Good to see Gangstarr on the list with the likes of Billy Bragg and Black Sabbath! Very surprising to see someone's taste for political message break down genre barriers! Props, Mikey.

Peace

Atari Teenage Riot, Flesh Field, KMFDM, Laibach, Ministry, Ohgr, Rammstein, Revolting Cocks, Skinny Puppy, et. al.

thanks mic b - and thanks to aufheben for adding the industrial crew - we could also use more electronic stuff. remember I only had 36 on my list. ten times that wouldn't be enough.

mz

I think there could be more breadth both in the genres of music, the geographical origins, and sorts of politics addressed... My suggestions: The Coup, Team Dresch, Deep Dickollective, She Devils (political punk band from Argentina), Los Crudos...

thanks larry-bob -

more breadth, by all means! I made a starter list, not a comprehensive one - if it had been comprehensive, then there'd be no opportunities for people to chime in, right?

thanks,
mz

I think you missed U2. Not so much for the records, but for the actual good they have done for the world.

Bob Dylan, John Coltrane, MC5, Miles Davis, Funkadelic, The Stooges, Sun Ra

Oops... post-60's: Black Flag, Run DMC, Bjork, Tom Waits, Unwound

Bad Religion and Green Day seem kind of obvious

Rage Against the Machine, Bright Eyes, System of a Down, Sex Pistols, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley, the Nightwatchman, Peter Gabriel, KRS-One, I could go on...

David Rovics, Chris Good, Neil Young, Buffy Ste Marie (those two were there in the sixties, but did most of their protesting later, I think)....

Lupe Fiasco, The Roots, Common, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Jay-Z (even though it was only one song).

Wow what a great idea! Its like the wall of musical change. As an old schooler so to speak. I haven't given this much, I was one of those believers that this generation was to quote Waiting For The World To Change. As fo my self I'm from those ranks who joined the Peace Corps in their Hay Day, demostrated the Vietnam War, joined Grass Roots societies to give back to the earth, former member of the New York Guardian Angels, put mylife on the line to preserve the Amazon. And my quest goes on to leave this planet in better condition than it was when I arrived.
Peace and music is a mighty langauge.

Please do not forget one of the biggest political activists in the underground hip-hop scene. "IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE"

DLR era VH, Kiss and Yes

What an awesome exercise - thanks for the initiative! I hope to see it evolve into full story/article/endeavor... I see a lot of my favorites already posted but a few West Coast additions should most definitely be Michael Franti & Spearhead and Ozomatli. I also love groovin', shakin' my ass, and rockin' to the likes of The Digable Planets, The Herbaliser and The Evens (respectively). Props to Ani DiFranco and Utah Philips as well!

The idea of acknowledging groups like U2 who have been activists in the world even if not lyrically, whether through direct involvement or benefits/festivals is a worthy one.

Keep up the superb efforts - Pandora feeds the optimist in me and offers a form of progress and hope to those of us with musical souls. I am repeatedly impressed with the way this project has developed (e.g., tools, podcasts, diversity of selection and expertise) and can't wait to see what comes next!

Viva Pandora!!!

I just felt compelled to add two more.. Midnight Oil and Sinead O' Connor.

Flogging Molly :)

Pearl Jam, Incubus, R.E.M, John Mellencamp, and Elvis Costello are some big names I haven't seen listed yet. Also, I would argue that probably a lot of jam band artists usually tend to have the unique social and political conscience you're looking for.

I think what makes this whole exercise so interesting is the way you have defined it; it is one thing for an artist to have a blatant political message to a song and I think the artists who do this consistently are fewer and further between. However, you have defined the category as those who are not only politically conscious, but socially and culturally as well. I think that really, any truly exceptional music must have this all-encompassing consciousness-after all, isn't that the point of art; to reflect and critique the culture that produces it? Therefore, I think what the exercise turns into is a list of those musicians and songwriters who are truly exceptional at their craft which doesn't detract from it but certainly says something about those artists listed here.

Hello, I think your list is great. How about adding Neil Young to that list? He has always been a voice for worthy causes and does a lot of concerts to raise money. Erika

where's U2?????

I think people are missing one of the most politicaly influenced man of the music scene, his name is Manu Chao, either solo or with Mano Negra