The Proletariat
I’ve always wondered how Taang! records could be responsible for one of the more disappointing reissues (Power by SSD) and one of the absolute best, the 45 track double disc Voodoo Economics and Other American Tragedies by The Proletariat. Where Power disappointed because it lacked completeness, Voodoo Economics throws in everything but the kitchen sink - the Boston Not LA and Unsafe At Any Speed tracks, both albums (Soma Holiday and Indifference), demos, and unreleased tracks. With their leftist slogans and jagged guitar riffs the Proletariat always reminded me of an angrier, more aggro version of early Gang of Four (eh, maybe a stretch). 15 years after first hearing the band I’ve grown weary Richard Brown’s sparse rants on the ills of society, but I still love that beautiful and twisted guitar sound Frank Michaels managed to pull out of his guitar. For that alone this collection is highly recommended.
originally from 1983’s Soma Holiday LP
The Proletariat - Decorations.mp3
The Proletariat - Blind.mp3
the b-side to the 1985 Marketplace single
The Proletariat - Death of a Hedon.mp3
originally from 1985’s Indifference LP
The Proletariat - Pride.mp3
The Proletariat - Recollections.mp3
Notes:
A great band website can be found hereВ
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Taang has always been pretty hit and miss. I was pleased to find four (not-as-great) demo tracks on their Kill For Christ reissue.. too bad the My America one didn’t have something similar (that’s the sort of thing that makes me buy the reissues of stuff I’ve already got.)
I never saw their store when they were in Boston but I’ve been to their stores in San Diego and Los Angeles. The San Diego one always makes me cringe, to see all those (very highly priced) records hanging on the wall, facing the beach tide, not 20 feet away. Can’t be good for them rekkids.
I’ve loved these songs for a long time. Since I’m a big commie anyway, I have not grown weary of the lyrics as you have. Thanks for posting this.
Contradictions in punk rock.. the gretaest thing about the genre, maybe?
Having THE FU’S and PROLETARIAT on the same label - ideologically they were worlds apart (in mine, PROLETARIAT’s lyrics rule, their music, too, but it would have been awesome to have a combination of FU’s music with PROLETARIAT’s lyrics!)
Best part of the reissue: the Distortion tracks. Now my tape can RIP. Favorite track: After the Rise. Favorite record: Marketplace single. Great cover and both tracks are killer!
As far as TAANG! and their high $$, I can relate. Going into Kids in the late 80’s early 90’s was always a drool fest. But at least you knew that the records existed…
Have to agree with you about the guitar. I think his style is that of a slightly angrier Ricky Wilson from the B-52’s. That and the drumming, for me, were the big draw to this band.
The Naked Raygun/Mission Of Burma sounds are very strong here. My only problem with The proletariat is that they hit the same highs in many of their songs. “Death Of A Hedon” is great.
Does the CD issue have all of the songs from the demo cassette?
The Proletariat - cannot praise them enuff. Indifference is still in my Top 10 list. Laurel Bowman rules!
Couldn’t agree with you more about the vocalist or the guitarist. I mean, what is that, a put-on English accent?
i noticed your comment about the SSD reissue on taang. that reissue always bothered me too. last year i called many record shops trying to sell my bands single, taang was one of them.. i asked the owner (curtis?) why there wasnt a complete reissue of SSD material.. he basically told me that the members picked all the songs and picked which songs couldnt be reissued as they werent happy with the albumns as complete pieces.
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