Tom Morello: Solo Album Released

Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine released his anticipated solo album, The Fabled City, on September 30th. The 11-song album, produced by Brendan O'Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam), is the first release to bear the political and social activist's birth name and features appearances by System Of A Down's Serj Tankian and Shooter Jennings. With more complex electric arrangements than displayed on the sparse solo debut One Man Revolution, The Fabled City is the synthesis of his groundbreaking work as an innovative rock guitarist and revolutionary acoustic troubadour. For the first time, this album bridges the gap between Tom Morello, the acoustic protest singer and Tom Morello, the guitar legend.

The tour in support of The Fabled City will display both sides of Morello's guitar prowess with both an acoustic set and full-band electric set performed each night. In regards to the format of the performances, Morello stated "On The Fabled City Tour, I will be playing both acoustic and electric guitar. I want to start off with the darker acoustic songs and then build to some of the wildest electric guitar playing I have ever unleashed on stage in my career. The idea is half Dylan/Half Hendrix. I have been practicing my ass off and can't wait to rock."

In addition to the tour, Tom Morello has been confirmed to appear at the annual New Yorker Festival in New York City on Saturday, October 4th. Morello will be performing songs and talking with James Surowiecki, staff writer at The New Yorker since 2000. The performance and interview takes place at the Acura Stage at Cedar Lake Theatre, 547 West 26th Street.

The Fabled City Tour:

11/01 - San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
11/02 - Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
11/05 - Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
11/07 - Salt Lake City, UT The Depot
11/08 - Aspen, CO Belly Up Aspen
11/09 - Boulder, CO Fox Theater
11/11 - Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Cafe
11/12 - Milwaukee, WI Turner Hall Ballroom
11/13 - Indianapolis, IN The Vogue
11/20 - Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
11/21 - New York, NY The Fillmore NY at Irving Plaza

Comments

[Comeback Kiddd]

This album is amazing. it has a Johnny Cash feeling to it yet it sounds so amazing

[Newbs28]

I love the album, just that one verse in Midnight In The City Of Destruction raised an eyebrow for me. Great musician though

[aaciseric]

I'll have to get this soon, sounds excellent.

[hazzmatazz]

I really love this album, his songwriting has definately improved a lot since One Man Revolution.

[wiggyisgreat]

Very good album this, I love it.

[JimmyC8277]

i heard the song on his myspace, sounds promising. i loved one man revolution. my friends on the other hand....lol, they prefer ratm

[Jackolas]

Just reminded me to get both! Good stuff, sounds great.

[sowhat360]

JimmyC8277 wrote:

i heard the song on his myspace, sounds promising. i loved one man revolution. my friends on the other hand....lol, they prefer ratm

i prefer rage too.....i can see people liking this but if you're a big rage fan, i dont see how you can think this is better.

[Chrisnw22]

Love the album, very catchy and powerful songs by a fantastic artist.
Here's hoping he comes to Toronto again!

[m1dnight]

why is everyone making out this is his first solo album? and why is this one getting so much press, douchebag media types

[woody42]

first album is better imo but this one still has it moments

[THE BULGE]

can someone help me i have this pre-ordered of play.com and i thought it was gonna be out around this time but i went on the site today after seeing this and it says released 02/02/09 :S

[RichieKotzen]

I want an instrumental record from him. Im not really impressed with any of his solo work. I don't knw why either.

[tomsawyer67]

His solo stuff is way better than serjs solo. Awesome in a perfect world he would do this and rage, but this is pretty good.

Checked

[Lamb of Deth]

im listening to it right now. Is that Morello singing? If so that he has a surprisingly deep voice which sounds awesome

[almostdvs222]

Sweet, cant wait to check it out.

[Casta44]

I love this dude. Can't wait.

[punkrockjoe]

Is his singing any good on this? I like Tom Morello I should really give this a listen.

i need to find someone who will go see him with me. i also need to get a copy of this.

[rageagainst64]

Lamb of Deth wrote:

im listening to it right now. Is that Morello singing? If so that he has a surprisingly deep voice which sounds awesome

yeah, you wouldnt think he has that nice of a voice. but i love his solo. work. and you cant compare the nightwatchman to tom's rage work, theyre completely different, musically.

[mrcrono]

just saw him play today at a free show for a radio station in Philly. Even on the acoustic his show has A LOT of energy.

I need to pick up this album.

Checked.

[llama_guitarist]

I got all excited because he was coming to Utah, then I realized it was at The Depot, a 21 and over place.

God damn...

But I'll probably pick this up.

[Cobalt Blue]

damn I gotta pick this shit up.

[Gavskin]

You can see a video of Tom and Serj doing the track Lazarus on Down from Reading '08 here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/readingandleeds/2008/artists/r ageagainstthemachine/

I was suprised by Tom's singing voice too, this was the first time I ever heard it.

[Deacon Blues]

if anyone one else released this it would get no attention. i love RATM and morello but this is more of a masturbation than anything really special

[zekk]

Great album. A little better then One man... in terms of songwriting, but not as raw.

[TheJudasKiss]

Tom is the man.

=]

[PissInMyShoeses]

Does anybody else think that Morello looks like a tanned cancer patient?

[everlong12]

he's coming to minneapolis.... sweet!!!!

[slaptasticdave]

whose in the touring band?

[ElThomas]

morello is so talented. people dont give him enough credit

[(Mr.Arercab)]

sick, nuff said

[ThatCostsMoney]

wooooo
this albums sooo sweeet

[djmay71]

WHAT!?
NO CANADIAN LOVE???

[Strausser33]

djmay71 :
WHAT!?
NO CANADIAN LOVE???

^haha


i love his guitar work.....i like to hear this stuff cuz folk songs arent my thing but his electric work is sweet.....hes my inspiration to play

[guitargodderyck]

hes a great guitarist and song writer

[Energysync]

I'm upset that "Shake my shit" isn't on this album. When I saw him in Chicago from the last tour he played it, and promised it would be there.

[f1sk]

cool I like tom, ill have to check it out

[randyaintdead82]

thank god GH3 didnt ruin him like it did with slash

[JoeLancaster]

tomsawyer67 wrote:

His solo stuff is way better than serjs solo. Awesome in a perfect world he would do this and rage, but this is pretty good.

LIES...my reaction to Tom's first solo album was "Wow..this is certainly....well, it's an album, all right"

Pretty uninspired. Serj's, on the other hand....epic, man

[Soul Power]

Eww, he's a Cubs fan? I kid, I kid, but I guess I should check his stuff out.

[travd92]

ah c'mon on tom hit up ATL.

[ferretface]

His voice is really deep. Great guitarist, but he sounds a bit melodramatic. And this is coming from a huge Rage fan.

So far the only one I am liking is Shake My Shit.

[Zida]

wow this is a good album

[ILoveGuitar07]

what are the vocals like?
Mellow, loud and agressive? ect?
?

[MerryGoRound]

anyone ever herd of the word. diversity..or however the hell you spell it, yah, oh my god im a RATM fan i can not like toms solo stuff cause im a meat head stuck in my own ways musically retarted person, open your FU***NG minds people...f***

O...k....calm down.Is everyone that likes RATM and not Morello's solo stuff closed minded? No.

P.s. yes, i have heard of diversity. I even learned the spelling.

[cuthbert1]

I'm upset that "Shake my shit" isn't on this album. When I saw him in Chicago from the last tour he played it, and promised it would be there.

It's an iTunes bonus track man. Perry Farrel does vocals with Tom. It rocks man! Great song! I think a great album overall. Saint Isabelle is the best track on the album.

[napsternova]

Wow definitely sounds like Johnny Cash. Cash was the man. This is good stuff. Very well written lyrics.

[KSUGuy]

If this is anything like his first solo album, which was absolutely amazing, then this has all the workings of a masterpiece. I plan on going out and getting it as soon as I'm not quite so poor.

[DroptheBomb]

holy shit.


there is a god.

[alnicoV]

ElThomas wrote:

morello is so talented. people dont give him enough credit

i feel like some people give him too much credit.

checked.

[Psycho Pigeon]

alnicoV wrote:

ElThomas wrote:

morello is so talented. people dont give him enough credit

i feel like some people give him too much credit.

not really, hes an awsome gutarist and activist.

[LukeyBoi2kaii8]

dude you r the best guitarist ever. ur solo's rock

[emP]

listening to the album right now.. so far its pretty darn good :o

[shotgunjoe]

Does this sound like Nightwatchman? If so, I won't bother.

[luke2206]

why isn't it on my itunes???

[Beanie_Ben]

JoeLancaster wrote:

tomsawyer67 wrote:

His solo stuff is way better than serjs solo. Awesome in a perfect world he would do this and rage, but this is pretty good.


LIES...my reaction to Tom's first solo album was "Wow..this is certainly....well, it's an album, all right"

Pretty uninspired. Serj's, on the other hand....epic, man

i cant speak on morellos stuff cause ive not heard it, but daron from soads - scars on broadway is better than serjs stuff. perhaps not from a composition point of view but definately from a catchy/jumpy view.

[Shread_6009]

for his next album he should have adam jones (tool) on it, since hey played to gether in highschool

[gringo4573]

he says its half dylan and half hendrix? he is nothing like hendrix

[Moozze]

ILoveGuitar07 wrote:

what are the vocals like?
Mellow, loud and agressive? ect?
?

It's like... calm, pure, a little raw maybe. Hard to describe.

[bambi_slaughter]

Morello def had an album before this called the nightwatchman

[Mix Master]

gringo4573 wrote:

he says its half dylan and half hendrix? he is nothing like hendrix

Style of music i believe, i view him and his music as classic rock

[JoMamma24]

i can't stop listening to lazarus on down. so good! and i agree with djmay71: he needs to show some canadian love.

[The_Raven]

DroptheBomb wrote:

holy shit.


there is a god.

You found me

In any case, top album...loved the Nightwatchman,, love this

[rancidryan]

wow this album is truely amazing

love it

[Jacob6293]

i gotta get this

Checked.

[Jackolas]

Lots of you repeating misinformation here... Tut tut.

Morello calls himself The Nightwatchman. His first album out a year or two ago was called One Man Revolution. This one is called Fabled City. Both are good. This one especially, imho.

[myearshurt]

cool, OMR was the ****

[cooljew]

i've seen this man live in concert twice and let me tell you that he's worth every penny. the songs are different but still powerful, I loved one man revolution and can't wait to get my hands on this.

[Gundam pilota09]

gringo4573 wrote:

he says its half dylan and half hendrix? he is nothing like hendrix

lets compare him to hendrix
Hendrix: not afraid to expiriment with sounds that some people would call "bad"
Tom: " "
Hendrix:took a classic dylan song and did it in his own styling
Tom: " "
Hendrix:redefined guitar technique as we know it
Tom: " "
he's more like hendrix than anyone would think

[JoeFox1014]

i think tom morello should just make a solo album with instrumental drums bass and electric guitar

[MattyMyhem]

****in sell out
yeah im sorry you wont be hearing groupie comment from me, its the truth

[dupaman]

lol i can just imagine getting this albums then listening to it and all i hear are random noises from hiss 5000 different effects and pedals XD

[jshwak]

Gundam pilota09
Hendrix:redefined guitar technique as we know it
Tom: " "
:

That's pretty bold, I cannot make the parallel there.. Tom is great, don't get me wrong, but "Re-defining Guitar Technique as we know it" .. ehh..

[ironwolg]

i'll have to check it out, should be very interesting. i could probably learn somethin from it

[cKygnardog]

tom is a god at guitar and i cant wait to get the solo album but would love to see some new rage