Kevin Bronson on October 17th, 2020

0

Dept. of Political Commentary: New singles that arrived this past week:

MOURNERS, “Smile” and “Sunlight”

Jarrod Gorbel (The Honorary Title, Night Terrors of 1927, solo material) circled all the way back to good ol’ pop-punk when he started Mourners in 2017. A slew of singles later, he’s landing body blows on various issues: distribution of wealth (“Rich”), health care (“Die Like This”) and, most recently, the plight of immigrants and a smirking president with “Sunlight” and “Smile,” respectively. RIYL: Green Day at their most political.

BAD RELIGION, “What Are We Standing For”

Unfuckwithable punk legends Bad Religion have released this rallying cry for freedom of expression, a track that didn’t make their 2019 album “Age of Unreason.” The song backs athletes and others who have taken a knee to protest police brutality and racism. Says songwriter Brett Gurewitz: “In this time of tribal nationalism, dissent, as a form of political speech, is vital to democracy.”

SUNNY WAR, “Orange Man”

Besides the latest two singles as one-half of the duo War & Pierce (see “Amen” and “The Map”), War has released this assessment of current leadership. Couplets come easy: “You’re such a waste / of a heart and a spine / and a pulse and a face / and a soul and a mind.” Proceeds from the song benefit two charities, Fair Fight Action and Food Not Bombs’ downtown L.A. chapter.