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Street Sweeper Social Club
Jeff Vrabel, July 04, 2009 12:00 ET
Angry, pitchforks-in-the-streets populism has few busier cheerleaders than Tom Morello and Boots Riley, who, with their respective groups Rage Against the Machine and agit-hip-hop act the Coup, have reigned as some of the left's most visible, visceral voices. But though a floundering economy, bombed-out GOP and a season or two of corporate bailouts have provided them with a fat barrel of fish to shoot, this rap-rock hybrid simmers instead of seethes, never quite mustering the blood-boiling rage of its principals' previous material. Morello's blue-steel guitar work is in fine form (when is it not?), and Riley pops off some nice shots on tracks like "The Squeeze" and "100 Little Curses," where he wishes poverty, bad cocaine and a sucky life on his aristocratic targets. And Galactic drummer Stanton Moore acquits himself nicely in the rap-rock universe. But too much of it is disappointing jingoism ("Fight! Smash! Win!") that falls well short of the vicious punch these guys are capable of. Maybe it's just harder to rage when the machine's in such lousy shape already.
Street Sweeper Social Club
Jeff Vrabel, July 04, 2009 12:00 ET
Angry, pitchforks-in-the-streets populism has few busier cheerleaders than Tom Morello and Boots Riley, who, with their respective groups Rage Against the Machine and agit-hip-hop act the Coup, have reigned as some of the left's most visible, visceral voices. But though a floundering economy, bombed-out GOP and a season or two of corporate bailouts have provided them with a fat barrel of fish to shoot, this rap-rock hybrid simmers instead of seethes, never quite mustering the blood-boiling rage of its principals' previous material. Morello's blue-steel guitar work is in fine form (when is it not?), and Riley pops off some nice shots on tracks like "The Squeeze" and "100 Little Curses," where he wishes poverty, bad cocaine and a sucky life on his aristocratic targets. And Galactic drummer Stanton Moore acquits himself nicely in the rap-rock universe. But too much of it is disappointing jingoism ("Fight! Smash! Win!") that falls well short of the vicious punch these guys are capable of. Maybe it's just harder to rage when the machine's in such lousy shape already.
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The Billboard Hot 100
Issue Date: 2009-11-28
This Week Last Week Title, Artist
Imprint | Catalog No. | Distributing Label
Peak
Position
Weeks
on
Chart
1 2 Empire State Of Mind, Jay-Z + Alicia Keys 
Roc Nation 522671* |
1 10
2 1 Fireflies, Owl City 
Universal Republic DIGTIAL |
1 13
3 3 Whatcha Say, Jason DeRulo 
Beluga Heights DIGITAL | Warner Bros. |
1 14
4 4 Replay, Iyaz 
Time Is Money/Beluga Heights DIGITAL | Reprise |
4 13
5 22 Need You Now, Lady Antebellum 
Capitol Nashville DIGITAL |
5 14
Source: Billboard View Full Chart »
 


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