The Rotten Agenda
Encyclopedia
The Rotten Agenda is the third and final studio album
by the American hardcore punk
band Aus-Rotten
, released in 2001 on Rotten Propaganda Records. The record label bears the name of lead vocalist/lyricist Dave Trenga's anarchist DIY newspaper Rotten Propaganda.
on the Crass
collective, the Crass Agenda, as well as the phrase "Gay Agenda" often used by many right-wing conservative pundits in the United States.
. However, the album does also discuss other left-wing topics of previous Aus-Rotten recordings such as animal rights
, media control and racism in the United States
. The album calls out the fundamentalist Christian Right
in America (namely figureheads Jerry Falwell
, Pat Robertson
, D. James Kennedy) as being the orchestrators of perpetual, institutionalized homophobia
. The opening title track features an imitation of James Kennedy wherein "he" declares—amidst a choir of "Sieg Heil"'s in the background—that the Christian Right is a conspiracy to spread misinformation and "to dismantle all gay and lesbian groups."
"World Bank," "Tax Shelter" and "Media Blackout" had previously appeared on the band's last studio album. Spitboy
vocalist Adrienne Droogas returns again to guest on "The Second Rape" and "Isolation or Solution," after previously making her debut with Aus-Rotten on their 1999 LP ...And Now Back To Our Programming.
Aus-Rotten broke up shortly after the album's release with Dave Trenga continuing on to the more metal
lic and even more polemic Behind Enemy Lines
, and Eric Good going on to front Caustic Christ
.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by the American hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band Aus-Rotten
Aus-Rotten
Aus-Rotten was an American crust punk band, from 1991 to 2001 formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Part of the DIY underground, its members practiced and promoted a philosophy of anarchism and far-left sociopolitics....
, released in 2001 on Rotten Propaganda Records. The record label bears the name of lead vocalist/lyricist Dave Trenga's anarchist DIY newspaper Rotten Propaganda.
Title
The album's title itself is a word playWord play
Word play or wordplay is a literary technique in which the words that are used become the main subject of the work, primarily for the purpose of intended effect or amusement...
on the Crass
Crass
Crass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
collective, the Crass Agenda, as well as the phrase "Gay Agenda" often used by many right-wing conservative pundits in the United States.
Lyrics and themes
The Rotten Agenda focuses thematically on sexual issues such as LGBT rights and sexismSexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
. However, the album does also discuss other left-wing topics of previous Aus-Rotten recordings such as animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
, media control and racism in the United States
Racism in the United States
Racism in the United States has been a major issue since the colonial era and the slave era. Legally sanctioned racism imposed a heavy burden on Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latin Americans...
. The album calls out the fundamentalist Christian Right
Christian right
Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe "right-wing" Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies...
in America (namely figureheads Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Lamon Falwell, Sr. was an evangelical fundamentalist Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and a conservative commentator from the United States. He was the founding pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, a megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia...
, Pat Robertson
Pat Robertson
Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson is a media mogul, television evangelist, ex-Baptist minister and businessman who is politically aligned with the Christian Right in the United States....
, D. James Kennedy) as being the orchestrators of perpetual, institutionalized homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
. The opening title track features an imitation of James Kennedy wherein "he" declares—amidst a choir of "Sieg Heil"'s in the background—that the Christian Right is a conspiracy to spread misinformation and "to dismantle all gay and lesbian groups."
"World Bank," "Tax Shelter" and "Media Blackout" had previously appeared on the band's last studio album. Spitboy
Spitboy
Spitboy was an American anarcho-punk band founded in San Francisco, California in the early 1990s by four women. Within their music they aggressively criticized patriarchy and gender roles.-History:...
vocalist Adrienne Droogas returns again to guest on "The Second Rape" and "Isolation or Solution," after previously making her debut with Aus-Rotten on their 1999 LP ...And Now Back To Our Programming.
Aus-Rotten broke up shortly after the album's release with Dave Trenga continuing on to the more metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
lic and even more polemic Behind Enemy Lines
Behind Enemy Lines (band)
Behind Enemy Lines is an American crust punk band, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in a crossover style of anarchist crust punk and thrash metal. The band features vocalist Dave Trenga and drummer Matt Garabedian, both of Aus-Rotten, and formerly guitarist Bill Chamberlain of The Pist...
, and Eric Good going on to front Caustic Christ
Caustic Christ
Caustic Christ were a hardcore punk band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They were on Havoc Records.- History :In late 2000, Bill Chamberlain quit his band React and moved from Connecticut to Pittsburgh to start a band with guitarist/vocalist Eric Good and bassist Corey Lyons of Aus-Rotten...
.
Side A
- The Rotten Agenda - 1:11
- Modern Day Witch Hunt - 4:18
- Right Wing Warfare - 3:43
- World Bank - 2:30
- Factory - 2:32
- The Second Rape - 4:40
Side B
- Plausible Deniability - 1:59
- Who's Calling the Shots? - 2:44
- Capital Punishment - 2:34
- Absent Minded - 2:10
- Isolation or Solution - 3:02
- Tax Shelter - 3:01
- Media Blackout - 2:13
Personnel
- Dave Trenga – lead vocals
- Eric Good – lead guitar, vocals
- Matt Garabedian - drums
- Corey Lyons - bass
- Adrienne Droogas - vocals on tracks 6, 11