Rage Against the Machine has a distinct sound defined by very aggressive yet simple guitar riffs, incredibly inventive solos and politically charged lyrics. All of those traits were imbued into RATM’s sound by one man: Tom Morello.

Morello writes most of the lyrics and music for RATM on a classical guitar. What would happen if Morello took his classical guitar and controversial lyrics into the studio as a solo artist? Well, you’d get The Nightwatchman:

Morello’s voice isn’t the greatest. He sounds like me when I try to sing. Fortunately for Morello, he isn’t singing the uninspired lyrics that I always come up with. Instead, Morello’s lyrics are thought-provoking, powerful and incendiary. The lyrics are powerful because he believes them. He writes from the heart and his passion shines. I don’t always agree with his political arguments, but I’m always seduced by his passion.

For more information about me and the guitar lessons that I give in and around Baltimore, visit www.ewguitar.com.