musics

have finally watched the refused dvd (a short trailer is here). i was worried, i'd heard it was bad - but i would have to disagree; it's not bad at all, it's just so unspeakably depressing! basically, this was a band with big dreams of punk rock revolution and with more talent than about 25 other resonably good bands put together... and which after making the amazing the shape of punk to come album in 1997 slowly fell apart and disbanded during a us tour in 1998. the film on the dvd, which is made by one of the guitarists, tells the story directly through these conversational monologues from the other members, speaking today about the whole experience, together with some footage from past shows and tours. it's not really about the music though, it's more about these people and their disappointment with the whole concept of expressing yourself and your politics through the medium of a band, in particular a hardcore/punk band. it's so damn saaaad. the singer has gone on to be in the (international) noise conspiracy and more recently the lost patrol, which are both drastically different from refused - i think now he tends to say that he believes (even/especially super-political) punk bands should focus more on both having fun and being fun - which is what he wants. you can't help but think this is a direct criticism of refused. and from the dvd, you get the sense that the other band members didn't always see eye to eye with him. anyway, thank god there's still the music they made. three of their songs can be downloaded here and on myspace they have two others. as for the politics, for illustration here's two things i like from their zine "handbook for revolutionaries":

MUSIC IS POLITICS

”Keep your politics out of my music” the t-shirt said. Wow, I thought to myself, that’s a pretty strong political statement. I knew why the guy at the show was wearing it. Refused was playing.
I was more than anything psyched that they actually took the time to dig through their closets in search of a shirt to provoke us. I was happy to see it, I don’t think they realized just how strong that shirt is. For me, everything is a political action, from the food I eat to the way I threat my friends. Even the movies I watch and the things I call girls. They’re all political actions. Thats how it is, like it or not.
I truly believe that music is politics. Doing this zine is a focused and serious action while saying “fuck politics, let’s party”, no less a political statement, is not focused and it won’t do anything for the status quo. You can claim to be as radical and/or liberal as you want, but if you don’t act on what you believe and if you’re not working towards a solution, you’re just as conservative as the suit and tie guy you claim to hate so much.
Politics is not about wearing cool uniforms and singing songs about how fucked up the system is. Politics is about focusing and adapting it into your life. It’s about organizing and fighting. Well, as I said earlier, Aerosmith is also political, cause they will affect people with what they say. I guess that’s why I’m active, not just with the band or this fanzine*, but on other levels to. You are either a part of the problem or a part of the solution. It’s been said a million times before and we need to say it a million times more. If you think things suck and you’re too busy partying to do anything about it then it’s your fault. Face it.

ON BEING A DRUGFREE, VEGAN REVOLUTIONARY

This punk kid walked up to me and said, “I really like your new album, but I can’t support the things you stand for”. I looked at him and asked him what he meant. “Well, you know I like your music and all, but not what you stand for”. I asked him if he’d ever read our lyrics or if he even knew what we were saying, because if he did, it would scare me. After a while I kinda figured out what he was aiming at. Of course this kid was against racism, sexism and so on as any real punk should be. The problem he had with us was the fact that we were drug free and vegans. I don’t know why people have such a problem with that. The foundation I build my life upon is focused, sober and cruelty free (both to myself and others). I know that it's not enough but it’s a good start, and you have to start somewhere. There are tons of revolutionaries out there that aren’t drugfree and vegans and they all do tons of good, but for me that’s the best choice.

It doesn’t mean that I can’t work with people who don’t take the same stand as I do. Therefore it surprises me that this punk kid said he couldn’t support what we were saying. But then again we’re all to busy pointing out each others faults and weaknesses. I don’t think my politics should be neglected because of my lifestyle. I think being drugfree makes me stronger, but I don’t see it as the only way to be/work. Just think about our actions and their effects. The world is not black and white, it’s not all good or bad. We are not stupid. Drugfree resistance.

(although, i must say, maybe what that kid didn't support were their pro-violence/by any means necessary ideas, which i don't either.)

i also want to link to this... interesting song mashup of fugazi's "waiting room" and destiny's child "independent women" (andreea was the first person to bring it to my attention). i think i'd find it quite enjoyable if it wasn't for the "charlie's angels" part of the lyrics. you can listen to/see a performance of the fugazi song, which is on what i would call - if i may - the best album of all time, repeater + 3 songs (this fragment of their documentary film, instrument - with a live version of another song on the album, "shut the door" - gives an even better idea of the full fugazi impact).