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And it is a surprise to me as I remember him doing an acoustic set before Andy Bey at the North Sea Jazz Festival many years ago and it was packed. Of course, he made his name with the Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy and their Gil Scott-Heron like hit, ‘Television, The Drug Of The Nation’. That came out 1991 and it’s as relevant now as it was then, “the more things change, the more things stay the same.”

But change they must and unlike Mr. Scott-Heron (who is not coming to the UK to tour as he has recently started a jail sentence), the single ‘I Know I’m Not Alone’ previews a short UK Tour and a forthcoming album, Yell Fire!

Recorded in Jamaica and San Francisco, you hope that this is going to be really good. Unfortunately for me, ‘I Know I’m Not Alone’ sounds too much like Tom Petty, Soundgarden or similar soft rock of 20 years ago. Unlike Neil Young, (who got recently got pelters for his recent anti-war album) back in 2004, Franti decided to go to the Iraq, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to see the war zones for himself. He took his guitar and video cameras with the intention of documenting the cost of war first hand. The film trailer for ‘I Know I’m Not Alone’ looks like Michael Moore made it and two years on, like ‘Television, The Drug Of The Nation’, is even more relevant today as Ms. Rice jets off to Lebanon and Israel. Check out the web site below to watch the video.

There’s a bonus, non-album track on the single, ‘I’ve Been Away’ that is more appropriate for reggae legends Sly and Robbie to show their pedigree but it’s subject matter is the personal and not the cutting political insight.

One day, Mr. Franti will be as well known as Michael Moore and Gil Scott-Heron and the film, ‘I Am Not Alone’ (the film) could see that happen sooner rather than later.

Tour Dates:
11 August - Sundae Festival, Leicester
12 August - Brixton Academy
13 August - St. Helens
16 August - Edinburgh
28 August - Greenbelt, Cheltenham

Reviewed: Michael Franti And Spearhead - I Know I’m Not Alone (Boo Boo Wax) Cat. No 1245-2 Release Date: July 2006
Tracklisting:
1. I Know I’m Not Alone (Radio Edit) (3:33)
2. I’ve Been Away (Lighthouse Version) (non-album track) (4:45)
3. I Know I’m Not Alone (Album Version) (4:03)
4. I Know I’m Not Alone (Movie Trailer)

Links:
www.iknowimnotalone.com
www.michaelmoore.com
www.gilscottheron.com