I’ve been going through some health issues and I’m currently typing this from a hospital room, so haven’t been keeping up with things the way I would like to. But still had the opportunity to discover notable socially conscious music during the past month. Here is a sampling. Songs/Videos: war machine – ATide Atide is an artist from Russia who […]
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Music is often an outlet for songwriters to express their political and personal frustrations. That was the case with the New Orleans singer-songwriter Earnest Jackson, who in 1975 composed the song “Inflation” in response to being adversely affected by the high cost of living. He collaborated with the instrumental funk band Sugar Daddy and the Gumbo Roux, to record the […]
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On October 31st, 2022, trail-blazing singer-songwriter and activist Patrick Haggerty died at the age of 78. A few weeks earlier he suffered a stroke. He fronted Lavender Country which is widely believed to be the first openly gay country band. In 1973, they released their self-titled debut, which is often cited as the first gay-themed country album. Initially, there were […]
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On October 28, 2022, Darren Henley, better known as D.H. Peligro sadly died at the age of 63. He was primarily known as the drummer of the influential hardcore band Dead Kennedys, joining them in 1981. He also had a short stint as the drummer for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, joining them in 1988 and contributing to several tracks […]
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At this point, I’m not even going to attempt a proper intro. Here is a sampling of notable socially conscious music released in October. RIP D. H. Peligro. Songs/Videos: The Delicate Nature (Featuring Laurie Vincent) – Bob Vylan This is the latest single from the UK grime punk duo which touches upon an array of social issues. Concerning the motivation […]
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In Virginia, back in 1759, a white Scottish servant Elizabeth Gallimore, fell in love with a black slave whose name had been lost over time. Their great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson, Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, who performs under the pseudonym Fantastic Negrito, has released the compelling concept album White Jesus Black Problems based on his recently discovered lineage. The ambitious multi-media project includes a companion film. […]
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Country music has long been viewed as a politically conservative music genre, but there are a handful of artists that have been challenging traditional views. This does include the occasional mainstream artists who have faced backlash for speaking up (most notably The Chicks). But most of these artists operate on the fringes. One notable example is Pink Williams who describes […]
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Ding dong the Queen is dead. Fuck colonialism! Also, fuck Win Bulter! This is a sampling of some of the notable socially conscious releases during the month of September. Songs/Videos: Odana – Mali Obomsawin Formerly of the folk trio Lula Wiles, this track is off her upcoming solo debut, Sweet Tooth. The album uses field recordings of relatives at Odanak […]
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Singer-songwriter Rain Perry recently released A White Album, a concept piece that addresses white privilege. She is also working on producing a stage version of the album. One of the album’s highlights is “The Money,” which skillfully weaves the narrative of two GIs returning from war, one white and one black. It examines the inequality when it comes to home […]
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The latest single by the UK post-punk band is a scathing critique of political propaganda, which follows in the spirit of their 2020 album KOMPROMAT. “I see this as part of the KOMPROMAT world,” states vocalist David Martin. “I would love to say we were seeking closure, but there’s no light at the end of that particular tunnel. ‘The Spectacle’ […]
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