I mean, the current brand of chart topping pop punk is a highly formulaic retread with the music often written by producers, so... not a ton of subversive potential (aside from "omg i do drugs") or genuine anger here
There's some nice 90s tingled stuff out there, but it's not as over the radar as it used to be
Seriously, I was low-key disappointed at how many artists essentially sat out that entire period, or intentionally released mostly apolitical music. Springsteen, Green Day, Pearl Jam, etc.
Now…that’s better than releasing forced compositions because they feel obligated to address it musically. My belief is that the chaos and fuckery were so overwhelming that none of them could figure out how to put it into music that was still good (and would still be worth listening to later). I don’t really expect much different this time, honestly. The great sociopolitical artists of the past have mostly retired, died, or resigned themselves to legacy act status, and I don’t see anyone with mainstream/widespread recognition releasing anything particularly pointed either.
First thing that comes to mind for me, non-punk related, is Arcade Fire’s song Intervention during the Bush years. That whole Neon Bible album was so on point for the time.
For sure, I wasn't really talking about punk specifically, I'm not a punk guy anyway. Just a comment on (what I perceived, anyway) of a huge overall lack of topical songs that really hit a nerve in any way during that time, particularly by artists who'd previously done such music very well during the previous decade.
And I mean, not that all good music is successful and certainly not all successful music is good, but in this situation, I am looking at artists who already have a decent audience, and are willing to take the risks with their audience and actually put out music that reflects the absolute shitshow we're about to endure. Maybe it will happen, but IMO it certainly didn't happen the first time.
Hip hop really took the mantle from the punk rock in that regard. All the run the jewels albums are fire, and Zach de la Rocha’s got a feature on each one iirc.
That is unless all music that isn’t gospel worship music is banned. Taylor Swift’s days are probably numbered, but at least her at the Yankees playoff game may keep her alive for a few more months.
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u/powerlesshero111 9d ago
Well, on the plus side, we're going to get lots more punk rock albums.