By now it has become obvious that I’m bad with introductions, so let’s get right into it. Here is a small sampling of socially conscious music released during the past month.
Songs/Videos:
Safe To Run (featuring Hurray for the Riff Raff) – Esther Rose
The latest single by the country-folk singer fantasizes about escaping a world that is on the precipice of environmental catastrophe. It is the title track off her upcoming album, out April 21.
Drones – grandson
No stranger to political tunes, the upcoming album by the alternative artist will lean more toward the personal than the political. I Love You, I’m Trying, which will be released May 5th, will touch upon serious topics such as self-harm and family trauma. According to grandson, the latest single “Drones” “is a twisting, spiraling journey through the lies we tell ourselves to get through the day when the hard truth may bury us.” Even though it may be meant to be more metaphorical than literal, the lyrics do work on a surface social commentary level as well.
I Know How It Feels – Dropkick Murphys
In 2022 the veteran Celtic-punk band released This Machine Still Kills Fascists (one of the best protest albums of 2022), composing music to unused Woody Guthrie lyrics. They are following it up with OKEMAH RISING, another album featuring unused Guthrie’s lyrics that will be out May 12. The album track “I Know How It Feels” exemplifies Guthrie’s ability to empathize with the plight of the downtrodden.
Gotta Get To Peekskill (feat. Violent Femmes) · Dropkick Murphys
This is another track from OKEMAH RISING. The rollicking tune also features contributions from the influential folk-punk band Violent Femmes.
Everywhere Is War (featuring Conor Oberst) – The So So Glos
The latest collaboration between the punk band The So So Glos and songwriter Conor Oberst is a musical departure for both featuring a poppy musical arrangement and autotuned vocals. The catchiness doesn’t dull the socially aware lyrics.
Horizon – Taína Asili
The latest single and video by Taína Asili is part of the Social Justice Portal Project which is a collaborative think tank hosted by the Social Justice Initiative at the University of Illinois in Chicago. “Horizon” is the final song in the Justice Suite, a trilogy of music and film interventions based on themes of abolition, climate justice, and economic democracy.
Run, Run, Run – McKinley Dixon
The latest tune by the socially conscious hip-hop artist is off Dixon’s upcoming new album Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?, out June 2. On the surface, it could appear to be a critique of gun violence, but on the video’s YouTube page Dixion made the following comment: “The intention behind Run, Run, Run was to make a song that is joyous in sound but sombering in lyric. This song chronicles a boy as he moves through several time periods of his life from learning how to run, how to dance, and finally how to fly.” In that context, it is a rousing tale of perseverance.
Reeling – Say She She
The latest single by the “discodelic soul” trio is an infectious rallying cry against blood-stained capitalism that is leading to environmental destruction. It is music that both moves the body and engages the mind.
Pied Piper On A Pale Horse – Matt Pless
This folk-hop tune is a musical departure compared to the earlier more straightforward folk recordings of the singer-songwriter. The lyrics originated as a stream-of-consciousness poem and it covers a lot of ground. It effectively uses metaphorical imagery to provide thought-provoking commentary on the current societal plight.
Albums:
Oh Me Oh My – Lonnie Holley
The latest album by the 73-year-old acclaimed visual artist and avant-garde musician is a stunning work of art that taps into his experiences growing up in the Jim Crow South to examine global concerns. The album balances moments of bleakness with a sense of optimism. The album also features notable contributions from Bon Iver, Michael Stipe, Sharon Van Etten, and Moor Mother. Previously featured album track “Mount Meigs” as a Daily Dose of Protest.
Radical Romantics – Fever Ray
The latest album by the Swedish experimental artist tackles issues of gender identity. Concerning the album’s themes they said the following: “I’m not a binary person. Being brought up as a girl and not having the words for understanding what you are, it’s just something very itchy. And every time you try to break out from that you’re being punished in some way.”
Expendables – Fake Names
This is the sophomore album of the punk rock supergroup that features lead vocals of Refused frontman Dennis Lyxzen, guitars from Minor Threat’s and Bad Religion’s Brain Baker, and S.O.A’s Michael Hampton. It also features Girls Against Boys Bassist Johnny Temple and Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty. The album is filled with catchy and melodic anthems that feature the anti-authoritarian lyrics you would suspect. These punk vets are continuing to fight the good fight.
UK GRIM – Sleaford Mods
The latest album by the UK electro-punk duo is a scathing indictment of their native land. The album effectively employs an absurdist sense of humor to expose political hypocrisy and corruption.
Ridin’ – Eric Bibb
The 71-year-old veteran blues singer has a long history of following the footsteps of his musician and activist father Leon. His latest albums explore themes of racism and social injustices. The album doesn’t just look at issues that divide, but Bibb also highlights the commonality we all share and passionately pleas for unity.
I Am the River, The River Is Me – Jen Cloher
The latest album by the Australian-based singer-songwriter embraces her sexual identity and Maori heritage. It also heavily deals with environmental issues. Concerning the album title and the song of the same name, Cloher said it “is taken from a Maori proverb, what’s known as a whakatauki. And in te reo Maori, we would say (speaking te reo Maori). It’s the idea that we are part of. I am the river. The river is me. We’re not separate. We are part of this beautiful, beautiful planet that we are living in collectively, all together in this moment.”
LITOVSK – LITOVSK
This self-titled EP from the French post-punk band is a potent condemnation of patriarchal and bigoted power structures that must be torn down.
To Know The Light – Dawn Ray’d
On their latest album, the British anarchist black metal band Dawn Ray’d effectively incorporates the English folk tradition of rebel songs. The politically direct lyrics are staunchly anti-capitalism and pro-worker.
Micro Biome – Formidable Vegetable
Who says that socially conscious music can’t be for kids as well? This Australian-based music group is described on their Bandcamp page as “permaculture funk-swing for a changing world.” That is an apt description of both the band and their latest album.
More Class War – Rathbone
I’m unable to find too much info concerning the New Orleans-based singer-songwriter. Rathbone appears to be prolific, already releasing two albums this year and at least one in 2022. Musically it is quirky and catchy. Lyrically it is direct, but this is balanced out with a sense of wit.
And Then, The Sky Slammed Shut – Jesse Jett
Speaking of prolific, the singer, rapper, producer, and poet recently released a spoken word EP. As is typical of Jett he is explicitly political, eloquently exposing hypocrisy, greed, and corruption. Instead of adhering to a failing two-party system, he is not afraid to take shots at both sides of the political aisle.
From Gaza With Love – Saint Levant
The latest album by the Palestinian musician who grew up in refugee camps is a blend of the personal and political. It well describes the search for belonging that refugees and displaced persons yearn for.
Below is an ongoing playlist of notable 2023 protest music featured on the site.