Antibalas
Who Is This America?
Antibalas, the New York-based Afrobeat orchestra, does it again with Who Is This America? Their third album
is their most political outing and best effort yet. In the best tradition of Fela Kuti, Antibalas marries infectious beats with poetic politics. The title song, ‘Who Is This America Dem Speak of Today?' asks tough questions about the identity of our country and its people. Is America the land of the free or the land of military aggression? Is America a melting pot or an anti-immigrant nation? 'Big Man' begins by telling listeners “we are here to teach you a lesson on the dance floor.� It is a lesson on authority, oppression and loyalty to the ‘big man.’ As usual the long, roaming tunes will have you on your feet, and the lyrics will move you too.
For more information:
www.antibalas.com
- Dynamic
Paris
Sonic Jihad
While technically a 2003 release, Paris’s Sonic Jihad
didn’t make it to many record stores until this year. Bay Area rapper and Black Panther enthusiast Paris returned to militant politics with Sonic Jihad, after the lame Unleashed in 1998. While his single 'Bush Killer' made him famous a decade ago, tracks like 'Ave Bushani' and 'Freedom' make it clear that Bush Jr. is the main target of Paris’s new assault on racism, imperialism and the police state. The album features guest spots by reggae toaster Capleton, Dead
Prez, Kam and Public Enemy. But 'What Would You Do?' is the classic track here - a call to action against Bush Administration.
For more information:
www.guerrilafunk.com
- Dynamic
Howie Day
Stop All The World Now
Originally released in 2003, Howie Day’s second album, Stop All the World Now, took the music world by surprise in 2004, producing the Top 40 hit, 'Collide' as well as college radio-favorite 'Perfect Time of Day.' In this album, Day further showcases the singer-songwriter abilities he displayed in his first CD, Australia, using his acoustic guitar and excellent voice to discuss the ups and downs of relationships, falling in love, and growing up. Fusing clips of live performances with studio recordings, Day creates songs on the album that are incredibly full, as well as very catchy, often leaving you humming the melodies for days after. The song 'She Says,' in which Day tells of a former girlfriend going out with another man, is a perfect example. Howie Day is currently on tour, playing in college towns across the country, often accompanying such student favorites as OAR and Matt Nathanson. For more information, and for clips of his songs, you can visit his official website, www.howieday.com.
- Matt Murtagh
Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
This British indie rock band hit the scene in early 2001 and has been steadily working towards their first full-length album. Franz Ferdinand hit the record stores early in 2004. The album’s first two singles received heavy rotation on radio and video shows, then media attention expanded to the whole album. There are plenty of reasons for all the hype. I was taken immediately by the first few tracks, featuring catchy guitar riffs and playful lead vocals by Alexander Kapranos. The album takes you through several different styles of rock. The group’s sound was at first compared to The Strokes or The White Stripes, but unlike those bands, Franz Ferdinand uses heavy, upbeat, danceable guitar riffs backed up by progressive bass lines, and simple percussion accompanied by diverse vocals. Some reviewers complain that the album loses momentum as it goes on – I disagree. Franz Ferdinand keep up the energy from the first to last track and have the musical ability to take it in different directions. Franz Ferdinand is easily one of the best rock albums of 2004.
- Abdul Hassan
Nas
Streets Disciple
Queens rapper Nas returned with his seventh album, Streets Disciple in November 2004. If you haven't heard a Nas album before, this double CD will give you a complete scope of what he is about. In the first track, 'Message to the Feds, Sincerely, We the people' Nas warns the government of a people's revolution. In 'American Way' featuring his fiancée Kelis, he criticizes the 'Vote or Die' campaign and urges artist to be more than temporary political activists. His most poignant track, "These are our Heroes" calls out prominent black artists and athletes who are used by the media to perpetuate racism. Streets Disciple also features storytelling tracks like 'Sekou Story' which poetically tells the story of his friend dying from AIDS, and love songs like 'Getting Married' where he conveys his perspective on growing-up and settling down. My only criticism of Streets Disciple is that it didn't live up to the music production diversity that was featured in his last album, God's Son. Regardless, Nas's poetic lyrics alone make the album worth the buy.
- Mike Tyner
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