It’s a cool idea about fighting for your rights if need be, but the song is about a Mexican or someone from farther south sneaking into the United States, getting thrown in jail when caught, who then wants to wage war when his children grow up. Tibetans should live one day as a lion. Georgians should live one day as a lion. The Sudanese people who are experiencing genocide should live one day as a lion. Why on Earth should people who don’t live one day as a lion in their own country, come break the rules of the United States to live one day as a lion and bring war to our city streets?
There's also the line “After dark my city’s a fuse,” but the only city mentioned is Los Angeles. What part of the city that mayor Antonio Villaraigosa looks over are you going to burn, Zack? Should we just assume it wouldn’t include any part where the 4.7 million Hispanics live? Hispanic and African-American gangs are killing each other on the streets of Los Angeles, but instead of challenging them, Zack puts all the blame on Whitey and suggests people burn down what little they have.
He concludes with a take-off on Edwin Starr’s classic line stating, “we’ll show you what war is good for.” I have long been a fan of Zack’s work, and understood his ideas and positions, but here he has completely lost me because he comes across as very naïve and foolish.
One Day As A Lion has potential but really needs to add other musicians to the line-up and to have better lyrics and stories to tell if they hope to make a memorable, meaningful mark on the musical landscape.
Article comments
1 - Jordan Richardson
Good call. I had similar thoughts after spinning this a few times. A disappointing effort.
2 - El Bicho
Thanks, Jordan. I was excited to hear new Zack when I caught the single "Wild" on the radio, but after repeated listens, the EP fell way short.
3 - al_irish
tbh iv listend to so much of zachs solo and colab work, and this E.P is by far the greatest thing he's done.
henceforth i find this review to be not the be all and end all descion of what his music is about, and also theres more to it than his voacals but thats up to the fans to decide
4 - El Bicho
"this E.P is by far the greatest thing he's done."
You can't be serious
"henceforth i find this review to be not the be all and end all descion of what his music is about,"
Never claimed it was.
"and also theres more to it than his voacals"
Yeah, and I commented on those things as well
5 - Eric
Wow, talk about projecting. Tibetans, Georgians, Sudanese? I must have missed when they were mentioned on the EP. Being a part of a "Sinister Cabal of Superior Writers," I would like to think that metaphors and exaggerated language wouldn't be beyond your comprehension. I'm gonna go so far as to guess that De La Rocha knows and understands the delicate racial balance of his city, and I think we can rest assured that he doesn't want to set fire to the people that he's fighting to raise awareness to help. This review read more like a personal attack on De La Rocha than on the piece of music itself. I understand that in such a lyric-heavy musical endeavor we have to be critical of what's being said, but the criticisms made here seemed rushed, defensive, and convoluted. Musically, get beyond what you're expecting. Attacking a stripped-down sound (that was clearly intentional) shows short-sightedness and unwillingness to cope with change. Next time, try reading a little bit deeper as well as considering the fact that sometimes less is more. If that proves too daunting a task, I suggest you stick to reviewing AVP. Do me a favor and shoot me the day you start reviewing actual movies.
6 - El Bicho
Wow, talk about poor reading comprehension. I never stated that those ethnic groups were mentioned on the EP, but you did miss where I wrote that they are the ones who should live "One Day as a Lion" not an immigrant who comes to the US illegally.
You must be new or at least ignorant of his work because Zack is usually direct and in your face (like when he suggests all US Presidents since Truman should be tried and hung for war crimes) not usually prone to subtle metaphors. That's not to say he doesn't use them, "Bullet in the Head" is a great example, yet you offer no example that they are used in this song. Zack is much more Malcolm than Martin and if he didn't believe in violence in the face of oppression, he wouldn't have spent time with the EZLN in Mexico.
This review isn't not an attack Zack, but I did call him out on the lyrics of the title track because they are ignorant and immature.
Musically I was open to accept anything. That doesn't mean I should accept bad, repetitive keyboard loops. "March of Death" with DJ Shadow sounded different and was very well done; his work with Son De Madera is stripped down and sounds fantastic and I wish they would release it.
Do everyone a favor and shoot yourself now, or like Bugs suggests, you can wait until you get home.
Thanks for stopping by.
7 - cubert
its a review. get over it.