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Taken from GIGWISE (Aug 05, 2008)
Michael Franti & Spearhead - 'All Rebel Rockers' (Anti) Released 18/08/08
"the perfect compliment to an open air summer..."
by Huw Jones
 Gigwise rating 3 out of 5 stars
Michael Franti & Spearhead have been mixing music with political opinion for the past fourteen years, so it’s no surprise that their latest release gives the front-man yet another platform to vent his spleen against the shortcomings of the modern world. That said, ‘All Rebel Rockers’ is a small step removed from his more overtly political back catalogue but set against a backdrop of reggae, rock and dancehall their sixth studio album is immersed with worldly-wise, well trodden social comment alongside unreserved faith and consistent optimism.
Easing into his manifesto with the smoky dub-step-skank of ‘Rude Boys Back In Town’, tales of his travels soon give way to the dub infused rock of ‘A Little Bit Of Riddim’. The majority of the album including ‘Life In The City’, ‘Remote Control, ‘Say Hey (I Love You)’, ‘Hey World’ and ‘The Future’ employs swelling choruses to profess music as his weapon of choice and to encourage individual thought and the power of one against the monotony of spoon-fed mass media and contemporary oppression. And although sounding heavy handed, Franti’s use of hands in the air, smile inducing, head nodding melody alongside lyrics such as “They tell you that war is a permanent thing and American idol kids really can sing” lightens the narrative load, which, although full of political undertones, is diluted at base level by Franti’s promotion of personal empowerment and the guest vocals of Jamaican dancehall singer Cherine Anderson.
Franti isn’t just an activist and spokesman, he’s also got a lot of love to give and his previously favoured authoritative rasp is traded in for the arms open celebration of ‘All I Want Is You’ and ‘I Got Love For You’. That’s right, they’re both bona fide love songs, but straddling the albums halfway mark, signal an altogether softer side to the veteran rebel rockers creativity. As does ‘High Low’ (featuring Zap Mamma’s Marie Daulne), ‘Nobody Right Nobody Wrong’ and ‘Have A Little Faith’ in which the soft acoustics and emotional harmonising alongside guitar driven rock gives Franti another chance to promote the message of right over wrong and the importance of cultural unity.
Franti’s message is quite clear; have self-respect, respect your fellow man, take responsibility for your actions and whatever happens have faith in humanity. Although his quest is admirable, the message is unashamedly repetitive but one thing's for sure, Franti’s music is highly danceable and the perfect compliment to an open air summer.
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