Category Archives: News

News

5 Fresh Feminist Albums For The Summer

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So far, 2019 has delivered some great protest albums. In order to filter through the music a bit here’s a short list of some brilliant feminist, riot grrrl, powerful albums that dropped just in time for some summer fun and protest!

Post Modern Siren by Peach Club

“Never thought of my feelings
Only ever of your own
You know it’s not quite appealing
Living in your own little world

Pain was all you had to offer
Your sad little life I had to suffer
You made me yours and I don’t want that
I just want my fucking life back

So don’t tell me what to do
‘Cause I don’t belong to you
And you don’t have my trust
And you don’t have my love

I’m not your girl
I’m not your world
I’m not your anything
I am a person
I’ve got more worth than you
Ever show

I just want to forget every fucking word you said”

– from Not Ur Girl

she/her/they/them by Evan Greer

For her first album in a decade Evan Greer teams up with veteran protest musician as producer and comes out guns a blazing although in a very, soft, acoustic caring kind of way. A beautiful album you shouldn’t miss.

How Am I Not Myself? by French Vanilla

A fantastic sophomore album from the funky band. They are on their way to create their own sound which is as welcomed as it is hard. Keep your eyes on this band.

Cut & Stitch by Petrol Girls

“The majority of the lyrics were written in the studio. I was having a difficult time, unsure about where to live after we finished the record, and burnt out from a tough year of personal and legal challenges. Something that I’ve reluctantly allowed feminism to teach me is that we have to tend to our own wounds, and that sometimes being vulnerable is just as radical as being angry – it certainly scares me a lot more. Rage on its own isn’t sustainable. We hope this is a more honest and human record.  “

– from the introduction ben Ren Aldridge on the band’s Bandcamp page.

Swearing Is Caring by Misbehavin’ Maidens

“Nerd folk comedy band comprised of four women from the Washington, DC / Baltimore area with a love of sex-positive music, parodies, drinking & fandom references for 18+ geeks. 3rd album, “Swearing is Caring,” now available!”

– from the band’s Bandcamp page.

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News

When The Musician Is Censored The Audience Sing

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The fact that governments censor music and openly show their fear of lyrics and an artist’s performance demonstrates the power of that music. It can strike courage into the good and fear into the greedy and it can move the masses.

Iranian singer Mehdi Yarrahi had to walk off the stage at a recent concert because the Iranian government has censored his popular protest song Pareh Sang. This is an anti-war song in which Yarrahi sings about the conflict between Iran and Iraq that has been hurting people on both sides for many years.

Because of the censorship only the song’s audio was played through the sound system and Yarrahi left the stage.

So, the audience took it to themselves to carry on the message and joined together singing the uncensored lyrics, as seen in the video below.

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Cover image is a snapshot from Mehdi Yarrahi’s music video on YouTube.

News

Music That Matters: The TED Talk by Charlie Mgee

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One of the regulars featured here at Shouts comes out of Western Australia. Charlie Mgee is the driving force behind the band Formidable Vegetable and a green force himself. We recently interviewed him as the band just released their 3rd full length album.

Charlie believes in making music that matter, that informs and that educates. It is protest music but it is also so much more. It is inspiring in a broad sense of the term.

Some days ago, Charlie made his way to Perth in a vegetable-oil-fueled truck to give a TED talk about music, memory and permaculture, among other things. Check it out and check out Formidable Vegetable’s new album – it’s quite brilliant.

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