Franti Revels In Dub Groove On 'Rebel Rockers!

In the past four years, Michael Franti traveled into the hearts of Baghdad, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to shoot his documentary "I Know I'm Not Alone" and its audio companion "Yell Fire!," and he wrote a children's book, "What I Be."

So you can't blame him for wanting to blow off a little steam. "All Rebel Rockers" (out Sept. 9 on Anti-) is that release. Despite its revolutionary-sounding title, it's a groove-heavy and often joyous affair shot through with the dub and reggae-club sounds of its Jamaican birthplace.

"I've definitely never left the political behind," Franti says, "But absolutely we wanted to make this a fun record, to make music that could be socially engaging and challenging for this crazy time but would leave people inspired and uplifted."

Click "Watch" to view the Hey World video and "Listen" to hear the track!

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Maria Volonte - Perfect Storm

In a lengthy profile of Maria inside the magazine, titled “Perfect Storm: Maria Volonte channels the tempestuous power of tango,” journalist Jim Bessman wrote, “The Latin Grammy-nominated and Gardel Prize-winning Argentine vocalist is known for her powerful, gut-wrenching performances, and after a brief discussion of her latest studio foray into tango, folclore and candombe styles, she picked up an acoustic guitar and floored the audience with her soul-stirring voice.”

Global Rhythm chose Maria’s song “Parte del Juego” to include as the second track on the sampler CD that comes with this special Argentine music issue of the magazine. Also featured are Gustavo Santaolalla’s “Bajofondo,” alt-folk icon Juana Molina and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs.

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Pablo Molina - Latin Reggae's Mighty Lion

Agrentina has been carving out its musical personality and branching into new sounds ever since tango swept the streets of Buenos Aires. In that respect, this country's reggae may seem like the strangest of fusions, but the similar political climates in Jamaica and Latin America Make it something of a natural phenomenon.

Back inthe 1980s, when hardcore and punk were helping bring a new individuality to the youth undergroun in American cities, Argentina's Todos Tus Muertos (loosely tryanslated as "All Your Dead") began experimenting with a mix of sounds that reflected its home country's multi-ethnic diversity. Since them TTM has become an international sensation melding a punk attitude with the positive vibrations of reggae. Playing sold-out crowds in spain, Mexico, Chile, Venezuela, Peru, and Colombia, the group owes much of its recent resurgence on the Latin American music scene to its charismatic lead singer and songwriter, the dreadlocked Pablo Molina.

"There is a connection to reggae lyrics that speak of injustices, faulty healthcare, education and corruption among our government leaders," he say, citing the line of communication between Jamaicans and Latin Americans. "I identify with reggae through the catchy rhythms. When I listen to reggae, it forces me to dance, and it hits me without pain - just like Bob Marley said."

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