The boundary between counterculture and coporate music is especially blurry these days. I am still bowled over when I hear the likes of Mogwai, Of Montreal, and other “indie” bands on commercials. I used to be enraged by this, but now I see there’s a positive and a negative side to media saturation. On one hand, there’s a certain level of hypocrisy when artists belie the principles they purport to embody for the sake of money. On the other, there is so much music about social change out there that would never before have had the exposure it has now. These days it’s not only the counterculture that is against being an ‘American Idiot;’ the proliferation via Napster, YouTube, and product placement in commercials and T.V. shows, of underground hip hop, indie rock, electronica and other alternative styles, is creating a sense of excitement and idealism among this generation’s mainstream that hasn’t been seen in a while. People are being unified across traditional boundaries in a really interesting way as diverse sounds and ideas become acceptable–and inevitable– in the mainstream. For instance, the last time I went to the CD store I definitely picked up both Avril’s new album (don’t tell) and an old Dead Prez…

Haha, I didn’t know that Hugo Chavez headed up Citgo. While I don’t think–as he does– that he is the next Simon Bolivar, I give him props for being cheeky in his relations with the U.S. I’d like to know more about BP’s about-face, what prompted it, and if their past motley ethical record has been ameliorated in the new alternative energy campaign. On Shell… I’d like to mention their connection with the execution of Nigerian author/activist Ken Saro-Wiwa in 1996. Saro-Wiwa, a member of the Ogoni tribe, and others loudly protested Shell’s pollution of the Niger Delta, an important natural resource for the tribe. The Nigerian government did Shell the favor of eliminating the troublesome nine. I’ll continue to boycott the company for that, and encourage others to do the same. Also, check out his controversial novel, Sozaboy!!

The boundary between counterculture and coporate music is especially blurry these days. I am still bowled over when I hear the likes of Mogwai, Of Montreal, and other “indie” bands on commercials. I used to be enraged by this, but now I see there’s a positive and a negative side to media saturation. On one hand, there’s a certain level of hypocrisy when artists belie the principles they purport to embody for the sake of money. On the other, there is so much music about social change out there that would never before have had the exposure it has now. These days it’s not only the counterculture that is against being an ‘American Idiot;’ the proliferation via Napster, YouTube, and product placement in commercials and T.V. shows, of underground hip hop, indie rock, electronica and other alternative styles, is creating a sense of excitement and idealism among this generation’s mainstream that hasn’t been seen in a while. People are being unified across traditional boundaries in a really interesting way as diverse sounds and ideas become acceptable–and inevitable– in the mainstream. For instance, the last time I went to the CD store I definitely picked up both Avril’s new album (don’t tell) and an old Dead Prez…

Haha, I didn’t know that Hugo Chavez headed up Citgo. While I don’t think–as he does– that he is the next Simon Bolivar, I give him props for being cheeky in his relations with the U.S. I’d like to know more about BP’s about-face, what prompted it, and if their past motley ethical record has been ameliorated in the new alternative energy campaign. On Shell… I’d like to mention their connection with the execution of Nigerian author/activist Ken Saro-Wiwa in 1996. Saro-Wiwa, a member of the Ogoni tribe, and others loudly protested Shell’s pollution of the Niger Delta, an important natural resource for the tribe. The Nigerian government did Shell the favor of eliminating the troublesome nine. I’ll continue to boycott the company for that, and encourage others to do the same. Also, check out his controversial novel, Sozaboy!!