Customer Reviews

Street Sweeper Social Club

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

Tom's signature guitar playing is back on this album and I must say that he didn't do a bad job on the bass guitar either. This album is something that you put in your car stereo and put all the windows down and bump. The lyrics are fresh and original. I think anyone that is a Rage fan will love this album.

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).

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.

I first heard of Street Sweeper Social Club on MTV2 by seeing their video for "100 Little Curses." I thought that the song was amazing and just had to buy this album. Unfortunately the rest of the album didn't live up to "100 Little Curses." Its not that the songs are bad or anything, but its just that none of them really lived up to what I liked in "100 Little Curses", maybe with the exception of Promenade.

However, Tom Morello's very distinct guitar is alive and well, and should make fans of Rage Against the Machine happy. Boots Riley also does a good job on the vocals.

Again, this is not a bad album, but there aren't exactly any songs that I could personally call 'good.' But if you are a big fan of Tom Morello's style or the rock-rap genre, then this might be an album you want to check out.

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.

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.

It's awesome. The superb guitar skills of Morello and the hiphop-rock vocals of Riley combine to make an amazing album. Tracks are lined up well and flow smoothly. Not personally going to top Rage Against the Machine for me, but definitely worth buying and rocking out to.

SSSC's debut album is wonderful. Any fan of Tom Morello will adore the album, with his revolutionary guitar riffs. Fans of Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, The Nightwatchman, One Day as a Lion or The Coup will find the album one of the favorites of the year. They toured with Nine Inch Nails and Janes Addiction and did not disappoint, with many NIN and JA fans feeling that SSSC performed the best out of the three. Pick up the album for sure.