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A podcast about music, and politics as told by musicians who sing about politics
Episodes
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Get Matt's book here: https://a.co/d/6wjTY0c
Check out our new bi-weekly series, "The Crisis Papers" here: https://www.patreon.com/bitterlakepresents/shop
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7 days ago
7 days ago
Jason breaks down the faux outrage of text telling African Americans to report for Slavery after Trump's electoral victory. Then Jason along with the audience examine nuisance streamers; what is their end game? Lastly, we check out the hot new song by viral hip hop sensation, Lil Fuckhead, "Eatin' All tha Butt". Enjoy.
7 days ago
7 days ago
Wednesday Nov 13, 2024
Wednesday Nov 13, 2024
Listen to the 1982 Playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/04wj895QLuRqidJYCPIOaj?si=ynwWIGIxTC-eEoOkibegBA
In this episode, we dive into the pivotal year of 1982, a watershed moment that saw heavy music break away from the “dinosaur” rock of the '70s and launch into new, dynamic subgenres. This year gave birth to two powerful yet opposing forces in metal: the raw, uncompromising sound of thrash and the glammed-up spectacle of hair metal. We explore how both genres became symbolic of a larger cultural and economic shift, with thrash embodying an anti-establishment ethos while hair metal captured mainstream attention with its flashy, accessible style.
However, as capitalist production infiltrated these new genres, the revolutionary spirit that first defined them was soon diluted. Record labels and media, quick to capitalize on the trend, churned out copycats and polished away the edge, reducing genuine rebellion to commodified rebellion. This episode discusses how, despite the initial burst of creativity and defiance, the rapid commercialization of both thrash and hair metal ultimately diminished their potential for lasting cultural impact, leaving us to question: can music remain revolutionary within a capitalist framework?
Check out our new bi-weekly series, "The Crisis Papers" here: https://www.patreon.com/bitterlakepresents/shop
Tuesday Nov 12, 2024
Tuesday Nov 12, 2024
Monday Nov 11, 2024
Monday Nov 11, 2024
As political attention pivots towards the potential return of Donald Trump, the deeper and more pervasive economic reality of bipartisan austerity persists for most working Americans. Our guest today, Clara Mattei, argues that austerity’s fundamental purpose is not merely economic constraint but an assault on labor itself, embedding a “capitalist realist” resignation into our collective consciousness. In her recent article for Jacobin Magazine, Mattei writes, “When the US state, like most states, increases military spending or rescues banks while simultaneously cutting spending on health care, education, transportation, public housing, or unemployment benefits, it structurally transfers resources from the working majority to the 1 percent of the population that subsists mainly off capital ownership (i.e., stock dividends, rents, and interest).” This reveals austerity as a project not of restraint, but rather a reallocation of resources “in favor of the economic and financial elite and to the detriment of the majority of the population.” As we navigate a landscape where many struggle to afford medical care, are forced to send children to overcrowded, underfunded schools, and endure bureaucracy’s inefficiencies, defense and corporate profits continue to soar. In light of the election results, will we see new tax breaks for the 1% thinly veiled as fiscal “belt-tightening” while the public funds genocidal wars? Can we the people understand how this all functions and begin to organize to push back?
Well, I don’t have the answers to these questions, but maybe our guest today can help to get us on the right track, please welcome Clara Mattei!
Sunday Nov 10, 2024
Sunday Nov 10, 2024
"Before diving into the banter and, yes, the inevitable dick jokes, let’s start by acknowledging some of the frustration that many of you out there might be feeling right now. Whether you voted blue, opted for a third party, or abstained from voting altogether, it’s safe to say there's a lot to process.
Now, while tonight’s episode won’t delve into the ins and outs of political strategy or the latest electoral breakdowns, it’s worth reminding ourselves why shows like this one are more than just sports talk. In a field so dominated by right-wing narratives around labor—particularly in sports, where so many of us come for player stats and behind-the-scenes scoops—pushing back against anti-labor sentiments is essential.
Just on my way here to TJ, I caught a segment of the Colin Cowherd show, where he actually celebrated football’s ‘superiority’ because of the NFL players’ weak labor union. He touted the idea that a lack of labor power somehow keeps players from ‘ruining the game’ by asking for fair pay. Meanwhile, Boeing workers recently achieved a significant victory through a two-month strike, winning a higher pension match and better pay. As leftists, we see labor victories as essential, not greedy or selfish. True solidarity is realized through labor struggles, and it’s these hard-won gains that we ought to champion—not demonize.
Alright, with that necessary preamble out of the way, let me bring in my co-host Mac, and let the jokes begin!"