Although Michael Franti and his band Spearhead have played with U2, Dave Matthews, Trey Anastasio and Ani di Franco, not many people outside of Northern Calif. even know their name. With their latest album, Everyone Deserves Music, and an international tour with Ziggy Marley, this may all change.
Spearhead formed in 1994 and put out their first album, Chocolate Supa Highway. Formerly of The Beatnigs and The Disposible Heroes of Hipoprisy, both of which had a black industrial sound, Spearhead was a change for Franti. Still following his mantra of “Music and Politics,” Spearhead began with a more diverse hip-hop quality, showing influences of everyone from Mayfield to Marley. Their music continued to evolve with the release of their next album, Home and Stay Human, tackling issues such as terrorism, globalization,and the death penalty.
Less funky than Spearhead’s previous albums, Everybody Deserves Music isn’t hip-hop. Ranging from classic rock tracks to reggae, groove, bossa nova, Afrobeat and dancehall, their style is difficult to categorize. Despite being their most eclectic album to date, it is also their most connected in its beats and messages. The album begins with the smooth and soulful “What I Be,” and moves straight to the upbeat “We Don’t Stop,” a collaboration with Gift of Gab, which begs you to stand up and dance. From the funky “Pray for Grace,” reminiscent of Manu Chao, to R&B singer Ledisi’s funked out remix of “Bomb the World,” Franti’s music not only reflects world issues, as Spearhead always has, but also has a new personal element. There is more internal reflection than the preaching or lecturing that socially conscious music often succumbs to.
Incredibly well crafted, Everyone Deserves Music presents Franti’s personality in his music in a way he had never shown before. Due to its complexity, the album is part of the small minority that is not only better listened to from start to finish, but gets better every time it’s played. This results in an album that is incredibly easy to listen to, drive to, study to, or, even better, dance to. Spearhead’s latest album is not one to be missed.
