WHAT IS THE BEST ‘AMERICA SUXX’ MUSIC?
We’ve all heard the American glory anthems, but what jamz do you count on to decode your American shame? What songwriters help to explain our fucked up shit to the rest of the world? What albums are currency to convince your foreign friends that you’re not a typical American bastard?
On Independence Day I’m ready to party, but not unconditionally. I’m usually thinking “Sure, America is silly now, but we’re getting better at dealing with a massive technology epoch shift and natural resources stuff and getting rid of cigarettes and prejudice and fat chicks, so, to this extent, I say let’s party.” Anything beyond that would be self-delusion and nationalism generated by misplaced fear.
That vibe doesn’t last. I soon default to “Man, America is about being a fucking jerk all the time” mode. This happens every year: The fourth of July holiday could be a renewal of goals, of commitment to responsible nationhood; instead, it’s a day for marathon face stuffing and drunken blather. It could be both. Speech in the morning, bongs and bikinis by brunch. Shit.
Lucky for all, America has produced not only an infinite well of parking space stealers, war profiteers, and dirty diaper litterbugs, but also a few killer songwriters who express the bullshit-osity of America to us and everybody else. Check out these angry, angry jamz:
Warrior Soul “The Wasteland”
The first name in my book of political angst rock is not Rage Against The Machine cuz I don’t listen to rap. So those honors belong to Kory Clarke’s Warrior Soul, whose first three albums are awesome first for the jamz, then for the sage anti-government sentiments. The bonus with Warrior Soul is that Clarke is a nihilistic druggy too.
The Dead Kennedys “California Uber Alles”
Around 1999, I started nursing a private suspicion that System Of A Down might be that generation’s equivalent of the Dead Kennedys. There were parallels: the ultra-humanist socio-political stuff, the state of origin, the warbly, animated lead singer, the um gorgeousness. As of this writing, SOAD is no Dead Kennedys, cuz SOAD is from an era of bands who care most about dicking around and not their art. Fuck, what am I even blabbing about here? It’s this inattentiveness that ensures I’ll never know what this song is about. Jerry Brown sounds cool.
Warrior Soul “Ghetto Nation”
Warrior Soul never popped in America — too serious for hair rock radio, not rap enough for alternative radio — but they were bona fide awesome by third album Salutations From The Ghetto Nation. It’s one of those full-sprectrum albums, like a voyage and back. Okay, it’s distracting that “The Golden Shore” shares a marquee riff with “I’ll Be There For You” by Bon Jovi; but elsewhere, Salutations is mournful (“Shine Like It”), acid tripping (“Dimension”), and high on coke (“Punk And Belligerent,” “Ass Kickin’”). But Clarke’s wheelhouse is rage, and he’s brutal on “Love Destruction” and “Blown” and especially the big finale, “Ghetto Nation.” Rips!
The Crucifucks “Hinkley Had A Vision”
These guys are from Wisconsin, so they’re disturbing, gross, and fixated on dismemberment. Fuck Reagan.
Queensryche “Empire”
Queensryche singer Geoff Tate wanted to write a lyric that would tell the world about the plight of the black man black man black man.
Suicidal Tendencies “Give It Revolution”
I am unsure if appraising the American condition is the domain of a self-professed ahem “cyco,” but I don’t care. This least awesome song on Suicidal Tendencies’ Lights … Camera … Revolution rocks.
–ADF
