Michael Franti and Spearhead could not sum up their new album, “All Rebel Rockers,” better than with the first words of the CD.

The first track of the record, “Rude Boys Back in Town,” starts with the sharp pounding of a drum and is followed quickly by Franti’s reverberating voice shouting two words that completely describe the CD: “so unique.”

It is true that Franti’s sixth full-length studio album with his band Spearhead is unlike almost any other CD out there, as Franti creates a fresh and new sound. Though evidence of Franti’s earlier styles appear throughout the record, there is no doubt that Spearhead (comprised of Franti along with bassist Carl Young, guitarist Dave Shul, drummer Manas Itiene and keyboardist Raliegh Neal) has reached a new style difficult to classify by typical musical genre guidelines. This album combines elements of reggae, rock, and r&b to create a truly unique listening experience.

Franti was obviously inspired by reggae while recording this CD—in fact the first three songs are deeply Jamaican influenced. There is no doubt that the album, being recorded exclusively in Jamaica, home of reggae, and with help from reggae producing giants Sly Dubar and Robbie Shakespeare, attempts to mimic the sound made popular by Bob Marley.

Said Franti, “Every song is a song you can dance to.”

This could come at a surprise to some of Franti’s older fans that may not have followed him closely over the years. After starting out as a punk rocker, he quickly became interested in spoken word. While starting Spearhead in the early ’90s, originally a hip hop group, Franti seemed much more focused on creating provocative and conscience lyrics than songs with, what he calls, “rhythmic qualities.” From hip hop, Spearhead transitioned through a variety of musical genres but eventually found its way to a reggae, rock, and r&b fusion.

However, the record’s strengths do not end with the musical styles. The lyrics, as with all of Franti’s previous works, keep up a powerful political and social commentary. Over the course of the 13 tracks, Franti brings up many issues he sees as imperfect. In one song, he takes a shot at consumerism by repeating, “You’ve got to let go of remote control.” Later on, he says, “Tell me why it’s OK to kill in the name of the gods we pray?”

Yet, unlike previous Franti albums, the content of these songs is not completely political. It seems that love and compassion for others has become a strong idea for Franti. In multiple songs, he says something very similar to, “I got love for you.” One song, “Say Hey,” even sounds like Franti’s attempt at his first love song.

In the second song of the album, “A Little Bit of Riddim,” Franti says, “A little bit of rhythm makes the world go ’round.” If the first two words sum up the style of the CD, then that phrase sums up the purpose. Though it is unique, “All Rebel Rockers” adds that “little bit of rhythm” that helps make “the world go round.” Let’s just be grateful we have musicians like Franti to help keep this world spinning.



Franti rocks the Roseland Theatre (sidebar story)

Part way through Michael Franti and Spearhead’s live performance at downtown Portland’s Roseland Theater, Franti spun around on stage and allowed the centripetal force to rip off the beanie he wore, letting his waist-long dreadlocks fly around wildly. This was one of countless times that Franti brought the house down over the course of his two and a half hour long performance.

Franti smoothly transitioned through a wide variety of songs from most of his CDs but heavily focused on his newly released album, “All Rebel Rockers,” playing most songs from the new CD. The band moved effortlessly from upbeat, energetic songs to acoustic sets and always kept the audience on the edge of their seat with what song was coming next.

Spearhead was joined by Cherine Anderson, a reggae artist from Jamaica who was featured on two tracks of their new CD, after she opened for them with a solo set. Franti, Anderson, and Spearhead created a sound that had the crowd jumping and cheering until almost one a.m.