Here is a recap of some notable socially conscious music released during the month of February.
Songs/Videos
A Tribe Called Red – Land Back (Featuring Ft. Boogey The Beat & Chippewa Travellers)
The Candian Indigenous electronic group released the following tune in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en nation and in voicing their support for the pipelines protests happening throughout Canada.
Body Count – Bum-Rush
The latest single from Ice-T’s metal band is off their upcoming album Carnivore, due out March 6. The hard-hitting track addresses issues such as racial violence and the Flint water crisis. The song is designed to awake the listener to the injustices taking place and to jolt them into action.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Be Afraid
“Be Afraid” is the first single off Isbell’s upcoming album Reunions, due out May 15. The tune rebukes critics who try to tell artists to just shut up and sing. It also admonishes fellow artists who refrain from speaking up due to fear of commercial backlash. Isbell follows his own advice in speaking up and his excellent 2017 album The Nashville Sound was one of the best protest albums of the 2010s.
MILCK – If I Ruled The World
The latest single and video from the socially conscious singer-songwriter addresses current social injustices that failed to get addressed due to political corruption. It envisions a world where health care will be affordable, the hungry will be fed, the environment will be protected and compassion will conquer fear. The song appears on her latest EP, Into Gold.
Drea Pizziconi – This Land
The singer-songwriter and activist wrote “This Land” in response to Woody Guthrie’s classic protest tune “This Land Is Your Land.” Pizziconi originally released the tune in 2019, but she released the video on February 23 to coincide with the 80th Aniversary of Guthrie composing the anthem. The revised lyrics discuss how the land was stolen from the Natives (“this land was taken for you and me”) and how we as humans need to overcome hatred in order to achieve true freedom.
Sons of Silver – World On Fire
Sons of Silver is an indie rock band which features original Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen, Candlebox bassist Adam Kury and former Skillet guitarist Kevin Haaland. “World On Fire” is from their upcoming EP, slated to be released in the spring.
Frontman Peter Argyropoulos stated that their latest single is “inspired by current events and attitudes,” and he goes on to add, “I’m a politics and history junkie. I’m also a bit of a contrarian. Put those interests and traits together with today’s current events and, well, it’s hard not to feel inspired.”
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – Rebirth (featuring Tanya Tagaq)
The Canadian indigenous rap group recently released a video for “Rebirth” a standout track off their 2019 album Trapline, which was one of the best protest albums of 2019. The lyrics that embrace indigenous culture also features powerful vocal contributions from acclaimed indigenous throat singer Tanya Tagaq.
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – Real Deady
Along with releasing a final video for their 2019 album, they also released the first single and video for their upcoming album Born Deadly, due out April 3.
Steve Earle & The Dukes – Devil Put the Coal in the Ground
“Devil Put the Coal in the Ground” is the first single from the influential Americana artist upcoming album Ghosts of West Virginia, due out May 22. The album is a concept album that deals with the Upper Big Branch coal mine explosion that killed twenty-nine men in 2010. Investigations revealed hundreds of safety violations and attempted coverups.
Trivium – Catastrophist
“Catastrophist” is the first single off the veteran metal band’s upcoming ninth studio album What The Dead Say, due out April 24. The hard-hitting critique of societal ills features provocative lyrics such as “Consume and feed, degenerate. We damage just to liberate. Bought and sold before we could even breathe.”
Trupa Trupa – End Of The Line
The latest tune by the Polish indie rock band is off their upcoming EP I’ll Find, due out March 6. The song also features a video directed by Jakub Żwirełło, which features imagery of building a snowman, then building it. According to Żwirełło, the visuals represent “the hard work it takes to build relationships, friendships and on a larger scale – local communities, which can be later destroyed abruptly and unexpectedly by tragic events like war.”
The band’s previous album Of The Sun was one of the best protest albums of 2019.
U.S. Girls – 4 American Dollars
The infectious grooves of “4 American Dollars” is blended with social commentary on economic inequality. The tune from her upcoming album, Heavy Light, being released March 6th. The song was also previously featured as a Daily Dose of Protest.
Albums:
Antibalas – Fu Chronicles
For over two decades the Brooklyn based twelve-piece afro-beat band has been creating socially conscious music that you can groove to. Their latest effort offers a positive message of hope, while also exploring the early roots of the band which started in the kung fu dojo of lead singer Duke Amayo.
The Dowling Poole – See You, See Me
The Dowling Poole is a UK power-pop duo whose third album is heavily influenced by the current political climate. They expertly blend catchy melodies with insightful lyrics.
Grimes – Miss Anthropocene
The fifth album by the Canadian experimental pop artist is a loose concept album named after what Grimes considers to be the goddess of climate change. The dark themes are heavily influenced by the current state of world affairs.
Roy Kinsey – Kinsey: A Memoir
The latest album by the Chicago rapper is rooted in his past personal trauma and are shaped by his experiences as a black queer man.
Matt Pless – Seed and Stems Vol. 1
The latest album by the veteran folk-punker is a collection of rarities and unreleased tunes. A couple of the songs are alternate full-band versions of previously released songs, which adds a different dynamic. Many of the songs feature the insightful anti-conformist and anti-capitalistic lyrics that he is known for.
Sons of Yusuf – Shaykh the World
The debut album by the Kuwait born hip-hop brother duo features socially conscious lyrics that are heavily influenced by their Arabic heritage.
Sepultura – Quadra
The pioneering Brazilian thrash band’s fifteenth studio album is an ambitious concept album based on numerology and the significance of the number four. The album also touches on themes of ecological destruction which is fitting considering the destruction of the rainforests in their home country.
Yuca Brava – The Micro Sessions EP
The latest EP by the Puerto Rican rap duo is a pointed critique on the political corruption that has ravaged Puerto Rico. An informative interview was published by Shoutsmusic.
Amanda Palmer & Friends – Forty-five Degrees: A Bushfire Charity Flash Record
The album was recorded in response to the Australian bushfires. It features mostly covers, including a couple of poignant reworkings of tunes by the pioneering Australian political rock band Midnight Oil. All proceeds from the album go to Firesticks Alliance, an Indigenous-led network which seeks to promote an increased understanding of the ecological effects of cultural land burning.
Below is an ever-expanding playlist of 2020 released music featured on the site. Will constantly be adding to throughout the year.