“A commitment to righteousness”: The greatest album of all time, according to Tom Morello
American guitarist Tom Morello knows a thing or two about the art of crafting an album. Far too often, a record is seen as a mere collection of ten songs, but a special few musicians are able to utilise the art of the album as a beacon for artistry and getting across a particular message. For Morello, each album he helped to create with Rage Against the Machine was deeply imbued with political angst and vitally important social commentary on the state of the United States during the 1990s.
As their band name might imply, Rage Against the Machine were a group that were firmly rooted in the defiant traditions of punk rock. Originally formed in 1991, as the discordant sounds of grunge dominated the rock stations of America, Morello’s group sought to combine their punk background with hip-hop and furious political disenfranchisement. The resulting sound was something far angrier and more switched on than anything that had come out of the grunge scene.
From the release of their self-titled debut, Rage Against the Machine set themselves apart from virtually every other rock band in America at the time. Everything from the album’s controversial artwork to the wall of sound that was Morello’s guitar playing represented a group that was out to tear down the musical establishment and rebuild from the rubble. In that sense, the group owe an incredible debt to the original punk rock revolution of the 1970s, during which bands like Crass and The Clash were creating politically charged anthems to challenge the status quo.
It seems that the band’s endless debt to The Clash is not lost upon Tom Morello. The guitarist has always been open about his utter adoration for Joe Strummer’s band, as you could probably tell from listening to his musical style. After all, The Clash were among the most musically diverse bands of the punk age, creating a unique blend of rockabilly, dub, ska and even disco to put forth their revolutionary message.
During a 2008 interview, Morello explained his worship of Strummer’s band, arguing that their 1979 record London Calling is “the greatest album, ever”. The album is undoubtedly one of The Clash’s most accomplished efforts, representing the pinnacle of everything that they had been trying to achieve during their early years. London Calling contains a vibrant mix of influences, styles, and songwriting techniques that will continue to inspire countless future artists, not least Rage Against the Machine.
Explaining his deep appreciation for the 1979 album, Morello told PopMatters, “It combines rock fury, adventurous music, brilliant lyrics and a commitment to righteousness that has rarely been seen before or since,” before adding, “God Bless Joe Strummer”.
For a figure who has previously caused some controversy with his views – mainly as a result of right-wingers misunderstanding the message of Rage Against the Machine – it is certainly difficult to argue against anything Morello says with regard to The Clash. Whichever way you spin it, London Calling should certainly be hailed among the greatest albums of all time, certainly the greatest album to arise from the punk generation.
