Best Political Record of 2000 and later

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My vote goes for Rocket From The Crypt's "Live From Camp X-Ray". It's easily their most thematic record, and pretty much a no-bullshit cynical take on post 9/11 U.S. politics... it also helps that this is their best and rawest album, musically. (not that i think raw = good all the time, but that seems to be the case for RFTC)

donut bitch (donut), Monday, 4 August 2003 20:34 (twenty-two years ago)

But man what about "The Rising"????

(I agree, actually)

ham on rye (ham on rye), Monday, 4 August 2003 20:55 (twenty-two years ago)

!!! by !!!.

Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Monday, 4 August 2003 20:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm really glad to see someone gets the gist of Live From Camp X-Ray and that it's probably their best album. But as much as I adore it, I've got to give the nod to Desaparecidos' Read Music/Speak Spanish.

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 4 August 2003 21:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Live From Camp X-Ray isn't really even about post-9/11 politics from what I can tell (the lyrics are pretty random still). It's just about fear and aggression in general. Too Many Balls and I Can't Feel My Head seem more about frat guys, boozin' and unchecked macho activity. Can You Hear It, I'm Not Invisible and I Wanna Know definitely make the most sense in a post-9/11 mindstate, but it's also simply a nervous reaction to anxiety of the apocalyptic kind. My least favorite song, "Outsider," I don't like because I can't tell what he's talking about.

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 4 August 2003 21:09 (twenty-two years ago)

the rising

Evan (Evan), Monday, 4 August 2003 21:10 (twenty-two years ago)

The Coup / Party Music.

Chris P, Monday, 4 August 2003 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

ooh ooh ooh, is that Desaparecidos album really good? I've only heard "Happiest Place On Earth" which I was going to mention here and which is ace.

I think a lot of my favourite political albums are ones which aren't explicitly POLITICAL, i.e. they observe society and implicitly criticise it but don't go off on shouty anti-government rants. Such as:

Saul Williams - Amethyst Rockstar
Dizzee Rascal - Boy In Da Corner
Thea Gilmore - Rules For Jokers
Cat On Form - Structure And Fear
Fugazi - The Argument

also individual songs by Ms Dynamite ('It Takes More'), Eminem ('White America'), Tori Amos ('Virginia').

The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 4 August 2003 21:12 (twenty-two years ago)

The Desaparecidos album is probably my favorite of the decade so far.

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 4 August 2003 21:28 (twenty-two years ago)

"White America" is great, I give the nod to "Square Dance."

Also, David Banner's "Bush" is pretty strong: "This's for Mississippi -- and every place y'all treat like Mississippi..."

JesseFox (JesseFox), Monday, 4 August 2003 22:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Anthony, I agree that many of the "Camp X-Ray" songs can be generally interpreted to be about fear of acopalypse and aggression in general. I just figured the timing and titling of the record made its association with 9/11 a little more obvious. The frat guy angle also kinda melds with the aggression topics though, don't it?Also, I thought "Outsider" was pretty easy to figure out.

donut bitch (donut), Monday, 4 August 2003 23:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm with Brian and Anthony

Yanc3y (ystrickler), Monday, 4 August 2003 23:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Outsider is about immigration? I totally missed that. I thought it was about the desire for ignorance, which I couldn't tell if they were lampooning or not.

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 4 August 2003 23:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought it was about desire for ignorance, myself (which is also shared in "I Wanna Know What I Wanna Know").. but i mean, it HAS to be lampooning it. (Granted, I could see a punk rock Republican type clutching his "These Colors Don't Run" sticker using this song as his anthem, not knowing any better)

donut bitch (donut), Monday, 4 August 2003 23:55 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, i'm doubting that reading myself too. i'll have to go back and listen to the record. (also take into account that i had a 100 word count or something for that)

Yanc3y (ystrickler), Monday, 4 August 2003 23:58 (twenty-two years ago)

my own two cents on the album:
Forgive the cliches.

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 00:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I second the Coup vote.

JoB (JoB), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 07:07 (twenty-two years ago)


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