Michael Franti and Spearhead

Michael Franti has seemingly always been on the outside looking in when it comes to the lumbering behemoth we call the music industry. Which, in this case, isn’t a bad thing, as one gets the feeling the Franti wouldn’t have it any other way. Eschewed by the mainstream, Michael Franti and Spearhead have nonetheless meticulously carved out a worldwide audience solely based on expansive touring and the underground power of politically charged protest music. All Rebel Rockers builds on the group’s now trademark foundation of dub, soul and funk with the venerable production of Sly & Robbie. "Rude Boys Back In Town” sets the affair off beautifully, and joints like that, the slippery smooth "All I Want Is You” and the anthemic "Hey World” deliver different flavours of the same vibe. The end result is revolutionary and revelatory music that’s a bit more structured and less organic than previous efforts but nonetheless offers new Michael Franti and Spearhead while feeling familiar at the same time.