For this album review, meandthestereo did something a little different and handed off the album to two of our columnists. Check out Belle’s (from the East Coast) and Renato’s (from Austin, TX) differing takes on this album!
Artist: Street Sweeper Social Club
Album: Street Sweeper Social Club
Label: Warner
Release Date: June 16th, 2009
Decision: 3/5 Mediocre…You’ll enjoy it, but go download the singles first!
Favorite Tunes: “100 Little Curses”
1. The Background
Belle says,
Street Sweeper Social Club is Tom Morello and Boots Riley. There is a great video on youtube of both of them describing the origins of the band. Boots Riley says that these songs are, “anthems for the revolution.” Morello says that they both, “go to a lot of rallies.” Both musicians agree that they are tired of boring, peaceful protest songs. Also, they were wanting to create choruses that people can latch onto easily.
They are “outspoken policial activists” (via wikipedia) to put it mildly. Morello formed the organization “Axis of Justice” to bring people together for social justice. I thought the organization’s website was very informative; what better way to directly address issues of social justice. You can hear Boots Riley’s perspective on different issues during an episode of Politically Incorrect on Youtube. So, upon investigation via the internet, Morello and Riley are actually very articulately bringing together social justice and catchy music.
and Renato adds,
As has been said by Belle, Boots Riley and Tom Morello are the primary members of Street Sweeper Social Club. Boots Riley, member of The Coup and outspoken political activist (but who isn’t this day and age?) teamed up with Morello to form a side project that just about sounds like Rage Against the Machine. (more…)
