SOUND BITES

We all know that expression is the most important ingredient in art. We also know that, sometimes, the way an artist expresses themselves isn't what some would call "appropriate". Ever since the first person took offence to an artistic statement, there have been artists that revel in offending. Recently, Wakrat (side project featuring Rage Against the Machine bassist Tim Commerford) released their new single Generation Fucked, a snappy little tune with a nice groove. Oh, and 36 F-bombs. That got me thinking about this week's column, and what might make the cut on a list of the most explicit songs ever released. As it turns out, there are a lot of explicit songs, so I had to pare the list down somehow. With that in mind, the boundaries I set are as follows: a) No hip-hop or extreme metal. Low hanging fruit. b) No joke/novelty bands. Sorry, Tenacious D and Steel Panther. c) No album tracks. For inclusion on this list, a song has to have been released as ...

LOCAL H Sad History From: Hallelujah! I'm A Bum Released: September 18 Remembered by many as the self-deprecating, humourous slackers who unleashed the semi-hits Eddie Vedder and High Fiving MF back in '96, Local H has been all but forgotten by most of the folks who giggled and/or moshed to their tunes back in their post-grunge heyday. This is especially true outside of the U.S.; unfortunately, their latest album was never really in a position to change that. A sprawling double album of songs that reflect the band's hometown of Chicago and the American political climate of 2012, Hallelujah! I'm A Bum isn't an album with enduring relevance on its mind. Its tone and subject matter will no doubt come as a surprise to those who haven't been paying attention for a while. This is especially true of the sombre, frustrated Sad History , a tune that demands your attention, literally.