As we get closer to the US Presidential election there has been a spike in protest music. Much of the music released is either directly aimed at Trump or discusses the importance of voting. As with the previous months, there is also music that addresses issues of systemic racism, police brutality, and a variety of other social concerns. Also, in time for Halloween, we have some socio-political horrorcore. Here is a recap of some of the notable socially conscious music released in October (and there was a lot of it).
Songs/Videos
De La Soul – Remove 45 (featuring Chuck D, Styles P, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, Mysonne, Posdnuos )
The latest tune by the legendary hip-hop group is pretty clear in their intent.
Bright Eyes – Miracle of Life
Bright Eyes’ latest tune was released in connection with the 7-Inches for Planned Parenthood Collective. The proceeds from sales, streams, and syncs support Planned Parenthood.
Conor Oberst made the following statement: “This song should not exist in 2020 America. It is a protest song, I guess. Or maybe just a little story about what was, what still is in many parts of the world and what could be again here in this country if the GOP is successful in reshaping the Supreme Court and rolling back all of the hard fought progress made for reproductive rights in the last fifty years. Hopefully, if we all work together and vote, it will make this song sound as irrelevant and outdated as it should.”
The tune also features Phoebe Bridgers, Jon Theodore and Flea.
Marlon Craft – Hoodie Weather
The second single off the New York-based rapper upcoming sophomore album is a hard-hitting critique of systemic racism.
Maren Morris – Better Than We Found it
Recently there has been an increase in the number of country artists starting to use their platform to speak up. Maren Morris is an example of someone who is considered to be within the mainstream who was willing to risk a backlash by writing a political song that addresses issues such as racism, police brutality, and immigration.
Bad Religion – What Are We Standing For
The veteran punk band is no stranger to political music. This timely tune is an outtake from their 2019 album Age of Unreason.
Stevie Wonder – Can’t Put It In The Hands of Fate (featuring Rapsody, Cordae, Chika & Busta Rhymes)
The legendary Stevie Wonder has penned many socially conscious tunes over the year. His latest features contribution from notable rappers and is timely in light of the anti-police brutality and Black Lives Matter protests.
Dessa – Tyranny
This tune is a scathing indictment of Trump.
Snotty Nose Rez Kids & Drezus- Where They At
This song was previously featured as a Daily Dose of Protest. Also, had the opportunity to interview the Snotty Nose Rez Kids for the Ongoing History of Protest Music Podcast, which will be posted on Monday, March 2. They will be releasing an official video on November 3.
Dub J – Wish I Could (featuring JRDN, Maestro Fresh Wes, JD Era, Bizz Loc, Turk, Roney, Jelleestone)
This timely tune features several notable Canadian rappers including the godfather of Candian Hip-Hop Maestro Fresh Wes (who was also featured on Episode 6 of The Ongoing History of Protest Music Podcast). It was written to protest gun violence in Toronto. Proceeds support the Enough Is Enough initiative.
Refused – Born On The Outs
This explosive anti-fascist tune is the first single off the Swedish punks upcoming EP The Malignant Fire which will be released November 20.
Mat Ward – It’s Not Looking Super Stable
This is the latest single by the Australian electronic musician which is connected to a quote made by Elon Musk concerning Space-X’s first mission with humans on board, and the current political climate on earth. I also had the opportunity to interview Ward for episode 8 of The Ongoing History of Protest Music Podcast, where he discussed his forthcoming concept album Interplanetary Species, concerning the colonization of the moon.
MILCK – Somebody’s Beloved (Featuring Bipolar Sunshine)
This emotionally powerful tune was written in response to Tamika Palmer’s words about her daughter Breonna Taylor.
Dan Mangan – There’s A Tumor In The White House
The Canadian indie singer-songwriter made the following statement about his latest tune: “Generally, in my songwriting, I’ve aimed for the timeless approach with social criticisms and political notions – never too on the nose, and never too specific. We’ve got this bully in the highest seat using the lowest form of mudslinging and name-calling and unfortunately, it just seems to keep working for him. The poor man’s rich man. The weak man’s strong man. I just wanted to call a spade a spade – bootlickers, chokeholders, chest-puffers… Is it ironic? I don’t know. Is it a joke? I worry that it isn’t.”
Miss Christine – Truth in Song
The latest single by the Iowa based band is a galvanizing anthem which addresses issues such as racial justice, climate change, transgender rights, and healthcare.
Vocalist and bassist Christine Moad made the following statement about the tune: “At the beginning of 2020, I worked as a Field Organizer in Iowa and New Hampshire on the Bernie 2020 campaign. Being unable to tour because of the pandemic has given me a lot of time to reflect on my experiences as a musician and an activist. All of us have so much more power than we realize as individuals and it’s time for all of us to fight for social, economic, and racial justice within our communities.”
I also had the opportunity to interview Moad for an upcoming podcast episode which will be released on November 9.
Cass McCombs – Don’t (Just) Vote (featuring Angel Olsen, Bob Weir, and Noam Chomsky)
This song is a reworking of McCombs’ often misunderstood 2009 song “Don’t Vote” which tackles election apathy.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Automation
This is the latest single from the eclectic and prolific Australian band off their upcoming album K.G. This is one of two albums that the band will release on November 20 (the other being Live In SF ’16).
Vivien Goldman – I Have a Voice
The influential post-punk artist hasn’t released new music in decades, but she decided to make her voice heard just in time for the election.
The Avett Brothers – This Land Is Your Land
The Avett Brothers rework Woody Guthrie’s iconic open borders protest song. They also include the alternate lyrics of “There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me / Sign was painted, it said private property / But on the back side it didn’t say nothing / This land was made for you and me” which often get excluded.
Last Kiss Goodnight – Forty Five
This politically direct protest alt-rock tune goes beyond just being about Trump. Lead singer Ray Patrick made the following statement: “It’s about much more than our current President. It is about how deeply divided America feels in its current state of the relentless propaganda machine that is social media. We Americans are continuously spoon-fed visual chaos by the media and have developed an addiction to the binary methods in which we have grown accustomed.”
David Duchovny – Layin’ On The Tracks
The actor and musician wrote this anti-Trump song over a year ago, but it is even more timely now.
Young Bob & the Peterboroughs – Hey America
Bob is the older brother of the iconic Neil Young. He has decided to record his first song at 78 years old. Neil plays harmonica on the track. Not sure if the song is particularly good, but it is endearing.
Albums
Black Thought – Streams of Thought, Vol. 3: Cane & Able
The third installment of the Streams of Thought series by The Roots emcee shows off his impeccable skills. It also features insightful social commentary which touches upon different aspects of the Black American experiences.
Algiers – Cleveland 20/20
Cleveland 20/20 is a 50-minute expansion of the tune “Cleveland” which appears on the band’s exceptional 2017 album The Underside of Power (it was one of the best protest albums of the 2010s). The lyrics of the original included the names of black people killed by police. This powerful two-track composition includes additional names.
Spaza – UPRIZE! (Music from the Original Motion Picture)
Spaza is a South African musical collective with a rotating roster. This album is the soundtrack to the film UPRIZE! which deals with the June 16, 1976, anti-apartheid protests of high school students in Soweto. It is an emotional and educational listening experience.
Raye Zaragoza – Woman in Color
The sophomore album by singer-songwriter taps into her experience as a descendent of Japanese and Indigenous parents. She also dedicates the album to the murdered and missing indigenous women.
Resistance Revival Chorus – This Joy
The debut album by this collective of more than 70 women and non-binary singers is a stirring collection of resistance anthems. Previously featured their reworking of Woody Guthrie’s “All You Fascists Bound To Lose” as a Daily Dose of Protest.
War On Women – Wonderful Hell
The third full-length album by the feminist hardcore band is the perfect album to express the frustrations many are feeling over the current political climate. I also had the opportunity to interview frontwomen Shawna Potter for episode 10 of the podcast.
Rage Against The Machine – The Battle of Mexico City (Live)
This memorable concert took place at Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City on October 28, 1999. It has previously been released on video, but this is the first time it has been available for streaming.
Drive-By Truckers – The New OK
This is the second album released by the southern rock band this year, following up The Unraveling which was released back in January (which was one of the best protest albums of 2020, so far). They also just released a video for the title track which features footage from the Portland protests.
Jello Biafra & The Guantanamo School of Medicine – Tea Party Revenge Porn
This is the third album by this project of hardcore legend and former frontman of Dead Kennedys. As expected from Biafra, this ferocious collection of songs is explicitly political.
Open Mike Eagle – Anime, Trauma and Divorce
The fifth solo album by the alternative rapper isn’t a protest album in the traditional sense, but it is socially aware. It is also an example of how the personal often intersects with the political. It is also just an excellent album.
Jeremy Ivey – Waiting Out The Storm
The sophomore album from the Nashville based singer-songwriter is a solid follow-up to his excellent 2019 album The Dream And The Dreamer (which was one of the best protest albums of 2019). This album is even more politically direct than its predecessor. It is also produced by his wife, the socially conscious country singer Margo Price.
Zeal & Ardor – Wake of a Nation
This EP from the experimental project of Swiss-American musician Manuel Gagneux is more lyrically direct than previous efforts and is a response to the current state of race relations in America. Previously featured “Vigil” and “I Can’t Breathe” as a Daily Dose of Protest.
Songhoy Blues – Optimisme
On the latest album by the desert rock band from Mali, they tapped into their experiences living in Mali to address universal injustices. It is an empowering collection of tunes that transcends cultural and language barriers.
Clipping. – Visions of Bodies Being Burned
The latest album by the experimental hip-hop trio follows a similar vein to their 2019 horrorcore masterpiece There Existed an Addiction To Blood (which was one of the best protest albums of 2019). Just like their previous album, they effectively use horror movie themes to explore real-life socio-political issues. As excellent as the precursor was, this album may even be stronger.
Common – A Beautiful Revolution (Pt 1)
The latest album by the veteran socially conscious rapper features jazzy musical arrangements with a strong message of black empowerment.
Radical Kitten – Silence is Violence
This is a solid debut album from the punk trio from France. Musically energetic and lyrically it tackles subjects such as misogyny, police brutality and, trans and homophobia.
FEVER 333 – Wrong Generation
This hard-hitting EP from the rapcore trio is an aggressive takedown of systemic racism and police brutality.
Dorian Electra – My Agenda
The sophomore album from the experimental pop artist is a concept album that skillfully examines toxic masculinity and incels from a queer perspective.
David Rovics – Say Their Names
The veteran singer-songwriter and activist continues to be prolific, releasing his fourth album in 2020. The album is a snapshot of events taking place in Portland during the period of June-September. I also had the opportunity to interview Rovics for episode 22 of the podcast.
Ruthless Cosmopolitans – Ruthless
The debut six-song political concept EP features infectious grooves and poetic lyrical flow. The band also recently released a video for the album track “Make America Hate Again”.
My Politic – Short-Sighted People In Power
I previously reviewed this excellent seven-song protest EP from the Americana duo. Also had the opportunity to interview Kaston Guffey of the duo for episode 20 of the podcast.
Anti-Flag – 20/20 Division
This is a deluxe edition of 20/20 Vision which the veteran political punks released back in January. This version features five additional unreleased tracks.
Below is the ongoing playlist of 2020 protest songs.