Confines - Withdrawn

Confines
Withdrawn
2010

The Fashion Of Apathy
Relentless warfare. Global economic collapse. Coerced nation building. Political Apartheid. Environmental degradation. The erosion of civil liberties. Submission is freedom. Business as usual. And work will set you free. The once Orwellian has now become the norm.
The world is sinking fast, and whereas one might expect a call to action, panic or hysteria, the response has been resounding silence. This lack of outrage does not possess the reverent sanctity of an attempt to internalize and make sense of the abounding madness, but rather that of a childish effort to wish it all away while absolving oneself of culpability. But throw one's hands up when they, too, have stirred the cauldron of our collective fate is not enough.
The standard front line of defense against such forces - the disaffected segments of society, agitpropsters, musicians and artists - has remained curiously mute. the prevailing trend within these circles now seems to be to eschew direct statements. Confrontation is out. The exploration of new thoughts and ideas is unfathomable. Social commentary is presently confined to a handful of established ideologies, against which it is safe to vent one's rage the big issues are left to the so-called experts (who they are remains unclear), while the rest of us little people are left to wallow in unalloyed mediocrity. But we know that the divide between the personal and political spheres is a false dichotomy: one is inevitably affected by the other. The question then becomes, has their well of creativity been tapped dry or, more likely, do they simply fear being tethered to their opinions by their fellow taste makers? The truth, perhaps lies somewhere in between.
An intense desire for peer approval has resulted in a paralyzing fear of ostracism. as the world has grown increasingly accessible, so too has the individual's social network (as is evidenced by the very rise of this term in every day parlance) consequently, the radar from which one pulls behavioral cues has gradually been inundated with signals. The result has been a complete loss of self. this loss has manifested itself in an overwhelming sense of isolation, further compounded by and reflected in this non-response. And while the desire for self-expression represents an inextinguishable flame, the fear of further alienation makes summoning the necessary courage a superhuman task.
The importance of social acceptance is undeniable and it should not be understated. It must be acknowledged, however, that such acceptance comes at a cost every tribe has its own set of rites and code of ethics to which one is expected to adhere in exchange for inclusion. Such regulation helps to define the group's values, guide social mores and promote overall harmony. By breaching these ethics, one risks exposure as an outsider, stigmatization or even banishment.
As the number of others the individual looks to for peer approval has grown, so has the number of values one is expected to simultaneously adhere to; and thus resulted in increased behavioral restrictions. Conversely, in the instance of groups whose collective identity is defined primarily in opposition, there are more and more demands placed upon the individual of what one must rail against. Even those who fancy themselves willful outsiders, existing on the fringes of society, subscribe so some concept of what it means to live in defiance of the social norm. They, too, look to the archetypal rebel as a source of social regulation.
The ramifications of this collective amnesia are immeasurable, and for those interested, there is any number of tomes dedicated to the subject. For the purpose of topical relevance, however, within the domain of "punk" and "hardcore" it has manifested itself in a bogus nihilistic affectation. As what was once a relatively small, clandestine group of individuals operating primarily outside of established channels has , through technological advancement, media fascination and mainstream co-optation (an interesting phenomenon worthy of its own discussion), mutated into an almost unrecognizable caricature of its original ideal, the desire for authenticity is now at an all time high. And amongst a pride that values subversion and celebrates one's failures and shortcomings above all else, the frantic chase for an ever elusive sense of security by means of proving oneself the most convincingly "hardcore" has tilted an already extreme scale even further.
Bands are now content do don the fashion of apathy: each on the hunt to prove they are the most depraved, deliberately obtuse and phlegmatic, and thereby, beyond punk. Lyrics, artwork and accompanying fanzines are now routinely devoted to espousing sexual violence against women and sexual sadism (as if such notions were anything short of the most pallid reflection of mainstream male culture). Ambiguous statements are made without being placed in any context to bewilder the audience and distract from an absence of content. The anti-hero is championed, even when his actions are in opposition to the most basic tenants of what it means to be human it may be dressed up as high art, but its vacuousness cannot help but betray itself.
That this is all an act of mere posturing, worthy of nothing more than our immediate dismissal, is made apparent by an unwillingness to stand in its defense by these so-called members of the avant-garde. Such obviously exaggerated and indefensible stances mirror the cost associated with this loss of self. Again, the desire to communicate through art and music is wholly natural; but when those who feel compelled to take up the the tools of such trades are so riddled with insecurity that they fear their own experience somehow insufficient or unworthy, the result is a deluge of work that bespeaks the fear of alienation - as it is fear easier to distance oneself from any criticism when there was little in the way of emotional investment.
The concern here is not that people will succumb to this mentality, for anyone who is remotely perceptive can recognize this charade for what it truly is. The danger is what is being carried out in our name while we scuttle around making vapid statements that veil the way we think and feel. And the ramifications extend well beyond our microcosm.
Now instead of punks being angry and outrageous, the conservative right wing has appropriated our place in American politics. What's worse - they're accomplishing more than our movement ever did. Their brand of patriotic libertarianism may be presented as prudent financial advice for tough economic times, but it is actually a nefarious form of social control: it gives entire industries free reign to act with reckless disregard, while holding the poor masses under water, all the while assuring them it's being done for their benefit, and placating them with the bankrupt promise of the American dream (something we've known for years). Our unwillingness or inability to articulate our thoughts has been perceived as tactic approval - their mandate to carry on the status quo. We're now standing in line to watch our future be carried out with the tide.
In spite of posing as being more anti-societal than ever, the diluted version of the punk ideal we are presently faced with has proven extremely palatable to members of the mainstream. This expansion to new audiences has been inversely proportionate to our generation of original thought. Our fear of rejection is directly contributing to our disintegration. Perhaps, then, we need to exchange this cumbersome false shock value we've draped ourselves in for the willingness to incense and offend the world at large through our refusal to succumb to the mundane schlock they'd otherwise force upon us - even if it means jeopardizing our social status amongst our ranks.
Do not let this be misconstrued as a self-righteous directive, for neither is it our intention to condemn nor to idly sloganeer. It is as much a self-examination of our motives as it is of others! The hope is that it might provide some illumination; and for those who are still courageous enough to cling to such notions, the for something more than simply circling the drain.

Phoning It In
struggle to find the words
that will satisfy your demands
the expectations are clear
something rehearsed and canned
borrow from those who came before
and pass it off as mine
it's all been said before
but let's say it one more time

phoning it in
honest expression is not welcome here
phoning it in
familiar songs are all you want to hear

an assortment of topics
familiar and well worn
conservative politics feigned outrage
how fucking boring
you'd posture as free thinkers
quite the role you play
freedom from social convention
allow me to show you the prescribed way

phoning it in
honest expression is not welcome here
phoning it in
familiar songs are all you want to hear

accepted ideas exploited for the millionth time

no room for reinvention
creative endeavor can go get fucked
feeling confined in your role
well now you're stuck

settle for second best and that's all you'll ever get

Downward Harmonization
constant competition
the endless need for more
the question is how
and deregulation's the answer

so let's surrender our voice
and cede control
the market's never failed us before
what's the worst that could happen

it's a race to the bottom
and we're all going down
it's a race to the bottom
the winner's just the last to drown

plead willful ignorance
try to wish it away
but it's never going to change
the fact that we're on the verge
of a global collapse
and as the water fills your lungs
just remember big business had your interest at heart

it's a race to the bottom
and we're all going down
it's a race to the bottom
the winner's just the last to drown

just close your eyes and pretend your future's not going out with the tide
all the way down

Bait And Switch
just the latest tool of the right
brought in to the fold
designed to inspire the trust
he'll ultimately destroy

bait and switch
we've seen this before
the empty promises of a confidence man
all your folksy bullshit still betrays that you're talking from both sides of your mouth

you can pander all you like
assert your independence
but I still fucking see
the conservative stripes you'd like to hide
anointed and crowned the golden child
the fear fuckers media darling
and we're expected to believe that you're free from the chains around your neck

with intended disrespect it's the people's seat
and we're tired of watching it be co-opted by assholes like you

my outrage is not for your political gain

Withdrawn
what's the incentive
to speak my mind
when it's just so easy
to bury my feelings deep down inside
when nothing's ventured
then nothing's betrayed
and I give nothing away

inquiring minds
want to know
and their hungry hands
push and pull
but the more you push
the further away I get
and content to elude your grasp
I remain withdrawn

eyes to the ground
fixed grin on my face
avoid conversation
with those who could never understand
I feel the weight of their judgment
as it's pressed upon me

their leering eyes
and knowing looks
hushed whispers full of
condemnation
that seek to sentence me
but I'm beyond reproach
exiled in my mind
withdrawn

just one more day
living on
emotional lockdown
systematically alienating
the world around me
as I make my move
towards isolation
the perfection of desire
withdrawn

I close my eyes
and this world slips away
retreat into myself
down darkened hallways
through the recesses of my mind
far removed
from the outside world
free at last
safe inside
withdrawn

Labor of Love
itsalaboroflove@gmail.com
56 Pearson Rd. #2
Somerville, MA 02144
USA

Side Two
sidextwo@gmail.com
6 Wadleigh Place
Boston, MA 02127
USA

Confines is:
Ryan Abbott - Guitar
Jamie Jones - Bass
Andrew Jackmauh - Vocals
PJ Kuda - Drums

Recorded at Side Two 2010