[papertrailmusic.com] There was a time where Politics and Music would skip through town hand in hand singing in the streets together. Political material has always fed the poetry of music and given it substance. There is always something to rail against or find fault with, like most couples. It seems contemporary artists are satisfied to give the cold shoulder to media and political failings.
Appomattox has released their premiere EP, which seems to be the first attempt in a long time by any band to reconcile the breach in Politics and Music. They crash through issues they believe are relevant in an attempt to kick start the musical political dialogue. James Mello keeps it sharp on drums as Nick Gaynier strains his voice to decry the state of modern politics. Dave Nurmi’s bass keeps a steady drone even as the pace jumps in songs like “Speculators” and “Equal Time.”
And the pace does jump like an angry spouse. The sound is reminiscent of a time when the relationship between music and politics was volatile but closer. Where bands like U2 made impassioned pleas for change, Appomattox is more like an open hand across a face. The driving pace reminds me of The Police and Fugazi. The sound is a high energy conduit for the lyrics which express pent up bitterness at the status quo.
The bitterness is well justified. In the past decade we’ve seen stolen elections, two wars and the inception of the would be savior. If the journalistic community can’t say anything the musical community is always able to.
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