No Shelter

This post is abit late but I thought I would comment on the Christmas No. 1 fiasco. Inspired to write this by my recent research on counter-culture and the resistance against consumerism.

Whilst even Rage Against the Machine jumped on the band wagon and saw this as a way of 'saving' music in Britian, they should really be reminded on the lyrics to their own song No Shelter

The main attraction, distraction
got ya number than number than numb
Empty ya pockets son, they got you thinkin that
What ya need is what they sellin
Make you think that buyin is rebellin'
From the theaters to malls on every shore
The thin line between entertainment and war
The frontline is everywhere, there be no shelter here
Spielberg the nightmare works so push it far
Amistad was a whip, the truth feather to tar
Memories erased and burned to scar
Trade in ya history for a VCR

Cinema, simulated life, ill drama
Fourth reich culture, Americana
Chained to the dream they got ya searchin for
The thin line between entertainment and war

There'll be no shelter here!
The frontline is everywhere
There'll be no shelter here!
The frontline is everywhere
There'll be no shelter here!
The frontline is everywhere
There'll be no shelter here!
The frontline is everywhere

Hospitals not profit full
The market bull's got pockets full
To advertise some hip disguise
View the world from American eyes
Tha poor adore keep feeding for more
Tha thin line between entertainment and war
fix the need, develop the taste
Buy their products or get laid to waste
Coca-Cola was back in our veins in Saigon
And Rambo too, we got a dope pair of Nikes on
Godzilla pure motherfuckin' filler
Get your eyes off the real killer

Cinema, simulated life, ill drama
Fourth reich culture, Americana
Chained to the dream they got you searchin for
Tha thin line between entertainment and war

There'll be no shelter here!
The frontline is everywhere
There'll be no shelter here!
The frontline is everywhere
There'll be no shelter here!
The frontline is everywhere
There'll be no shelter here!
The frontline is everywhere

American eyes, American eyes
View the world from American eyes
Bury the past, rob us blind
And leave nothin behind

American eyes, American eyes
View the world from American eyes
Bury the past, rob us blind
And leave nothin behind

Just stare!
Just stare!
Just stare!
Just stare!

and live the nightmare!

In Particular the line of the song which goes like this

What ya need is what they sellin
Make you think that buyin is rebellin'

It is in this line we find the crux of the problem. We were told that buying a 1992 single which everyone already had either legally or illegally would be able to save musical culture. As if at some point in the recent history we already controlled it!

But what was achieved? Bigger sales and free marketing for the x-factor winner, and huge sales for Killing in the name which is already a huge track played regularly internationally. As both were signed to Sony subsidiaries all we saw was sony cashing it in with loads of free publicity.

Far from being described as a blow against the music industry this couldn't even e described as culture jamming as the track chosen was a worldwide hit and a classic still reguarly played of rock radio and tv stations and clubs throughout the world. The only thing achieved was an illusion in consumerism.

I will keep it short as a discussion on this woud be interesting, but I will post more on counter-culture and culture jamming in the future

Zombie God Delicious

The unique blend that Pink Punk offer of a mixture of elements from metal, punk, hip-hop, slam poetry, spoken word & electronica to name but a few and other parts which can only be described as rambling is definitely an acquired taste. One I have fully acquired.

The first album Pink Punk released in 2006 'Zoo Politics' quite honestly blew my mind.

The first album brought with it a blend of various musical styles, something I thoroughly enjoyed and along with that quite overtly political lyrics particularly in the flagship track Yapolitical. the album did not hold back on its attacks on capitalist society and how celebrity culture is blinding the masses to the truth. This can all be summarised in one line from the album 'Kylie move your plastic ass, your blocking out the genocide'.

This follow up album did not disappoint with the added bonus of appearances on the album of the Excentral Tempest and Bill Hicks (posthumously) Zombie God Delicious provides an excellent listening experience both musically and in terms of lyrical content. So lets take a look at the tracks.

The opening track 'Universe on tap' brakes in slowly but then talks about the bad situation facing people in the style  accustomed to Pink Punk but in the same style explained that forces of ordinary people can change things.

The second track, 'Pink Punk Presents'  starts of much quicker, indeed it flows straight from the previous track. A much more fast paced track which offers us the organised lyrical chaos associated with Pink Punk so much.

The third track, 'Catalogue Democracy' starts of with much more aggressive beats. Again with the customary ramblings, to me is this track Yap is attempting to tackle the hypocrisy of capitalist society, but also the resistance developing against this with particular reference to the Seattle riots.

The next track, 'Old Enough to Die, Old Enough to Listen'  makes it clear that we should not hide the truth of society from young people and they should not be shielded from the reality. Clearly pointing out that the current setup is about greed rather than people. and the tracks finishes suddenly with a bang.

Bill Hicks makes an appearance on the next track 'Advertising' which has for the intro a segment of Hicks stand up performance ranting against advertising. It doesn't stop at Bill Hicks speech and indeed the whole track is a tirade against the role advertising plays in society, and its effects of ordinary people, one of the best tracks on the album if not the best.

'Down a Hole with Alice' is the next offering. My interpretation is that this track is a tirade against the life capitalist society claims to offer us, and how we must in someway fight for our own culture. This is my interpretation of this track and maybe I am reading to much into it. Nevertheless this track is full of interesting lyrical and musical content

Track 7 brings us 'Lollipops' This track seems to be putting forward the idea the he (that is the vocalist Yap) could have quite clearly bought into the capitalist ideology and been everything they wanted him to be, but chose instead to resist it.

Up next is 'Press the Panic Button' which offers a tirade against organised religion and offers alot musically as well is an excellent addition to the album.

The Excentral Tempest makes an appearance on this track 'Rockstars' and this is definately the high point of the track, as ever providing insightful lyrics and an awesome vocal style. and don't really know how else to describe it so I suggest every take a listen.

Track 10 'Calling Time'  a much more sombre track, a much slower pace from the previous tracks. a good point at which to reflect on the album so far. Yap talks about how he is at war with the world, how he trying to spread the word as far as possible. From the mood of the song, it becomes clear that this struggle he is involved with is something he is deeply saddened by. sentiments I can completely agree with. The fight for a better society is not something I necessarily enjoy but something I see as necessary.

The penultimate track 'Freedom' is a departure from the politcal lyrics seen on the rest of the album, but that in and of itself is a political stament, with the title Freedom it is a reminder as to why we are fighting for an alternative society, so we can truly enjoy the things around us such as music free from the dictates of big business.

The final track 'Outer Space' flows perfectly from the last track. It talks about how we cannot  afford to sit back and do nothing. Then Yap bursts in with a last stab at his ranting as ever though, parts of it definately resemble more of a rambling. An interesting ramble never the less. The track ends with an acapella session from the Excentral Tempest who brings a medly of her lyrics fro her album with Sound of Rum, definately a good way in which to end the album.

The whole album is a great listening experience to follow on from the debut album 'Zoo Politics' and well worth a listen, this review is by no means complete, there are many topics on this album not covered in the review, and of course the review on many of the lyrics are clearly my interpretation to them. 

I would definately encourage everyone to take the time to listen to this album. Unfortunately all of Pink Punks works are incredibly hard to come by, but it can be streamed at Spotify so you can make a judgement for yourself.