Consolidated (band)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Consolidated was an American radical activist recording and performing group, formed in 1988 and best known in the early 1990s as an alternative dance/industrial music band. They were distinguished by left-leaning political activism and radical politically-correct lyrics, as well as their innovative sonic collages which blended industrial and hip-hop styles. An entry on a previous version of Consolidated's official website noted that all their albums have combined to sell over 500,000 copies.
Between 1989 and 1994, their instrumental style evolved from industrial, to hip-hop, to hard rock and funk with mixtures of 'live' instruments and electronic instruments. Their music often focused upon the following topics: vegetarianism, women's rights, animal rights, fighting racism and homophobia, the unity of oppression, World War II and the Holocaust, the dangers of capitalism, and the evils of American Nationalism.
Although often criticized as having strident and confrontational lyrics, Consolidated tempered the intensity of their songs with many instances of self-deprecating humor. They admitted to their own struggles with addressing complex social issues within the constraining structures of "pop music," an artistic form they referred to as "a neutralized medium," but explained that they did so because they felt that it might be their only chance to reach a mass audience with progressive messages of social justice. Despite having songs titled "The Sexual Politics of Meat", the band is apparently not an elaborate prank.
Their signature song, "Consolidated", contained the mission statement "Consolidated is not even a consumer product... yet. This is no rock and roll band. It is a unique creative vision of a small isolated group of individuals. A team that's skilled and dedicated. Searching for the knowledge that will enable them to improve the quality of their lives and the lives of those around them".
Discography
- Consolidated! EP (Zoth Ommog | Muzic Research | Nettwerk, 1989)
- The Myth of Rock (Nettwerk | I.R.S., 1990)
- Dysfunctional EP (Nettwerk | I.R.S., 1990)
- This is a Collective EP (Nettwerk | I.R.S., 1990)
- Friendly Fa$cism (Nettwerk | I.R.S., 1991)
- Brutal Equation EP (Nettwerk | I.R.S., 1991)
- Unity of Oppression EP (Nettwerk | I.R.S., 1991)
- This is Fascism EP (Nettwerk | I.R.S., 1991)
- Play More Music (Nettwerk | I.R.S., 1992)
- Tool and Die EP (Nettwerk | I.R.S., 1992)
- You Suck / Crackhouse EP (Nettwerk | I.R.S., 1992)
- Warning: Explicit Lyrics EP (Nettwerk | I.R.S., 1993)
- Business of Punishment (London/Polygram, 1994)
- Butyric Acid 12" (London/Polygram, 1994)
- Dropped (Sol 3, 1997)
- Tikkun (survivor demos) (Orchard Records, 1998)
- The End of Meaning (Consolidated Artists, 2001)
- Free Music or Stockpiled Death? (2003)
- Free Music! Stop America! (2005)
