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1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 "Electric is My Pimp Slap" Mar 18, 2010
Even though rap-rock has long since faded, you can't help but sit up and take notice everytime Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello announces a new project. After a fall-out with Chris Cornell led to the demise of Audioslave, the guitarist/activist took to the stage under the moniker of The Nightwatchman, putting out two albums of mostly folk-rock which were met with limited success. His latest project, Street Sweeper Social Club, however, takes a more classic approach, recalling the days when the genre still seemed like a fresh idea and musicianship mattered just as much as rhyme and rhythm.
Mashing Morello's signature riffing with the lyrical poetry of Boots Riley (of The Coup fame), Street Sweeper Social Club's self-titled debut is chock-full of would-be revolutionary anthems much in the vein of Rage Against the Machine's finest works. Although a more passive frontman than Zach De La Rocha, Riley brings his own intensity to the table with his own brand of chunky wordplay and smooth rhymes. Morello pulls out all the stops here, and those who felt let down by his solo material will be relieved to find a return to form. Also handling the bass duties, Morello meshes well with eclectic drummer Stanton Moore (Galactic, Corrosion of Conformity) and ensures that the album is more than just riffs and rhymes.
No doubt, the production of the album makes it sound like some sort of lost rap-rock classic from the early 90's, but the retro soundscape suits the music well. Morello is best when delivering a bold fusion of funk and heavy metal and although Rage Against the Machine appear to be a long way from delivering a new studio album, this fills the void rather nicely. While it may not make for a solid listen all the way through, as the songs tend to blend together with a few tunes here and there falling flat ("Clap for the Killers"), there's enough material here to quench the thirst of those who remember how potent a combination hip-hop and hard rock can be when done right.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Heavy riffs, heavy lyrics Mar 02, 2010
Rage Against the Machine is my favorite band, and I bought this cd out of my longing for a new RAtM album. The riffs Morello cranks out (while a little less imaginative) sound like something you'd find on RAtM's first album, which I enjoy a lot. Although I prefer de la Rocha, Boots also throws in powerful lyrics that are reminiscent of Zack's, such as "I pledge to get their foot off my neck. Instead I shall demand my respect, I'll fight even if I won't win." This cd contains many tracks with catchy, explicit choruses that are fun to belt along with, and I recommend it, especially if you like Rage.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 STREET SWEEPER SOCIAL CLUB - HOW IS IT? Dec 12, 2009
I know that SSSC MC Boots Riley has tweeted that they are not the "new Rage Against The Machine, we're the new Sly & The Family Stone. With a plan." I don't know that they're quite Sly & The Family Stone, but they are more funky than Rage, and a bit more fun. They're just as "politcal," but Rage's Zach de la Rocha just never lightens up, and Boots clearly enjoys the fact that he is a great frontman. He knows you can dance to revolutionary music, an idea that Zach probably isn't super into. I think half the album is great, the other half is good, and I am definitely looking forward to their next album. I don't know if Tom is going to do another Nightwatchman album and if Boots will work with The Coup before doing another Street Sweeper record.
Read more at my not-for-profit, just-for-the love blog, No Expiration (on blogspot).
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Morello, Riley, and the SSSC Dec 08, 2009
This is a great effort from the camp of Morello & Riley. You hear the familiar Tom Morello guitar style, but with a different rap kind of beat. Boots Riley contributes to the albumn greatly and the songs are really catchy. When I went to the website to listen to the new material, they were featuring the song Promenade. It's not bad, but the rest of the albumn has some really awesome tracks. Buy this albumn if you like Tom Morello and the music he makes. It's a refreshing departure from his Nightwatchman role.
All the Energy of RATM, Plus Unexpected Musical Flairs Nov 08, 2009
This album is full of pump-you-up, blast it as loud as you can stand anthems. As others have noted, this album makes really outstanding driving music. On its surface, it's musically very similar to Rage, but under the surface there are these great musical flairs ("gang" vocals, occasionally even harmony vocals, more nuanced and not so in-your-face guitar work, complex clap tracks) that keep me coming back for more. The opening acoustic guitar licks on "Good Morning Mrs. Smith" are a great example.
Also, I'm not familiar with Boots' other work, but his laid-back sincere rapping here perfectly undercuts Tom Morello's more aggressive guitar work. I find that the album starts off with some of the worst songs rapwise though (he just feels a little rushed and uncomfortable), so if it's not doing anything for you, check out some of the later tracks where he feels a little more behind the beat and falls into the groove more comfortably.
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