Kev Carmody - Pillars of Society

"...the best album ever released by an Aboriginal musician and
arguably the best protest album ever made in Australia."
Bruce Elder, Rolling Stone.

Too right, I'd go as far as to say one of the most important
albums ever made in this country. Released in 1989 Kev
arrived with this no compromising album that for the first
time gave many an insight into indigenous Australia that
was completely lacking in mainstream Australia.
Its hard to believe now how little discussion took place
those days, most people had not heard of the stolen
generations, terra nullius, land rights hardly existed,
Eddie Marbo's 10 year battle wouldn't end for another
3 years and reconciliation was a process which had
yet to become mainstream.
This is a surprising album, one I never tire of, it covers
much territory and is but the beginning of most fantastic
recording career. I recently posted on Kev and a bio of
sorts so I'll just cover this album now.
First impression this is gutsy blues inspired folk music.
The themes are universal and at the same time personal.
Kev proved on this record he is both a poet and a spokesman.
In the opening/title track Kev shows his left political leanings,
so your in no doubt where he comes from.

They confer titles of status and dominance
On their progeny and their class
"sir" - "Your honour" - "Your Grace" -
"Your Highness" -
We're made to polish
And lick their____brass
But you my friend can be like them
If you have their million dollar fee
But you'll find their system's designed
To keep us in line And walkin' on our knees
(Pillars of Society - Kev Carmody)

"Attack Attack" is a no take no prisoners denunciation
of capitalism and the goals of those in power on the
far right.

It's easy to see
What this new right's doin'
Control our destiny
An' collapse our Unions
Privatize our existence
Abolish our free medical centres
Control every door
Through which we must enter
Under the old guise to: Rationalize,
Objectivize-Privatize-Fanticize
Harmonize-Economize-Democratize?
All new right lies
Iron out the kinks (that's us)
(Attack Attack - Kev Carmody)

The Classic anthem "Thou Shall not Steel"
is the greatest track of the record, but I've
already posted its entire lyrics earlier,
check it out if your unfamiliar.
But the spoken word Comrade Jesus Christ is
where hes pure genius shines, brilliant insight
into the truth of Christianity and its application
in a world of injustice, confronting and life changing
and when I first heard it I was blowen away,
someone was articulating the kind of things
I too believed and never expected to hear
on a Cd. It still blows me away, if you get
a chance listen to the Aussie Hip Hop group
The Herd's version on the Kev tribute Cd.
If you haven't got this album already do
yourself a favor, download it and if its
as good as I say, buy it from Kevs site
Here
And tell us what you think of the cd in the comments

Comrade Jesus Christ - Kev Carmody

He was born in Asia Minor
A colonized Jewish man
His father the village carpenter
Worked wood in his occupied land
He was apprenticed to his father's trade
His country paid it's dues
To the colonial Roman conquerors
He was a working-class Jew

Though conceived three months out of wedlock
The stigma never stuck
He began a three year public life
But he never made a buck
Because he spoke out against injustice
Saw that capitalism bled the poor
He attacked self-righteous hypocrites
And he condemned the lawyers' law

But they've commercialized his birthday now
The very people he defied
And they've sanctified their system
And claim he's on their side!
But if he appeared tomorrow
He'd still pay the highest cost
Being a 'radical agitator'
They'd still nail him to a cross

You see
He'd stand with the down trodden masses
Identify with the weak and oppressed
He'd condemn the hypocrites in church pews
And the affluent, arrogant West
He'd oppose Stalinist totalitarianism
The exploitation of millions by one
And 'peace' through mutual terror
And diplomacy from the barrel of a gun

He'd fight with Joe Hill and Waleca
Mandala and Friere
Try to free the third world's millions
From hunger and despair
He'd stand with the peasants
At the pock-marked walls
They'd haul him in on bail
He'd condemn all forms of apartheid
And he'd rot in their stinking jails.

He'd denounce all dictatorships
And Mammon's greed
And the exploitation of others for gain
He'd oppose the nuclear madness
And the waging of wars in his name
He'd mix with prostitutes and sinners
Challenge all to cast the first stone
A compassionate agitator
One of the greatest the world has known

He'd condemn all corrupt law and order
Tear man made hierarchies down
He'd see status and titles as dominance
And the politics of greed he'd hound
He'd fight against
The leagues of the Ku Klux Klan
And the radical, racist right
One of the greatest humanitarian socialists
Was comrade,
Jesus Christ.

Download Here