Anger These Days Just Doesn’t Sound Like Ministry
Perhaps it's simply the fact that I am older and a bit less cynical, but heavy music made with guitars seems to have become pretty terrible. I used to really enjoy it.
Now, let me qualify that by stating that I probably don't know enough to really give an adequate estimation on the subject, but I hear lots of heavy music all the time — from super hardcore like Immolation to what fans of said band would call "pussy shit" like Mastodon. None of it gives bands from two decades ago a run for their money. Not in my book, any way.
Take Ministry for example. Now there was an angry band. And on top of that, Al Jourgensen had some really powerful things to say, both politically and socially. In 2009, it's starting to make even more sense.
After years of toiling in relative obscurity within the Chicago underground as a post-new wave electronica act, Jourgensen decided to put the MIDI to rest after signing with Sire Records for The Land of Rape and Honey in 1988. It would be the first in a string of commercially successful releases for Ministry.
The following year, when Ministry released The MInd is a Terrible Thing to Taste, George H.W. Bush had just been elected to office. Chances are, the band was still tracking while Dukakis was blowing it in the home stretch. H.W. and over a decade late, his son Dubya, would provide much inspiration for Jourgenson. He obsessed about what Bush 41 called a New World Order, in a speech ironically if not prophetically given on September 11, 1991. He, like so many others, quickly began to speculate that Neo-Cons had one thing in mind when talking about the future: total devastation of the world as we know it.
On the song "So What," he is simply no holds barred about living in a dystopian future without much room for hope or solution. It's a frightening take on the world without regard for people's rights and laws as it discusses the influence that cultural violence has on society.
The track, topping out at more than eight minutes, is filled with wicked cackles, samples from the classic Ed Wood written film, The Violent Years, and a repetitive bassline that never ceases its rhythm. To this day, it's not a song I can listen to without at least a few lights on.
It's just that hardcore.
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Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
That article almost looks like something out of The Onion
Thanks! I’m looking forward to writing even more….
Yay! Love this! Welcome to the family!
that last photo’s a doozie, Chris. good work.
that city center house show was one of those life-affirming things.
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I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?
hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Excellent. I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.
funny, as your summer begins, another Summer ends.
@Dan - Wow. Unfortunately, I have to refrain from further comment due to a previous employment relationship. But with that brief context you might be able to imagine possible comments or responses I could have.
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represent, Matt.