| |
|
Like most of you the last time I heard about Michael Franti (if you've heard about him at all) was probably when his album Stay Human about the death penalty came out about four or five years ago. Since then he's annoyed me a lot on the BBC's late night coverage of Glastonbury and recorded another three albums. The latest of these is called Yell Fire! and was inspired by a journey he made to Iraq which he also documented in a film called I Know I'm Not Alone.
Now, this new album of his was produced by a whole host of randomers, most of whom used to signal quality, like Sly & Robbie and Mario Caldato Jr. What he appears to have come up with is a strange mix of reggae, hip-hop and stadium rock that is oddly infectious to my ears. Having not seen the film I can't really comment on how well Franti puts his 'peaceful people' message across although the Grauniad seems impressed of sorts, but lyrically he seems to have moved away from the sort of sermonising rootsy agit-rap that I came to begrudge him and onto a more straight-forward, though far more catchy, party music stylee.
You can hear the results here for free. Now maybe this won't change the world, but is this the music of a popular rebellion or is this 'nothing but comfort food for the handwringing classes' as one reviewer put it or even just a fine radio friendly single?
Personally, despite what he's tried to do in his previous incarnations as The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy (with Jack Dangers of MeatBeatManifesto), the Beatnigs or even when his band Spearhead were a bit gangsta in the mid-90s, I don't think Michael Franti's ever changed the world - but has he made it a better place?
Over to you Barbelith... |
|
|
