Festus:

Yes, Radiohead is certainly on the list of musical artists that exhibit some level of political dissent. However, as some have already pointed out --- Radiohead has what I would call a "non-mainsteam" audience.

Heavier bands, like TOOL and METALLICA are also not geared to a large mainstream audience --- even though they might be considered "mainstream" within the genres they record within.

When I posted the quote to which you responded, I was thinking of the biggest sellers of what is currently out there. This usually means useless, pandering, unlistenable garbage.

This may be why I constantly find myself in the "classic rock" section of my favorite 'wrecka stow.

There are also those who release "veiled dissent" --- for fear of alienating those "important marketing demographics." Artists in this category include people like Dave Matthews --- whose producer shit canned an entire album just because it was different than what DMB had heretofore recorded.

That album, which was known as THE LILYWHITE SESSIONS, was later released after huge fan backlash. The new album, called BUSTED STUFF, featured re-recorded versions of most of the LILYWHITE material, but not the originals. The first effort was better, IMHO.

Obviously, dissent bands like RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and FAITH NO MORE are no longer together, but they are two others that put forth worthwhile material in the context of dissent. Individuals like HENRY ROLLINS and even EMINEM have had something great to say.

Check out the EMINEM song WHITE AMERICA at the Guerilla News Network website, for a taste of what I mean. (Be sure to play the UNCENSORED VERSION, please):

http://www.guerillanews.com/white_america/

But then, you start to get into ridiculous shit like INSANE CLOWN POSSEE and that band that did that song "Let the bodies hit the floor" or something like that. I think that song was called BODIES. I think that idiots like this allow some people to dismiss all dissenters as morons, which is unfortunate to the people who are really trying to say something important, like Zach de la Rocha of RAGE.

Most of the great political dissenters of our collective musical past --- are all dead, for the most part.

Gee, isn't that coincidentially productive to those who want to quash such dissent?

It's all one big fucking coincidence . . . nothing to worry about, though.

Peace and Prayers,

Kent Daniel Bentkowski Buffalo, New York USA