For a band who openly dubbed themselves the worst band ever, and for what is, through and through, a politically themed song – one that draws inspiration, energy, and angst from all of the most carefree corners of punk rock – this release is considerably more professional and thoughtfully crafted than our unwavering preconceptions might have us expect. It’s an almighty offering of punk rock revival, an outspoken and upbeat piece of music, with a pretty striking video.
The lyrics and video leave little to the imagination, as is the heart of punk rock – tell it like it is, as loudly as possible. The very best punk rock from way back when would have been part of some bigger picture, some movement towards freedom or togetherness or overcoming. The community aspect was everything but it was the high energy and the unapologetic expression that first drew people in, all of which you get here.
Not My President is an energetic outburst by all accounts, but the production throughout has given it a fairly neat and tidy finish. The performances are energetic, passionate, always relevant and in tune with their surroundings. The riffs are easily familiar and well placed, the energy rises and falls in keeping with the structure of the piece, and there’s more than enough evolution, musically speaking, to keep audiences interested.
In terms of songwriting, the key take away is, without question, the title phrase. Repeated intensely during those last few moments, the line lingers in your mind. If you’re on the side of the songwriters, you’ll appreciate the strength of it, and if you’re not – you probably wouldn’t be listening in the first place, or at least wouldn’t make it to the very end. The band’s intended audience is those who share similar political views, (and, perhaps, the President…) maybe even beyond the reach of any particular genre, so that’s who they cater to. The song has minimal lyrics, maximal energy, and enough dashes of depth to suggest it means something much more than just volume or gimmicks.
I will not stand idly by while their storm-troopers of death
chip away at sovereignty and give freedom it’s last breath.
Find & follow Squished Penises on Facebook & Twitter. Visit their Website to find out more about them. Check out their song Bernie for further inspiration.
Squished Penises originally formed in London in 1976. They played all the gritty local punk clubs and thrived as the self proclaimed “Worst Band Ever”. On August 12, 1979 their lead singer Willie Todger was abducted by an unknown alien species and the band subsequently went on hiatus. On July 12th, 1990 Willie when was found wandering in his skivvies near Groom Lake, just outside of Edwards Air Force Base in Nevada. After escaping government quarantine, he hung out in southern California before making his way to New York, where he was tracked down by and cryogenically frozen for the next 14 years. In August of 2015 a group of old fans put in a freedom of information act request regarding his confinement. This exposed his incarceration without due process, and he was freed in early 2016. Due to the death of all of the original members except for Mr. Todger, a new lineup was assembled and the band began performing again.
