The Trump administration has received widespread criticism for its anti-immigration policies. That includes the heartless act of separating children from their parents at the border. Some, such as Fox News Laura Ingraham and ICE director Matthew Albence, tried to defend the indefensible caging of children by comparing the detention centres to summer camps. But would they feel the same if […]
Learn more →“Children lead the cry.” The above lyric is from “Blankenship”, the latest single from the indie rock band DIIV upcoming third album Deceiver, which is due out October 4. The line points to the rise of climate activism among youth throughout the world. Even though the band hasn’t made an official statement, the tune appears to refer to Don Blankenship, […]
Learn more →“Warning! The following video contains content that some viewers may not find disturbing. That’s pretty fucked up.” The following quote was part of a social media teaser for the new video for “Pop Goes The Weapon” the latest single by the rap-rock supergroup Prophets of Rage. Both the song and video are a scathing indictment of the ongoing incidents of […]
Learn more →Mainstream country music isn’t currently known for its politics. But that hasn’t always been the case. When you examine the historical developments of protest music, country along with other forms of roots music have played an important role. Outside of the mainstream, there is a crop of artists who are helping to bring political activism back to roots music. One […]
Learn more →The Felice Brothers are a veteran folk-rock band who throughout their career have sacrificed commercial success by sticking to their principles. They have turned down offers to work with big-name producers and have resisted pressure to adopt a more mainstream sound. In 2011, the band turned down a lucrative offer from Dow Chemicals to use their 2008 tune “Take This […]
Learn more →One of the best protest albums of 2018 was Joy As An Act Of Resistance by the UK punk band IDLES. The album’s socially conscious tunes tackled the regressive attitudes and xenophobia that contributed to Brexit and the culture of “Make America Great Again.” Multiple tunes also addressed toxic masculinity. IDLES recently released a seven-inch single featuring two unreleased songs […]
Learn more →When looking back at the history of protest movements, young people have always been at the forefront. That has been the case with recent protests against gun violence, climate change and a variety of other social ills. Yungblud, a 21-year-old alternative musician from the UK, explored themes of youth disenfranchisement on his 2018 debut album, 21st Century Liability. Such themes […]
Learn more →“Just look at us. Everything is backwards. Everything is upside down. Doctors destroy health. Lawyers destroy justice. Universities destroy knowledge. Governments destroy freedom. The major media destroy information and religions destroy spirituality.” The following quote from Micheal Ellner is used as the intro for “Let Em Go,” the latest song from Supaman, a Native American rapper and fancy dancer from […]
Learn more →Most countries have holidays and observances that celebrate aspects of their founding and heritage. For many, it is an opportunity to display patriotic pride, but for others, it is the time to somberly reflect on dark chapters of their nation’s history. This is the premise of “Forever Half Mast.” Indie singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus wrote the song in connection with American […]
Learn more →“You will not replace us.” The white supremacists rallying cry expresses a paranoia that the white male Christian power structure is under attack. Racists, homophobes and misogynists want to preserve the oppressive status quo, which benefits them at the expense of the marginalized. The Seattle-based queer dreampunk band Dark Smith tackles these narrow-minded bigoted views on their latest album Degressive. […]
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