Just Say No to Emo

Anti-Capitalism: Anarcho Punk Vol.4

Anarcho-punk nostalgia has finally kicked in. Perhaps the only kind of 80s retro that’s remotely acceptable, this beautifully pieced together compilation CD released late last Fall (the 4th in a series issued by the UK’s Overground label) is an absolute must-buy for anyone interested in the intersection between music and radical politics. Written by former Crass drummer Penny Rimbaud, the liner notes are worth the price of admission alone. Get it in the US from AK Press.

The Day the Country Died: A History of Anarcho Punk 1980 to 1984

For those looking for an excellent monograph of the genesis of the UK anarcho-punk scene, the American edition of Ian Glasper’s excellent The Day the Country Died is forthcoming from Reynolds and Hearn in March. Hallelujah.

The 1980s marked the most profound political rationalization of popular music ever. Given how absolutely dire the events of the past five years have been, (and how impovershed most musical responses remain), the rise of anarcho-punk historiography seems utterly appropriate.