Personnel: Stanton Moore (drums, percussion); Trevor Welch, Dave Gibbs, Eric Gardner, Jim Scott, Carl Restivo (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Jim Scott.

Recording information: NRG Recording Studio, North Hollywood, CA; PLYRZ Studio, Santa Clara, CA.

When Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello and the Coup's Boots Riley started making plans to put together a group, even rap-rock haters had to stand up and take notice. However, anyone who expected a revolutionary record were likely disappointed by the outcome. Morello and Riley are both well-established as politically charged, left-wing activists, but most of STREET SWEEPER SOCIAL CLUB's militant content is overshadowed by rallying party rhymes. The bulk of the record feels like it was made to be performed at live festivals, presumably for audiences to hold up their lighters and shout along. But more than anything, it sounds like Rage Against the Machine Part 2, with a less riotous singer. Boots is a great rapper who has never really gotten his due respect, and while he is quite capable of rapping along with the funk-metal backdrop, his vocals just don't seem as suited for anthemic stomps as Zack de la Rocha's screams did. Still there are some decent fist-pumping rhymes about giving it to The Man. And the rhythmic foundation laid by Galactic drummer Stanton Moore and Morello (who plays bass as well as guitar) is thick and solid.

When Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello and the Coup's Boots Riley started making plans to put together a group, even rap-rock haters had to stand up and take notice. However, anyone expecting a revolutionary record was probably surprised by the outcome. Morello and Riley are both well-established as politically charged left-wing activists, but most of Street Sweeper Social Club's militant content is overshadowed by rallying party rhymes. The bulk of the record feels like it was made to be performed at live festivals, presumably for a drunken audience to hold up their lighters and shout along to the choruses: "Let's hit 'em with the Mega blast!," "Shock! Shock! We gon shock you again!," and "(Yee!) Alright muthafuckas! (Coo coo!) We gonna fight, muthafuckas!" The combination of funk-metal and rap sounds very '90s, so Ice-T's Body Count, or even the Judgment Night soundtrack, might come to mind. More than anything though, Street Sweeper sounds like Rage Against the Machine Part 2 with a more laid-back vocalist. Boots is a better rapper than he shows, and while he keeps pace, his vocals just don't seem as suited for anthemic stomps as the screams of Zack de la Rocha did. If you can try to forget Rage, it's not all bad. The heavy chugging rhythms laid by Galactic drummer Stanton Moore and Morello (who plays bass as well as guitar) are powerful, and when things don't sound forced, the rhymes are fit for fist-pumping. If Morello and Riley hadn't been involved in such great projects before, this would be acceptable, but in hindsight, it doesn't really live up to their past accomplishments. ~ Jason Lymangrover

When Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello and the Coup's Boots Riley started making plans to put together a group, even rap-rock haters had to stand up and take notice. However, anyone expecting a revolutionary record was probably surprised by the outcome. Morello and Riley are both well-established as politically charged left-wing activists, but most of Street Sweeper Social Club's militant content is overshadowed by rallying party rhymes. The bulk of the record feels like it was made to be performed at live festivals, presumably for a drunken audience to hold up their lighters and shout along. Choruses include "Let's hit 'em with the Mega blast!," "Shock! Shock! We gon shock you again!," and "(Yee!) Alright muthafckas! (Coo coo!) We gonna fight, muthafckas!" Ice-T's Body Count, or even the Judgment Night soundtrack, might come to mind, considering that the arrangement sounds very '90s, but more than anything, it sounds like Rage Against the Machine Part 2 with a less riotous singer. While no Zack de la Rocha, Boots is no slouch with his delivery and he does a pretty good job keeping up with the heavy rhythmic chug laid by Galactic drummer Stanton Moore and Morello (who plays bass as well as guitar.) ~ Jason Lymangrover