It makes complete sense to me that last year’s punks will be this year’s protest singers. The medium might be radically different but the message is often the same. Punk music is raw and angry and lyrically simple due to the age and makeup of the band members but these young punks grow up and want to express themselves more completely. Good resent examples are AA Bondy, the Nightwatchmen (Tom Morello of Rage and Audioslave), Eddie Vedder and now Tim Barry formerly of Avail.

Tim lives in “Red State” Virginia so on the new record you get a mix of political and social messages. Songs explore the views of the military fighting in Iraq to the scourge of Oxycotin on the rural population. Tim Barry is making as many strong political statements on this record than any I’ve heard lately. If this is the next generation of folk singer then bring it on. The new record is called Manchester and was released on Nov. 4. You can buy it here.

Tacoma

Joel Rafael released a record on Inside Recordings (Jackson Browne) earlier this spring. I’ve only just heard of it so I think maybe it may be getting a slightly wider release this summer. Joel Rafael has written a great protest song on the new record that clearly refers back to his idol Woody Gutherie. He also covers two of Steve Earl’s more political songs, as well as getting some help from contemporaries like David Crosby and Graham Nash on backing vocals.

This song deserves to be heard in this election season and I imagine the whole record would be great especially for fans of Steve Earle, Neil Young, and Woody Gutherie.

This Is My Country

“This Is My Country” video