Michael Franti & Spearhead Return To Roots On New Album With Sly & Robbie

I dig Michael Franti and I LOVE Spearhead, but my interest in his work had started to wane in recent years. For starters, I'm wide awake,angry and aware of what's going on in the world, so Yell Fire! is preaching to the converted. Plus, I liked their reggae sounds of yesteryear and wasn't so into the rock stylings they've adopted. Well, Franti must have noticed this shift in his fanbase, coz he and Spearhead have hit the studio to make a record for people like us! I just received word that a new album is on the way via ANTI- on September 9th. What's truly exciting though, is that it was recorded in Kingston, Jamaica with Sly and Robbie!! Oh My Jah! I'm so pleased! Franti says:

This album is our tuffest yet, taking things deeper into the reggae/rock/dancehall groove than we have ever gone before, but without losing the revolutionary lyrics, catchy melodies, or the unifying power of music we have always championed.

Not only that, but the music is described as "dub-infused soul" with "hard-hitting dub rock production" and features lovely sistah singers, Cherine Anderson and Zap Mama's Marie Daulne!! Ok, breathe. Aaaah. (I guess I should get Michael Franti's new yoga video too, so I can learn to calm down...)The album is called All Rebel Rockers and it will be available September 9th on ANTI-. Most of it was recorded in JA, but parts were also recorded in SF and L.A. Franti is back in Jamaica now, filming the videos for "A Little Bit a Riddim" and "All I Want Is You" with legendary director Ras Kassa! They've also filmed in Indonesia according to Franti:

This album will be our most visual to date as we currently have four videos in production at the same time, having just shot scenes in Indonesia for the songs, "Hey World" and "Remote Control" with the multi-talented Carla Swanson and hot upcoming director Dugan O'Neal.

Here is the tracklist:‘Rude Boys Back in Town’ ‘A Little Bit of Riddim’ (feat. Cherine Anderson) ‘Life in the City’‘Remote Control’‘All I Want is You’‘Say Hey (I Love You)’‘I Got Love For You’‘Sound System’ (feat. Cherine Anderson)‘Hey World’‘The Future’‘High Low’ (Feat. Zap Mama)‘Nobody Right Nobody Wrong’‘Have a Little Faith’The news isn't up on the ANTI- website yet, but here is Franti and Spearhead's site, which has info and will soon have videos:http://www.spearheadvibrations.com/