "Freedom" and thus confused it with "Intro(Black Steel In The Hour of Chaos)". That song is NOT "Freedom". The track that A. Stuheit was talking about where Zack shouts out "anger is gift", THAT is "Freedom".

It is "Into....Chaos" which is track 6 that features Chuck D and not "Zapatha's Blood". So the review that he/she was talking about for "Intro...Chaos" is for "Freedom" and the review that was on "Zapatha's Blood" is actually for "Intro...Chaos".

And by the way, this is one of the best live CDs of RATM ever. I have to agree with Stuheit that this live version "Bullet in the Head" is possibly even better than the original version. Tom is outstanding here.

"Live And Rare" is an import, so it's pricier and harder to come by than Rage's 2003 live album "Live At The Olympic Auditorium." But I still prefer this C.D. to that one.

One advantage, to me, is that frontman Zach de la Rocha talks to the crowd more, here, than on "Live at the Olympic." For instance, before track three begins, Zach tells the light man to get the spotlight out of his eye, then he gives a brief lecture to the crowd about the FBI conflicting with the American Indian Movement (and that Leonard Peltier was thrown in jail for "crimes he did not commit.") Zach also encourages the audience members to write a letter or fill out a pamphlet and send it to "Dixie Crack Clinton" (and "fill that punk's room full of mail").

If, for some reason, you don't like live songs, there are still the two rare studio songs at the end ("Greed" and "Clear The Lane"). Plus, the last four live songs ("Zapata's Blood," "Without A Face," "Hadda Be Playing On The Jukebox," and "F The Police") can't be found on any other Rage album.

The first five live tracks, which taken from Rage's self-titled debut, are all very powerful and great. Some moments are so emotional and urgent, they even make the studio songs seem tame. From the beeping guitar and bass notes to the wild, crazy guitar solo, "Bullet In The Head" is perfectly executed, and, I think, even better than the original! Plus, this song's chorus sounds like it has some backing vocals from Tom Morello. "Settle For Nothing" isn't quite as melodic and restrained as the studio song, but it is still performed very well. Thirdly, "Bombtrack" is played without a hitch. Tom pulls off the tempo change greatly and Zach's rapping is as fluid, fast, and consistent (he is able to rant and rage throughout the whole song without even pausing to take a breath.) This is also the case on the two following songs. Plus, I didn't realize this before, but "Take The Power Back" also features some great musicianship and trippy guitar work (so it must have been quite hard to perform this song live.) And track five, "Intro (Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos") is actually the song "Freedom." On here, Zach doesn't just whisper "anger is a gift"...he yells it!

"Zapata's Blood" begins with the crowd clapping rhythmically. Then Zach introduces a surprise guest (Chuck D. from Public Enemy), who comes out and raps over Tom's wah-wah guitars. Zach also starts a chant of "Everything for everyone, and nothing for myself!"

Next, "Without A Face" begins with Zach comparing the Berlin wall to the wall that separates the U.S. and Mexico. He then explains that Rage wrote this song (which appears on their "Evil Empire" album) when they found out that 1,500 dead bodies have been found there. Zach, Tom, Tim, and Brad also perfectly execute this song.

With just one, repetitive guitar line, "Hadda Be Playing On The Jukebox" is, musically, pretty simple. But this song was not written by RATM; this song (which features lyrics like "the CIA and Mafia are in cahoots") was originally written by the poet Alan Ginsberg. It's a long song, too, so props to Zach for memorizing the whole thing.

Next comes a cover of N.W.A.'s "F The Police." It begins with Zach referring to the song as a "nice, friendly message," and he then dedicates it to the Philadelphia police department. And, with angry rapping and hip-hop sound effects, it seems like Rage were almost meant to play this song.

The first of two b-sides at the end is "Darkness." This song originally appeared on the "Crow" soundtrack. I'm a big Rage Against the Machine fan and even I'll admit that this song isn't that great. Fortunately the lyrics (which deal with governmental greed and lying) are very well written. The other rarity is "Clear The Lane," which has beeping, wah-wah guitars, a grumbling bass, surprisingly calm vocals, and is really quite catchy.

So, "Live And Rare" is a great buy which is absolutely essential for all Rage Against the Machine fans. If you're a diehard and you need another C.D. to listen to, and you don't yet own this...what are you waiting for? This is a pricey but very highly recommended album. And, as aforementioned, you should at least get this for the two rare tracks (even though they aren't Rage's best songs, they're required listening).

Rage against the machine is has been one of the best rock band in the rock world.
I highly recomend live and rare.

I was always too young to go to a Rage show (thanks Mom) and by the time I could go they had broken up (thanks Zach's ego). This is the closest thing to actually being there or so I've heard. I own all of the albums and live DVDs and this is Rage at their most raw. Tom is still in his prime as a live performer and you can hear it on this record. He improvises on a few songs and just kills it. The band just flows so well together live that it almost sounds like a studio session. The rare tracks are good, but they are not even near the energy level of the live tracks. Plus, the album even features an Allen Ginsberg poem. True Rage fans have to own this to complete the collection.

This "official bootleg" is a telling compilation of various Rage concerts throughout the mid-90s and may represent the final phase of "old school" RATM. What do I mean by old school? From the beginning up until the Evil Empire days, Rage's live concerts emphasized speech and wicked guitar improvisations. Oddly, this sense of adventurism faded out around the time BOLA was released... and it's quite obvious too. The "Bullet in the Head" solo on this disc destroys the one on Grand Olympic Auditorium. "Zapata's Blood" is a recognizable live track to any hardcore Rage fan and this may be the best performance of the song ever. The bonus demo cuts are pretty good, and "F*ck tha Police" is a wild ride. But the real treat is "Hadda be Playing on the Jukebox", an 8 minute poem that tells a story by its guitar work alone.

This CD may not be as accessible to Rage newbies as Grand Olympic Auditorium, but will be an instant classic to true fans.

The Tibetan Freedom Concert in 1996 when shown on MTV changed my life forever when I discovered what was going on in Tibet. And when I got my first glimpse into Buddhist culture. This CD goes over 2 years of the Tibetan Freedom Concert. It is the first 2 that were held in 1996 and then in 1997.

The CD is not just a youth approach to doing something for the Buddhist nation of Tibet, it's a celebration of Tibetan Culture. Many artists from Tibet appear along with bands like Rancid and The Beastie Boys on this CD. There are also chants from Buddhist monks. Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam play an acoustic version of "Yellow Ledbetter" that makes this CD well worth the money you paid for it. There is also a track that appears only on this CD from Rancid titled "The Harder They Come"

Beck appears on the 3rd CD with "..." and De La Soul plays a very energetic version of "Me, Myself & I" The 3rd CD is also an enhanced CD for your PC that you will be very inspired by. It comes with a collection of information on what it is that you can do for Tibet and a Quicktime library of video files showing The Beastie Boys, Radiohead, Ben Harper, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and some very special messages from His Holiness The Dalai Lama. As well as a short video of Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys explaining how he got involved. This CD is truly a great way to remember these concerts. If you buy this CD, you not only get music, but a celebration of Tibet's spirit and culture celebrated through 2 years of concerts.

This triple album, unless you want to support the freedom of the Tibet, is not really worth buying. For a three disc set, it only has as much as one disc's worth of acceptable good music, which you probably can get on iTunes individually.

Rancid's version of "The Harder They Come" rocks. The rest is just as good.

This three cd collection exhibits the talent of many big-time established artists, such as U2, A Tribe Called Quest, Noel Gallagher, Foo Fighters, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Beastie Boys, Alanis Morisette, Beck, the Fugees and Rage Against the Machine. It also shows off some up and coming artists, like the John Spencer Blue Explosion, Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band, and Pavement. There're hits, like RATM's Bulls on Parade and Beasties' Root Down, but it's dominated by lesser known, non-single, songs. Beck's folky Asshole and Blur's answer to Oasis, Beetlebum. The cd is spiced with a share of traditional Tibetan chants and music, so you won't forget why this album was made. As MCA Adam Yauch says at the end of Root Down, "Let's not forget why we're all here. To help the people of Tibet get their freedom."

Tibetan issue is of big importance and _that_ makes this album worth attention - not the performers' escapades. A few Tibetan tracks are very nice and (supposedly, will be) interesting for western folks. The CD-ROM part of this project merits a separate edition - especially the collection of thangkas!

This CD contains 4 tracks: Guerilla Radio (Radio Edit), Ghost of Tom Joad, No Shelter, and Freedom (Live). The Radio Edit is kinda cool, I guess, but nothing special. Tom Joad (originally by The Boss, a.k.a. Bruce Springsteen) is a cool song, and is only available otherwise on the Tom Joad single, which you can get onyl with the Rage video. No Shelter is a cool song, and was in the movie Godzilla, and besides that soundtrack, the Autralian Battle of Los Angeles, and another version of the Guerilla Radio single, this is the only way to get it. Lastly, the Live Freedom is taken from Live & Rare, which I highly reccomend.

I bought this CD because it has Tom Joad and No Shelter, which are both only on singles otherwise, and you'd have to buy 2, and then you'd have to carry 2 around, which can be a pain. The other two tracks are a nice bonus, however.

All in all, a good CD.

This cd as all the other cds made by rage against the machine is a hit. If you listen to most RATM songs they don't appeal to you as fast as this one will. RATM explodes in this song with great sounds that will leave you breathless. Buy this cd! You will not be disappointed!

This is another excellant cd from undoubtedly the best band around. Rage are a great combination of hard hitting messages and the very best music I have ever heard. With a lead guitarist being as good as Tom Morello is and a lead singer (Zack De La Rocha) who can wip any crowd into a frenzy rage really do rule. Although you will probably already of heard all these songs this is a worth while cd to get and with an extra live track (Freedom) this is a must buy for any Rage fan.

This is a great cd to buy even if you have heard all the songs. Its a handy consolidation of songs that to listen to you would have to lug around 4 different cd's. get it.

This single contains a brilliant live version of Freedom and when Zach screams at the end there is an echo effect just like in Ghost of Tom Joad . No Shelter is included so you don't have to go out and buy the Godzilla soundtrack . Both Guerilla Radio and Ghost of Tom Joad are two of the best tracks that Rage have done even though Ghost of Tom Joad is a cover . This single is well worth the money .