Renegades
IfRenegadesproves to be the last Rage Against the Machine album  to feature singer Zack de la Rocha, who quit the band after nine years, it's a cool way to go out. Produced by Rick Rubin,Renegadesis a salute to the artists who made Rage what they are--or were. While it's easy to hear Rage's rap roots in songs fromAfrika Bambaataa,EPMD, and Volume 10, it's more interesting to see their  take on rock in its classic and punk forms. Rage capture the raw spirit, if not  the quite the intensity, inherent in theMC5classic "Kick Out the Jams." A superior second live  take appears at the CD's end, followed by a concert version ofCypress Hill's "How I Could Just Kill a Man," with help from B-Real and Sen Dog.Devo's "Beautiful World" is rendered quietly unrecognizable, whileMinor Threat's "In My Eyes" is given a wonderfully melodic, ultra-aggro treatment. TheRolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man" takes on a techno vibe that's unsettling andBob Dylan's "Maggie's Farm" is also effectively modernized. Ultimately,Renegadesis a must-have for its song selection, musical execution, and the unhappy fact that it's likely the ultimate offering from one of rock's most musically and politically relevant lineups.--Katherine Turman