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 →Here is a recap of some of the noteworthy socially conscious music released within the past two weeks. Songs and Videos: Flames – Chastity “Flames” is the latest single from the Canadian alternative band’s upcoming album Homemade Satan, due out September 13th. The album is a political concept album meant to represent the marginalized voices that often go unheard. Frontman […]
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 →It has been a few weeks since I did a weekly recap, so I’m also including relatively new socially conscious music that I haven’t had a chance to feature. Songs and Videos: Ba Na Na – A Tribe Called Red Featuring Odario, Haviah Mighty and Chippewa Travellers) The latest track by A Tribe Called Red is a feel-good summer banger […]
Learn more →One of the goals of this site is to create an online archive of artists, albums and songs that have notably contributed to the canon of protest songs. With that goal in mind, last year I decided I create an online Protest Music Hall of Fame. It is now time to start the nominating process for 2019. The results of […]
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 →Along with this website, I have been writing about protest music for Shadowproof. Twice a month a post on this site is also featured on their site. Periodically I also contribute to their lists of best albums. Recently I contributed to their Top Ten Protest Albums of 2019 (So Far) list. I selected five albums to write about and the […]
Learn more →Right now we will highlight a few socially conscious videos and tunes released this week. Songs and Videos: The OG – A Tribe Called Red featuring Black Bear The latest single from the Indigenous Canadian EDM group is dedicated to Romeo Saganash, an Indigenous Member of Parliament. The tune samples a Saganash speech where he called out Candian Prime Minister […]
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