With a Propagandhi record you know what you are getting – quality, aggressive punk rock with a healthy dose of political leanings. They’re normal speedy little sods too, although ‘Potemkin City Limits’ actually shows a more considered side to the band. I’m not suggesting for one minute that the breackneck guitar parts have been put on the back burner, but maybe in their older years the Canadians have decided to take their foot of the gas. A little. What we have here is a furious, fist-in-the-air punk record which lights the blue touch paper and then sits back waiting for the inevitable explosion.
Propagandhi has always been incendiary, venomous and not afraid to say exactly what they mean. That said, I didn’t think they’d go quite as far as to slag off Fat Wreck owner Fat Mike as they do in ‘Rock For A Sustainable Capitalism’, or Dexter Holland as they do in the liner notes. Still, what’s a Propagandhi record without at least one talking point? On first listen, this isn’t in the same league as ‘Less Talk More Rock’, but give it time and it will slowly knaw away at you. ‘A Speculative Fiction’ takes time but really grows on you – especially once the distinctive vocals start to break through. ‘Die Jugend Marschiert’ is not only a rip-snorter of a track musically, but lyrically rips into the US Army for the way it recruits soldiers and for glorifying war. ‘Iteration’ crashes out of your speakers like the end of the world is nigh, leaving you pretty much breathless.
There’s the usual tongue-in-cheek humour associated with any Propagandhi record too – check the liner notes and the unusual band member name-swapping/thanks lists for a few fun and games. Propagandhi are more than a thinking man’s band – they’re probably the best band around at what they do. The level of sarcasm and wit is unmatched, the cleverness and sheer scathing attitude unparalled. Although different in style from previous albums, the end result is still the same – you need this CD.
Fat Wreck Chords/G7 Welcoming Committee
Paul