Remasters and reissues of older albums are very common nowadays and it can be overwhelming. However, there are some classic albums that definitely deserve the treatment and this is one of them. Rage Against the Machine is an alternative/funk/rap metal band that most certainly stood out from other bands that were blowing up back in the 1990s. They are one of the most politically-charged artists to have ever existed and despite their short discography, music fans and critics still proclaim them as one of the best bands in musical history. They only released three albums (technically four if you count their covers album, Renegades) and the self-titled album, their first, is their most critically acclaimed album to date and it's not hard to see why. Not only is it their highest selling album, but it has their best songs like Bombtrack, Killing in the Name, and Bullet in the Head (my personal favorite). The lyrics are well-written, the vocals are amazing, the instrumentation is phenomenal, and the production is one of the best I have heard on any album. The greatest thing this album has going for is the emotional conviction. Rage Against the Machine is a band so angry beyond recognition. They want you to believe they are pissed off and I can definitely say that they have done just that. I've listened to some aggressive and heavy records in my lifetime but I have never listened to one that has topped the anger and brutality that this record delivers. I can't say enough about how amazing this album is. It's easily one of my favorite albums of all time and after twenty years, it doesn't sound dated at all.
The reissue of Rage Against the Machine - XX will be released on November 27th, 2012 (is it a pure coincidence that this is being released on my birthday?).
