The Rebel Rockin' Roots of Punk Rock Humor

Humorists have served as the conscience of cultures ever since (and before) court jesters ridiculed omnipotent royalty for its hypocrisy, pomposity, and corruption. Punk continues to fulfill that essential social role in relation to the powers-that-be of the modern world.

                                      
Interviews
    
        Billy Bragg and Joe Henry, Singing Their Way Across America
    
PopMatters Staff
Chrissie Dickinson

        19 Oct 2016
    
Music
    
        Billy Bragg and Joe Henry: Shine a Light: Field Recordings From the Great American Railroad
    
Jonathan Frahm

        19 Sep 2016
    
Music
    
        Young Rebel Set: Crocodile
    
Taylor Coe

        11 Nov 2013

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The Rebel Rockin' Roots of Punk Rock Humor

Humorists have served as the conscience of cultures ever since (and before) court jesters ridiculed omnipotent royalty for its hypocrisy, pomposity, and corruption. Punk continues to fulfill that essential social role in relation to the powers-that-be of the modern world.

Billy Bragg and Joe Henry, Singing Their Way Across America

Billy Bragg and Joe Henry: Shine a Light: Field Recordings From the Great American Railroad

Young Rebel Set: Crocodile

Various Artists: The Voice Project Presents Home Recordings Volume 1

Music as a tool for social change: An important cause highlighted in a simple, yet powerful way.

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Bragg continues a protest song cycle with a very topical entry

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Billy Bragg: Mr. Love & Justice

Mr. Love & Justice is, for all its faults, a solid record. But in Bragg's hands, it could have been much more.

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Humorists have served as the conscience of cultures ever since (and before) court jesters ridiculed omnipotent royalty for its hypocrisy, pomposity, and corruption. Punk continues to fulfill that essential social role in relation to the powers-that-be of the modern world.

As a young man, Billy Bragg reinvented punk rock with songs as fiercely political as they were emotional. Three decades after he released his first album, PopMatters counts down his ten best outings from those early years.

Music as a tool for social change: An important cause highlighted in a simple, yet powerful way.

This year saw the release of many truly stellar box sets and re-issues from the Holy Grail of Western pop music (the earliest Louis Armstrong recordings and the Beatles remasters on vinyl) to indie heroes like Sugar and folk pioneer Woody Guthrie. Here's ten of our faves.

Bragg continues a protest song cycle with a very topical entry

Former (or current) members of the Dream Syndicate, Fleetwood Mac, and the Wallflowers are just a few of the best singer-songwriters stepping out on their own this year.

Mr. Love & Justice is, for all its faults, a solid record. But in Bragg's hands, it could have been much more.

In recounting the 140-year history of the one-time hymn of the Left, this excellent documentary calls attention to contemporary leftists’ lack of a shared melody.