Rage Against the Machine (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Rage Against the Machine
Type = studio
Artist = Rage Against the Machine


Released = November 6, 1992
Recorded = May – September 1992
Genre = Rap metal, alternative metal, funk metal
Length = 52:56
Label = Epic Records
Producer = Garth 'GGGarth' Richardson, Rage Against the Machine
Reviews = *Allmusicguide Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Arya9qj5bojaa link]
*Sputnikmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=352 link]
*Kerrang! Rating|5|5
Last album = "Rage Against the Machine (demo tape)" (1992)
This album = "Rage Against the Machine"
(1992)
Next album = "Evil Empire"
(1996)
Misc = Singles
Name = Rage Against the Machine
Type = Studio
single 1 = Killing in the Name
single 1 date = ? 1993
single 2 = Bombtrack
single 2 date = June 20 1994
single 3 = Bullet in the Head
single 3 date = ? 1994
single 4 = Freedom
single 4 date = ? 1994

"Rage Against the Machine" is the debut album by rock band Rage Against the Machine, released November 6, 1992. The songs on "Rage Against the Machine" tend to feature political mantras with the vocals rapped. The album peaked at #1 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart, and at #45 on the Billboard Top 200 chart.

Tom Morello's guitar soloing is somewhat traditional on this album, taking influence more from heavy metal music, in comparison to later releases where it is more experimental and geared toward emulation of DJs and hip hop.

Critical recognition

The album is known for its high production values, which are almost to the strictest audiophile standards. Some audiophile sites and magazines even go as far as using the album — in particular the song "Take the Power Back" — to test amplifiers and speakers. [Cadeddo, Lucio (June 2004), [http://www.tnt-audio.com/topics/ratm_e.html Rage against the machine – "I"] , "TNT-Audio" Italy. Retrieved February 27, 2007.]

In 2001 "Q" magazine named "Rage Against the Machine" as one of the 50 Heaviest Albums Of All Time. The album is included in the book "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". RS500|368

Artwork and sleeve notes

The cover artwork features a famous photo of Thích Quảng Đức, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, burning himself to death in Saigon in 1963. The monk was protesting President Ngô Đình Diệm's administration for oppressing the Buddhist religion. The photograph drew international attention and persuaded U.S. President John F. Kennedy to withdraw support of the Ngô Đình Diệm's government. It was taken by Associated Press correspondent Malcolm Browne; a similar photograph earned the award of World Press Photo of the Year in 1963.

Activists such as Provisional IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands and Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton are listed in the "Thanks For Inspiration" section. Also thanked were Ian and Alec MacKaye – de la Rocha was straight edge at the time, though he later took up smoking. [Kane, Rich (November 1999), [http://www.musicfanclubs.org/rage/articles/anger.htm Anger is a Gift] . Retrieved February 27, 2007.]

The lyrics for each song were printed in the album booklet with the exception of those for "Killing in the Name", which were omitted; the booklet reads "2.) Killing in the Name", skips the lyrics and continues with the next song.

The statement "no samples, keyboards or synthesizers used in the making of this record" can be found at the end of the sleeve notes, and similar statements were made in the band's subsequent albums. The band also refer to themselves as "Guilty Parties" for each album.

Track listing

# "Bombtrack" – 4:05
# "Killing in the Name" – 5:14
# "Take the Power Back" – 5:37
# "Settle for Nothing" – 4:48
# "Bullet in the Head" – 5:09
# "Know Your Enemy" – 4:55
# "Wake Up" – 6:04
# "Fistful of Steel" – 5:31
# "Township Rebellion" – 5:24
# "Freedom" – 6:06

"Wake Up" is featured in the credits of "The Matrix" and in the video game "Dave Mirra's Freestyle Bmx 2", while "Killing in the Name" is featured in the video games "" and "Guitar Hero II". Edits of "Bombtrack" and "Take the Power Back" are featured in the Oliver Stone film "Natural Born Killers".

Anger is a Gift bonus disc

# "Darkness" – 3:40
# "Year of tha Boomerang" – 4:02
# "Freedom (Remix)" – 6:14
# "Take the Power Back (Live) – 6:12

Singles

* "Killing in the Name" – 1993
* "Freedom" – 1994
* "Bombtrack" – 1994
* "Bullet in the Head" – 1994

Personnel - "Guilty Parties"

* Rage Against the Machine – Producer, Art Direction

* Zack de la Rocha – Vocals
* Tim Commerford – Bass
* Brad Wilk – Drums
* Tom Morello – Guitars

* Maynard James Keenan – Additional vocals ("Know Your Enemy")
* Stephen Perkins – Additional percussion ("Know Your Enemy")
* Garth 'GGGarth' Richardson – Producer, Engineer
* Stan Katayama – Engineer
* Craig Doubet – Assistant Engineer
* Jeff Sheehan – Assistant Engineer
* Bob Ludwig – Mastering
* Midas – Mixing / Production
* Andy Wallace – Mixing
* Steve Sisco – Mixing Assistant
* Nicky Lindeman – Art Direction

Chart positions

References