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Here is why I like them:

-- Conservatives hate it!

-- Former GOP candidate (Gary Bauer) thinks it is un-american and thinks it supports violence against the police (I guess they believe that anything that runs against
the mainstream though is "evil.")

-- They are exponentially better then any other rap/rock fusion group to come out before or after them.

-- They support Amnesty International, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Leonard Peltier, FAIR, AK Press, and others.

They also create original, thought-provoking music.


Last RATM CD a salute to their predecessors...   December 6, 2000
 21 out of 28 found this review helpful

Ever since I heard RATM's versions of N.W.A.'s "F___ Tha Police" and Public Enemy's "Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos" on the Live And Rare import, I wanted to hear what other hip-hop classics they could transform. I wasn't dissapointed. Evidently, the band has chosen songs from artists without whom there would have never been an RATM in the first place -- everything from Dylan, the Stones, the MC5 and the Stooges to Springsteen, EPMD(!), Cypress Hill, and Afrika Bambatta. and Their versions of Eric B. & Rakim's "Microphone Fiend" and Cypress Hill's "How I Could Just Kill A Man" in particular don't dissapoint at all. I was both surprised and pleased to not only hear RATM cover Minor Threat and Iggy & The Stooges ("Down On The Street"), but to hear Zach De La Rocha SING rather than rhyme on "Kick Out The Jams" and "Beautiful World" (although I honestly didn't expect RATM to turn the latter into a ballad!). This album could have been a milestone RATM release and a hint at their musical direction... unfortunately, unless Zach changes his mind and/or they settle their differences and get back to business, it could end up being the last, at least with the original lineup. Which is too bad, because with King George II waiting in the wings to destroy the country he is supposed to serve, we need more aware, conscious artists like Rage Against The Machine and the much missed Dead Kennedys (rather than ignorant slacker bands like Korn and Godsmack) to get through the next four years. God help us all if there's still an America left in 2004, or even 2001...


Good, but rage has better   August 22, 2001
 12 out of 17 found this review helpful

The fourth and final album of the original Rage Against the Machine is entirely comprised of covers of songs that have inspired rage along the way. The covers include Cypress Hill, mc5, Devo, and bob dylan. Out of all the rage albums, this one is the weakest in terms of a line-up of songs, and its overall feel as an album rather than a collection of songs. However, this feeling is justified by the fact that 'renegades' is really a collection of old studio tapes of covers that rage recorded at various points of their careers; it was never intended to be published in the form of an album. However, rage against the machine was desparate for a way to compensate to the fans for the announcement of de la Rocha's departure from the band. Enough history, on to the music:

Track 1: Microphone Friend, Rating: 8/10 This is an excellent start to the album. This fast-paced, hip-hop track executes a catchy corus and strong verses. Coupled with nice guitar work, it is one of the best songs on the album.

Track 2: Pistol Grip Pump, Rating: 5/10 Track 2 is fairly mediocre. The rap/ hip-hop nature of the song greatly draws from the best attribute of the band, the guitar work of Tom Morello. There are no outstanding guitar lines, and the chorus is average and not particularly inspiring.

Track 3: Kick Out the Jams, Rating: 2/10 Rage's worst song ever. They sound horribly out of place with the fast, punkish style of the song and de la Rocha singing such lyrics as "the girls cant stand it when you get it right." This is overly loud, obnoxious, and sounds like a decent sound played on a horrible record.

Track 4: Renegades of Funk, Rating: 10/10 This track alone turns what would be a three-star, okay, album into a solid, good 4-star album. This is clearly a great song. It has stength in every aspect especially being the most similar lyrically to rage's previous works, with lyrics such as "We are renegades,... we change the course of history!" This certainly sounds good after kick out the jams.

Track 5: Beautiful World, Rating: 7/10 Interesting is the way to describe this Devo cover. In this one, rage features no drums, no basslines, and no loud, distorted guitar solos. Only a quiet cord progression accompanies Zack de la Rocha's unsuccessful attempt at singing. However, de la Rocha's croaky, whispery singing actually fits the mood of the song quite well and, the most important advice here, YOU CANNOT SKIP THIS TRACK! You just cant.

Track 6: I'm Housin, Rating: 7/10 7 might be on the low side considering this is a solid track all-round. The chorus may be a little overdone, but it is very solid.

Track 7: In My Eyes, Rating: 2/10 the second worst rage song ever ends mercifully before the three minute mark. The chorus in this song is by far the worst rage has ever featured. Absolutely terrible.

Track 8: How I Could Just Kill a Man, Rating: 6/10 This cypress hill cover has outstanding verses. However, the chorus is so-so and is repeated way too many times. The live version is significantly better.

Track 9: The Ghost of Tom Joad, Rating: 8/10 Outstanding verses in this bruse springsteen cover. The rather lackluster chorus brings this work of art down to an 8. However, this piece of music was one of the most inspiring to rage when they were young and they do an excellent job here.

Track 10: Down on the Street, Rating: 5/10 It gets better, it gets worse, but it does not get much more average than this. Average chorus, average beat, and average verses.

Track 11: Street Fighting Man, Rating: 7/10 Outstanding chorus, bad verses, but oustanding beat. This has some of the best guitar work on the album. However, tracks 9, 10, and 11 all sound quite the same.

Track 12: Maggies Farm, Rating: 10/10 The best track in the album. This is rage at its best. Out of all the songs on this album, except for maybe renegades of funk, this is the only one that would fit in another one of rage's albums. Perhaps the most musically intricate and explosive piece rage has ever done, Maggies Farm has outstanding work by the guitar, drum, and bass. De la rocha isnt too shabby either.

Track 13: Kick Out the Jams Live, Rating: 1/10 The same as track 3 just with depleted sound quality.

Track 14: How I Could Just Kill a Man Live, Rating: 8/10 This live version of track 8 far outshines the studio version with the onstage appearance of b-real and sen-dog from cypress hill. Good quality for live, too.

Thats all the tracks. This is certainly a good album, but it falls last in terms or rage's other albums.


One of the best cds from one of the best bands!!!!!!!!!!!   June 6, 2002
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

i've always been a fan of Rage, but this cd just blew me away! it was so sad to see zach leave the band, but what a cool way to go out!

1. Microphone Fiend: 10/10 Awesome way to start an album, this song will be in your head for days.

2. Pistol Grip Pump: 9/10 I'm not normally a huge rap fan, but zach really connects with the band on this one, great rythym!

3. Kick out the Jams: 8/10 Another incredible song, not about politics, but a great one to just bounce to at a party.

4. Renegades of Funk: 10/10 Deserves all the radio play it got, another amazing party beat, but with very meaningful lyrics if you listen to them.

5. Beautiful World: 5/10 Not one of my favorites. It's cool that the band tried to do something different, but this is just a little to different for me.

6. I'm Housin: 9/10 Excellent bass at the beginning, very mellow until the chorus, which makes you wanna yell along. One of my favorites.

7. In My Eyes: 7/10 I don't dislike this song, i just don't like it as much as all the others. But still good, don't get me wrong.

8. How I could just Kill a Man: 9/10 Amazing! They do a better job with this song than i think Cypress Hill did! Awesome beat, great lyrics, another headbanger.

9. The Ghost of Tom Joad: 10/10 A tie with microphone fiend for my favorite song of the album! meaningful lyrics, great beat and rythym, Tom Morello just outdoes himself every time.

10. Down on the street: 8/10 Just plain cool, hear it for yourself!

11. Street Fighting Man: 9/10 Another great one, luv the lyrics, zach puts the beat down like no other!

12. Maggie's Farm: 10/10 I never thought i'd see Rage cover Bob Dylan, but they do it and are great at it! Very deep and meaningful lyrics to go along with great music!

13. Kick out the Jams(live):9/10 better than the studio version, sounds more crazy and fun!

14. HOw i could just kill a man (live): 10/10 what a great way to end this great album, by bringing in cypress hill! i've never been a real cypress hill fan, but they have awesome chemistry with zach and the rest of the band!

BUY THIS CD NOW!!!!!!!!!!!