Randy Smith selects his favourite protest songs from 2000 onwards (part 2)

  Randy from Rebel Times Records (https://rebeltimerecords.bandcamp.com/) continues chatting about his favourite political/protest songs released since 2000... 

Moral Crux - Revolution (Shouldn't Be So Hard)

  I've long been a fan of Moral Crux (https://www.facebook.com/moralcruxofficial/). Based out of Spokane, Washington, around since the '80s, poppy punk rock centered around singer James Farris's lefty social and political commentary. For me personally, pretty much a perfect band.

  One reviewer said of the band: "It was as if Generation X and the Canadian Subhumans had a head-on collision at The Ramones’ practice pad." Nicely put, and I'll add that Moral Crux is, for me, kind of, sort of, somewhat of a potent and perfect blend of two of my favourite bands: you get the politics of MDC (Millions of Dead Cops) and the pop-punk of MTX (Mr. T. Experience). An odd combination? Maybe, but, hey, both MDC and MTX played together at the Anarchist Unconvention in Toronto in 1988 (an evening of which I have, due to some over-indulgence, only a very hazy memory)!

  A political band for sure, but that's not to say James can't write a poppy love song / unrequited love song / break-up song. Just check out "Yesterday's Kisses","Get Outta My Brain,""Firing Squad," or their cover of "Teenage Kicks." Because, let's face it, while Buenaventura Durruti said that "we carry a new world here, in our hearts. That world is growing this minute, " sometimes those hearts get broken and those worlds are shattered." Need a 'hurtin' song'? Moral Crux may just have you covered.

  And, I'll just get a plug in for Rebel Time Records here and mention that both Moral Crux and The Fallout (new album out now on Rebel Time Records and Discos Machete ... 15 tracks of  partisan and unapologetically political agitp(r)op punk rock) cite The Queers as musical influences ...

  My first exposure to Moral Crux came when I picked up a copy of their 1993 release "...And Nothing But The Truth" at a record store on Queen Street in Toronto. What I thought would be my last exposure to Moral Crux came when I picked up 2003's "Pop Culture Assassins" which came out on Ben Weasel's Panic Button Records and which was distributed by Lookout Records.

  Between 1993 and 2003 Moral Crux released a veritable cornucopia of outstanding albums on various labels. And, well, sadly, that seemed to be it. Then, suddenly, and without a lot of hullabaloo, in 2015, the band released the "Revolution" 7" on Mooster Records. Considering it had been 12 long years since their last release, this was a very, very pleasant and unexpected surprise. Frankly, I was gob-smacked. The "Revolution" EP is 4 tracks of Moral Crux's perfect, timeless and catchy-as-heck political pop punk and the welcome return of a band whose music and message  continue to be, 30+ years into it, motivating and mobilizing.

  James was kind enough to write a few words about the origin of the song. Thanks so much James!

  "I was mowing the lawn and for decades I always was fascinated how we (the 99 percent) have the power if we can just unite on so many issues of fairness, decency that we all have in common. It just came to me in a simple, perhaps, juvenile sense of: revolution shouldn’t be so hard since we have the number of people in our favor. It was one of those organic moments that a lot of times a songwriter will toss the term / slogan away due to it sounding too simplistic. But, in this case I assumed it worked. Of course the Beatles song Revolution and many other songs in rock over the years dealing with said topic exist, granted ... kinda interesting the background vocal on ”Revolution shouldn’t be so hard” has an early Beatles feel. The bridge/breakdown has a Ramones style cop."

  And, while revolution may be hard, getting your hands on (or ears wrapped around) the sounds of revolution ain't. Literally as I'm writing this, I see, via FB that Moral Crux has added yet more material to their Moral Crux bandcamp page...

  In Moral Crux news, according to James, the band is looking for a label to re-release some of their vinyl and the band does have new material ready to be recorded! Yes!! Stay tuned!!

https://moralcrux.bandcamp.com/album/revolution-ep

Revolution shouldn't be so hard
We've got the numbers and the cause at heart
Revolution shouldn't be so hard
Plutocrats without regard
Society's soul in disregard

Dignity a distant memory in a system that destroys
No concessions, true correctives - solidarity!

Corporate elites absent of care
They can steal but cannot share
Revolution shouldn't be so hard
They can destroy but cannot build
They can repress but cannot lead
Revolution shouldn't be so hard

Dignity a distant memory in a system that destroys
No concessions, true correctives - solidarity!

We live is a society not just an economy
Social justice is equality

Revolution shouldn't be so hard...