Rise Against was yet another group that I discovered through the Warped Tour albums. I had heard several tracks from there first two efforts, but did not really get into them until their third effort, Siren Song of Our Counter Culture. Songs like Give it All and Swing Life Away sucked me in, and after I purchased the album, I became an instant fan after hearing Life Less Frightening and State of the Union. Rise Against are known for being extremely political in their music. I read a poll in AP magazine that asked its readers if politics belonged in music. I was blown away to see 80% say no. This may just be representative of the generation of kids reading that magazine, but there are so many iconic American songs that are driven by politics. My opinion is to sing about anything that you are passionate about. If you love watching CNN and have formed an opinion about something then please share it.Very much like Bruce Springsteen, you will hear Rise Against representing the less fortunate and being very direct with their finger pointing. The band is straight edge and are all vegetarians, with the exception of drummer Brandon Barnes. From this life choice, they have become very passionate about choice topics. If you are a fan of George Bush, then I apologize in advance, but he is often the victim in these tracks. Long Forgotten Sons has a very powerful lyric in “We work to fix the work that you’ve undone.” They were also quoted in a new bulletin stating “Few things are more exciting than watching Bush finally release America as his eight year hostage.” They also throw in other topics like gun control, animal abuse, poverty, and war. Tim Mcllrath’s voice is similar to Bruce’s as it is not always soothing and sometimes raspy, but I love the passion he puts into his messages. After listening to these tracks, I have 100% confidence that they fully believe in their causes and the people they portray and speak for. This group has my utmost respect.
Much like the last three weeks, try and pay close attention to the lyrics and let them put you in the victim’s shoes. Also, please watch the Ready to Fall video below. I think you all will be touched by their message.
Suggested listening:
- Revolutions per Minute (2003)
- Siren Song of the Counter Culture (2004)
- The Sufferer and the Witness (2006)
- Appeal to Reason (2008)
I started off Rise Against week watching the video that Thomas requested. I have to say it is very moving, and I think it had more of an impact on me because I just watched parts of the documentary “Food Inc.” Which has a lot to do with the horrible way farm animals are treated. The conditions that these chickens, and pigs we eat everyday are treated is deplorable and something needs to be done about it. Good for Rise Against to bring into view not only the horrible way we treat wildlife, but also the earth.
ReplyDeleteJust listening to the first few tracks this album does not do much for me. As this kind of music is not particularly my favorite, I am going in with an open mind and try to look at it from an outsider aspect. Tim has a very good voice, and sure knows how to scream. Once again, although I pretty much loath screaming in songs, I can actually understand what he is saying when he does it, so that is a plus for me. From some of the “Rise Against” I have already heard prior to this week, this album seems to be more on the punk side than what I am used to. Songs that stuck out for me on this album were “Like the Angel,” for its melody and catchiness. “Blood Red, White, and Blue” is very anti-Bush, and for me being anti-Bush myself, I can very much identify and appreciate this song. I really like how he says, “Would God bless a War based on Pride.” Since essentially that seems to be what the Iraq war was all about. He really sings his heart out on this one, and can really feel his anger towards the Government. “To the Core” also really touches on the subject of Bush, and the wars. I can sense how much Tim wanted the world to know how against Bush he was and everything he was about. I thought this album definitely sent out a message to the listeners, so I am interested to see where the next few albums go with this.
First song on the next album sure starts off with a bang. “State of the Union” is really powerful, and just when I thought they couldn’t be any more mad at the government. I actually like how hard core this song is, and that they make it a point to let us know that we are all to blame for not doing anything about these wars going on. We should stand up for the innocent people in the middle of all this. Going through more of this album, it seems to be more of the same from the last album. This one seems to have more of a rock sound rather than punk. “Life less frightening” was a song that I could really relate to. I try to make it a habit to not watch the news for the simple fact that it only shows how sick and twisted our world is. How nice would it be to live in a better world where we didn’t have to worry about horrible things happening to us at any moment. “Swing Life Away” is my favorite song on this album, I remember when this song first came out and remember thinking I really liked what the song had to say, and how it was just him and the guitar. Little did I know that the person singing that song came from such a hard-core band. After listening to the whole album I definitely saw some growth on their style, but think the “Hate the Government” attitude is here for the long haul.
“The Sufferer and the Witness” starts off in the normal Rise Against style with a very hard, edgy, intro. Brandon Barnes, the drummer, really shows off his talents in this song. “Ready to Fall” is one of my favorite songs on the album. Of course I appreciate it more now that I have watched the video for it. Thomas has played this quite a few times in my presence and I remember always thinking it is quite a catchy song. As I read the lyrics and watch the video I am having a hard time putting the two together for some reason. Maybe I am not looking into the lyrics deep enough but it sounds like. Maybe he is looking at what the world has become and is deciding that life may not be worth living in this new world. Just a thought, I am probably totally off on this one. “Prayer of the Refugee” is another one that I have heard on more than one occasion, and I really like the guitar riff in this song. I also really appreciate how the song starts off on a more subdued tone, only to break into an all out scream fest. As I listen to this song I see like a Middle Eastern father talking to his son about how things used to be before dictators, government, and wars. Also how we (as Americans) who have it so “good,” don’t really take the time to think of those who are dying over there. “Roadside” is my favorite song on the album. I think the song is beautifully done, and shows once again that Tim can show a much softer side (as was seen in “Swing Life Away”). The simplicity with the guitar, fiddle, and harmony is quite beautiful. I also like the message associated with the last song “Survive.” This is my favorite album so far; let’s see how the last album goes.
ReplyDelete“Appeal to Reason” seems to be taking more of a step towards Environmental issues, at least on the first song “Collapse (Post-Amerika). It talks all about Global Warming and the effects it will have on all of us, if we do nothing about it. If there is one thing I can really appreciate about Rise Against is the fact that they are raising awareness to their fan base about all the things most people our age turn a blind eye to. Really like the intro to “Long Forgotten Songs” and how the band really takes a look at how a Soldier may feel. How they just want to be appreciated, and for themselves to know that they are fighting for a “real” reason. One song on this album that I did not care for was “The Dirt Whispered.” To me it sounded like something that would be played top 100 stations. It almost made me think they were trying to become a little more “listener friendly” as to become more mainstream. As I went along further in the album I was happy to see they kept their hard edge sound. Songs that stood out for me were, “From Heads Unworthy,” “Savior,” and “Hero of War,” which is a very deep song and deserves a repeat listen. While Rise Against is still not the style of music that I prefer, I very much appreciate their message, and think that there are a lot of people in this world who would benefit from listening to them.
ReplyDeleteSorry for changing things up on you midweek/mid-cycle, but the reviewing thing isn't working for me. I'm no longer going to go into detail about each album and songs I did or did not enjoy because like with nearly every other artist we've listened to so far, I'm completely indifferent about Rise Against. I'm not trying to bash or glorify anyone's groups since I don't have a clue about what I'm talking about, or offend anyone because I am just not very good at this. It's not fair to you guys that I go through and pick out songs that supposedly stood out to me when nothing really did at any point throughout the week, so I'll spare you of that and apologize for not being as sincere as I should have been in the past.
ReplyDeleteWhat I would like to talk about is what Thomas brought up in his intro post about politics in music, which I do find interesting. Some of these types like to preach to their crowds at concerts, like Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips. For me, it wasn't really bothersome because I fell on the same side of the political line as he did, but I can see where it might be annoying to some who came to see the Lips play, not to listen to a speech. That being said, other artists use their star power to preach their political beliefs in a more subtle way, or at least in an acceptable setting like Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, REM and more at the Vote for Change concert in '04 in support of John Kerry for President. I read in a book about Bruce Springsteen (before it bored me and I had to put it down) that a lot of the people at the concert were there just to see the music, but in that kind of situation, regardless of why they were there, they should have known they were going to be subjected to politics. And the ones who would have liked it more without the politics, it probably would have been easy to ignore. That's how I feel about Rise Against. I think if you want to revel in the message, you can. If not, headbang your way to happiness.
I checked out AP Magazine online and I'm guessing that most of the people who voted no to politics in music were probably young kids who we all know have no interest in real issues - just whatever's trendy (or better yet, not trendy) at the time and what Xbox games are about to come out. I'm guessing that even though they voted that, though, they still like Rise Against because of their sound. Yes, kids, if you don't like the message, you can still enjoy the music (as I'm sure a lot do).
ReplyDeleteIt's easy for me to do. Hell, half the time I can't understand what even my favorite bands are talking about without reading the lyrics, so had Thomas not pointed their message out to me in his intro, I probably wouldn't have picked up on that through my first listen. (Yes, it's possible I am a "ruh-tard.") Thankfully he did, because even though the music didn't stand out to me this week, the band itself did.
First, I can't completely hate on anyone who despises George W. Bush as much as I do, and I think they channel that distaste effectively into an art form they can share with the masses without being too pushy with their message. I know it seems taboo - it's considered so even to talk about it - which is why I think some people might feel so strongly against it. I really liked the video Thomas asked us to watch. (I like that the lead singer only has one blue eye too, I used to know a dog with one blue eye.) Again, it's interesting that they're introducing these images that people don't think about in every day life, which can leave a lasting impact without being too "in your face." Again, if you don't like the video, you can turn it off or turn away.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I am really interested in the way of life most of the band members have chosen for themselves. I once tried to do a story on straight edge kids in the Rock Island, Ill. area where I was doing my internship, but to my surprise hardly any of them would consent to being interviewed and those I got to talk didn't want to be identified, which totally blew my mind (and still does). I mean, any scene that encourages kids to not drink, smoke or use drugs sounds like a good one to me. You would have thought I was trying to exploit them for dealing drugs... Back to the band members, Thomas, do you know why they chose this lifestyle for themselves? Does anybody? I can guess when it comes to vegetarianism.
I tried vegetarianism myself for a couple of months, although I did it because I don't like meat all that much and was trying to eat less fast food, not because I care about a cause, which is obviously why they do it.
As far as the music goes, I tend to like it when it's politically charged, just because nothing is more emotional than politics, although nothing really stood out to me here. I can feel the emotion, but lots of this music sounds exactly the same on the surface to me. I looked into "Halfway There" on the first album more closely and found the lyrics online - "This is the point where we stand up, now this is the point where we take back, the things that are keeping us from being free." To me, it sounds like a rallying cry. I wonder how many of their fans get as emotionally charged as they do when listening to this music. I guess it would be a good thing, to get young people finally excited about something real. Thomas, maybe you could enlighten me on that one.
ReplyDeleteThe song "Blood Red, White and Blue" reminded me of The Decemberists' "16 Military Wives" in that it uses sarcasm to show distaste for the way things are in America today, which is exactly how I feel. I liked it, but I didn't feel strongly about anything else really.
I couldn't much tell a difference from one album to another, until the last one which had a couple of slower songs on it I didn't so much mind. They still weren't my favorites.
I know I posted a lot though only a little is actually about the music so I'm sorry if I'm letting anyone down this week. I just really don't have anything else to say. I'm sure all those things Beth talked about above are there, but I'd have to go back and listen to everything again between now and tomorrow to catch any of them because I wouldn't have seen any of that on my own. Maybe one day I'll venture back to Rise Against. I really just want to know what everyone else thought...
This old guy will never tire of good punk music. It cuts right through the bullshit and gives you a 2 to 3 minute window of instant gratification. With some of my favorites you get a fun story: Less than Jake, Nil8, The Vandals. Some give you a strong message: Fugazi, Pennywise, AFI; and some give both: NOFX, Rancid. They all bring me back to a time in my youth where they were the soundtrack to my life; whether riding around with friends late at night doing questionable things, or heading to The Galaxy, or Mississippi Nights (both R.I.P.) to catch a $10 show with 5 bands on the bill. It will always be special to me.
ReplyDeleteRevolutions Per Minute immediately tells me these guys from Chicago are well versed in their genre and have strong convictions. “Black Masks and Gasoline” is very fast paced with a message of being responsible for yourself, taking control of your life and not waiting for the world to change. Brandon Barnes’ drumming is blistering and impressive. Tim’s voice is ideal for the punk/hardcore sound they achieve, it has a rasp that is common in east coast hardcore and his vocal range has a perfect middle-ground that doesn’t get annoying or sing-songy. I’m pretty sure “Like the Angel” was a radio hit for them as it immediately sounded familiar. There isn’t much variation in this straight-forward punk music, only different hooks and chord progressions; I guess that’s also the beauty of it. The songs aren’t long enough to wear out their welcome but chug along at a fast enough pace to keep you interested and the meaningful lyrics keep you listening. “Broken English” is my favorite track, it definitely takes shots at the Bush administration and our blind allegiance to our government and it’s sometimes horrible policy. “To The Core” is just that, straight-up hardcore done to perfection. I enjoyed this first album very much.
“State of the Union” starts off Siren Song and the Counter Culture with a very uncomfortable thrash-metal offering that doesn’t seem like a natural fit for these guys. “The First Drop” gets back to the punky roots that suits them well; I do notice that Tim’s voice is more strained on this album which may be to accentuate the lyrics about his bleak outlook for our current society. “Blood to Bleed” paints a pretty clear picture of a fresh break-up and how only strong negativity is left resonating within us afterwards. “Paper Wings” and “Anywhere But Here” are stabs at more mainstream pop-punk which makes me reach pretty quickly for the skip button. It amazes me how punk/hardcore groups excel at acoustic tracks. There’s a From Autumn to Ashes song called “Chloroform Perfume” that I have on an acoustic mix cd that is amazing; “Swing Life Away” has such a heft given to it because of the stripped down acoustics that make it a superb song. Only a handful of tracks stuck out on this album, not as good as RPM.
Music with this kind of conviction brings such an enthusiastic fanbase, their live shows must be pretty impressive. Hardcore and punk music brings, for the most part, a gathering of like-minded individuals with a need for escape and brotherhood that is etched out clearly in their music’s lyrics. Rise Against bring a ferocity that I liken to a train, constantly building steam and always moving forward; another reason I like this punk music is the fact that it never gets a chance to take a breath, there are no lulls. With that being said, while the instrumentation is still strong on The Sufferer and the Witness, the militant and anti-establishment lyrics are starting to get a little stale with me. “The Approaching Curve” is a nice change of pace with an intriguing narrative, thinking a little outside the box doesn’t hurt. “Roadside” has beautiful accompaniment that accentuates Tim’s lyrics of distraught love. This album is solid for what it is, I am not the target age of this music anymore, therefore it’s staring to lose me the longer I listen to it.
ReplyDeleteAppeal to Reason, much like the previous album is fine for those who love Rise Against. It is sadly just more of the same and really didn’t standout in any way from the previous efforts. I will echo my previous statement that conviction is extremely important in music and they have strong ones. I would definitely listen to RPM again, and acknowledge the band is keeping the punk movement moving forward in a positive direction and will have longevity in the vein of a Bad Religion. I have learned that the older I get, the less punk music I can handle in one sitting. I still enjoy it very much.
For the most part, I respect bands with a political agenda. After all, it was the political and economic situation of the mid to late 1970s that led to the creation of punk music, and those godfathers of the genre (such as the Sex Pistols and The Clash) used this feeling of disassociation with the rest of the world to make some of the most genuine and great music ever made. The problem that I have with Rise Against's manner of pushing their political agenda is that in order for your message to really be heard, you need to change up the way you voice that message from time to time.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the first album was really the only set that was effective in striking the theoretical break from apathy in me that the band seems to strive for. It's probably mostly based on the fact that I grew up listening to Pennywise, Rancid and Fugazi that I feel like the much more punk oriented sound on 'Revolutions Per Minute' is the way this band ought to sound. The guitars and drumming on this album just seem to me to much more of a full-steam ahead force than on their later efforts, and you can see how this energy can translate into someone taking their message and really fighting for the change that the band is striving for. From front to back, this really is a pretty good album, and contains all of the standout tracks that I've heard this week. I can remember hearing "Like the Angel" with it's Blink-182 like opening bass-line somewhere before....although I can't think of where it could have been that I'd heard it. This song contains the best chorus the band has written to this point (and sadly seems like it might always be that way), and is pretty much just a very well written song all around. Elsewhere, "Black Masks and Gasoline" and "Last Chance Blueprint" were also excellent songs, and once again I just love the energy that these guys bring on every track...it's infectious.
Unfortunately, with the first whiff of a metal riff on the opening track of "Siren Song of the Counter Culture", everything goes downhill for Rise Against. The punk sound that the band had used to such good effect on their debut seems to be lost in a gigantic mess of faux-metal sameness, rarely to show it's face again over the final three albums. The political lyrics that the band is known for writing had a hard time fighting their way to the front for me as well. With so little real variety in the delivery of their message, that message to me just became stale and I even had a bit of trouble focusing on what the message even was due to the monotony of the sound of their music.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand that if you're a fan of the sound that the band found during the creation of their second album, you would also be a fan of the third and fourth albums. It would also probably be easier to parse the message from the music if it were something that you really enjoyed listening to. For me, though, my review for these two albums would have to be pretty much the same as that for the second, so I won't restate my opinions. My love for this project as a whole, however, is that it helps me to have a greater appreciation for the things that other people see in music, so for that I can appreciate that Rise Against is a band that Thomas really enjoys and one that he (along with many others who love the band) most likely gets more out of than I possibly could. Therefore, while Rise Against may not exactly be my "cup of tea" (except for the first album, which I really did enjoy), I'm glad that music with a political message is still able to move people and help shape and enforce their convictions much the same way that it did in punk rock's beginning over 30 years ago.
I think David hit my opinion on the head. I got into this group after their third album, which was the second that this group reviewed. I was hooked in by the adrenaline rush and the messages that this group were trying to educate the current punk rock fan base with. As a result of loving the sound of the third album, I continued to love the next two efforts that, as everyone has pointed out, do have a very similar sound. I do not know why they chose those lifestyles, but I think it is clear that they not only have opinions, they have very strong feelings towards those beliefs and are not afraid to shout it off of a mountain top. It does help for me that I feel almost all of those messages are in the human race's best interest. As you will find with one of my upcoming artists, regardless of whether I agree with the belief that motivates these artists, I love to take the passion that comes through those speakers and apply it those beliefs that I am most passionate about. With Rise Against, I think the message I hope everyone can take away from this week is that if you feel that someone in a powerful position is taking advantage of that power, take a stand and let your voice be heard. There are two types of people in this world, leaders and followers. My interpretation of the 'Ready to Fall' is that while most of us recognize these wrong doings, we are afraid to take that step towards fixing for fear of 'falling.' 'Take a step' and live or die with the consequences. Decide if you are a leader or a follower.
ReplyDeleteFor those of you who enjoyed Revolutions per Minute, check out their first effort The Unraveling. Thank you for sharing your reviews and criticisms. Just as you have learned more about my taste, I have learned more about yours as well.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I just thought of one more comment. You will notice that this group has put out 5 albums in 7 years. I have a feeling that they are more concerned with the content than growth in the sound and that is probably why the last three albums were very similar. I am guessing that they want to keep up with the latest issues going on in the world and rush to get that out while it is still relevant.
ReplyDeleteOh, and the banner looks great, thanks. It is is really easy, then expect an update after Chevelle week.
Thanks for everyone's insight! As I told Thomas in an e-mail, I think that while I'm not getting as much from these bands in our one week listening period, they're always on the shelf for future listening should the mood strike me, and now I have some interesting things to look for and think about the next time around.
ReplyDeleteThomas, no problem on the header. Let's not make it a habit of changing TOO much, but as a note to everyone else, you are welcome to request a change if you need at any time.