Radical protest music
May 28, 2019 9:55 PM Subscribe
I read this article with Tom Morello and he says “Don’t wait around for Rage Against The Machine. Form your own band and get it done". I'm struggling to think of any bands that are doing their kind of protest rock today. Any suggestions?
We Do Not Resist by Orphaned Land is pretty solidly in the vein of angry, heavy protest music.
posted by Zalzidrax at 11:36 PM on May 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Zalzidrax at 11:36 PM on May 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Don't know if it's angry enough for you but Tiki Taane has some effect - here on RadioNZ - I heard this show live while driving - Tiki is passionate and can direct his anger via music, also actually solves social issues too.
posted by unearthed at 12:26 AM on May 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by unearthed at 12:26 AM on May 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
The Taxpayers are worth a look. They're no Chumbawamba, but they don't avoid politics.
posted by eotvos at 2:13 AM on May 29, 2019
posted by eotvos at 2:13 AM on May 29, 2019
Does Kendrick Lamar count or are you looking only for bands?
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 2:52 AM on May 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 2:52 AM on May 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
War on Women are making some excellent music now.
Propagandhi has been around for at least 25 years making politically progressive music.
posted by Captain Sunshine at 4:41 AM on May 29, 2019 [3 favorites]
Propagandhi has been around for at least 25 years making politically progressive music.
posted by Captain Sunshine at 4:41 AM on May 29, 2019 [3 favorites]
Superchunk's new album "What a Time To Be Alive" is very poppy protest rock.
posted by Gortuk at 7:19 AM on May 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Gortuk at 7:19 AM on May 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
Completely off the wall, but I get some of those feelings from Run The Jewels. Zach even shows up on some tracks.
posted by kbbbo at 7:44 AM on May 29, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by kbbbo at 7:44 AM on May 29, 2019 [2 favorites]
Yeah - piggybacking off Nyrha's answer, all of Boot's Rileys art (movie included) was my immediate thought when i read the question.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 7:57 AM on May 29, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 7:57 AM on May 29, 2019 [2 favorites]
I don't know if they'd be considered "protest rock," but Idles seem concerned with tearing down the culture of toxic masculinity.
They rock pretty hard and have some choice lines like "I put homophobes in coffins" and "This snowflake's an avalanche."
If you're looking for something more explicitly political, albeit not nearly as heavy as RATM, those second wave ska stalwarts, The Specials have a new album that really speaks to the current Hell World we're living in. It's funky and jazzy and....ska'y and kind of hits the spot for me both sonically and lyrically.
Great recommendations throughout this thread.
posted by fatedblue at 8:37 AM on May 29, 2019 [3 favorites]
They rock pretty hard and have some choice lines like "I put homophobes in coffins" and "This snowflake's an avalanche."
If you're looking for something more explicitly political, albeit not nearly as heavy as RATM, those second wave ska stalwarts, The Specials have a new album that really speaks to the current Hell World we're living in. It's funky and jazzy and....ska'y and kind of hits the spot for me both sonically and lyrically.
Great recommendations throughout this thread.
posted by fatedblue at 8:37 AM on May 29, 2019 [3 favorites]
Algiers? I'm not as familiar with their entire body of work, but The Underside of Power seemed to be basically all protest rock to me. And, not quite rock, more EDM with some rap, but A Tribe Called Red.
posted by yasaman at 9:40 AM on May 29, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by yasaman at 9:40 AM on May 29, 2019 [2 favorites]
Anti-Flag and Against Me both do a lot of rock/punk protest songs. But yeah, Run the Jewels and The Coup are probably my favorites for protest music right now.
posted by helloimjennsco at 11:05 AM on May 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by helloimjennsco at 11:05 AM on May 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
Flobots for sure: Rise and Handlebars are two of many examples.
+1 to The Coup and Against Me.
posted by rhiannonstone at 9:48 PM on May 29, 2019
+1 to The Coup and Against Me.
posted by rhiannonstone at 9:48 PM on May 29, 2019
Otep has several songs about the evils of government, big business, and homophobia.
posted by roadrunner9 at 7:44 AM on May 30, 2019
posted by roadrunner9 at 7:44 AM on May 30, 2019
Parquet Courts
Bad Sports
Total Control
Juanita y Los Feos (in spanish)
posted by rodlymight at 12:45 PM on May 31, 2019
Bad Sports
Total Control
Juanita y Los Feos (in spanish)
posted by rodlymight at 12:45 PM on May 31, 2019
I would look out for Sleater-Kinney. They seem to be preparing a new album, and their 2003 album "Combat Rock" stood out in the oddly quiet room of indie rock circa George W. Bush. Some of their best work, it might be useful to you whether or not they have a new record.
posted by kensington314 at 3:00 PM on May 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by kensington314 at 3:00 PM on May 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
Just listening to the new-ish Gary Clark Jr. album, and damn, check out This Land (the song and the album).
posted by General Malaise at 6:28 PM on June 11, 2019
posted by General Malaise at 6:28 PM on June 11, 2019
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And Bad Religion has a new album out: "Age of Unreason"
posted by Little Dawn at 10:12 PM on May 28, 2019 [1 favorite]