Michael Franti: A New Bob Marley?
Spearhead's Yell Fire! album echoes the reggae legend's peace songs
© Ben Wood
May 31, 2007
Michael Franti
Musician and activist Michael Franti has spent over two decades as a funky, impassioned campaigner against bigotry and exploitation, and in favour of human rights and dignity. As his website says, he makes ‘conscientious music that engages the brain, booty and soul’.
The Beatnigs, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
Franti started off in underground ‘afro-industrial’ band The Beatnigs (1986-90) on the Dead Kennedys’ label Alternative Tentacles, before gaining widespread acclaim with conscious industrial/hip-hop act The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy (1991-3). Their Hiphoprisy is the Greatest Luxury album tackled two-faced rappers (the title track), TV, racism, homophobia and much more. The Heroes got their message across to the masses via a support slot with U2 on their Zoo TV tour. Ever open-minded, their next album saw them providing backing to beat legend William Burroughs on the ace Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales.
Spearhead
Always keen to keep moving, Franti then founded Spearhead, a group with a warmer sound combining hip-hop, reggae, soul and rock influences. After two albums (Home and Chocolate Supa Highway), the band left Capitol Records to maintain total artistic control. Since then Franti has been a one-man cottage industry, his Boo-Boo Wax label releasing his more recent albums (Stay Human, Everyone Deserves Music, the folky Songs From the Front Porch); and founding the yearly Power to the Peaceful festival.
Franti’s new album Yell Fire! is the result of his recent trips to the Middle East, which have also resulted in his film I Know I’m Not Alone. It is a passionate plea for people of all races and creeds to unite; realise their shared humanity; and not be manipulated by governments, corporations, and warmongers. It confirms that, in both sound and message he is today’s nearest equivalent to the late lamented Bob Marley.
Yell Fire!
Yell Fire! features legendary reggae rhythm section Sly and Robbie, and was partly recorded in Kingston, Jamaica. The ‘Riddim Twins’ are augmented by chopping rhythm guitar, funky percussion and female backing vocals reminiscent of Marley’s former cohorts The I-Threes. These Jamaican flavours are combined with folky musings, funky party jams and U2-style atmospherics.
Time to go Home opens Yell Fire! with some simple truths (‘Those who start wars never fight them/and those who fight wars never like them’). The title track follows with some rockier textures before I Know I’m Not Alone goes a bit U2, but in a good way.
The bubbling East to the West ups the Marley factor, then Little Lies acknowledges that we all need a breather from harsh reality every now and then. Hello Bonjour is another joyful acknowledgement of universal brother and sisterhood; and One Step Closer to You is a Stir It Up-style love song featuring Pink on backing vocals.
Hey Now Now is a party anthem, and Everybody on a Move is another funk-filled jam with squealing P-Funk synths and ecstatic backing vocals; before the album dips somewhat.
See You in the Light is another atmospheric mid-paced number. Light Up Ya Lighter is a reggae/rock diatribe against the military, (‘the war on terror is a war on peace’).
What I’ve Seen is like a reggae Coldplay (this is a good idea, honest!);
Tolerance is a plea for coexistence: and the ballad Is Love Enough? ends the album on a wistful note.
Bob Marley would be proud
George Clinton once told us ‘free your ass and your mind will follow’. While occasionally straying slightly too near the middle of the road, this album still has plenty for both. And in an era when most artists are happy to sell out, it’s refreshing that someone is still standing up to be counted. If Bob’s looking down, he should be proud.
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