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Music is most powerful when it is liberating. Rock Against Bush, Vol 1 provides this powerful release. Just thinking about the stupidity of George W. Bush makes me want to scream. This CD allows me to vent my frustration and, albeit out of tune, sing and scream out loud, in protest of the world leaders and their disreputable politics.
The Rock Against Bush compilation features 26 songs from the elite of the world’s punk and rock bands including the Descendents, Ministry, DOA featuring Jello Biafra, Less Than Jake featuring Billy Bragg, NOFX, Sum 41, Anti-Flag and the Ataris. Almost all of these tracks are unreleased and exclusive. This compilation hopes to generate revenue for, and raise awareness of, punkvoter.com. Also, through their unification, it also expresses the involved bands’ outrage at Bush.
Song titles are priceless, right form the word go with opener, None More Black’s intense classic-punk ‘Nothing To Do When You’re Locked In A Vacancy’, to Sum 41’s rockin’ power-punk ‘Moron’, to Alkaline Trios’ cool ska-punk ‘Warbrain’.
Notable songs are Anti-Flag’s chanting-punk-rock ‘Schools of Assassins’, Authority Zero’s powerful ‘Revolution’, The Ataris’ acoustic version of Bad Religion's ‘Heaven Is Falling’ which was written during the first Iraqi war, D.O.A/Jello Biafra’s intense ‘That's Progress’, and Less than Jake/Billy Bragg’s profound ‘The Brightest Bulb Has Burned Out’. The Offspring even revisited their song ‘Tehran’, re-recorded it, changed the lyrics, and re-titled the song ‘Baghdad’.
As well as 26 great tracks, Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1 incorporates a compelling DVD that includes interesting documentaries covering the war in Iraq, the 2000 election, and the infamous “Bush in 30 Seconds” ads, as well as a piece from comedian and Grammy nominee David Cross, and music videos from Bad Religion, Anti-Flag, Strike Anywhere and NOFX.
The DVD is arranged so it could be presented to someone not already aligned with the compilation’s anti-Bush tendencies. However, at the heart of Rock Against Bush Vol.1 is the will to empower the rock and punk generation to discard its apathetic attitude and speak out –or at least vote. Empower not indoctrinate so it doesn’t matter which way they chose as long as they have all the information and then decide for themselves.
I’m surprised this CD hasn’t copped flack from Bush supporters. It must be difficult to try to speak out against the majority –or at least Bush supporters appear to be the majority from what their well-oiled propaganda machine tells us down under.
Will Blistering.com lose readers by printing this review with its anti-war sentiments? Many North American magazines and online sites have lost readers due to speaking out against current policies. Blistering.com was one of those sites. It lost about 500 newsletter subscribers due to the editor’s political rants on Bush’s antics. Not that editor Rob Cotter minds. He’s answered this by featuring a politics section on the site.
Things are not as extreme here in Australia. We seem sheltered from foreign policy, despite John Howard’s eagerness to play ball with the big guns only to find himself petted on the head and put on a leash while leading Australia into the war. The fact that Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1 comes from Punkvoter.com may mean little to us Aussies, except to say that, if you’re over 18 years of age, make sure your vote counts in upcoming elections. Hopefully the war will end soon and our troops will all be home safe and sound. Til then, show your opposition and vent your anger and frustration by listening to this powerful CD. Related Links:
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