Don't you hate it when...

[boppa]

Skate Punk bands go political?

I'm thinking in particular of NOFX and Greenday, two bands who were awesome when they sung about lesbians and masterbation.

Classic songs like:
Liza and Louise
Stickin in my eye
Welcome to paradise
Brat


Now they sing about Bush and Iraq... LAME!

Leave the politics to those who do it best.. Public Enemy, Michael Franti.

 

[Jabso]

No not really.
They can do whatever they like.
Is there some unwritten rules that bands branded as punk cannot change at all? Yet they cannot get stale? For example alot of people lambast NoFX for releasing the same album every year when they clearly try different things each time and then others hate them for going political. If NoFX released a couple of political songs from the beginning would it be better for you?

 

[boppa]

It's so boring and predictible that bands go political after a few albums, it's all been done to death.

 

[boppa]

Are you going to throw Living End into that list about political?

You could throw numerous bands onto that list but i was more aiming at skate punk bands.

 

[Heisenberg_]

i believe it is called maturing as musicians, but in saying that Green Day are a very average band

 

[-VC-]

You can't tell me that The Decline isn't a masterpiece.

 

[Carlos]

And here i was thinking that a big part of the punk ethos was being part of the anti-establishment...

 

[Jabso]

It's so boring and predictible that bands go political after a few albums, it's all been done to death.

Give me examples?
After a few albums?
NoFX did it after 8 albums (with War on Errorism) and they still have the goofy songs in that album in She's Nubs, Mattersville, We Got Two Jealous Agains, Whoops I Od'd. In fact the only really political songs on the album are Irrationality of Rationality, Franco Un-American, American Errorist, Idiot's Are Taking Over. Also add to this NoFX have always had a few political songs here and there, although it may not be that obvious to you.

Predictible? I think what would be more predictable is another album about "the scene", lesbians and toilet humour (although I wouldn't mind that).

 

[Conan Troutman]

No way, I've got a lot more respect for Greenday now because they did go political. It could be seen as a pretty risky move by perhaps turning away many existing fans with different political views, so good on em for having the balls to do it
I don't think it's a coincidence either that bands in general often produce their better albums when there is bit more emotion or aggression about politics and other issues behind it (eg Metallica with Master of Puppets and And Justice For All, or Megadeth with Rust In Peace).
If only the politicians would do the same and grow some balls.

 

[PHX]

You can't tell me that The Decline isn't a masterpiece.

100% correct.

 

[-VC-]

Give me examples?
After a few albums?
NoFX did it after 8 albums (with War on Errorism) and they still have the goofy songs in that album in She's Nubs, Mattersville, We Got Two Jealous Agains, Whoops I Od'd. In fact the only really political songs on the album are Irrationality of Rationality, Franco Un-American, American Errorist, Idiot's Are Taking Over. Also add to this NoFX have always had a few political songs here and there, although it may not be that obvious to you.

Predictible? I think what would be more predictable is another album about "the scene", lesbians and toilet humour (although I wouldn't mind that).

Dude, Nofx have been mighty political for some time before War On Errorism. That was probably the album that had the highest ratio of political:silly songs on it. Except The Decline, which is 100% political.
Don't Call Me White, Freedumb, Bleeding Heart Disease, Kill All The White Man, Perfect Government, Murder The Government just off the top of my head. All of those songs spread out over a long period of time across a bunch of different albums.
They've also had plenty of songs about politics in the music industry such as Dinosaurs Will Die, Please Play This Song On The Radio and It's My Job To Keep Punk Rock Elite all before War On Errorism.

 

[Mr Sensitive]

Dude, Nofx have been mighty political for some time before War On Errorism. That was probably the album that had the highest ratio of political:silly songs on it. Except The Decline, which is 100% political.
Don't Call Me White, Freedumb, Bleeding Heart Disease, Kill All The White Man, Perfect Government, Murder The Government just off the top of my head. All of those songs spread out over a long period of time across a bunch of different albums.
They've also had plenty of songs about politics in the music industry such as Dinosaurs Will Die, Please Play This Song On The Radio and It's My Job To Keep Punk Rock Elite all before War On Errorism.

Right on, Vic Crow... I was just about to post something to that effect as well but you beat me to it.
FWIW I have no problem with bands becoming more political as they progress. To be honest I respect them all the more as it is usually a great risk, since it could potentially alienate some of their fans.
It's a double edged sword. If you don't change your sound, some fans will say you've gone stale, but if you do change then other fans will say you've sold out. Look at Pennywise... I love those blokes, but christ, every one of their albums sounds like their first, thus I only have their first and best album.
It's a fine line to tread, but I firmly believe that it's better to be bold and experimental, rather than play it safe and wait for time to go past you.

NOFX- The Decline>>>> every punk song

 

[Jabso]

Dude, Nofx have been mighty political for some time before War On Errorism. That was probably the album that had the highest ratio of political:silly songs on it. Except The Decline, which is 100% political.
Don't Call Me White, Freedumb, Bleeding Heart Disease, Kill All The White Man, Perfect Government, Murder The Government just off the top of my head. All of those songs spread out over a long period of time across a bunch of different albums.
They've also had plenty of songs about politics in the music industry such as Dinosaurs Will Die, Please Play This Song On The Radio and It's My Job To Keep Punk Rock Elite all before War On Errorism.

Murder the government is really just a generic fun punk song but I agree I was going to make that point but it would probably go over his head. Liberal Animation was a semi-political album (anti-vegetarian more than anything I guess) and was first released in 1988. Unless boppa was there in the SoCal scene in the mid 80s and thought they sold out after "So What If Were On Mystic"

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

I wonder how people that enjoy R&B feel. Is there seriously a song thats been released not about love? Ever?

Are you going to throw Living End into that list about political?

The Living End were political from the start.