shallov – Shut Up and Dance
Genre: Post-Hardcore, Alternative Rock
By 2024, most of the kicks of making rock music had long been over, and rock musicians were ready to play their hand in a state of martyrdom. It wasn’t uncommon to find social media posts made by themselves and decrying the state in which they found themselves. It took years to make a record, months to tour a city, and weeks to write a post. It was enough to make your heart break apart.
It wasn’t even that they weren’t telling the truth. Sure, they were. It was also the sad realization that now that the money had dried up, we might’ve been left with the purest artists to ever decide to cut a rock record. Why would anyone put themselves through this torture otherwise? Why would anyone do it unless they feel compelled to do it?
shallov’s “Shut Up and Dance” sounds like the solitary howl of a dog through a Summer night. It might well be announcing some form of trouble. It’s sinister enough. But it’s unlikely to be enough to raise the whole street to their feet to check it out. shallov’s mysterious blend of alt-rock is a lot like that. It’s a warning, for sure. It’s made by someone compelled to tell the truth. But it’s unclear what it will stir up.
Gaslighters.Anonymous – Fun Police
Similar artists: Bloodhound Gang
Genre: Indie Rock, Garage Rock, Alternative Rock
Rock music, and American entertainment in general, used to be such a silly, irresponsible thing. And most people loved it. Well, it certainly didn’t help them grow as people or increase the intelligence of the planet. But, boy, was a lot of it damn entertaining. If you’re an American trying to get involved in entertainment nowadays, you must feel that those were “The Golden Days.”
At the moment, everyone who wants a career in entertainment is as apologetic for their past actions as the Russian general in front of Stalin. Actors who’ve been on The Office are apologizing for ever contributing to it. Sure, the culture of political correctness will end up doing some good things. Previously disenfranchised groups of people may, one day, be treated with a greater amount of respect, and if that happens, the PC mob may have had something to do with it. But it’s bound to be a long, boring road to better days.
Gaslighters.Anonymous have a zany, fatalistic way of seeing the modern world. “Fun Police” is one of their most direct, silly songs, but don’t confuse this project merely for a good times band. Nah, Gaslighters.Anonymous sees just how bad things are getting, just how many rights are being lost, and just how little we can laugh about the world anymore. The “Fun Police” is out to shut down everything that doesn’t align with its principles, and it’ll start with rock music.
