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Justin George's Blog

Web Address: http://www.zcommunications.org/zspace/movingpast
Bio: Hi, I live in Melbourne, Australia, and I think I first came across Znet courtesy of the linear notes of a Propagandhi album along time ago. Soon after that Michael Albert gave a talk at my univer... (More)

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Propagandhi- Music's Power to Describe, Compel, Renew

By Justin George at Feb 22, 2009

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"Music's power to describe, compel, renew..."

 

I listen to a lot of music, every day I have a record playing at some time of the day. If I'm at work my personal mp3 player is constantly on. This is partly an escape from dealing with the boring and routine office job I do and partly to keep me moving, driving me through the day from it's inherent energy.

Like many, music has played a large part in who I am today, in influencing and directing my understanding of the world. Music was critical in political awakening, in being exposed to new ideas. Pouring over liner notes I would study the lyrics, discover new bands and find out about groups or websites that provided even more to explore and understand. I loved that aspect, of playing detective and historian, backtracking influences, tracing the origins of ideas I had found to better understand them, to make them mine. I often reached for the dictionary, or when my family got a home computer, searched for the people or websites mentioned.

Music provided me with a great way to not only find but engage with radical thoughts and ideas- on my own terms and in my own time. I could try some things on for size, other times I could dive right in, or let things sit and see where I stood on issues or organizations.

I didn't feel pushed. In fact it was the opposite as I kept going back to my favourite songs and the ideas behind them.

At the centre of this learning and growing was the band Propagandhi. Fast, melodic and intelligent they set something off in my teenage heart and mind. Each album expanded my understandings, providing a creative force of ideas and music. From their choice of artwork to the liner notes to the enhanced material on their CDs never let me rest. It was accessible but not simplified, complex yet engaging. It was life changing.

They inspired my efforts to become vegan after several years as a vegetarian. As I've written for my ZSpace bio, they helped lead me to Z, to participatory ideals, to engaging and questioning the world we find ourselves.

I just got back from seeing them live for the third time as they tour Australia. The shows have been great, fun, a cathartic release after waiting a large part of my life to hear these powerful songs live, to sing along to the words that helped me become who I am today.

What these three awesome experiences have really confirmed, what it reinforces after listening to these songs and to punk rock after all these years, is succinctly summed by Propagandhi themselves- "Music's power to describe, compel and renew."

Everytime I listen to an album, or each time I've left a show, I've had a renewed fire inside. Of feeling strong, empowered, driven, connected and importantly, somehow hopeful. At this moment it puts a smile on my face, a sense of calm joy.

I can draw from these memories and listen to the albums and renew and replenish, ready to face the world and its problems again.

In a world of corporate rock, bubblegum pop and hit singles, it's easy to forget how important and powerful music can be.

Lucky we have Propagandhi to inspire and remind us.

 

www.propagandhi.com

 

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Re: Propagandhi- Music's Power to Describe, Compel, Renew

By Mclaughlin, Sean at Feb 23, 2009 15:47 PM

Hi Justin,

I couldn't agree with you more.  Music has been a saving force for me throughout my teenage and adult life.  I have always got music playing (even in my head, if I don't have access to it). 

The great thing about music these days is that the Internet provides access to more bands that radio (at least in my area) won't play.  We have very few options in my area in terms of new bands that are highlighted and commercial radio pretty much plays the same stuff over and over. 

The band that awoke my political conscience was R.E.M.  From them I was introduced to Fugazi and Dead Kennedys that furthered my education and had me exploring other areas which led to Z. 

Another thing music is powerful besides its political messages, is its ability to heal.  Music has helped me recover from the death of my mother and father in law.

Thanks for pointing out Propaghandi.  I will check out their site.

Sean

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By George, Justin at Feb 23, 2009 16:14 PM
Hi Sean, thanks so much for your comments and sharing your experiences. I totally agree, the internet has opened up whole new musical worlds to people, it makes it both easier and harder. I couldn't agree more about it's ability to help us get thru tough times. I've always meant to explore R.E.M's earlier back catalogue before their better know albums, might try and track some of them down. Hope you you enjoy Propagandhi! Justin

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Check out CRASS

By Andrews, John at Feb 23, 2009 01:48 AM

Hi Justin

I'm an old git but I was young when 'punk' exploded in the mid / late 1970s.

If you havn't already, check out the lyrics of CRASS a UK anarchist band in the late 1970's. Unfortunately they were never very melodic but the lyrics were first class.

Dead Kennedys were brilliant in the late 1970s especially on stage. Best gig I ever attended was System of a Down at Brixton in London two or three years back. I think Dead Kennedys were a huge influence on System. DKs are still playing but without their driving force Jello Biafra - I wouldn't bother with them now.

Best wishes

John Andrews

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Re: Check out CRASS

By George, Justin at Feb 23, 2009 16:25 PM
Hi John, thanks for your comments. I do have a few Crass albums. I'm still a bit of love/hate with them. some days I really enjoy an album, and as you write- great lyrics, then other days it just doesn't work for me. But I definitely appreciate them and their role in pushing punk into more thoughtful/politicized directions. Same goes for DKs, though I know Jello more from Alternative Tentacles and around then from his time with DKs I've never really listened to System of a Down, though I did get Hypnotize a few years back and enjoyed it. I always appreciated that they filled the gap left by RATM in terms of being a large and successful band that had something to say at the same time. Will need to relisten to some albums me thinks!

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System of a a Down - Prison Song

By Andrews, John at Feb 24, 2009 01:20 AM
Justin System of a Down had three albums before Hypnotise. They were: System of a Down Steal this Album Toxicity I would recommend all three. Check out Prison Song on You Tube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JaMBEIM0kM Prison Song was on the Toxicity album. The lyrics could have been written by Noam Chomsky himself! "They're trying to build a prison, They're trying to build a prison, Following the rights movements You clamped down with your iron fists, Drugs became conveniently Available for all the kids, Following the rights movements You clamped down with your iron fists, Drugs became conveniently Available for all the kids, I buy my crack, my smack, my bitch, Right here in Hollywood, Nearly 2 million Americans are incarcerated In the prison system, prison system Prison system of the U.S. They're trying to build a prison They're trying to build a prison, They're trying to build a prison, They're trying to build a prison, (for you and me baby) Another prison system, Another prison system, Another prison system. Minor drug offenders fill your prisons You don't even flinch All our taxes paying for your wars Against the new non-rich, Minor drug offenders fill your prisons You don't even flinch All our taxes paying for your wars Against the new non-rich, I buy my crack, my smack, my bitch, Right here in Hollywood, The percentage of Americans in the prison system, prison system Prison system, has doubled since 1985 They're trying to build a prison They're trying to build a prison, They're trying to build a prison, They're trying to build a prison, Another prison system, Another prison system, Another prison system. For you and me, for you and me , for you and me. They're trying to build a prison, They're trying to build a prison, They're trying to build a prison, For you and me, Oh baby, you and me. All research and successful drug policy shows That treatment should be increased, And law enforcement decreased, While abolishing mandatory minimum sentences, All research and successful drug policy shows That treatment should be increased, And law enforcement decreased, While abolishing mandatory minimum sentences. Utilizing drugs to pay for secret wars around the world, Drugs are now your global policy, Now you police the globe, I buy my crack, my smack, my bitch, Right here in Hollywood, Drug money is used to rig elections, And train brutal corporate sponsored Dictators around the world. They're trying to build a prison They're trying to build a prison, They're trying to build a prison, They're trying to build a prison, (for you and me to live in) Another prison system, Another prison system, Another prison system. (for you and me) For you and I, for you and I , for you and I. They're trying to build a prison, They're trying to build a prison, They're trying to build a prison, For you and me, Oh baby, you and me.

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Re: System of a a Down - Prison Song

By Andrews, John at Feb 24, 2009 01:22 AM
Sorry, Justin Formatting has gone to pieces again. Hopefully you can make sense of my last comment. Best wishes. John Andrews

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Re: Propagandhi- Music's Power to Describe, Compel, Renew

By Loewen, Matt at Feb 22, 2009 21:40 PM

Hear, hear...erm, literally( because its music right, so... sorry, bad joke). But yeah, Propagandhi led me to Z as well. I've never seen 'em live, they don't come out West that often. There's a good underground punk scene here in Vic, though, so that keep me happy.

 

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By George, Justin at Feb 23, 2009 16:35 PM
Hi Matt Loewen, Are you in Canada? How far are you from Winnipeg? I keep thinking of checking it out if Im ever in North America, especially with Mondragon and other pareconish business in the area. It'd be good to check it out first hand and maybe catch a Prop show if I was lucky. It's fun though finding bands your enjoy in your local area, as you always have a show to go to. My new hometown of Melbourne has a good music scene, sometimes too much choice!

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Person

By Roberts, Matt at Feb 22, 2009 20:20 PM

Couldn't have put it any better myself Justin. I've got such an opinion about the life changing effects music, more specifically punk (more specifically Propagandhi), has had on my life, intellectually, actively, musically but I fear i'll just be paraphrasing everything you've said.

My friend Hop and I have had many conversations about how these bands, reading liner notes, joining mailing lists, discovering other worlds, beliefs, ways of life/living/thinking other than our own, have impacted our lives.

I suppose it's also the measure of the person, to actually take note and digest what has been written, to read and understand the lyrics, to relate and observe to the lyrical content and decide that "yes, this is what I believe in".

When I think about everything you've written and how I personally feel on this matter I think about a 30 Foot Fall song - Entertainment vs Enlightenment. If you don't know it already, have a read, have a listen. Once again, thanks for a good read.

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By George, Justin at Feb 23, 2009 16:52 PM
Hey Matt, you should write your thoughts down, good chance to give the blogging system a check out and get some content up! I should give thanks to you too, as I'm pretty sure it was your copy of Survival of the Fattest I made a tape off which incl. Nation States among others. Perfect example of what we've been talking about. I couldn't agree more with the notion of people having to actually engage and digest the material. I've always been perplexed by the few people I've come across who have said something like- " I like Propagandhi's music, don't care much for the lyrics" or something to that extent. Sort of always seem to miss the point- that one makes the other better. 30 Foot Fall is another to go back and have a listen to, haven't heard any of their stuff in a looong time. Will check the song out! Cheers

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