Is This the End of the Punk Rock Enlightenment Era?

There’s a lot of transitioning going on in American culture right now. Barack Obama’s Presidency is bringing dramatic changes in American Policy in just its first few days. A recent news story that caught my eye was how the brilliantly satirical Daily Show was wrestling with how its narrative will adapt to the new administration.

I’m wondering what’s going to happen to punk rock. Green Day experienced a revival with their number-one album American Idiot. Bad Religion released what was, in my opinion, their most intellectual albums The Process of Belief and The Empire Strikes First:

Bad Religion “Materialist” (2002)

The process of belief is an elixir when you’re weak
I must confess, at times I indulge it on the sneak
but generally my outlook’s not so bleak

I’m materialist
Call me a humanist
and I guess I’m full of doubt,
but I’ll gladly have it out with you

Also NOFX popped onto my radar as a new favorite punk band for all the intellectual political references and wit on their albums The War on Errorism and Wolves in Wolves’ Clothing (ht Vicky).

NOFX “Idiots Are Taking Over” (2003)

Mensa membership conceding
tell me why and how are all the stupid people breeding
Watson, it’s really elementary
the industrial revolution
has flipped the bitch on evolution
the benevolent and wise
are being thwarted, ostracized,
what a bummer
the world keeps getting dumber
insensitivity is standard
and faith is being fancied over reason

For all his faults and missteps, I can at least be thankful to the 43rd President for eight fantastic years of punk rock music.