Here is a brief recap of some of the socially conscious music released in the past week.
Songs and Videos
Future Come Around – &More
&More is a duo made up of vocalist Donn T and rapper Chill Moody. They just released a music video for “Future Come Around”, a track off their 2019 debut album Ethel Bobcat. The tune has a positive motivational message which defines the duo’s music.
Previously featured &More’s “Whoa” as a Daily Dose of Protest.
Night of a Thousand Guns – Lowest of the Low
Lowest of the Low is a veteran Canadian rock band who are considered influential in the development of the Canadian alt-rock scene of the 90s. Over the past couple of weeks, they have been posting several videos of tracks from their upcoming album Agitpop, due out May 31. Their latest track “Night of a Thousand Guns” is a catchy tune which provides stirring commentary on the current political climate.
Stronger – Raveena
“Stronger” is the newest single from the Indian-American vocalist new album, which will be released May 31, 2019. The song is an anthem of female empowerment.
Notable lyrics: “I know you love to see me broken / You live to see me confused, at my knees / Don’t talk too soon, I ain’t dead yet.”
A Penny A Play – David Rovics
David Rovics is a veteran singer-songwriter and activist who has been active since the early 90s. “A Penny A Play” is a song he composed in connection with the Penny Campaign For Streaming Justice. It protests Spotify and other streaming platforms that pay artists pittance for their music.
Rovics recently released the album Historic Times, which featured selections from three previous albums, along with newly released material.
We Get By – Mavis Staples (Featuring Ben Harper)
“We Get By” is the latest single and title track from the upcoming album by the legendary Mavis Staples, which will be released May 24. The uplifting soulful song also features the vocal talents of Ben Harper, who also produced and composed all of the tunes on the album.
Previously featured Mavis Staples’ “Change” as a Daily Dose of Protest.
Walk It Out – Tensei (Featuring Georgia Anne Muldrow)
Tensei is a Chicago based production duo who has teamed up with experimental soul artist Georgia Anne Muldrow for a feel-good socially conscious jam.
Albums
Readjusting The Locks – Institute
The third full-length album from the Austin, Texas based indie-rock quartet is their punkiest and most direct effort.
Concerning the tunes composed by the band’s frontman Moses Brown, the album’s Bandcamp page made the following statement: “Blaming Neoliberalism and the irresponsible notions of utopia fostered under it, Brown argues that in recent decades the Western world’s assumption that humanity would continue to prosper into the future has, on the contrary, created a disastrous political vacuum. This has allowed banks, corporations, and their politicians to aimlessly advance the Neoliberal agenda into an inconceivably dangerous place. He argues that we are deadlocked in a permanent existential crisis, stuck in an unhumanitarian and environmentally destructive system so all-consuming that we will not find a clear alternative. Without a true plan for a sustainable future, those in power will continue to offer humanity new policies, technologies, and politicians that promise change but are only capable of “readjusting the locks” on our incomprehensible existential predicament. ”
Nothing Great About Britain – slowthai
The debut album by UK rapper slowthai is a compelling exposé of the different aspects of British life which contributed to Brexit and the toxic rise of nationalism.
Mass Manipulation – Steel Pulse
Mass Manipulation is the influential UK reggae band first album in fifteen years. The band’s message of social justice is as politically potent as ever. They also recently posted a video for the powerful album track “Cry Cry Blood”.