By Max Wilbert / Deep Green Resistance Great Basin
Most popular music makes me sick. If it isn’t misogyny and objectification of women, it’s blatant materialism. Even music that doesn’t fit into popular oppression is likely to be completely vapid, empty of any soul, culture, or political meaning.
That’s why I’m so pleased with British Columbia-based hip-hop artist The Filthy Politicians. Their latest album, “The Modern Man”, is also their first full-length album, with eleven tracks, and it’s a great album.
The music is characterized by samples from popular songs, elegant mixing, and humble, intensely political lyrics that just about anyone can relate to. Dan Peters, the vocalist and producer, largely avoids the contrived feeling that some political music conveys; instead, his lyrics come across as personal. Most hip-hop fans will enjoy just about every track on the album.
The album starts off with a strong beat in “On The Level”, where Peters raps:
Everything about now is fucked and I’m tired of tip-toeing around it.
Other strong tracks include the title track, “Modern Man”, which critiques the modern lifestyle, “6am”, which looks at the alcohol-fueled lifestyle of the average 20-something, and “200 Species Every Day”, which follows a hypothetical duo of underground saboteurs dedicated to shutting down industrial civilization.
Yes, that’s really what the song is about. And it’s great.
The Filthy Politicians don’t have a website or bio online, but I did find this:
In a world held captive by empty plastic promises, Dan Peters of the filthy politicians is trying to figure out how it’s all come to this and what we might do about it. Beyond the shallow, token analysis and solutions offered up by the ones that continue to benefit from the destruction of our Mother Earth, the filthy politicians set out to take a deep look at an extreme situation and urge those with more human than machine left inside to respond accordingly- at the risk of being labeled extreme ourselves. Equal parts urgency, analysis, vitriol, and encouragement, the effort is completely DIY with all tracks composed, recorded, and produced in the woods on a small farm on a small island. the filthy politicians just released his first full length album ‘Modern Man’ on February 14, 2014. If you love life then check it.
Learn more about The Filthy Politicians and check out their music here:
Bandcamp: http://thefilthypoliticians.bandcamp.com/ (free download of “Modern Man”)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcj4UIyXiGZrXj7naWxp5lw (includes some old music videos)
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/thefilthypoliticians (every song they’ve ever made)
I have never been a fan of rap/hip-hop but I have to say I have listened to this album a couple of times now. I really like the lyrics and I am so happy that a music scene that is so filled with misogyny and material worshipping every once in a while spits out artists like these.
And as you say in this review, I’m pretty sure fans of the music will enjoy this.
Oh, how funny! I’ve been listening addictively to The Filthy Politicians for the last few days, since discovering his work on old RAGE radio episodes. I haven’t had a chance to download Modern Man yet…I’m excited to listen to it!
This reminds me of Christian “hip hop/rap” — if you like the ideology, you will like the music.