The Gold-Plated "Alternative Facts" Playlist

This is my weekly mix-tape style playlist coming to you this time with a POTUS slant. These are all protest songs that had special resonance to me after a weekend of protests and inaugural events. 

Anyway, every Tuesday (or Monday night) I put out a new curated playlist for your listening enjoyment. You can "Just Hit Play" or check out the song list below for Easter Eggs about the bands.  

"I Hate Radio" is the name of the podcast I am about to start and it is a play on "I Heart Radio" in opposition to music consolidation.

Last week's playlist was called the "Sticky Wet Truth" and you can listen to it HERE.

And, as always, Explore, Enjoy, and Share Music!

The Songs (With Easter Eggs)

1. Cellz, Doom, Born Like This (2009, Lex Records)

This song is power packed, it talks about everything from health care to the legal system and about how the system is rigged against the poor. Obviously, a big theme of election 2016 was the discussion of how we had a "rigged system." It sure didn't seem like either party was talking about it in the context of the people really at risk and without representation (the poor, people of color, LGBTQ, etc.). 

2. Panther Like A Panther (Miracle Mix), Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 3 (2016, Run The Jewels Inc.)

I included this song because it's pure bombast and swagger reminded me a bit of POTUS. I absolutely do not mean to say that RTJ likes DJT (we know they don't), just that it seemed a good way to point out that POTUS has a lot of Bigger and Deffer to his swagger (and not in a good way).

3. Can't Truss It, Public Enemy, Apocalypse 91: The Enemy Strikes Black (1991, Def Jam Records)

This is the perfect song to answer DJT's claim that he will fix the inner cities by doubling down on tough on crime (If you believe that is going to work, I would like to sell you bridge in Brooklyn and refer you to the Reagan, Bush, and Clinton administrations). Beyond that, this song is about not being able to trust the messenger, so it is also the perfect answer to the "What do you have to lose" comments during the election.   

4. Pistol Grip Pump, Rage Against The Machine, Renegades (2000, Epic Records)

This was originally a song written and performed by the hip-hop artist Volume 10 in 1993 and covered by Rage Against the Machine for their Renegades album (which was made up entirely of cover songs). It is a song about the paranoia created by being in the life in the hood in the 80's and also the paranoia created by the neverending police and suspicion people of color face in the inner-cities. 

I included it both because it speaks to why we should not want to go back to the bad-old-days of militarized encirclement of our inner-cities but also because DJT is one of the most paranoid elected officials since Richard Nixon.

5. Ignorecam, Pissed Jeans, Why Love Now (2017, Sub Pop Records) 

This one just makes me chuckle. It is about cultural narcissism. It could certainly be argued that Donald J. Trump is President explicitly because of his narcissism and ego. I mean, it has only been a few days since POTUS spoke about crowd-size in front of the CIA's memorial wall (and apparently with a crowd of Trump insiders along for the ride to do the clapping).

6. The Killing of America, Uniform, Wake In Fright (2017, Sacred Bones Records)

This is a really powerful song about mass shootings (and gun violence) in America. Given that the President is in lockstep with the NRA, and that the administration wants to double down on the war on drugs, this problem is likely to grow (I hope not).

7. Kill The Poor, Dead Kennedys, Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables (1980, Alternative Tentacles)

Speaker Ryan has had a goofy grin on his face since the election ended because the election of President Trump he is likely to be able to be able to start his program of destroying the social safety net and cutting social programs for the poor and cut taxes. 

8. Hands Up, Vince Staples, Hell Can Wait (2014, Def Jam Records)

One of the best songs I have heard about police mistreatment of Black's in America. In the inaugural address, President Trump said that disrespect of police will 'end now' and that protection (as well as the end of prejudice) are outgrowths of patriotism. Huh?

9. Destroyer, The Kinks, Give The People What They Want (1981, Arista)

Paranoia Will Destroy You. The reason that I included this song should be obvious, but it speaks directly to our President's inability to allow any criticism to pass without massive overreaction.

10. The KKK Took My Baby Away, Ramones, Pleasant Dreams (1981, Warner Brothers)

One story of this song is that Johnny Ramone (who was, in some ways, the dictator of the group) literally "stole" and married a woman that Joey Ramone had been dating (Linda). Joey is, by all accounts, literally singing about Johnny (although two other people tell different stories). Anyway, the reason I included it in this list is because there are still questions about the people surrounding the new administration.

11. Police On My Back, The Clash, Sandanista (1980, Epic) 

For most poor people, life is about to get much more nasty, brutish, and short. Less social services and a lot more police oppression (you say enforcement..I say oppression).

12. Party At Ground Zero, Fishbone, Fishbone EP (1985, Colombia)  

Look, there are three nations on the face of planet earth who can start a major nuclear war. Within a month of being elected, our current President destroyed a long-standing enabling diplomatic fiction with, of all things, a Tweet.

It might be time to stop worrying and learn to love the bomb.

13. Demolition Man, The Police, Ghost In The Machine (1981, A&M records)

I thought about using the Grace Jones version instead of the Police version, but there is still something uniquely great about the original. "I'm a walking nightmare, an arsenal of doom, I kill conversation when I walk into the room."

This song is about brutal retaliation. Our current President is pretty vindictive (and it could be said causes some negative reactions from people sometimes). 

Wrapping It Up

I call my site "On Pirate Satellite" because of the song "This is Radio Clash" by The Clash

Usually, the crazy names of the playlists are inspired by Captain Beefheart but today it was by current events.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the list.

Explore, Enjoy, and Share New Music!

What songs and artists would you include on your protest playlist?

Let me know what you think, leave a comment!