#failedstates

My taste in music runs the gamut. The first band I fell in love with was Linkin Park. Then it was MxPx and New Found Glory. As I grew older, I found myself enjoying various artists from nearly every musical genre known to man, but I became particularly fond of bands rooted in punk music. Yet somehow, in the midst of everything, I completely overlooked Propagandhi- one of the most notable bands in the last half-century. One day, my good friend Marc popped in their latest record, "Failed States" and I was mesmerized.

   "Failed States" is a perfect example of what any band that reaches their age should be able to do- change, grow, and get better without losing their edge. Propagandhi has evolved from a young 3-piece skate punk band to a 4-piece progressive thrash-punk monster. This record displays the band's flawless musicianship and best songwriting to date. The record leads off with "Note To Self," which is the calmest song on the record, but one of my favorites. Clocking in at just under 6 minutes, the song is carried by driving guitars and Chris Hannah's croonings about our numbness to the dangers of our governments and society. "Dazed, numb, powerless, stunned, while we frantically click our heels, already home" he sings near the end of the track. 

   Next is the title track, which is about 2 minutes of thrashing beauty. This is another one of my favorites. Okay, the truth is, they are all my favorites. This whole record is golden. "Devil's Creek" takes on a more personal lyrics perspective, and is among the most singable songs on "Failed States." "Things I Like" pays homage to some of the silliness that characterized the band in their early days, while still maintaining a more mature musical tonality. Definitely worth noting are the tracks where bassist Todd Kowalski takes on vocal duties. "Rattan Cane" and "Hadron Collision" feature his signature trash vocals, while "Cognitive Suicide" and "Dark Matters" finds him being a bit more melodic than usual.

   If I was forced to choose only one favorite from this record, it would probably be "Lotus Gait." The song begins with soft guitar picking and volume swells while Chris Hannah sings low-key. The roughly 45-second intro of this track makes way for a steering wheel drumming worthy punk track in beautiful Propagandhi fashion, complete with killer bass lines and guitar licks supporting Hannah's impeccable vocals. The deluxe version of "Failed States" also features 3 bonus tracks: "The Days You Hate Yourself", a cover of Global Genocide's "The Fucking Rich Fuck the Poor", and a demo recording of the title track, which is listed as "Failed States (Experimental Prototype)."

  The verdict on this record is that it is a masterpiece. Propagandhi has now officially schooled every punk and thrash musician on the planet.

OVERALL RATING: 6/5 (Yeah, It's That Good)

Strengths: Flawless musicianship and intricate songwriting, brilliant lyricism, enough variety in the songs while remaining cohesive.

Weaknesses: I dare you to find one.

Best Tracks: If I had to choose: "Note To Self", "Failed States","Devil's Creek","Lotus Gait", and "Dark Matters"