In a world of outspoken artists, names like Steve Earle, John Mellencamp, Madonna, and even the Dixie Chicks come to mind. Michael Franti, ever the ambassador for social justice, is on the second tier of influential names singing without any hidden agenda.
On Songs From The Front Porch, Franti delivers his message unplugged, turned down from his renowned mix of electric soul, funk, and hip-hop amidst his "all the freaky people make the beauty in the world" hustle. Although there’s no mention of his band on the label, Franti is joined by his Spearhead mates, dosing the songs with a bit of groove above the chill voice and acoustic guitar. Featuring three new tunes, "Closer To The Sky," "Firefly," and "Anybody Seen My Mind," Franti delivers more of his hopeful messages in these trying times.
These positive vibrations fill the disc with a bit of Bob Marley here and some Marvin Gaye there. Songs like the chill "Closer To The Sky" and the dreamy "Sometimes" sooth you, rather than rev up the activist engines. Two acoustic versions from 2003's Everyone Deserves Music are also included. "Love’ll Set Me Free," which sounds like a What’s Going On out-take, and the funky "Love Invincible." benefiting from it’s simple chord progression and wurlitzer feed, prove that Franti can make music groove unplugged. Songs from his 2001 musical meditation Stay Human are given similar treatments, as "Oh My God," and "Stay Human" feel naked without their original female vocals harmonies, but manage to feel enlivened just the same.
These low-key tunes probably won’t make Franti’s arch nemesis George W flinch. However Songs From The Front Porch proves that message and voice can be strongly heard by just keeping it simple.
