If it hasn’t been made expressly clear yet that Fresh Scouts is a strong supporter of the Flobots, then allow us to put a postage stamp on this thing and mail it in. Few bands out there take themselves as serious as these guys, and few mix genres as successfully. Few put more effort into the messages of their lyrics. Few truly attempt to inspire change in this world, and even fewer have the audacity to believe that what they do and say could actually have such an effect.

But the Flobots can do all of these things, which is why their new album, “Survival Story,” is just as high on our Good-Music-o-Meter as their first album was. Jonny 5 can rap, folks, but these guys are legitimately challenging the wrongs of our society and are looking for real change. It’s deep stuff, but it rocks and hips and hops, too. Any time you can do that with the viola as one of your signature instruments, you’ve done something special.

Obviously, “White Flag Warrior,” which features Tim McIlrath of Rise Against, is already one of our favorite songs of the moment, but other tracks on this record that peaked our interest include “Cracks the Surface” and “Defend Atlantis,” and we also loved “Infatuation,” which features another FS favorite in Matt Morris. Towards the end of the record the gang goes acoustic for two songs with “Good Soldier” and “Superhero,” both of which walk a tightrope between folk and hip-hop I haven’t really heard anything like. And no, Mat Kearney doesn’t count.

It’s a really solid album that sounds fantastic and actually has positive messages about priorities, personal wealth, and sticking up for yourself in a world where we so often can get pushed around. So don’t let yourself get pushed around, and buy this CD.

Now, try to decide if you need to do what we say and purchase the Flobots album, or if you won’t allow yourself to get pushed around by us because the Flobots said so. Quite the conundrum, isn’t it?

Check out the new official video for “White Flag Warrior” courtesy of Flobots.com:

Listen to the album

Buy the album

Amazon

Fanfarlo – “Harold T. Wilkins”

For anybody getting tired of the ridiculously snowy winter months, check out this song and imagine yourself cruising on a highway in a red, drop-top convertible, en route to absolutely nowhere. Maybe the lyrics don’t scream “road trip,” but you could definitely use this song to lay over a montage of driving with your hair in the wind. I’m just saying. These guys make their U.S. television debut on Letterman later tonight, so set your Tivos for 10:35 CT and get yourselves a little preview. It’s good stuff.

Suzi Ragsdale – “Troublemaker”

Somewhere in between country and blues is this toe-tapping diddy from Suzi Ragsdale and Rodney Crowell. It’s catchy as hell, and what makes it even more interesting is that Ragsdale doesn’t just do music—she’s also a pusher of yoga and fine foods. I swear to God I’m not making this up.

Flobots – “White Flag Warrior”

FreshScouts believes strongly in what the Flobots do. Musically they know how to walk the tightrope between hip-hop and rock where a lot of fusion artists fall short, but mostly we love that these guys actually stand for something. Lead vocalist Jonny 5 is a talented cat, and this new cut from the guys does some cool stuff with off-beats while still managing to bring what we’d expect from a hot Flobots track. Throw in the fact that Tim McIlrath from Rise Against is featured on the track, and you’ve got a winner.

There’s a certain kind of white rapper that I dig, and it’s usually the one that dresses respectably, speaks intelligently, and doesn’t have to tout an alias that starts with “Li’l.”  It also helps when the lyrics and flow are there, and even better still is when the music behind the words is worthwhile as well.

And you know, in today’s world you don’t even really have to play hip-hop music to be a solid rapper.  You can rock out, or dance, or even just spit a capella like slam poetry.  It’s all good if it’s done right, and the Flobots know how to do it.

Many of us remember the gimmicky hit “Handlebars” from last winter—a simple acoustic, four-measure drumbeat flow that sounds rather similar to the hip-hop side of Linkin Park, but unplugged.  Its chorus was pretty bare-bones, but the quick, tumbling current of lyrics made the song feel so smooth and circular.  It was something different, and catchy, and really, really good.

But that first album, released in 2007 and entitled “Fight with Tools,” has become somewhat forgotten in the past year as many underappreciated albums often are, despite the fact that songs like “Same Thing,” “Stand Up,” and my personal favorite, “Combat,” which uses a fiery looped voice track for the beat’s melody.  And that’s top of “Handlebars” and the album’s other single, “Rise.”

When certain people rap, it’s very clear that they have a true appreciation for the genre, and Jonny 5, creator and lead “singer” of the Flobots, absolutely has a true appreciation for the genre.  He spits intellectual rhymes and actually tries to convey messages in the songs he writes.  It’s not just about rims and bee-yotches in the back seat of a Range Rover.  Hard not to love music like that.

As of September, the group had finished recording their second album through Universal, slated for release sometime in 2010.  According to Jonny 5 it’s more of what we’re used to, just smarter, riskier, and Flobottier.

They can tie a knot in a cherry stem. They can tell you about Leif Ericsson.  They know all the words to “Des Colores,” and they’re proud to be Americans.

And, they’re awesome.

(I added that last part).

Check out the album:

Amazon Music

iTunes