Sign up for our mailing list Real artists creating records on their own terms
Close

Sign up for our mailing list

News

Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

MICHAEL FRANTI AND SPEARHEAD TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM

MICHAEL FRANTI AND SPEARHEAD TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM All Rebel Rockers September 9, 2008

One of the most moving and politically charged writers, Michael Franti and his band Spearhead, return with their eagerly-awaited album, All Rebel Rockers, on September 9, via Anti-Records. Recorded in Kingston, Jamaica, with reggae's most prolific production teams, Sly & Robbie (No Doubt, Alicia Keys, Sean Paul, Bob Dylan), this new release deviates from Franti's previous sound and comprises a hybrid dub-infused soul flavor with some hard-hitting dub rock production. Alongside Dave Shul (guitars), Manas Itene (drums), Carl Young (bass) and Raleigh Neal (keyboards), the album also features Zap Mama founder Marie Daulne and Jamaican soul/dancehall star Cherine Anderson.

Californian-born poet, musician and composer, Franti blends hip hop, funk and reggae together with his outspoken political and progressive lyrics and has gone on to become renowned as not only a worldwide million-selling artist, but also a leader in the peace and social justice movement. Franti continues to influence people with his speaking engagements at Universities, panels at W.H.O./U.N. in Geneva, his work with N.G.O.'s such as Oxfam, Amnesty Int'l, but most notably is the international message and expansion of his own 'Power to the Peaceful' festival which has drawn more than 50,000 people for one day to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco over the last 9 years. In December of 2007, Franti brought the 1st annual festival to Sao Paulo, Brazil, featuring his band Spearhead & Brazilian star Seu Jorge.

In 1999, Franti began a more soulful and deeper exploration of his musical sound and politics. His writing with The Beatnigs and Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy delivered a more aggressive format for controversial themes inspired by current affairs while Franti's albums with Spearhead carries a more compassionate delivery with a few hell raisers thrown in. 'Stay Human' touched upon the unjust nature of the death penalty and corporate globalization; 'Everyone Deserves Music' promotes unity and personal empowerment. In 2006, inspired by a journey into the war zones of Iraq, Palestine and Israel Franti released the album 'Yell Fire!' and his directorial debut and award-winning film titled 'I Know I'm Not Alone.' The documentary explores the human cost of war through poignant imagery and narrative with a dose of humor to break the tension. The film garnered support and critical acclaim from Anthony Minghella, Chris Blackwell, Serj Tankian, the Amnesty International "Audience Award Winner" and the Harlem International Film Festival "Best International Documentary".

Historically, Franti has toured non-stop worldwide, early on with his group The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy supporting U2, followed by his band Spearhead performing with Ben Harper, The Fugees, Dave Mathews, Cypress Hill, Billy Bragg, Matisyahu and many festivals such at Glastonbury, V-Fest and Japan's Fuji Rock. The band will be in announcing festival and UK tour dates in August.

All Rebel Rockers Tracklisting: 1. 'Rude Boys Back in Town' 2. 'A Little Bit of Riddim' (feat. Cherine Anderson) 3. 'Life in the City' 4. 'Remote Control' 5. 'All I Want is You' 6. 'Say Hey (I Love You)' 7. 'I Got Love For You' 8. 'Sound System' (feat. Cherine Anderson) 9. 'Hey World' 10. 'The Future' 11. 'High Low' (Feat. Zap Mama) 12. 'Nobody Right Nobody Wrong' 13. 'Have a Little Faith'

Facebook | Twitter
 

Browse by Artist

2103All Artists 100Tom Waits 74Mavis Staples 59Neko Case 51Lost In The Trees 50Sean Rowe 48Dr. Dog 45The Milk Carton Kids
41Jolie Holland 40Bettye LaVette 37Man Man 36Son Little 35Tinariwen 33DeVotchKa 33Tim Fite 31Islands 31Grinderman 29Glen Hansard 28Saintseneca 27Galactic 27Wilco 27Delicate Steve 26Andy Shauf 25The Drums 24Michael Franti and Spe... 24Xenia Rubinos 22William Elliott Whitmo... 22Doe Paoro 22Bob Mould 21The Frames 21Nick Cave & The Bad Se... 20Joe Henry 20Christopher Paul Stell... 19Yves Jarvis 19Cass McCombs 19Booker T. Jones 19Sage Francis 18Gary V 18Deafheaven 18Calexico 17Yann Tiersen 17John K. Samson 16Jason Lytle 16The Antlers 16Danny Elfman 16Ramblin Jack Elliott 14Daniel Lanois 14Madi Diaz 14Jeremy Ivey 13Half Waif 13The Dream Syndicate 13Billy Bragg 12Leyla McCalla 12Girlpool 12Combo Chimbita 12Xavier Rudd 12Peter Silberman 11Mose Allison 11Lyrics Born 11Rain Machine 11Ryan Pollie 11Japandroids 11Roky Erickson 11Purr 11The Weakerthans 11Glitterer 11Jade Jackson 10High Pulp 10The Swell Season 10Darrin Bradbury 10Moor Mother 10Christian Lee Hutson 10So Much Light 10The Melodic 10Alfa Mist 9Hey, King! 9Curtis Harding 9Marianne Faithfull 9Wynonna 9Josiah Johnson 9M. Ward 9Cameron Avery 9N.A.S.A. 9Lido Pimienta 8Katy Kirby 8Greg Graffin 8Kate Davis 8Slow Pulp 8The Coup 8Solillaquists of Sound 8Cadence Weapon 7Kelly Hogan 7Ben Harper 7Title Fight 7Dead Man's Bones 7Ben Harper and Charlie... 7Alec Ounsworth 7Richard Reed Parry 7Beth Orton 7Eddie Izzard 7Elliott Smith 6Broken Twin 6Rafiq Bhatia 6Busdriver 6Deradoorian 6A Girl Called Eddy 6MJ Lenderman 6Kate Bush 6Bonny Doon 6James Brandon Lewis 6Os Mutantes 5Foxwarren 5One Day As A Lion 5The Tallest Man On Ear... 5Scott McMicken and THE... 5Ezra Furman 5Beat Connection 5Jasmyn 5Keaton Henson 5Art Moore 5The Field 5Kristine Leschper 4sunking 4Pops Staples 4The Good Ones 4Sparklehorse 4Waxahatchee 4Marketa Irglova 4Ersi Arvizu 4Jackson+Sellers 3Walter Wolfman Washing... 3Plains 3Mothers 3Sierra Leones Refugee... 3Marc Ribot 3Danny Cohen 3Sam Akpro 3Petra Haden 3Mavis Staples & Levon... 2Fleet Foxes 2Various Artists: RANGO 2ANTI- Records 2Jeff Tweedy 1Various Artists: ROGUE... 1Rogue's Gallery 1Antibalas 1Simian Mobile Disco 1Porter Wagoner 1Blackalicious 1Lightman Jarvis Ecstat... 1Joe Strummer And The M... 1Solomon Burke 1Youth Group 1Merle Haggard 1case/lang/veirs 1The Locust 1Taylor Vick 1Tricky 1Kronos Quartet with Br...
See Full List+