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PropagandhiPropagandhi: Supporting CasteSupporting Caste (2009)Smallman Records Reviewer Rating: 4.5 User Rating: Contributed by: crackpotdemagoguecrackpotdemagogue (others by this writer | submit your own) Unbelievably, it has been a full four years since 'prairie skids' Propagandhi released their previous full-length, Potemkin City Limits. Since then the band has experienced some notable changes: recruiting David 'Space Beaver' Guillas (ex-Giant Sons) on second guitar in 2006; announcing the closure .
Unbelievably, it has been a full four years since 'prairie skids' Propagandhi released their previous full-length, Potemkin City Limits. Since then the band has experienced some notable changes: recruiting David 'Space Beaver' Guillas (ex-Giant Sons) on second guitar in 2006; announcing the closure of their own G7 Welcoming Committee record label in early 2008; and more recently, parting ways with the label that brought them to the world, Fat Wreck Chords. Transitionary times, but not a transitionary album for Propagandhi, whose latest offering, Supporting Caste, is as focused, grounded and absolutely vital as the band has ever been.
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I love everything these guys have ever done, but one thing keeps bugging me: doesn't the intro to "Night Letters" have a similarity to the intro of a certain Megadeth song? Seriously, listen to Rust In Peace and you'll see what I mean. Great record. Controversial maybe but I think this is the best Propagandhi record. Best album ever! Excellent song writing! I saw them live in Montreal in 09 and they are super tight musicians. Im hooked! Wish they would tour again soon! One of the best albums of 09. Sounds like Hobbastank. I've been recanting some of my previous comments for album reviews, and I will be doing the same on here. I do like this album alot and I shouldn't have been as critical as I was about someone elses artwork, but it did take some time for me to really like it. I still believe the production is a little worse than their previous album but it still works. As usual their lyrics are flawless and they are one of few bands who have lyrics that I believe can change people's views. The album 'notes' were great, I took alot from Chris's 'End Notes' and I thought the one about animal rights advocacy was funny and very true. Potemkin City Limits is still my favourite Prop. album. Fucking love this. Fucking awsome record! Definitely best album of the year. Veganarchism....this would have been good to know about before I gave the bastards my money. 2nd best album of 2009 This IS the best punk record of 2009. Hands down. Meh. everything on this record sounds clean and powerful, the production is great Although every song on this album is good, some better than others, I feel like the production ruins how good this album could be. Todays Empires and Potemkin City Limits both had great production and recording which made those albums even stronger. I feel like the recording and production on this album is weaker and messier. I love this album of course but it doesnt match up to their past 2 albums as song-writing goes, but lyrically it is their best work. The lyrics are amazing, they almost tell a story in each one making alot of topics relateable and emotional. The lyrics to "Potemkin City Limits" are beautiful, stir up alot in me. Heaviest album as well by them. A Great album, not their best. I'm 28 and they are still in my top few favourites... Sandor Katz, from what I understand, supports the "post-vegetarian" movement, i.e. vegetarians going back to eating meat. You can't really expect Propagandhi not to have a reaction to that. Fucking great song, anyway. This is a really good album. I've been on the fence about Todd's vocals in the past, but this record has ended that debate! Solid all around! Amazing. That's what I continue to think of this album. I have been giving it a rest after having it on repeat for the first week or so I had it, I keep coming back and it's just a strong. Album slays. Today Without Love is the song I am digging most... heavy stuff. But this is one of those records where just about any song can be the flavor of the day/ week/ month/ year. Score is for Less Talk, More Rock. This year's first perfect album, 10/10. Hoping PBC will be the second perfect album. '09 is shaping up to be a banner year. The intro from The Banger's embrace is actually taken from the intro of the Sacrifice album called Torment In Fire. That track is called the Awakening Best Propagandhi yet. Score is for Less Talk, More Rock. This album rocks my socks of. It's better than Potemkin City Limits or TETA. I love the melodies, riffs and intricate guitar work. I guess adding the Beaver contributed to a musical expansion of the band. It's about he and Todd going to a Sacrifice show. Not bad, not my favorite Prop album. Consider The Meek's "Above The System" is better. Sounds like Propagandhi, but with better melodies. Banger's Embrace isn't about "things Chris Hannah dreams about." It's about he and Todd going to a Sacrifice show. I was asking myself that same question. I hope it's not because they respect my opinion, that would be awesome. why does everyone care whether mike thinks this is boring or not? Mike: These comments are full of serious. I love this shit, makes 8:30 at work so much more enjoyable. I can't see the drama that Mike doesn't really get into this. Each to their own eh? And to all those who downloaded the album you're a bunch of cheap bastards. Go spend some cash and support the scene. Go propagandhi! Good times. I've been listening to this album for the better part of a month now and still rock it constantly. Now that the commercial release is out, it's only gotten better with the artwork and liner notes. This IS a strong consideration for album of the year but we still do have 9 months left to go in 09. Great fucking album!!! I don't find it "painfully" boring, that's just me loving to shut down overhyped records that I don't find amazing. I am pretty sure I explained it all better after my initial "joke" comment. Yes, I'm old (32), but I still enjoy listening to 'How To Clean Everything' and 'Less Talk, More Rock' (and about half of 'Today's Empires'). Lyrically, they've "matured" (fuck, listen to any of their stuff off Recess Records, which is still good stuff) and they play a more technical/progressive guitar sound. But dammit, I do miss John K. Samson and his melodic contributions. Nothing against Todd (I liked I Spy, 'Appliances and Cars' is an awesome song), but the screaming/singing contrast with Chris/John was far superior to the almost bland difference between Todd and Chris. I like this album better than Potemkin City Limits, but that record really didn't do a whole lot for me either. Obviously, Propagandhi has been two bands; with John and without. I just prefer the one with. As much as I dig this record, the album of the year comments are a bit far-fetched, but realistically because it's only March. I mean, come on now. C'mon mikexdude, painfully boring is not how you should describe an album that you give 7/10. C'mon mikexdude, painfully boring is not how you should describe an album that you give 7/10. Can someone explain to me why I fucking love the last two Wilhelm Scream albums but this and Potemkin sort of just blows by indiscernibly? Man!! If anyone here is going to any of their upcoming shows, I will paypal you money if you can pick me up one of the sweet Supporting Caste posters they have. They ran out by the time I got to the merch table once they were done playing, but it's a nice poster with the album art. I'm pretty sure they just set aside a certain amount for each show, so I doubt they're out of them for the rest of the tour Please let me know "New Riverboat Gamblers came out today. It is better then this." Hmm. Some of you are calling "album of the year" too soon, Polar Bear Club hasn't even come out yet dan yemin sang fuck the border with them tonight. also this band is great, but the hyperbole here is a little out of hand. "they aren't really doing anything that Small Brown Bike hadn't done years before them" Wow, I appreciate all the attention, but it's not like I don't like this album. That first song totally rips. Unfortunately, for the same reason I can rarely get into metal, is it's instrumentally waaaayyyy too blunt and like I implied in a previous comment, I am a huge fan of subtle instrumentation. Also, I don't really get "connected" to political albums; they can be fun to listen to, but my all time favorites are all more into the personal struggle kind of deal. Mike: Punknews should remove you from being an official punknews STAFF memenber just for saying that. "i don't get how you can listen to the most washed up, pathetic attempts at hardcore (have heart), and still have the balls to make such jeering comments about a band like propagandhi, who to my knowledge, don't sound like any other band I have ever heard. I am not trying to say you are wrong, i am just failing to see how you've come to such conclusions." What a great record this is. Not exactly sure why I waited until today to download this since it's been in my mailbox for four days. One listen and it's already my favorite prop album! Anybody see them recently? What songs have they been playing I'm seeing em in NYC tmrw and hoping for a refusing to be a man. this is a top contender for the album of the year. Already know this is going to be on my year end list. Phenomenal album that really shows how the band can continue to evolve over the years. looks like i cocked that up don't sound like any other band I have ever heard mikexdude: this band never fails to blow my fucking mind. mikexdude: "This record is painfully boring as is most of their stuff." great tunes from hockey loving Canadians. Some of you are calling "record of the year" too late. The Black Lips record already came out. Haven't listened the album yet, I like propagandhi and all, but sometimes they seem so self-righteous in the most arrogant way. fu84--- kinda like you bash people who are straight edge and DON'T do drugs. Moron. mikexdude, "Hannah is hands down the most intellectual (aside from graffin) lyricist in the game today" i'm still confused as to how any of you think that best propagandhi album, at last they've given thought to the vocals. xshoutoutx, It's bizarre to think how much I've changed as a person since my first listen to propagandhi. Like, how much internet nicknames like mine annoy me now. One of the few bands, Non-european at least, that seems comfortable dealing with subject matter that you actually care about without having to feel the need to remind you that this type of content is NORMAL. Having a sense of humor has never barred someone from articulately connecting with other people in a serious non-ironic fashion and one doesn't exclude the other. 99% of bands try too hard to be significant by detaching real engagement from the flow of normal life, as if only in the vacuum of their artistry should people speak of things that matter. Shreds. Loving this!! Too early to call it their best, gonna give it a month or so worth of listens! To mikexdude: this is without a doubt one of the best albums put out since the last Propagandhi album, although it is better than Potemkin. never was a big fan of this band, and was never really sure why, but i do enjoy this record a good deal. whether it deserves any "album of the year titles" might be going a bit too far though. especially if it's only march. Did anyone else not get their download link for pre-ordering their album? apparently the guy below me, has no fucking clue who I am, so in essence is a retard. apparently thornsoflife just heard propagandhi for the first time a few hours ago. their best record they have ever put out, THAT'S RIGHT I SAID IT. Did anyone else not get their download link for pre-ordering their album? This album was a home run. No doubt about it. Excellent. Polar Bear Club is good times, is a bit hard to compare to this though isn't it? Some of you are calling "album of the year" too soon, Polar Bear Club hasn't even come out yet It's SABBAT, not SABOT. Some of you are calling "album of the year" too soon, Polar Bear Club hasn't even come out yet Oh yeah, check out the Death In the Family album which is flashing at the top of the screen. Good Aussie band and a really strong album. Good times. I've listened to this about 10 times now. Best album they've released hands down. Lovin' it, good times. Fat Mike said Propagandhi were the most important punk band .. that is where the reviewer got that from... New Riverboat Gamblers came out today. It is better then this. Easily the best record I've heard all year, easily. I can't even think of an album that's even worth putting in the same conversation (sorry BTMI!, your best days are a couple albums behind you). great record. still doesn't top Today's Empires. However it is the heaviest thing they've ever recorded. I've thought about it and they pretty much ARE currently the best band in punk rock! Who else would be? Gaslight Anthem? HAH! Fuckin' goofs! its good. best band in punk rock? give me a break better than potemkin also: to the people saying Propagandhi are acting like "punk purists" and blah blah blah, they have spent a lot of time attacking the narrow minded assholes who, unfortunately, make up the vast majority of "punk." ehhhh I may not agree with their stance on meat, like at all, but I'm really liking this cd. so i was baked in my car with a few people and we let the cd play out and forgot it was playing till the hidden track came on... scared the shit outa me. "Meh. This is okay. To me they have always sounded like a way to preachy NOFX but with better musicians. Also I bet they would be the type of dudes to bitch at you for an hour if they saw you eating some ribs. Score is for ribs." "Does Chris make enough off of Propagandhi to not have to work? I doubt it. I wonder what his job is." Vegancore If they're not the most important band in punk rock, they are certainly towards the top of the list. Propagandhi has accomplished so much with their genre, starting out with fairly juvenile political sneering and then becoming a mature, incredibly effective juggernaut churning out flawless jams. Few bands can claim the intelligence and weight their music carries. I've never really gotten into Propagandhi even though I don't dislike what I've heard. I think it has something to do with the die-hard Propagandhi fans that I know - you know how if you really don't like someone you by extension dislike the things they're really, really into? I know my fair share of the so-called punk purists, holier-than-thou types that seem to trip over each other trying to be more radical than the other. The one thing they all have in common is a devotion to this band. The question is: it is obviously wrong to dismiss a band on the basis of their fanbase, but how much truth is there to this prejudice? Because I've always thought the band would reflect the undesirable aspects of their fans: radical, rigid and ultimately off-putting. Tell me how I'm wrong... "... and also for the bozo's fucking complaining about a song like human(e) meat written by a band like PROPAGANDHI,......" meh. Meh. This is okay. To me they have always sounded like a way to preachy NOFX but with better musicians. Also I bet they would be the type of dudes to bitch at you for an hour if they saw you eating some ribs. Score is for ribs. ... and also for the bozo's fucking complaining about a song like human(e) meat written by a band like PROPAGANDHI, it's not just about animal rights or them just complaining about the living conditions of animals, it's the way human being are able to justify exploitative and tyrannical treatment of all animals (including other human beings). While there maybe more immediate issues going on with the world, it's the ethical basis and sadistic practices man is capable of conducting against sentient creatures when commodified. only band that matters. If you want watered down, safe, "punk-voter" political punk or punk love songs you know where to find those kind of bands "Without Love" is the best track on this album... SO good, just like the rest of this release! O-VER-RATED Does Chris make enough off of Propagandhi to not have to work? I doubt it. I wonder what his job is. Fantastic album. A little bit of everything on here. This album just keeps growing on me and will probably end up somewhere around my top three favorite Prop albums. Just like how people bash NOFX for doing drugs This album is fucking incredible. This will be the best album you hear all year. Album of the year! The review was a bit long winded, but oh well. I love these guys because they play original punk rock that fucking shreds, and they are honest. No one is safe from their attack! Just like how people bash NOFX for doing drugs Way better than Potemkin City Limits. Great record but Today's Empires is still my favorite. Nooooo waaaaaay. This is way borin; the instruments are incredible, but it just feels really watered down to me. This album keeps on getting better and better with each new listen. Every song is solid, the lyrics are amazing and the artwork is stunning. Someone should explain to skaboom down there that the rest of album deals with the problems he states, Human(e) Meat is one song. Someone should explain to skaboom down there that the rest of album deals with the problems he states, Human(e) Meat is one song. Good. I would say bands like Bad Religion and NOFX are more important than Propagandhi. This isn't a matter of taste, but of influence, which is something that can be proven empirically. After Today's Empires, I can't decide if Supporting Caste is their second best album, or if it's Less Talk More Rock. I might have to reluctantly give 2nd best to Less Talk More Rock for the amount it goes out on a limb for its day. But Supporting Caste is so effing good. Gets better w/ every listen. Great stuff. Album of the year! The artwork is fucking awesome too! "I'm going to respectfully disagree that a band has to tour 300 days as a requirement to be (arguably) the most important band in punk rock. I'm just thankful it didn't take 8 years since PCL for this to come out. These guys are obviously busy with a lot of different ideas/projects/etc." I'm going to respectfully disagree that a band has to tour 300 days as a requirement to be (arguably) the most important band in punk rock. I'm just thankful it didn't take 8 years since PCL for this to come out. These guys are obviously busy with a lot of different ideas/projects/etc. kylewagoner: I may have someone in need of that D4/BS ticket if you've still got it Goes great with a champagne blunt and a pack of Parliaments. "this band was better when they didn't take themselves so seriously" Yawn [i]hey are still on Fat, Smallman handled the Canadian release.[/i] Amen, goddammit. Most important band in punk definitely. I'm going to see them in Balitmore tomorrow! I have an extra ticket! Anyone wanna go?! Oh, and I have an extra ticket to D4 and The Bouncing Souls in Baltimore for Thursday. Someone let me know! They are still on Fat, Smallman handled the Canadian release. First Propagandhi record I've really gotten into. This shit riiiiiiiiiips. 2009 is looking to be a great year for melodicore. Brian, Wilhelm are actually good songwriters. That's why. "a band that have proven, yet again, that they are still the most important band in punk rock." This is a really, really good record. I really enjoyed that review. the use of imagery was well done. There's enough problems in the world with wars, corporate greed, etc, that they don't need to write a song about killing a guy for believing that livestock can be raised responsibly. I feel as the bands music becomes more serious they become more ridiculous in all things not music. Really excited to see what they do over the next couple of years with G7 on hold for the minute. love this record. they were great at harvest of hope this band was better when they didn't take themselves so seriously Improvement over the last, still not better than Less Talk, More Rock or Todays Empires...but great nonetheless. Totally worth the hype. Simply amazing! "the most important band in punk rock"..get real..-oldpunker- Stupidity? Can someone explain to me who Sandor Katz is? I googled him, and all I found is that he's a chef who uses lots of fermented foods. He's written a couple books, one of which has a chapter titled "Humane Meat", so I assume that's what it's about, but it all seems a bit...petty? Can someone explain to me why I fucking love the last two Wilhelm Scream albums but this and Potemkin sort of just blows by indiscernibly? Two hundred comments. |
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I wish there were more bands like this. Can't wait for the new CD