| |
Taken from buzz Online (March 10, 2004)
Everybody deserves Michael Franti
by Mike Carberry [staff writer]
 In one form or another, Michael Franti has been making music and spreading his sociopolitical messages for the past 20 years. The San Francisco-based artist previously founded The Beatnigs and the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy (with Charlie Hunter) and is now the frontman for Spearhead.
With Spearhead, Franti stares down some of the heaviest issues of today. Some of the rage in previous projects has been replaced by positive messages and words of wisdom, as he learned that activism is better at solving problems than anger. Michael Franti and Spearhead's sixth and latest album Everyone Deserves Music continues Franti's legacy of fighting social injustice, exploring spirituality and getting you off your ass to dance. It's lyrical content is less loaded than Franti's previous release, Stay Human, but once again he pulls off the impressive feat of producing an album without a single weak song.
Franti lists The Clash as the band that had the greatest impact on him. This comes through in guitarist Dave Shul's riffs on "We Don't Stop" and "Yes I Will" on Everyone Deserves Music. Franti admires The Clash because they weren't afraid to experiment with their style, they weren't afraid to express their views and they weren't afraid to have fun. These elements are the keystones of Michael Franti and Spearhead's musical expression. They don't limit themselves to a genre but delve into hip hop, funk, R&B, rock, reggae and Latin music, mixing influences as varied as Curtis Mayfield, Bob Marley and U2. The stylistic versatility of their music makes it available for anyone with a sense of rhythm, but the real appeal is Franti's genuine emotion and socially conscious vision.
Franti spits his rhymes with an uninhibited voice-at times angry, at times joyous, but at all times insightful and enlightening. He sings about realizing a new world where we can overcome all the fear, deal with the chaos around us and really learn to love life.
"I view the future as a place and time where all of our ideals will be realized. When I write music I want to help us realize that future," Franti said. In "We Don't Stop," he sings "Dance to the new day, sing to the new day . Yesterday is over, tomorrow may be too late." A call for the people to rise up and realize that the world is in our hands.
There are those who would dismiss some of his songs as cliche or sappy, with the hippie-dipped themes of peace, love and togetherness. But if these people could postpone their cynicism and really listen, they would realize the relevance of Franti's message. Everyone Deserves Music is a direct response to current issues in our post Sept. 11 era. Franti's songs are brimming with political commentary, but there is also a very personal and spiritual dimension to his music. Describing Everyone Deserves Music, Franti says, "Half the record is songs about what's going on. This spectre of war, intimidation, this nation versus the rest of the world, it wears us out. Half the record is a healthy dose of venting anger about that, and the other half is about how to hold on to our spirituality, our community and our connectedness to each other."
Two tracks on the new album pair Franti with the reggae/funk duo of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. Some of Franti's material work as dance songs, such as "Pray for Grace" and "Bomb the World (Armageddon Version)." These are meant to get both the speakers and the people bouncing. Fittingly, these songs are packed with some of the heaviest content of the album. An album standout, "Pray for Grace" deals with looking toward a guiding light in a world that sometimes seems hopeless and full of hardship. Franti belts out with raw reggae vocals: "Why must I feel like this today? / I'm a soldier but afraid." Then the song bursts into a Latin groove over the heavy bass and Franti's chants.
On "Bomb the World (Armageddon Version)," Franti sings, "Brothers and sisters don't believe them / It's not a war against evil / It's really just revenge / Engaged on the poorest by the same rich men / Fight terrorists wherever they be found / But why you not bombing Tim McVeigh's hometown? / You can say what you want propaganda television / But all bombing is terrorism." Need I say more?
Heavy songs like these are balanced out by touching songs like "Crazy, Crazy, Crazy." It looks at the absurdity of all the violence in the world. He addresses this with the simple yet wise words, "No life's worth more than any other / No sister worth more than any brother." This is sung in his warm baritone voice, soothing enough to put you to sleep.
His writing really aspires to lift the listener up out of the mires of modern society. He doesn't sing about bumping and grinding or tappin' dat ass, but in "What I Be" he sings, "If I could be sex my words would protect / I'd be in the lives of all who connect / Pores would be dripping pure hot intellect / And the minds of the masses would all stay erect." Metaphors like this fill Franti's writing, making the songs poetic and inspirational. It's true that some of the lines are downright mushy. In the same song he sings, "If I were the rain I'd wash away the whole world's pain / And bring the gift of cool like ice-cream
trucks on sunny days." But a beautiful and poignant message shines through, making Everyone Deserves Music a great disc to start your day to. His powerful and provocative songs pulse with vitality.
Michael Franti and Spearhead have spread their music and message through relentless touring, sharing the stage with such acts as Trey Anastasio, Ani DiFranco, Dave Matthews, KRS-One, and Ziggy Marley on their current tour. Franti is known for his powerful stage presence during a show. This comes from the positive vibes of his performances as well as the fact that he's a six-foot-six dreadlock-laden mass of a man. His main aim at a show is for everyone to have fun and get moving, and when he's up on stage, Franti has the crowd in the palm of his hand. He brings you into an atmosphere of jubilation, love and sexuality, as well as empowerment and inspiration. He wants you to be sweaty, he wants you to cry, he wants you to dance, jump, shout. Franti's songs are a pure outpouring of emotion. That soul, coupled with the infectious grooves of Spearhead will make you do all of the above.
Michael Franti and Spearhead also continue to play on the festival circuit around the world. In 1999, they started an annual 911 Power to the Peaceful festival in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. It's a day of social justice and activism, gathering some 30,000 people together to raise consciousness and tackle issues about the environment, the death penalty and war.
Everyone Deserves Music is by far Franti's most complete and fully realized album. His universal writing and the worldly grooves of Spearhead really meld together to reach the pinnacle of Franti's funky revolution. He can only soar
from here.
Michael Franti and Spearhead will perform with Ziggy Marley Saturday, March 13 at Canopy Club. Tickets are $20 and the show starts at 10 p.m.
|
|
