Propagandhi
Failed States
Track
listing
01. Note to Self
02. Failed States
03. Devil’s Creek
04. Rattan Cane
05. Hadron Collision
05. Hadron Collision
06. Status Update
07. Cognitive Suicide
08. Things I Like
09. Unscripted Moment
10. Dark Matters
11. Lotus Gait
12. Duplicate Keys Icaro (An
Interim Report)
Let’s start with a brief recounting of my personal history
with Propagandhi. I first heard them on some
fat wreck comp and immediately dug their snotty-but-not-stupid brand of skate-punk. I quickly bought How to Clean Everything and Less
Talk, More Rock. While I loved all
the now-classics on How to Clean... (“Anti-Manifesto”,
“Ska Sucks”, etc.) I was drawn to the sharpened wit and introspective nature of
Less Talk. I was so enamoured that I actually played one
side of the record every morning before I left for school for an entire year.
After waiting in line for HMV to open so that I could buy Today’s Empires, Tomorrow’s Ashes, I was
confused and impressed. It seemed like
this smart-but-silly punk band I loved had suddenly became a dark, driven,
political, musical force to be reckoned with.
The riffs were sharper, the lyrics more biting, and the songs more
complex. In short, Propagandhi had grown
up.
Ever since that day I patiently wait for new Propagandhi
albums. I obsess over clips and songs
that get released (I also apparently write reviews for single songs that they
release) and I scour the internet for leaked copies while simultaneously
pre-ordering the record as soon as possible.
I don’t only do this because Propagandhi is arguably my favourite band
of all time, but because ever since the days of Today’s Empires they have been constantly changing and evolving
with each release. And to be honest, one
of the reasons I wait so eagerly is because I’m always waiting to be
disappointed. I figure eventually they
will take a left turn off a musical cliff and, as a fan I won’t be willing to
follow.
Fortunately, my fears have once again been put to rest. From the opening notes of “Note to Self” I
realize that, while evolved, Failed
States is a Propagandhi album in the truest sense of the word. The riffs are intricate, but catchy, the
lyrics are meaningful but broadly political, and the song-writing is complex
without being wankerish. I would also
nominate the opening track as the best song on the album, but that is not an
easy decision as the album never really relents or weakens in any real way.
While the title track and Devil’s Creek demonstrate why
singer/guitarist Chris Hannah is arguably the best songwriter in punk today, “Rattan
Cane”, “Hadron Collision”, and “Cognitive Suicide” help hoist Todd the Rodd
into the spotlight as an eminent writer/front-man in his own right. His songs have always been, and continue to
be heavier and more metallic, which is the perfect musical juxtaposition to
lyrics that are acutely personal and revealing.
That’s right, I used the words “musical juxtaposition”...that’s how you
know this is a fancy music review.
Two more tracks that stand out are “Unscripted Moment” and
the closer “Duplicate Keys Icaro (An Interim Report)”. Both tracks show off the musical complexity
that a group like Propagandhi is capable of, with several riffs reminiscent of
guitarist David Guillas’ previous project Giant
Sons.
In summation, there is nothing I would change about this
album. It will please any Propagandhi
fan without leaving them feeling like this is a rehash of older material. The band continues to outdo pretty much
everyone by evolving into one of the most interesting, intelligent band to ever
deliver face-shredding riffs. If I gave
out ratings this album would get 5 masturbating dicks out of 5. I know that another review on the site listed
the Masked Intruders’ record as his ‘Album of the Year’, but I think
Propagandhi will likely take that honour for me.
Buy all of the copies you can right here.
