Friday Fun-Best Music Bush Era (Political Category)

Email Print posted by kshears 04/18/2008 12:03:57 PM EST

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In a recent post on Daily Kos,DHinMI called Steve Earle's "The Revolution Starts Now",The first great work of American culture inspired by The Iraq War.

 I completely agree. I'd like to hear from the rest of "Turks" Music that speaks to the overall political landscape. I love Hip-Hop as well, and "To The 5 Boroughs" Beastie Boys is also on my list. It can be a single or an Artist.(Not necessarily a Whole Album).
 

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Friday Fun-Best Music Bush Era (Political Category) | 21 comments (21 topical, 0 hidden)
FFP! (none / 0)
Do you mean the best political album or best music album, politics or no politics, that has come out since Bush has been in office?

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 12:31:34 PM EST

Goddam I love Steve Earle (none / 0)

Although I prefer his "The Mountain"

Ken, go ahead and suck him off while you are at it.

by ProfRich on 04/18/2008 01:00:27 PM EST

I heart recommendations (none / 0)
Surprisingly enough, I've never listened to an Earle album though I'm streaming "The Revolution Starts.... Now."  Good stuff and a definite toe-tapper - thank you!

by rev24 on 04/18/2008 01:12:45 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Ok, political category... (none / 0)
I guess I have to say I really don't listen to political music.  My brief stint with Rage Against the Machine (brief, and I was never a superfan or anything like some) was about it.

And some old Doors stuff maybe.  But in the last 7 years? Honestly, I can't think of one.

I tend to prefer a separation of politics and music and of politics and humor. I HATE joke songs, and find that 99% of them they're stupid and awkward rather than funny.

BTW, when I say separation of music and politics, I don't mean I have something against musicians speaking out on their political views (think Dixie Chicks). I have no problem with that at all.

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 01:17:19 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Steve Earle Recommendations (none / 0)

I love the entire Mountain.  Its a bluegrass record that comes screaming into your living room wanting to drink all your whiskey and fuck your daughter.  If you want songs from it check out:

Texas Eagle

Carrie Brown

The Mountain

Dixieland (My fave)

Pilgrim

From other records- 

The Galway Girl 

Fort Worth Blues (a beatiful eulogy for the crown prince of Texas songwriters, Townes Van Zandt.  One of my favorite all-time songs.  Gives me chills just typing song name.)

Hard Core Troubador

Guitar Town (his seminal song) 

Incidentally he is also Waylon on The Wire (my favorite TV series ever) and does the theme to the last season of the show.  Damn nice man too.

 

by ProfRich on 04/18/2008 01:26:15 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Suggestion (none / 0)

It could be that politically oriented Bush era music is too narrow a category.  I can't think of any besides Bruce and Steve Earle personally.

Maybe we can switch over to best music of the Bush era or best political music of all-time.

For one thing a lot of us haven't taken in a lot of new music (particularly whole albums!) in the last eight years.  I know that is about the time I stopped really looking around at new music personally (I am 35).

If you want my favorite political music or just music let me know. 

by ProfRich on 04/18/2008 02:09:24 PM EST

Other Favorites (none / 0)
Todd Snider- East Nashville Skyline (Conservative Christian,Right Wing Republican Straight White American Male).
Elvis Costello-The Delivery Man (Monkey to a Man).

James McMurtry-Childish Things (We can't make it here)
Blackalicous-Blazing Arrow (Paragraph President)

by kshears on 04/18/2008 02:20:16 PM EST

If you have a mind to (none / 0)
I see some of you like the alt.coutry type stuff.
I worked with local Texas artists for a while in the late 90s and got to hear a lot of folks.  I am going to throw out two artists for anyone who likes to give new (or at least new to you) music a listen.  They aren't political but here goes.

Brian Rung- I am a huge Bob Dylan fan.  Bob is the only songwriter I like better than Brian.  The only artists I ever worked directly with I would call a genius. Songs to check out - Mary, Out of My Mind, Green Signs, Caroline, Long Road.

Adam Carroll- Kind of the rain man of Texas Country music.  So neurotic he can't change his strings (no exaggeration) but brings an unbelievably unique perspective to his simple bare songs. Songs to check out: Cole, Home Again, Blondie & Dagwood, Erroll's Song, Red Bandana Blues

by ProfRich on 04/18/2008 02:54:38 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Outside the Mainstream? (none / 0)
I have to admit that most of the music I listen to doesn’t directly speak to the “overall political landscape” that you mention (similar to ihavenobias), but most of it is at least a byproduct of what’s happening around us.  For some reason, I’m turned off by mainstream music with political messages because it’s usually comes off as gimmicky and opportunistic just like whenever I’ve written political songs. 

Of course there are always movements outside the mainstream that speaks to the political/social frustrations of our times, yet often go unnoticed.  I remember a couple years ago I was seeing this Filipina lady who was into hardcore political punk and she introduced me to a number of Filipino bands in our area that definitely had a political message.  Flattbush and Eskapo were a couple bands I saw (sorry for the myspace pages, but it’s the easiest way I’ve found to listen to new music).  I was really impressed that they wrote and performed a lot of their songs in Tagalog.  I’ve also seen a number of hardcore/political Mexican bands who sing in Spanish, but I’m at a lost for their names right now.  Now I’m starting to wonder what’s up with the mostly white political/punk scene that was so popular in the eighties (i.e. Dead Kennedys, DOA, Fugazi, Black Flag, Operation Ivy… the list goes on), that seems to be so absent today.  Who knows, the scene may of moved to new, uncharted areas that I just don't know about, but for some reason I have my doubts..

One last thing - since Cenk made another rip on Belgium last week, I’d thought I point out that their hardcore punk scene is off the hook.  My friend from Brussels just played a show in San Francisco, and whenever I see bands such as Furious, I wonder what the f*c we’re doing here in the States…

by rev24 on 04/18/2008 02:22:30 PM EST

Impressive (none / 0)
This is a great post and extremely well-informed but I have no idea what you are talking about and I bet most other folks on here don't either (no offense, our bad!).
This is kinda why I think the topic needs to be broadened.

by ProfRich on 04/18/2008 02:38:40 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Mentioning a lot of (none / 0)
old school punk I see.  How did you forget Minor Threat?

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 02:48:27 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I must be old (none / 0)
I thought that was all new school punk.
I am totally down with "The Only Band That Matters"
Clash- That is old school punk.

by ProfRich on 04/18/2008 02:55:52 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Well (none / 0)
It's not the oldest school, but if it's 15-20 years old it can't be "new", can it?

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 07:20:15 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I suppose (none / 0)
Just funny to hear bands that I thought of as late punk are being called old school

by ProfRich on 04/19/2008 12:08:43 AM EST

[ Parent ]
"X" Band (none / 0)
Don't get me wrong, I love Minor Threat along with other DC bands such as Bad Brains, but sometimes MT gets classified with the hardcore straight-edge bands.  Actually, when I first started playing music, I tried to learn all the songs off Minor Threat's "Complet e Discography" as well as Ramones first album, "Ramones"  (the Clash actually started learning Ramones songs as well).  Easy bar chords + fast playing = good times!

Ian MacKaye, singer of Minor Threat and Fugazi and founder of Dischord Records, most recent band, "The Evens" is completely awesome and is a perfect example of how you can make great music with a political edge.  The difference is that he's on an acoustic guitar and teams up with Amy Farina on drums so this might appeal to a broader audience.  I highly recommend their first self-titled album "The Evens" (2005).

by rev24 on 04/18/2008 03:18:19 PM EST

[ Parent ]
True (none / 0)
MT was straight edge (and I'm not, although that only means I drink sometimes).

PS---I love these guys.  Not many people are doing stuff with this much motown/soul/blues feel, and honestly, I was never a huge fan of old motown stuff (some is really good but I'm more contemporary).  But if you didn't like that song, you might like this one (pretty catchy).

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 03:27:27 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Rev (none / 0)

Or anyone else.

HAve you read Legs McNiels oral history of the New York punk scene of the mid 70s?  Its called  Please Kill Me and its just fucking brilliant.  Completely straightened me out on where, when and how punk was born.  If you haven't yet and you like punk or music history, READ IT!

by ProfRich on 04/18/2008 05:49:59 PM EST

[ Parent ]
haven't read it (none / 0)
but thanks for the recommendation.  I took note and when I get done with the three books I'm trying to finish up, I'll check it out. 

I also was just thinking about that album Neil Young released several years ago, "Living with War."  I remember listening to it once, but I think I'll give it another spin. 

by rev24 on 04/19/2008 03:09:22 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I just played this a second ago (none / 0)
so it's fresh in mind.
Muse - "Take A Bow" off their album Black Holes and Revelations.
And of course, my favorite band, Rage Against the Machine, though there's not much material that came out post Bush.  "Guerilla Radio" was a great pre Bush campaign song.  Or "Vietnow" is a great song about talk radio (at least that's been my interpretation).
And yes, Steve Earle is great.  His music is amazing, and I've enjoyed his performance in The Wire as well.
Sage Francis - "Slow Down Gandhi" is another great political song.
There are too many to remember right now, so I'm sure I'll be back later after I've perused my CDs.

by Spencer on 04/18/2008 03:07:05 PM EST

muse (none / 0)
I have to admit I am a sucker for Muse.  I remember when "Time is Running Out" hit the airwaves, I couldn't believe it wasn't Radiohead.  Interesting enough, the album it was on, "Absolutism" was produced by Rich Costey (old Rage Against the Machine producer). Black Holes and Revelations has to also be one of my top albums of 2007 and I can't wait for their new album.  My best rage experience was seeing them live at the Oakland Arena back in the late nineties - let me just say the energy was very high....

by rev24 on 04/19/2008 03:18:59 PM EST

[ Parent ]
These were on regular rotation in 2004 (none / 0)
Some Southern Rock:
Will Hoge - The America EP  (link it to the album page for your listening pleasure)

Some hardcore punk type stuff:
Red State Riot (link is to their myspace)

by jazzchic on 04/18/2008 07:33:52 PM EST

Friday Fun-Best Music Bush Era (Political Category) | 21 comments (21 topical, 0 hidden)
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