» posted on 11:56am - March 30 2006 | posted by Lev

The Canadian punk group Propagandhi's most recent release "Potemkin City Limits" was released Oct. 18, 2005. I had no idea they were still making music so I checked up on them to see if they were or not and got surprised when I saw they had the new album.

I originally got into Propagandhi some 4-5 years ago. While often times they can sound sometimes emo'ish (though most the time it's intentional when making fun) I still like their style. Their musical sound varries a bit (hard rock to punk rock to emo to new wave) from song to song, even on the single albums.

I haven't listened very much to the newest album yet, but it still seems to contain the messages they try to get across to people. While their sound has changed quite a bit in many ways since the original (and in my opinion: best) album, "How to clean everything", they still haven's sold out so I gotta give it to 'em for that.

Many of the older Propagandhi songs had very meaningful messages and catchy ryhthms as well, but they never really caught on well enough with many people to make it big some some other punk groups. I think much of this accounts for the fact that many of the lyrics sung too often about homosexuality and animal rights; still two big "taboos" to even many "punk rockers".

Anyhow, here is an MP3 from their latest cd. This track is called "Die Jugend Marschiert"; which should mean "The Youth March" if my german is correct. Though, this track has been dubbed "America's March" by Propagandhi for the english title. It begins by playing a chorus recording of Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend) singing their anthem and then breaks into the song the moment the kids shout "Sieg Heil!" I think the message they are trying to get across is pretty clear: the government owns our youth.

The lyrics to this track are as follows:

Welcome to the offices of Economic and Manpower Analyses here at our historic and sprawling West Point Academy campus! My name is Mindy! It is my distinct pleasure to introduce you to a loving father of three (and a champion of the sanctioned use of armed force in pursuit of policy objectives). Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for the project director of our newest recruitment strategy; our mission to staff future combat systems through current technologies. Without any further ado, I give to you Colonel Casey Wardynski!

(warm applause)

Thank you! Let me begin with some sentimental appeals to our national myths; assorted clichés coined by the state; the ideological shorthand meant to sweep your private doubts [away] of this virtual training course. This portal; this Trojan Horse that you living idiots paid for and actually rolled into your own kids’ rooms.

(stunned silence)

Oops, did I just say that out loud? Oh, well, it’s not like it’s something new. It’s just the logical extension of the decades of bilge water that you’ve let us pump into your homes. The pink noise that hums away in the background while you run the gauntlet we force on you everyday. The billowing candy floss that helps to soften the blow. Deep down you’ve always known that your children already belong to us, so why don’t you cut the outraged parent routine, shut your mouth and get back in your seat. Your children already belong to us. What are you? You will pass on. And they won’t know a fucking thing but this 'community,' this real life Ender’s Game. Forget what you think you know.

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If you would like to check out any of the older Propagandhi music, I strongly encourage you to try their first album, "How to clean everything", before any others. While "Less talk, more rock" and "Today's empires, tomorrows ashes" are also pretty good, I don't think they compare to the first.

propagandhi.com

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