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- By date
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Taking the death penalty as the central theme for an album -the sleevenotes feature anti-death penalty quotes from the like of Bono, Chuck D and Nirvana's Krist Novoselic- may not sound like much of a party, but there's a human warmth and gentle humour in Franti's delivery, hitched to hugely danceable and uplifting music.
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Not hip-hop in its most conventional form then, but a mutant version drenched in, and suffused with, the same rebellious spirit. An organic meta-hip-hop, if you will, that hearkens back to Gill Scott Heron's innovation and looks forward as well.
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While his lyrics are both timely and powerful, the album's power lies as much in the superbly crafted grooves and songs, which are the best Franti has delivered yet.
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Such lightness of touch is missing from the between-song skits, which have Franti posing as a DJ on a community-radio show, conducting interviews and dispensing commentary on the death penalty. But the between-skit songs are terrific.
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SpinFrom the beginning, Franti has favored a retro, flow-through groove, and here hsi funk adds a decidedly disco flavor. [Jul 2001, p.135]
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There's a lot of great music here to enjoy. The political tone on the album is more problematic, though.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 12 out of 15
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Mixed: 1 out of 15
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Negative: 2 out of 15
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JoeSNov 19, 2005
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CarolineAJul 23, 2005This is the best album my soul has found
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KyleEJun 9, 2004Any CD with a song like "Oh my God" can't be any less than a 8. This CD is packed with great beats, smooth lyrics, and a powerful message.