Hey OP, have you listened to what's on country radio these days? EVERY other song is about how alcohol is so useful (to party, to forget your ex, to enjoy being poor, to self medicate after a 70 hour work week). It's bonkers. And the other half still reference drinking.

Long Neck Bottle has nothing on these insane anthems that encourage drinking and being happy being poor. It's a perfect pacifier for a demographic that is largely impoverished with very few ways to escape poverty. Might as well have em singing along about how the cold beer they have means being broke is fine.

which is very easy to find in punk rock and some variations, as well as rap.

When it comes to rap, it was far easier to find.

I'm not alone in noticing that a lot of mainstream(!!!) rap has become a minstrel show, glorifying capitalism, and racist stereotypes about black people.

Give me something to not feel depressed and let me tune out.

IDLES are getting pretty popular and they are very vocal about social justice and politics. Still not a top 100 charts band though.

Things were a bit different in the 80s and 90s I would say, with songs like "Land of Confusion" by Genesis and "Civil War" by Guns n' Roses charting in the top 10.

I think the reason we dont hear much music that is critical about current events in the charts is a consumer problem though. Mary and John just don't want to listen to stuff that is uncomfortable. Record Labels would definitely produce music like that again, if it would be profitable.

I was thinking about this watching the doc "Midnight Oil: 1984". A year and a band (I think) that transcended the angry genre, music was catchy and very popular. So maybe the times will come around again. I feel sick of the media ignoring even the most basic issues (like, dunno, survival and stuff), and I think and hope others will connect with art that expresses some level of discontent. Which is a form of sanity these days.

Been listening to Ren for a while now and it’s quite a good experience. Money game needless to say, crucify your culture and dear god are probably other songs that hit different.

Does music necessarily need to bring awareness? I'm not even a big lyrics person. Half the time, I don't really pay attention to them. I'm sure I'm far from alone. Otherwise there wouldn't be right-wing RATM fans.

There are other ways to make people politically aware.

Are you serial saying that modern music isn’t angry anymore? Because it ALL sounds angry to me.

I miss the 80’s when things were far less angsty.