The only songs I can listen to on HOM anymore...

…are the tracks that aren’t unabashedly political. Whereas NWO and older Ministry songs were indeed political, they were done in a much more subtle manner that still very much left things open for interpretation. Most of their new political songs sound like either a) the rantings of a high school adolescent who’s trying desperately to “rage against the machine” or b) (and it kills me to say it) someone who’s trying to cash in on the anti-bush sentiment and still prove he’s a badass even in his old age, or c) just outright propaganda nonsense.

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate Al trying to encourage people to get registered and vote, but I don’t think propaganda songs in the form of re-hashed psalm 69 riffs is the way to go about affecting change in society.

That being said I do love waiting, warp city, wtv, world, and worm.

I truly hope Al lays off using “Rio Grande Blood” as a political soapbox.

Warp City and WTV are indeed brilliant.
As for No W; besides the title of the track I barely notice the politics behind it. I’ve never really cared about Ministry lyrics really. It’s always been about the music.

-al

i totally agree with the first post.

al, get high and make something as original as land of rape and honey was in it’s time… or something.

i totally agree with the first post.

al, get high and make something as original as land of rape and honey was in it’s time… or something.

Yeah, encouraging ex-junkies to get high is great idea.
Besides, you wouldn’t get another “LoRAH”. You’d get another “Dark Side…”.

yea that was a bad joke. =)

well ok, al, dont get high, do a GOOD rerelease of LORAH and MIND. not fuckups ala revco butchered releases. proper ones which will do both of these albums good justice.

I still listen to (and enjoy) all of Houses. Sometimes I’ll skip “Warp City”, which to me is the weakest song on the album (though I don’t hate it). I still play the CD frequently in my car, and haven’t changed my opinion that it’s the best LP since Mind. Overall I think it’s slightly better than Psalm 69 (though I wish the drums sounded more like that album).

Favorites off of Houses: Worthless, Waiting, No W, Worm

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ial, get high and make something as original as land of rape and honey was in it’s time… or something.

It’s not 1988 anymore, so deal with it moron. Everything that can be done has already been done.

I havent listened to that album in well over 6 months now…maybe I’ll give it a spin tonight while playing GTA: SA [laugh]

I don’t get all this going on as if Ministry just suddenly became political. By all means, I beg for one to give a listen to Ministry’s past material once more.

May I suggest checking out:
1.Just Like You
2.We Believe
3.Isle of Man
4.All Day (personall I always interpereted this as a commentary on blue collar/service industry work)
5.Hizbollah (the title itself implied politics)
6.Land Of Rape And Honey
7.NWO
8.Hero
9.Quick Fix
10.Unsung (just another Hero)
11.Flag pledge (let us not forget Flag Pledge delivery by Jello [released on the In case you didn’t feel like showing up video], which by the way, was quickly followed by Land of Rape and Honey).

This isn’t to forget a rather large segment of Ministry side projects that also dove into the political arena. Where Ministry material itself is concerned, I’d even lend that more than what I’ve listed here at least hinge on socio-political subject matter.

Furthermore, I believe Jourgensen himself aknowledged the step back from “social awareness” persay circa Filth Pig/Dark Side saying something to the effect of that he was sick of speaking of Bosnias when he had his on (personal) Bosnias going on.

Ministry stepping back into a politically minded/social commentary fray wasn’t so much some new territorial step as much as a return to previously (MUCH COVERED) territory.

Far as I’m concerned, Ministry has long been a socio-political act, and personally, I really missed them being such a band as their subject matter had a large deal to do with what got me into them to begin with.

well yeah, but particulary “bush bashing” really gets old really fast.

I don’t get all this going on as if Ministry just suddenly became political. By all means, I beg for one to give a listen to Ministry’s past material once more.

I know damn well that Ministry’s music has always had (well, “with sympathy” aside) political/socioeconomic leanings but to me they were done in a much more artistic manner then the newer songs.

Even “NWO”, which I think was their most overtly political song up until that time left much to be interepreted to the individual listener, despite having Bush Sr. samples and even the wanker in the Bush Sr. mask in the video! The same cannot be said about “NoW” or “Wrong” which leave nothing up to interpretation whatsoever.

While the older Ministry songs seemed to encourage you to think for yourself about the world around you, the newer material just seems very one sided, similar to a Michael Moore film or FOX news. One would expect that out of a twentysomething punk band, but it seems like Ministry has truly regressed in this department.

And I really don’t see how you think that “NoW” or “Wrong” can even compare to any of that classic material you listed above.

I miss Paul…

[:/]

I think the way the lyrics were written was supposed to sound like a twentysomething punk band. I mean as if having Mark Baker slapping away playing machine gun punk style drum beats was’nt a dead giveaway. I think the lyrics are supposed to be simplistic. Pefect for screaming into the mic like 80’s hardcore. Its clear to me that Mole was supposed to be Psalm 69 with a punk rock twist. I mean shit you gotta get that stuff from somewhere with the worst conservative reign over the country since reagan. Its not like u can rely on Epitaph or Fat wreck chords to supply any punk rock rock delinquency, might as well be ministry.

Still I somewhat agree, Mole gets nowhere near as creative or experimental as LORAH or Filthpig.

I know damn well that Ministry’s music has always had (well, “with sympathy” aside) political/socioeconomic leanings but to me they were done in a much more artistic manner then the newer songs.

AMEN!!!

Even “NWO”, which I think was their most overtly political song up until that time left much to be interepreted to the individual listener,

AND it was a half decent track to boot. NWO and the Psalm 69 album seemed to be a step into new territories for a band who in the past had revelled in post PIL/Killing Joke soundscapes. The album virtually INVENTED industrial metal and gave us all something to drool over at the time. It was NEVER just a FUCKING lazy rehash of past glories a la HOTM.

“…er…gee…y’know I guess it the fans liked it once then…er…”

The same cannot be said about “NoW” or “Wrong” which leave nothing up to interpretation whatsoever.

I remember an interview with Ministry in '92 where AL said something like “join the dots…think for your fucking self”.

Now he is merely satisfied with beating his own lame, stale, stagnant political drumbeat over and and over, until we all ‘get it’.

One would expect that out of a twentysomething punk band, but it seems like Ministry has truly regressed in this department.

Ministry are no longer leaders. Al is a shepherd searching for a new flock. Hence the Bush-bashing to win over the ‘punk rock’ crowd. Which is basically like shooting fish a barrel when you think about it - preaching to the already converted.

I mean, he’s hardly going to win over the Christian conservative crowd with his nihilistic caterwauling.

Note to Al - We know you HATE Bush. We GET IT!! Now hows about getting busy making some tunes that aren’t stale, derivative re-works from the golden years.

And I really don’t see how you think that “NoW” or “Wrong” can even compare to any of that classic material you listed above.

They don’t.

I miss Paul…

And so say all of us…

well said, olsen.

[reply]
I know damn well that Ministry’s music has always had (well, “with sympathy” aside) political/socioeconomic leanings but to me they were done in a much more artistic manner then the newer songs.

AMEN!!!

Even “NWO”, which I think was their most overtly political song up until that time left much to be interepreted to the individual listener,

AND it was a half decent track to boot. NWO and the Psalm 69 album seemed to be a step into new territories for a band who in the past had revelled in post PIL/Killing Joke soundscapes. The album virtually INVENTED industrial metal and gave us all something to drool over at the time. It was NEVER just a FUCKING lazy rehash of past glories a la HOTM.

“…er…gee…y’know I guess it the fans liked it once then…er…”

The same cannot be said about “NoW” or “Wrong” which leave nothing up to interpretation whatsoever.

I remember an interview with Ministry in '92 where AL said something like “join the dots…think for your fucking self”.

Now he is merely satisfied with beating his own lame, stale, stagnant political drumbeat over and and over, until we all ‘get it’.

One would expect that out of a twentysomething punk band, but it seems like Ministry has truly regressed in this department.

Ministry are no longer leaders. Al is a shepherd searching for a new flock. Hence the Bush-bashing to win over the ‘punk rock’ crowd. Which is basically like shooting fish a barrel when you think about it - preaching to the already converted.

I mean, he’s hardly going to win over the Christian conservative crowd with his nihilistic caterwauling.

Note to Al - We know you HATE Bush. We GET IT!! Now hows about getting busy making some tunes that aren’t stale, derivative re-works from the golden years.

And I really don’t see how you think that “NoW” or “Wrong” can even compare to any of that classic material you listed above.

They don’t.

I miss Paul…

And so say all of us…[/reply]

You said it. All true Ministry fans know its true

Now, it would seem, the end is nigh.

The kids on the street are lookin’ for a new beat.

They don’t dig that nineties alterna-shit anymore.

Eddie Vedder will soon be on unemployment.

He will shack up with Michael Gira and live on bean curd.

That’s the word.

[:|]

All true Ministry fans know its true

So, now there are true Ministry fans and… false Ministry fans…

What makes a TRUE fan, if I may ask? To know if I’m on the RIGHT side…

[reply]All true Ministry fans know its true

So, now there are true Ministry fans and… false Ministry fans…

What makes a TRUE fan, if I may ask? To know if I’m on the RIGHT side…[/reply]

I said that as a figure of speech moreso than anything else. Il put it this way, anyone who likes Houses can hardly be called a discerning Ministry fan. The music they made in the late 80s and in the 90s was so powerful because it was precisely not the stuff they are at now. I cannot understand how someone who loved them pre 2004 could still love them now. For years I have been telling people about Ministry who would otherwise not got to know them. I have defended them against all claims of negativity but as of last year I no longer can do that. but again i am one person holding the opinion of more than one.

Il put it this way, anyone who likes Houses can hardly be called a discerning Ministry fan.

Another figure of speech? Because, seriously, that is a ridiculous notion…but, hey, you’re entitled to your opinion.

I cannot understand how someone who loved them pre 2004 could still love them now.

Well, I can say it’s possible. I listen to everything from Cold Life to Bloodlines. Yeah, Ministry’s laid the occasional egg, but I haven’t stopped liking them because of it. Hell, I consider myself a “true” Ministry fan, AND I like Houses. It can be done. Not to be Mr. Obvious, but it just comes down to different tastes, señor.

1002

but again i am one person holding the opinion of more than one.

Does your opinion feel more validated in your eyes simply because you share the opinion of one or two other malcontents? If your feet are stuck in a bucket of cement under the confines of what is just your opinion, why would you need to justify your opinion by saying that others feel the same way? Do you have self esteem or self doubt issues as well?

Ministry has an ever evolving catalogue. There is no such thing as a “true” Ministry fan. Some people like some albums, others don’t. Just because someone enjoys HOTM, as I do, does that mean they can no longer be a “true” Ministry fan under the confines of your rather limited POV?

I personally think DSOTS is the worst album I own, but I wouldn’t demean anyone that likes that album. To each his own.