I have been angry, truly angry. But ultimately, I know my heart is full of love.
In the last week or so my mental health has taken a dip. While I thought I was dealing well with the current situation, it would appear otherwise. I can’t put my finger on one particular trigger, the low point I reached was the culmination of several factors.
Anger (is an energy?)
I was an incredibly angry version of myself last weekend. So much so that I received a very scathing and personal direct message – accusing me of having “a lot of anger” and having “no love in me”. Naturally, as social media enables, I have wiped the existence of this person from my life. I have turned a blind eye to people like them once too often. I will concede to agree with them to the extent that I had a lot of anger in me, however, I would argue that it was righteous anger. There is much to be angry about in the world today. In terms of having no love in me? I have more than enough love to go around – for those who deserve it.
No matter what happens in life, music is always something that is a constant. I go to in times of difficulty. I go to in times of happiness, in times of joy, in times of love, in times of sadness and in times of anger… what would life be without a soundtrack?
A Vital Soundtrack
And so, it was with great enthusiasm that I read of the surprise release of a new mini album by the notably inspiring Bob Vylan. This is a timely release. A vital soundtrack of the times we live in by artists who are absolutely not prepared to accept the state of the world today.
As people take to the streets to protest the world over in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, to have to once again reiterate the message that Black Lives Matter, Bob Vylan release an album adding their voices to the protests. This isn’t just a single-issue protest album though, this is a work of art, a record of the times, a grungy grime rap punk protest album that shouts its message from the rooftops in no uncertain terms.
It ain’t no easy-listening record on many levels. But I think that is the point. It needs to tell the truths that are hard for some people to hear, it needs to paint a picture that some of us can’t even imagine living through. This album is hard hitting, musically it is intense, lyrically it is full of righteous anger and attitude. Unfortunately, the messages on the album are still needed despite being repeated time and again, with no real changes witnessed.
A Shock to the System
It might not be easy-listening but it is an inspiring and thought provoking listen, from the opening salvo and throbbing hum of Intro, the agenda is set, the first few lines a much needed jolt, a shock to the system(ic) failures of society today. But for all that he has to rail against, Bobby carefully directs and balances the anger with the love for his daughter, the future generation, his reason why things must change. It is possible to be angry and to love. Follow that? Not a problem, just raise the intensity levels with the title track of the album and earlier anthemic single We Live Here. Bringing the subject matter close to home and showing how “accepted” and brushed under the carpet racism in the UK has become over the years. Surely single of the year contender?
There have been several step changes in attitudes in this nation and world-wide in recent years – Brexit and the rise of the right, the increasing gap between the haves and have nots, the COVID 19 crisis and the recent reactions to the shocking and very public murder of George Floyd. Perhaps this final one sees a real step change in the right direction and is the desperately needed turning point. I hope so.
Feistily Delivered Screaming Lyrics
These events have surely had an impact on Bob Vylan’s lyric writing – England’s Ending on living life on the breadline, vocals combining in the tense potent force that is Pulled Pork tackling police brutality and I think the title tells its own story on Lynch Our Leaders. Musically, the subjects are tackled with a combination of switching between rapping backed with understated loops, beats and samples to hardcore crunching guitars and feistily delivered screaming lyrics.
Northern Line’s intro takes the line “please mind the gap” completely changing its meaning, and also includes a phrase that, due to the repellent scenes in Minneapolis, has become one of the most used in recent weeks, I Can’t Breathe. Then Save Yourself (almost) ends the album in a ferocious hurtling ball of fury filled adrenalin.
Take This Time to Reflect
Moment of Silence is the album closer and it is exactly as described. Take this time to reflect on what you have just listened to. Make some changes in your life if you need to. Just don’t stay silent yourself. I saw a quote recently that said “It is not enough to be quietly non-racist. Now is the time to be vocally anti-racist”.
I have seen how many people on social media have countered the Black Lives Matter message with their own bullshit all lives matter or white lives matter rhetoric. These are the people that need to listen to Bob Vylan.
Those people that question the term white privilege and ask what it means. These are the people that need to listen to Bob Vylan.
Those people that say music and politics don’t mix, or who ask people to leave their politics at the door when they go to gigs. These are the people who need to listen to Bob Vylan.
Album of the Year?
We Live Here is quite possibly the album of the year… It is a mirror being held up to society, to every listener, allowing them to question themselves. Have they contributed in some small way to the way the world is?
This isn’t just an American problem. This is a humanity problem. We can’t change history, but we can learn from it. We can question it.
I live in Glasgow, a city that owes a lot of its chequered history to the tobacco industry and the slave trade. Not a history covered in glory. Street names and statues pay tribute to some of these people. We can’t change our history, but we can acknowledge this shameful history, not sweep it under the carpet and pretend it didn’t happen, teaching our children and our children’s’ children that this is not a part of the history of their city they should be proud of, but one that should be a harsh lesson from times gone by and a reason to never consider any person inferior purely based on the colour of their skin.
Sit Up and Listen
Rage Against the Machine railed against injustice, Body Count thrashed out their messages, Skunk Anansie once said “Yes its fucking political, everything’s political” in their repertoire of masterful tunes highlighting endemic racism, one of Prince’s last singles, Baltimore, tackled an all too familiar topic following the death of Freddie Gray. Bob Vylan has taken the baton and is continuing to expound those messages. He shouldn’t have to. But we all need to sit up and listen. The world is under a spotlight just now, the debate is raging. Let’s hope it triggers the change that has been needed for so long.
So, I will be angry when I need to be angry. I’ll share love with those who deserve it. Bob Vylan deserve the love.
By the way if you want the vinyl, you’re too late, it sold out in a day, but that shouldn’t stop you heading to Bandcamp and downloading the album. In fact, you MUST.