Political vs. Apolitical Punk Music
 

So, in my experience there's always been a bit of a division in the punk rock world between bands/fans that are heavily politicized and bands/fans that aren't.

As far as I'm aware, punk rock is alone in that it's subculture can be very demanding of it's participants. I'm sure I'm not the only member here that went through a phase of living by a very strict set of principles and boycotting all things corporate, who thought by living on a squat and vandalizing cop cars I was somehow making a difference in the world and sticking it to the PIC. Or, I hope I'm not.

What's your opinion? Do you have a preference? Do you find yourself listening to bands like Jawbreaker more than you do bands like Propagandhi? Ramones more than Crass? Do you still believe punk rock can change the world more than it has just by being around?

I enjoy the youthful enthusiasm of both.

I appreciate and respect both, but find myself listening to the apolitical punk more. I was never really all that political to be honest, though I did go through a straight edge phase.

I've never been particularly interested in the political opinions of bands, but I do listen to a lot of political punk bands - Minutemen, The Ex, The Dicks, Gang of Four, The Pop Group, Zounds, etc.

The music itself is what I care about. As long as the band don't have abhorrent political/social beliefs (pro-fascist, racist, etc), then it doesn't bother me. For me, there's no great value in political lyrics, at least not if they're the focal point of most songs -better to read books if you're into that. I can see why flaunting their politics can help a band appeal to a demographic, so fair enough. I don't care though.

Crass don't interest me too much, as I find them to be quite bland at times. Some good stuff but not a band I listen to much, and the same applies to a number of the 'anarcho' bands.

I think both produce fantastic music, but I enjoy Punk of the nonpolitical nature more.

Thank you for clearly articulating what I couldn't, this is spot on.

Gravity, you pretty much nailed it for me too man.

To be honest, I don't really care, I mostly come for the music, and if I hear some good lyrics than that's a plus. I don't know much or care much about politics though, so it's ususally not a political song that I find as lyrics that interest me, but sometimes it is.

In my experience most of the political opinions held by your average teenager/twenty-something aren't worth hearing, so why should I care just because they're being shouted at me at 180 bpm?

At this point in time I think I'd rather listen to someone like Immortal Technique, KRS One, or Chuck D when it comes to politics and music.

If Sansa comes in here and says some shit about ramones and crass I'll fucking waste her.

How the **** are you able to swear?

The way I see it, good music is good music. It doesn't matter if it has a message or not.

Quote his post.

Everything Crass did was better than the Ramones. I mean did the Ramones troll Thatcher and Reagan? Do your worst bro

I don't care what a band sings about, as long as they have full conviction behind their lyrics. There's nothing cheesier than a band writing half-assed political songs.

I find that politics arises in music when there is a need for it. The whole 80's punk thing happened when there was a dramatic shift from the left to the right in the UK & North America, so there was push back amongst many displaced youths.

I think if we see a continued trend of manufacturing jobs disappearing in North America to the point that you have an army of youths stuck in low paying Starbucks jobs...Your going to have a whole $HITLOAD of politics in music!

ftfu

I have no idea what this says????

Justice. :drummer:

I don't make up acronyms tho

Boom.

Yeah who cares

Don't sulk. Not a good look.

I mean... it's like one of... two (?) political songs they have and this is one of their worst albums imo but yeah.

I'm not opposed to either of them. That isn't to say I agree with the political ones, or whatever. Because I'm not much on politics at all; But if I dig what it sounds like, I listen to it. I'm not into worshipping Satan either, but many of the metal bands I listen to have those type of lyrics.

And on the other side, I'm perfectly fine with punk rock that doesn't care a bit about politics.

So, if its good, I listen. If not I don't.

no but they did write about male prostitution and coming from cuba on a banana boat. which is pretty cool.

um...Thatchergate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ok. that's pretty cool.

I know right. The Ramones had a ****ing Republican

Well, anarchy is technically closer to American libertarianism than liberalism. Liberalism in the technical sense is libertarian. I don't know the intimacies of his politics though, so I can't comment on him really, just some of the rhetoric in punk (or i guess cliche punk).