Before I talk about Music Week, I must inform you that FINALS ARE OVER! And I think I passed all of them! All is well and right in the world, besides the bad stuff happening in Africa, and the crazy rape rate in America, and...fine, everything in my world is right and well. Sort of. Not really even. But anyway...NO MORE FINALS! YAY!
Now that that is out of my system...
I had this idea a few days ago. I'm going to provide some information and some opinions about seven of my favorite bands...one for each day! How original of me, right?! So proud of myself...anyway. Right. Today's band is...
Rise Against! You really have no idea how much I love Rise Against. Just how much, you ask? A whole fuckin' lot, that's how much. ...anyway.
Rise Against is a "punk rock" band, according to Wikipedia. iTunes says it's a "rock" band. I feel the need to "quote mark" those, because I fee that genre boundaries are just stupid. Just plain stupid. Currently, the band has Tim McIlrath on lead vocals, Zach Blair on lead guitar and backing vocals, Joe Principe on bass and backing vocals, and Brandon Barnes on drums and percussion. Wait...aren't drums and percussion the same thing?! This is the last time you mislead me, Wikipedia! (I'm just kidding, Wik, I love you.)
They have released seven studio albums. The first two, The Unraveling (2001) and Revolutions Per Minute (2003) were on the small-name label Fat Wreck Chords, which is a horrible pun. Whoever named hat company deserves to be punched in the knee. Anyway, they signed to Geffen Records next, but I'm not totally sure what they produced there. I can't find what they actually did while signed to Geffen, but I know they were signed there! Briefly, though, because in 2004 they produced Siren Song of the Counter Culture with Dreamworks Records. Then The Sufferer and the Witness in 2006, also with Dreamworks. Their next album was Appeal to Reason in 2008, and finally Endgame in 2011.
A word about the members...they're awesome. That is speculation, because I have not had the good fortune to meet them. But it's safe to assume, because:
1. They are all vegan or vegetarian.
2. They support PETA.
3. They are all straightedge, with the exception of Mr. Barnes the Drummer Man.
4. They share their opinions about politics and whatnot. Which means...they are real people. Shocking!
5. They are against the death penalty.
6. They sing wonderful songs, most of which are not about love/being dumped. Take that, pop music!
7. They hate injustice, and do something about it.
8. They care about people effected by natural disasters.
9. Tim McIlrath is pretty.
10. They sell vegan shoes, recycled-banner messenger bags, and other cool stuff. And make sure it isn't made in a sweat shop. The bags are made in Michigan, actually.
They also have some really cool music videos. Check out Make it Stop (September's Children), Ready to Fall, and Re-Education (Through Labor) if you don't believe me. And these songs are about stuff! Stuff other than being in love or being dumped, can you believe it?!
Now the opinion...
I don't know about you, but hearing this stuff makes me want to get out and fight the injustice in the world. Which is fine...except I'm seventeen, and cannot just go out and fight said injustice. Which there is a lot of. But I want to! Especially after seeing Ready to Fall for the first time; I just wanted to do something. And you don't understand, but I don't just get the random urge to go do stuff, and Rise Against makes me want to get off my ass and do something. This just doesn't happen.
Also, these guys look like they are legitimately angry about all this bad stuff that's going on. Not faking it for the camera, not just pretending for the publicity, they look like they actually care. And guess what?! I actually care too! I mean...he's right. "Every action has a reaction. We've got one planet, one chance." He's right, people. Oh Tim, you know so much about so many things I assume...I would love to write a biography of you and the band you're in! (I say "the band you're in" as opposed to "your band" because a. he didn't start the band on his own, and b. being the lead singer does not give you ownership of the band.)
I think that's all I've got on Rise Against. Come back tomorrow for another super cool and awesomely interesting post about a band!
--Razza Ragazza
P.S.: Does anyone know if Tim's eyes are actually mismatched? Cause I think it's super cute. And so I really hope they are for real mismatched.
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