Street Sweeper Social Club

Street Sweeper Social Club | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 16, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Street Sweeper Social Club
• ASIN: B0028EQN16
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,844 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Tom Morello & Boots Riley have joined forces to form Street Sweeper Social Club. The group's anticipated self-titled debut album will be released June 16th. The 11-song set was produced by Tom Morello and features Boots Riley on vocals, Morello on guitar and bass, and Stanton Moore (Galactic) on drums. Street Sweeper Social Club's debut tour will be opening all dates in North America on the Nine Inch Nails and Jane's Addiction May-June Tour. Tom Morello is a founding member & guitarist of the rock bands Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. The two bands are responsible for multiple Grammy Awards & a combined 30 million albums sold worldwide. Widely celebrated for his unique voice as a master electric guitarist, he is recognized by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the "100 Greatest Guitar Players of All-Time(#26)." Boots Riley is best known as the leader of The Coup, the seminal Hip-Hop group from Oakland, CA. As a producer & lyricist, Riley has crafted critically acclaimed albums for The Coup that have graced many year-end Top 10 lists.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very solid, sometimes outstanding June 16, 2009

By Robby Krell

Format:Audio CD

In some ways this sounds like a "lost" RATM album, but with Boots Riley of The Coup rapping instead of Zack. Tom's guitar playing is just sick throughout (in a good way) and as someone else said, it's great for blasting in the car. I have a 40-minute commute and I got this for that very ride; it's hard-rocking, anthemic rap-rock. The drum and bass is tight and ferocious, as you would expect, though nothing revelatory.

That said, Boots's lyrics aren't his best here. He has to kind of shout over the band, so his sly delivery is somewhat lost, and there are moments of rah-rah sing-along choruses that sound a little weak. Happily, you're never too far rom the next slashing guitar rave-up or unexpectedly wiseass lyric from Boots, so it's all okay.

If you like RATM or hard-edged funk-rock, I would recommend this album. if you're not familiar with Boots, I'd point you to his day job, The Coup. And Dimabag, thanks a lot for the heads-up about the censored download. I almost got that, since it was only [...] bucks; but it's annoying to have other people decide what is "safe" for you to hear. Glad I picked up the disc.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic! June 17, 2009

By Shala Kerrigan TOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was really looking forward to this album, I love the Coup, I love RATM, this album really combines the best of both. Boots Riley's voice and lyrics are wonderful and live up to the idea of jams for the revolution and with Tom's music which is very much like what he did with RATM, it's already one of my favorite albums. For the car, for the gym, for any place. It's impossible not to move to or to think about.
ETA: I originally wrote this review on June 17, 2009. Now it's May 5, 2010. This album has consistently been in my "On the Go" playlist on my ipod and I've recommended it to everyone. The most I listen to it, the more I like it.
Boots Riley from the political hip hop group, The Coup writes very well done raps about society and poltics, it's very topical and controversial. When you put his great lyrics and voice with Tom's music which is just some of the best heavy metal out there, it's a great fusion of sound that has become my favorite project for both musicians.
If you like this album, and you haven't listened to the Coup, I recommend Pick a Bigger Weapon as a very approachable album by the Coup. I also recommend Tom Morello's One Man Revolution for a clearer view of Tom's politics.
If you just want good rock and don't care much about politics, this is still a great album that Audioslave and Rage Against the Machine fans will appreciate.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars STREET SWEEPER SOCIAL CLUB - HOW IS IT? December 11, 2009

By Brian D. Ives

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

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).