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Tag: Techno

  • Songs to Listen to While Fighting Capitalism

    Songs to Listen to While Fighting Capitalism

    playlist

    Maybe you realize that the history of Capitalism has been a long and storied tale of making everything worse for the common folk so that a few people can get unimaginably wealthy. Maybe you feel some kind of way about that. Maybe you even want to do something to make it stop. If so, you’re going to need some tunes to listen to and keep you motivated for every step of the fight.

    Step 1-

    The first step to solving any problem is to first acknowledge that there is a problem and then begin to understand it. These recommendations really lay out the case that the reason we are here is because of deeply entrenched systems that manufacture consent and respond to any threat to the status quo, even a peaceful one, with violence. Last, complacency of people who would rather look the other way than deal with the reality of the situation.

    “Illusion of Choice” by The Best of the Worst

    “Wake up” by Rage Against the Machine

    “The Way you Tune it Out” by JER

    Step 2-

    Now that we laid out and understand the problem, it’s time that for individuals to decide that they can and should do something to help change things. Unfortunately, Capitalism tries really hard to keep people alienated and feeling helpless. You do have the power to enact change. The following recommendations will help work out that inner turmoil and motivate you to act.

    “Warning Dystopia” by Common Sense Kid

    “Damocles” by Sleep Token

    “New Gilded Age” By Atlas and Oracle

    Step 3-

    While it is important for individuals to realize their capacity to act and make change, they don’t have to do it alone. In fact, success can only be achieved when individuals come to together, cooperate and fight for change. These recommendations will motive you while you find and build your communities and support each other.

    “Earth (We’re in This Together)” by How I Became Invisible

    “They can’t Kill Us All” by Apes of the State

    “Salvage” by Space Monkey Mafia

    Step 4-

    Now you’ve got your community by your side. You understand the problem and your ability to make change. It’s time to act. Get out, get organized, find out what your community needs and start making things happen. It’s not going to be easy and it wont be quick. Your gonna need to stay motivated. These recommendations will keep you going when things get tough.

    “A Glorious Shipwreck” by Pat the Bunny

    “Boss Fight” by Doom Scroll

    “Barrier For Entry” by Half Past two

    End Step-

    So through the power of solidarity and music, you’ve managed to defeat Capitalism. What now? Unfortunately, I can’t tell you what to do next. Anyone that tells you they know exactly what you should do now is selling you a grift. Lucky for you, however, everything you and your friends learned and practiced during your struggle against Capitalism are exactly the skills you need to build what comes next. So instead, I am going to offer up one more song recommendation to get the juices flowing. So, at the risk of seeming a little cliche here is –

    “Imagine” by John Lennon

  • A for Effort E for Attainment By Common Sense Kid

    A for Effort E for Attainment By Common Sense Kid

    Author’s note: This review was originally written to be an album of the year review for 2023. Unfortunately for me, I was unable to release it in a timely fashion. Rather than releasing an album of the year review well into the new year and making it weird, I decided I would instead hold onto it and release it to celebrate the 1-year anniversary of the album’s release. So Happy Anniversary, Common Sense Kid! Thanks for crafting my favorite album of 2023.

    Album: A For Effort E For Attainment

    Artist: Common Sense Kid

    Released: March 28, 2023- Ska Punk International

    This is the first full-length release by Common Sense Kid and clearly, he intended to come out of the gate swinging. A For Effort E for Attainment is an innovative and eclectic mix of electronic music, Ska, and Punk. Common Sense Kid pushes the sound envelope of what it means to be a Ska album and succeeds at creating something unique and enjoyable.

    The Album features songs about relationships highs as found in “Here For The Long Haul” which is an upbeat guitar and horn driven song celebrating time spent with a significant other. It also features a song about relationship lows of “Blinded by a Black Hole” where synth-organ punctuates the story of a person finding freedom from an obsessive toxic relationship. As the name suggests, it implodes under its own weight. The song is endlessly catchy. The political message found in “Warning: Dystopia” is my jam. It starts with the POV of the song noticing a Doomsayer on the street holding a sign proclaiming the end is near. The song then goes on to list all the problems that can be seen as the POV walks around his town. Poor folks freezing during the winter, corrupt politicians, and the rich using detraction to fleece the pocket of the same poor folks are all mentioned as problems of dystopia. The last lyrics of the song deliver a twist ending that seems to suggest, that you have to do something to stop this. The twist is also delivered in a deep Boris Karloff like voice that adds a chilling weight to the message that is frankly awesome.  “Let’s Press Reset” is another politically themed song that is more of a sorrowful retrospective of our world’s current problems. It proposes the question that maybe it’s better to start over again. The thing that really sets this song apart from others on the album for me is its clever use of archival recordings of historic radio broadcasts that perfectly coalesce with the lyrics and somber vibes of the music; in a sense saying these are the steps that took us here.  

    This album really offers something for everyone including a flat-out banger techno bop “What is this Techno Stuff” and more songs about guitar maintenance than you would typically expect to find on the average LP release. It is a must listen in my book. I wait on bated breath to see what the future holds for Common Sense Kid. His music is upbeat, catchy, and pushes the cutting edge of modern Ska forward. His lyrics are down to earth, insightful, and in most cases hopeful. A For Effort, E for Attainment is frankly everything I want in an album.

    This review was originally posted on March 28, 2023 on the former LFDH substack.