Since communism proved itself to be a false promise of salvation to the masses. Usually the revolutionary leaders became worse tyrants than the rulers they opposed.

Since the power shifted from the workers to the corporations. Now the workers dont protest they keep their heads down for fear of dismissal.

Personally I'm a country music fan. From the John Denver, good country music era. I dont like Rap or is it Crap music.

The new Industrial Relations laws would have made a good protest song.

sharkfin... you'll have a tough time convincing the youth of today that Country Music is cool. I've yet to be persuaded - though I agree, most rap is crap.

Generally they tend to put together one of those keyboard style beats and just drone to it about 'hos' and 'gettin rich' (Yes, 50 cent I loathe you).

Occasionally you get an artist who puts together a quality piece of music and happens to rap to it - read Cat Empire - though in most cases the influence of these artists are so varied you can't really pin them into a rap category. Somewhere between acid jazz, hip hop and latin I guess.

Though I'm getting sidetracked - the political musical movement. Why is it that it's been castrated?

I don't think politics are on the decline, but apathy is on the rise. That isn't to say a band with talent couldn't get damn popular with political material.

The issue they face, is if they take principled stands, they will alienate a large part of their potential audience.

Their true fans however, will be that much more loyal.

It's a shame Rage Against The Machine broke up. I heard rumours they were getting back together for a concert in the US, though I can't substantiate that.

I still remember the clip of them playing "Sleep Now In The Fire" while on Wall Street and being told to leave by the police.

Classic.

That was one of the clips in my original post..

Um yeah, as for hip hop - if you're only exposed to the mainstream (fiddy cent) of course you'll think it sucks. It's interesting how the 'hos and money' theme is diametrically opposed to the roots of hip hop, from communities so poor they didn't even have musical instruments, hence making do with nothing but your words and cupping your hands over your mouth to make beats.

Anyway. I learned a long time ago to not judge an artist by their genre. There's good stuff (and crap stuff) to be found in every genre, just like movies....

But yeah, sidetracked. Rage Against the Machine - nah, reforming would never capture the original spirit of 'f* you i want do what you tell me'. It needs to be totally new, and catch everyone off guard. Thats how these things really hit home.