Rage Against the Machine - XX (20th Anniversary Edition Deluxe Box Set)
Legacy
www.ratm.com

Rating: B

While this is pushing the boundaries of whether it should be classic rock or not, the truth is that Rage Against the Machine are an important band. Guitarist Tom Morello is a true musical talent and the rest of the band helped him create a mixed genre that has influenced bands for twenty years, since the release of their debut album.

Just look at what this masterfully put together celebration box set and what it contains:

CD 1 includes the original album, remastered, with 3 bonus tracks of collectible b-sides from era.

CD 2 presents the original Rage Against the Machine demo tape. Recorded in 1991 and sold for $5 at the merch table at early Rage shows, the tape achieved mythical word-of-mouth status amongst music fans while helping to seal the band's deal with Epic Records. The 20th anniversary releases of Rage Against the Machine - XX marks the first time the entire RATM demo tapes have seen a full official release.

DVD #1 features Rage Against the Machine's historic free concert in Finsbury Park on June 2010, performed as a thank-you to UK fans for making "Killing in the Name" the UK's Number One Single during Christmas week 2009. Also included is the band's groundbreaking music videos plus live concert performance clips, some of which are released for the first time ever.

DVD#2 takes you back to the release of Rage s debut album focusing on live performance from 1991-1994 and which features for the first time the full set of RATM's first public performance as well as various live clips.

Rage Against the Machine - XX includes new liner notes, penned especially for the band's 20th anniversary by longtime fan and hip-hop pioneer Chuck D.

This is hip-hop rock at it finest, featuring great musicianship and angry lyrics, the band raging at the machine from beginning to end!

By Jeb Wright