190n120: 30 Years of Music with Adam Johnson...Episode Ten: "People say that money isn't the key to happiness, but I always figured if you have enough money, you can have a key made"

166. Pantera - Reinventing the Steel (2000)

There really is no hint of innovation of any kind within Pantera's final album. As a matter of fact, every single song on Reinventing the Steel is about staying exactly the same, even in spite of oneself. The best way to get hard and stay hard is to hit the same thing over and over again; and not even mutual contempt could keep these Southern-fried monsters from kicking out the jams. Dimebag kept getting louder and heavier, Vinnie kept getting faster, and Phil...well, Phil just kept getting more Phil.

For perspective, let's look at some contemporaries' timeline in comparison to our protagonists:
In 1996, Metallica got Marianne Faithfull to sing on Reload. Also in 1996, Pantera (probably) paid Seth Putnam in heroine and a blowjob to sing on The Great Southern Trendkill. The Daft Punk song "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" is actually an ode to the Cowboys From Hell.

Their dedication to their roots and the scene that inspired them gave legitimacy to a fringe culture just frothing to be heard. What endeared me most to Pantera was their semblance to my friends and neighbors. "I'm from [insert small Illinois town here] and that's just how we roll's'all" is not an excuse for bad behavior, no. But it makes for some great drinking company.
Pantera may be a bunch of idiots playing meathead riffs to/for one another's amusement, but they sure do put a smile of my face.

Recommended Listening: Revolution Is My Name, Goddamn Electric, Death Rattle, It Makes Them Disappear

165. Rage Against the Machine - Evil Empire (1996)

Where the first record sounded like a rally, and The Battle of Los Angeles more a swan song, Evil Empire sweat guerilla's bullets.

Brad Wilk left the cowbell in the garage, staying lean and mean like Tommy Ramone. If a drummer insists on playing stiff, he better be precise and he better be fast.
This retreat to the grindstone allows Tim Commerford to stop the funky dunky schtick and drive the hell out of his bass. "Tire Me" remains my favorite track in the Rage catalog.
No longer overcompensating for our attention, Tom Morello's Frankenstein guitar experiments feel more comfortable within the accompanying instrumentation.
And free from the campaign trail of their self-titled offering, Zack de la Rocha focuses on stories this time. People and places take precedent over slogans.

None of these songs, not even the unfortunately massive single "Bulls On Parade", are incidental. Epic Records gave Rage Against the Machine more money for another set of 90s funk-metal, but that's not what they got. No radio songs here, just protest music.

Recommended Listening: Vietnow, Tire Me, Down Rodeo, Roll Right