Classic Hardcore Songs That Really Don't Hold Up In The Great Recession

"You call me up/ and you talk about money," complains Ian MacKaye on Embrace's classic "Money." (It happens that Spotify has the Land of Greed World of Need cover album, so I'm rolling with Lifetime's version.) 

Well, dude, OK. But what if your friend just lost his job or can't make his mortgage or can't get the loan he needs to put his kid through school? And he just needs an open ear to vent? I get that we shouldn't be so materialistic, but -- sorry for this -- if I ever THOUGHT a-BOUT it maybe sometimes it's not such an imposition to ask a friend to help talk you through your money troubles. 

Comments

[Josh Winslow]

A while back I commented to a friend that you could easily get a PhD tracing the fortunes of the American middle class via the issues addressed in punk songs.

"American Jesus" just wouldn't be written today.

[Jeremy Boyce]

Funny, I was just thinking about this as I tried to put together a list of punk "protest songs" for my Dad. I held the net wider than just hardcore (consider the audience), but I had no trouble finding songs that capture the moment. "Portland" by the Street Dogs is one of my favorites, along with "Never Stops" by Lagwagon. Of course NoFX's "Perfect Government" will never go out of style.

[Diane Wayne]

Punk by it's very definition ended as soon as the first clothing style was copied or the first record deal was signed. Always thought it funny that so called "punk" icons actually became "icons" in the first place.