Commie Mix

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

Several months ago, maybe even more than a year, a friend of mine who I turned to communism (tiki man was his username here, he's not active anymore) made me a compilation called "Commie Mix". It was various versions of Hasta Siempre, the Soviet National Anthem, L'Internationale, and some Beatles songs that had socialistic lyrics. It was pretty weak.
When celtopunk made me two compilations of leftist folk and punk music, it kind of inspired me to get a few of the best from celto's compilations, a few commie songs I had, and maybe some of the commie essentials like Hasta Siempre and L’Internationale and make my own 'Commie Mix' that I could give to him and maybe some other friends for fun/indoctrination.

It was a humble enough project.
After working on this for about the past two hours, I have over thirty songs, and am now convinced that I must create an ultimate collection of all the best communist music ever.
I have some Billy Bragg, Johnny Cash, Phil Ochs, Steve Earl, Bad Religion, Chumbawamba, Neurotics, Stiff Little Fingers, Redskins, David Rovics, Bob Dylan, Popa Chubby, The Clash, Victor Jara, Manu Chao, Fred Stanton, and Violeta Parra.

I'm trying to include only groups that are know for political music, rather than have a bunch of mainstream musicians that have made one or two political songs (Sabbath, Lennon, etc.)

I'm currently looking into some rap and stuff....

Any suggestions or downloads would be greatly appreciated.
And keep in mind that this isn't really for folks too familiar with leftist music, punk, or any of this shit.

Thank you.

[Jesus Christ!]

Pretty much anything by Rage Against The Machine is a good addition.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

I'm not a RATM fan.
What are some good RATM songs with leftist lyrics that I can look for?

[Jesus Christ!]

I think every song does but some of the ones that are sticking out in my mind right now are freedom, testify, sleep now in the fire, bulls on parade, take the power back , and bullet in the head. But as I said pretty much any rage song is political.

[Dyst]

Maybe something by NIN? I dunno... I guess about all of Nine Inch Nails songs are semi-political, some more than others. And some of it is even good music too!... You should really listen to Piggy though. Obviously, it is political.

[anarchocommie]

kudos for adding Johnny Cash and Steve Earle..two of my favorites. Have you tried Utah Phillips and David Rovics?

[anarchocommie]

Shit, you said David Rovics..sorry. Good call there too, still Utah Phillips is good. As for rappers have you tried The Coup, Paris or Sage Francis? Thought Riot are a good band, the Unseen 's "Children of Revolution" and "Goodbye America' are great. The Casualties "Criminal Class".....

[RagsToRevolution]

"Biko" by Peter Gabriel and "Shaking the Tree" by Youssouf N'Dour and Peter Gabriel are both very inspiring, progressive songs that have hints of leftism, but focus more on progessive politics than revolutionary (Biko is a tribute to Stephen Biko, Shaking the Tree deals with women's liberation.)

[celtopunk]

For rap/hip hop I'll suggest the following artists and would be happy to supply you with some songs:
Michael Franti and Spearhead, sometimes just known as Spearhead.
Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
Steve Zearle
Iron Sheik
Dead Prez
Public Enemy

I hope you'll make the final mix available to all of us.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

Since it's a very ambitious project, it will probably be a while before I feel like sharing it with anyone.
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.

And YES, I would be very grateful for some downloads from you guys.

[Invader Zim]

Where is your mention of the Manic Street Preachers? One of the most prominant communist bands of the 90's and the new century!

If you want an example songm, then you have a huge number of possibilities. I suggest a song called "Motorcycle emptyness", or "A Design for Life".

Also you may want to look into the the Levellers, who are a fantsatic leftist band.

The song "sell out", is a classic.

[FatFreeMilk]

Thanks Enigma. I was like "Damn, who's gonna mention the Manics?!". and then you came along. I recommed "The Masses Against the Classes" by them. I've only heard two of their songs and I love that one.

and
"To hell with poverty" Gang of Four
"we care a lot" Faith No More

I'm not sure if those bands are known for being commies but you should definitley check them out anyways.

I know I know more music but I can't remember right now. Aint that a *****.

[EneME]

some Immortal Technique perhaps..my personal fav's "the poverty of philosophy" ;)

[RhetoricalAbsurdity]

Overcome (partial lyrics in my signature) by RX Bandits.

[encephalon]

Inlcude the Billy Bragg covers of Woodie Guthrie! Or even better, Woodie Guthrie songs, period!

I find it ironic that "this land is your land, this land is my land" was written by a lifelong socialist, and meant to be a socialist song.

Woodie Guthrie was one of the biggest influences on bob dylan.

[BOZG]

Originally posted by [email protected] 6 2005, 06:25 AM
some Immortal Technique perhaps..my personal fav's "the poverty of philosophy" ;)
You have to be careful with Immortal Technique, some of his songs have hints of quite homophobic and sexist attitudes.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

If you don't include at least one song by the "Golden Voice of the Great Southwest" - everyones favorite anarchist wobbly hobo, than the comp is worth nothing!

Don't worry though, there's plenty of Utah Phillips kicking around the internet, and even some on my hard-drive, if you want to either dig the Soul Seek scene, ore have me send you some stuff via gmail.

In terms of other classics, you should definately include either No Pasaran or A Las Barricadas from the Spanish Civil War.

You should also tack on at least one CRASS song - either a classic like "Do They Owe Us A Living" or one of their quasi-epics like "How Does It Feel (To Be The Mother of 1000 Dead)?" - which sparked debate in the British parliament.

And nobody dislikes REFUSED!!!

[BOZG]

Avanti O Popolo (Bandiera Rossa) and The Red Flag are two other socialist classics that should be included.

[Don't Change Your Name]

I have "Biko", but I don't likje it that much.

The Clash has some great songs. You definately have to put some Billy Bragg in there.

Does Pink Floyd counts? :unsure:

[waltersm]

sleep now in the fire is great, also **** authority is good.

[captain donald]

Proletarian Hop by Randy great song, just bought the cd

[The Forum Idiot]

Originally posted by [email protected] 5 2005, 09:41 PM
Several months ago, maybe even more than a year, a friend of mine who I turned to communism (tiki man was his username here, he's not active anymore) made me a compilation called "Commie Mix". It was various versions of Hasta Siempre, the Soviet National Anthem, L'Internationale, and some Beatles songs that had socialistic lyrics. It was pretty weak.
When celtopunk made me two compilations of leftist folk and punk music, it kind of inspired me to get a few of the best from celto's compilations, a few commie songs I had, and maybe some of the commie essentials like Hasta Siempre and L’Internationale and make my own 'Commie Mix' that I could give to him and maybe some other friends as a joke/indoctrination scheme.

It was a humble enough project.
After working on this for about the past two hours, I have over thirty songs, and am now convinced that I must create an ultimate collection of all the best communist music ever.
I have some Billy Bragg, Johnny Cash, Phil Ochs, Steve Earl, Bad Religion, Chumbawamba, Neurotics, Stiff Little Fingers, Redskins, David Rovics, Bob Dylan, Popa Chubby, The Clash, Victor Jara, Manu Chao, Fred Stanton, and Violeta Parra.

I'm trying to include only groups that are know for political music, rather than have a bunch of mainstream musicians that have made one or two political songs (Sabbath, Lennon, etc.)

I'm currently looking into some rap and stuff....

Any suggestions or downloads would be greatly appreciated.
And keep in mind that this isn't really for folks too familiar with leftist music, punk, or any of this shit.

Thank you.
Zearle - I Am The Proletariat
Woody Guthrie - This Land Is Your Land
RATM - Killing In The Name Of
L7 - American Society
Megadeth - Peace Sells

There, that's 5 classics, all political and really good.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

Originally posted by captain [email protected] 7 2005, 01:40 AM
Proletarian Hop by Randy great song, just bought the cd
I tried and failed to upload that to Radio Rebelde yesterday . . .

Randy are fucking great - very few bands are able to blend that sort of pop with really political lyrics.

Have you heard any of their older work? I love the garage-y sound of their newer stuff, but the contrast is creepy next to the almost PRopagandhi-esque sound of "The Rest IS Silence".

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

Well, all of today's/yesterday's (depending on where you live) posts have been deleted. Fuck.
I'd really appreciate it if you guys could re-post your suggestions.

In any case, I just successfully dowloaded about 100 songs from VMC via soulseek. Thanks!

[Commie Rat]

i know you said you didn't want any bands like this but i really think that Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs' should be in there it is a fucking sweet song :D

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

Thanks a lot for ignoring me, you shits. (j/k, heh)

In any case, I've compiled hundreds of songs, and have set aside 72 for the mix so far. I refuse to make anything permanent until I have at least another week to ponder on it and receive more suggestions and listen to more music.
In the mix, I have Billy Bragg, Phil Ochs, Dick Gaughan, Bob Dylan, Steve Earl, Christy Moore, David Rovics, Fred Stanton, Johnny Cash, Utah Phillips, Chumbawamba, The Tossers, Attial the Stockbroker, The Roots, Spearhead, Public Enemy, Paris, Sage Francis, Iron Sheik, Robby Bee, Victor Jara, Violeta Parra, Mano Negra, Manu Chao, Banda Bassoti, The Clash, Bad Religion, Stiff Little Fingers, Neurotics, Dead Kennedys, Conflict, Crass, Refused, Redskins, Propagandhi, Randy, Raegan Youth, Scott MX Turner, Rage Against the Machine, Popa Chubby, John Lennon, and Leftover Crack.

I thought the Manic Street Preachers kinda sucked, btw, that's why I didn't add them.

Any more suggestiosn would be fabulous.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

That actually sounds really incredible . . . I'm psyched for the final product.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

Well, I went ahead and burned four discs with the compilation and did one data CD with all of the tracks. I can put them here for download if you guys tell me how to do it.

[Urban Rubble]

Still looking for suggestions ?

OPERATION IVY- Great political ska/punk from the late 80's. One of my favorites bands of all time. Not blatantly Socialist, but very socially conscious and some of the best lyrics ever. I reccomend the songs Freeze Up, Big City or Gonna Find You for socialist content.

You know what, aside from this comp, everyone who has a remote interest in punk rock or leftism should check out Operation Ivy. Truly punk rock "legends" in every sense of the word, so underrated that it fucking KILLS me. Also, Common Rider is the singer from Op Ivy's new band. They put out two amazing albums before breaking up last year.

Freeze Up


Empty factories to the east and all our waste
The shape of things that came shows on the broken workers face
To the west you'll find our silicon promised lands where
Machines replace our minds for systematic profit plans
The course of human progress staggers like a drunk
Its steps are quick and heavy and its mind is slow and blunt
I look for optimism but I just dont know
Its seeds are planted in a poison place where nothing grows
Its 1989 stand up and take a look around
Weathers bitter tension it seems is sinking down
Drunk with power and fighting one another
Every hour shows the winter getting harder
Theres a freezeup coming
One nation stands the tallest radiating blinding light
Plastic and fluorescent energy robbing us of sight
Set in our way content with our decay
We wave the flag of freedom as we conquer and invade
Ever ask yrself wheres my place in this hell
But no ones there to tell you cuz they dont know that themselves
The well rehearsed lines from our elated politicians
No longer offer solace we can see the self destruction
Just one political song to drop into the list
That is years and years long

Big City

Concrete and chaos rise up
Spiderweb across the land
Like a giant rash
Forests lie down below
Foundations of buildings in a bed of ash
Some people here got it real good
Cuz the glass towers bring prosperity
Other people starve in the street
Because concrete knows no sympathy
Big city its a wishing well
Big city its a living hell
This town its fucking insane
How one will starve and another will gain
Like a giant mechanical brain
And the people are cells and the streets are veins
It thinks only of itself
A thousand limbs crawling as it expands and grows
And still the concrete sits there
Sits there stark grey and cold
And I think I wanna be a brick layer
So I can put another brick in the wall
Its sanitary rational happy and sane
Growing like a flower to surround us all

From "Gonna Find You"

Saw a civilization where grabbing onto wealth
Was the only guarantee of freedom peace and health
Dollar sign value system upheld as the truth
And if you cant find a place its gonna find you
[Chorus]
Saw the paranoid response to all of the examples
Of the ones that dont fit in this way of living geting trampled
Success is obedience to a structured way of life
You cant ignore the structure because were all within its sight

[anarchocommie]

Operation Ivy is a great band...featuring two current members of Rancid. Also..people are overlooking bad brains' Fearless vampire killers...a blatantly socialist song....

[The Forum Idiot]

You MUST put Megadeth either Peace Sells, Holy Wars or Rust In Peace, they're really political!

[celtopunk]

Originally posted by [email protected] 11 2005, 02:18 AM
Well, I went ahead and burned four discs with the compilation and did one data CD with all of the tracks. I can put them here for download if you guys tell me how to do it.
It sounds quite awesome. If I knew you'd include Crass, I would have sent/suggested some Subhumans who are far more tuneful.

As for loading it up...
Go to www.yousendit.com, the site is simple and self explanatory. I'd suggest that you zip them perhaps into 4 files. After you upload to you send it you will get the link of where to D/L it from and it will also email that link to whatever email address you give. Don't worry it won't email the entire file just a link.

You could also make it available on Soulseek...

Can't wait!!

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

It's on soulseek.
username: RedZepp
I have 75 files on there, which make up "The Essential COMMUNSIM" mix. Enjoy.

[Invader Zim]

Unfortunatly my uni blocks most common forms of p2p and other methods commonly used to pirate stuff. So I will have to wait until I get home.

Could you post a play list, so we can see exactly what is on it?