Tallsman in Music
Michael Franti (2.01 Meters)
There is a stereotype that exists amongst musicians that places the tallest person in the band as the bass player. When the ever prolific Michael Franti first became interested in poetry and then music, his indoctrination was indeed via a bass that he purchased from a pawn shop in the Bay Area. While he was a lyricist first, I have to believe this was simply the best instrument to accompany vocals when first starting out, for he has since gone on to be a stand out guitarists on his own and has not been pigeon-holed to being solely a bassist, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Michael Franti is what we need more of in this country right now (always) – his music/lyrics strike across all our emotions from politically charged activism to blissful reggae rhythms preaching the goodness of life and love.
His music career began in college while he attended USF, coincidentally, on a basketball scholarship. He played sparingly his first year, averaging 2.4 pts & 1.2 rebounds per outing in 17 games as a freshman. Franti was introduced to poetry/writing by a priest while at school and this coupled with the fact he lived above the infamous KUSF radio station, drove him to explore and fuse these two areas in a creative outlet. This officially began with the formation of an industrial punk/spoken word band, The Beatnigs. This early collaboration with Ron Tse, is certainly raw and experimental, especially with the quick sound byte cuts and industrial rhythms and the songs are politically charged – check out C.I.A. or Television, which will later be revisited and refined in their next project together.
After several years of tours, one self-titled LP, and an E.P, Franti and Tse formed a different band in 1990, with a similar sound/purpose but a bit more polish in the Disposable Heroes of Hypocrisy. Their debut album, ‘Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury’ was well received by independent and college radio and helped them draw greater attention to their unique style and message. In this release, Franti is much more in the foreground, his increased confidence is evident in his front and center challenging lyrics while Tse’s rhythm’s draw more on hip-hop’s steady beat rather than punk dissonance which was the case with the Beatnigs.
On a personal note, I was first introduced to the band when they opened up for Billy Bragg in ‘91 and I was initially drawn in by the curious beats – Tse throwing a chain against a stop sign or a metal grinder delivering a screech with sparks flying. However, it was the steady beat/lyrics that turned me into a fan and made me share these sounds with my circle of friends while in college.
My discovery happened as their popularity started to grow and they were asked to accompany other large acts on their world tours, including U2’s Zoo Tour. Yet, they only release the one album before then moving on to their next projects.
Key tracks:
- Television, The Drug of the Nation – (NME credited this track as one of the greatest songs of all time in 2014)
- Satanic Verses
- California Uber Alles – a transformed cover of the Dead Kennedys classic
Franti formed his new band Spearhead in 1994 with a group of studio musicians, including Living Colour’s Vernon Reed and Jazz-guitarist phenom, Charlie Hunter, and released their debut Home in September of that year. Franti took his music in a different direction, putting out a much more soulful sound with a touch of funk overlaying his style of hip hop. While there is still an undercurrent of politically charged lyrics (see It’s a Crime to Be Broke in America), it feels more about personal relationships and love – which is something that will persist in his music and frankly his best output.
Key tracks:
The group’s sophomore effort came in 1997, Chocolate Supa Highway, which included not only a number of personnel changes but again a different vibe; hip hop but with a pronounced Reggae influence, thanks in part to guest Stephen Marley. Also guest performing on the album are Zap Mama and Joan Osborne.
Key Tracks:
Around this time, Franti decided to break from Capitol Records, and create their own label, Boo Boo Wax. Given Capitol owned the name Spearhead, all subsequent releases are now under the title Michael Franti & Spearhead.
Franti returned to a more politically charged message in his first release during an election year on Boo Boo Wax, entitled Stay Human. In the anthem “Rock the Nation” Franti proclaims ‘Fuck the constitution are we part of the solution or are part of the pollution’ – in this critical diatribe against media and a plea to take a stand. The format for the whole album is like a continuous radio show, with outtakes between each track that feed/transitions the listener into the next track. As a whole the album is powerful, funky and perhaps most important, driven. On “Listener Supported”, >2M or More appreciates the lyrics:
‘Six foot six above sea level
I grab the mic because I take you to
Another mental level
Low power frequency radio modulation’
May have to borrow the ‘…above sea level’ description in response to the daily inquiries on my own height.
Key Tracks:
In his follow up release, Everyone Deserves Music, Franti again balances a whole slew of styles, including returning to reggae overtones with some help from O.G. producers, Sly & Robbie on track “Bomb the World”, the track “We Don’t Stop” is an homage to the Clash’s <track> and “Crazy, Crazy, Crazy” is an afro-cuban, acoustic heavy toe tapping affair. Overall, the album carries quite a bit of new sounds not previously featured, heavy strings, synthesizers, and sound effects that may be Sly & Robbie signatures. While not the strongest of Spearhead albums there are moments of brilliance that should not be overlooked.
Key Tracks:
Also released this same year was Songs from the Porch – which is a collection of mostly-acoustic performances of Franti’s music throughout the year. Around this time, Franti himself stopped wearing shoes (unless required or out of respect) – an outlet for this lifestyle choice.
Franti and Spearhead returned to the studio isn 2006 after a life-changing trip to Israel and the West Bank, the result is Yell Fire! Mixing protest anthems with uplifting reggae riddims is another example of Franti blurring genres in an extreme way. To ensure he captured the island sound, he has guest contributions from the infamous Sly & Robbie on several tracks and recorded these in Jamaica, while finishing the rest of the album in hometown San Francisco.
Franti compliments his protest rhythms with more mainstream songs of positivity bringing in Pop singer Pink on the chorus for ‘One Step Closer to You’ creating at times an all too polished record that feels a little disjointed.
Key Tracks:
Yell Fire!’s reggae fusion clearly had a strong influence on Franti/Spearhead such that their follow up release in 2008, All Rebel Rockers was recorded almost entirely in Kingston, Jamaica and produced by Sly & Robbie. Franti embraces the same spirit of protest from Yell Fire! but manifests itself this time entirely in Reggae/Dancehall rhythm with the undercurrent of love – the key message of change. Franti let’s his lyrics deliver the message and departs from the usual rap/shouts that are common in previous releases. Guest musicians include Zap Mama’s Marie Daulne and Jamaican soul singer Cherine Anderson – providing a rich, lush depth that compliments the heavy bass of Carl Young and brings their familiar live show to the recording. Proof that reggae is the most approachable sound, this album represents Franti/Spearhead’s most successful release to date peaking at #37 on the Billboard 200 and single “Say Hey (I Love You)” topped out at 18 on the Billboard US Hot 100.
Key Tracks:
In 2009 while on tour, Franti was hospitalized with a mysterious ailment that took a while to diagnose (burst appendix), during this period of uncertainty he was overcome with a naturally fatalistic perspective on life followed by the overflowing positivity once he was on the mend. This experience carries through on their next album Sound of Sunshine, released in 2010 and again produced by Sly and Robbie and Franti. As awareness of their unique approach had grown over years, this album represents their most successful in terms of charting; reaching 17 on the US Billboard 200.
Critically, while the album was popularly received, the reviews were mixed, with bright spots like title track ‘ Sound of Sunshine’ or ‘xxx’ that are coupled with other tracks that don’t quite live up to that high of standard. Still, this represents a period where Franti/Spearhead were introduced to a broader audience as their unique blended sound became more and more radio friendly. Guest inputs again from Jamaican singers Cherine Anderson on ‘Gloria’ and
Key Tracks:
After a longer break Franti & Spearhead returned to the studio in 2013 to release All People – another album filled with positive vibes and acceptance to all groups. Consistent with previous albums, the sound borrows from multiple genres, including dance/club and easy listening rock which can be a little jarring to Spearhead purists. There feels like an overuse of symphonic overlays and softness across the lyrics that leave the album with few standout tracks. This may be my least favorite album.
Key Track:
After another extended break, Franti returned to the studio in 2016 to record/produce ‘Soulrocker’ in conjunction with Jamaican producers Stephen McGregor and Supa Dups.
The results are a fusion of electronic beats, synthesizer fueled tempos on top of the up beat harmonies and acoustic guitar we are accustomed to with Franti. Admittedly, I don’t think the combination works – the songs feel familiar but foreign – like covers in a slightly different style, even though these are all originals. Perhaps my appreciation in Franti is stuck in his earlier style and needs to evolve – but my favorite tracks are those that are stripped down, simple and let his rhythm/message ring true.
Key Tracks:
Given Franti’s prolific globally touring he has experienced a multitude of cultures which has helped shape his own perspective on life and his music. In 2018 he documented these journeys in a film Stay Human that profiles five different souls and their challenges while (spoiler alert) celebrating their perseverance to rise above. The release of Stay Human vol 2 in 2019 was the accompanying soundtrack that features collaborations with a variety of artists including Hawaiian reggae singer Hirie, and Spanish-American singer Victoria Canal, who is herself an internationalist, having lived in eight different countries with her Cuban American parents.
This album stays true to his positive message and his fusion of reggae/pop/folk that will keep you on your feet and bobbing your head. The epitome of his message is the track ‘This World is so F*cked up (But I Ain’t Ever Giving Up on It.)
Key Tracks:
Franti named his latest album ‘Work Hard and Be Nice’ (released June 2020) after his best selling t-shirt from recent tours. The body of work is a reprieve to all that have been struggling with the isolation and impact of COVID and celebrating the little things in life. The silver lining of the pandemic is that we all have been impacted, no one is immune to suffering, but should be a reminder that ‘life goes quickly so take it slow’ as he sings on ‘Good Shit Happens.’ In classic Franti form, he has packaged together a volume of positivity that certainly the world needs right now. While the album doesn’t surface any major standouts and critically a few of the tracks bleed together in background obscurity, his efforts should be applauded for doing his part to spread positivity.
Key Track(s):
Michael Franti is a prolific man of positivity – continuously spreading his message of love, acceptance and good vibes even when his perpetual world world tour had to come to a stop during the COVID pandemic. His craft has certainly evolved, while still ringing true to core politcal themes, he has discovered a style that can deliver these messages in a more thoughtful care-free manner. Let’s face it, we have enough crakiness and despair in the world, so take a break from the 24 hours news cycle and get yourself to the next Spearhead show coming to your town soon. As Franti sums up in one of his titles, ‘The World is so Fucked Up, but I ain’t ever giving up on it.” In the meantime, here’s a playlist of some favorites from this Two Meters or More All Star to tie you over.
