CD reviews

AT 89

Pete Seeger

THE FABLED CITY

Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman

Men who play acoustic guitars and challenge injustice come in disparate forms. Consider folk legend Pete Seeger, with his charming new album, "At 89," and rock guitarist turned protest singer Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman, whose second solo disc is "The Fabled City."

One of Rolling Stone's infinitely debatable "100 Greatest Guitar Players of All Time," Morello became a star in Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave by creating unconventional sounds with his ax. Seeger, who heats his house with wood, actually swings one.

Seeger's kind voice is fragile now, but he's still keenly concerned about the planet. On "Throw Away That Shad Net," he asks, "How are we gonna save tomorrow?" Not all of these simple folk songs, which cover the environment, politics and other issues, are sung. There are short instrumentals such as "One Percent Phosphorous Banjo Riff." Occasionally, Seeger plays guitar for other singers. A chorus of vocalists sometimes joins him. It's really a Pete Seeger and pals CD.

Between songs, Seeger offers memories from his fascinating life and, on the 13-second "Pete Speaks About Involvement," encouragement. It makes for an endearing, 32-track hodgepodge of activist tradition.

Old and young should find it inspirational.

"Little Fat Baby," sung by Seeger and three friends, is a tearjerker. A cute, poignant song about watching your child grow up, it's a reminder that this wise, hopeful voice of 20th-century America won't be with us forever. "Someday we'll be saying so long," Seeger sings, his soft voice quivering with age. "Someday it'll be time for me to move on."

The Nightwatchman's "The Fabled City" feels somewhat unimportant in comparison. (Incidentally, he's now Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman - not just the Nightwatchman, as if to scream, "Notice me! I'm the Rage Against the Machine dude!")

Morello's strumming, singing alter ego is a like-it-or-hate-it experience. His baritone voice sometimes resembles that of Peter Steele from metal band Type O Negative. Ridiculous, in other words. Yet this polished, band-style CD rocks compared with Morello's folky debut. His acoustic guitar work can be interesting, particularly on the groovy, effects-boosted "Whatever It Takes." He pulls off a fun, Irish-influenced fist-waver on "Saint Isabelle," which is propelled by harmonica, drums and a shout-along vibe. Serj Tankian of System of a Down adds haunting vocals to the acoustic "Lazarus on Down." Shooter Jennings helps out the energetic track "The Iron Wheel" (before Morello mucks it up with expletives.)

For an accomplished political activist, Morello rarely delivers compelling messages here. "Rise to power," he repeats quietly on the track of the same name. "Baby, you've got to rise to power." Um, okay. To most fans, Morello's commitment to singing as the Nightwatchman - rather than shredding as a hard-rock guitarist - will bring to mind the final verse of Rage's classic anthem, "Killing in the Name."

Michael Deeds

DOWNLOAD THESE: Seeger: "Little Fat Baby," "Throw Away That Shad Net"; The Nightwatchman: "Whatever It Takes," "Saint Isabelle"