“Shook” by Algiers

A protest record that’s more than just a call to arms.

Hello! 😊👋

Welcome to a new edition of the Daily Music Picks newsletter!

Today’s music pick is one of my low-key favorites from 2023, a protest record that’s more than just a call to arms.

Genre: Post-Punk, Experimental

Label: Matador

Release Date: February 24, 2023

Vibe: 😤😤

For a band that’s no stranger to tackling uncomfortable themes, Algiers’ Shook transcends what most people will consider the hallmarks of a “protest album.” Sure, there’s plenty of righteous anger on display, with the group taking shots at everything from vapid white allies to rampant political corruption and greed, but it’s more than that—it’s a call for unity across the board.

Like other standout material to emerge from artistic grapplings with the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, it underscores how important human connection and resilience are as marginalized groups stoke their collective revolutionary fires. To that end, there’s more sonic nuance on display than many may think, with some of the eerier, quieter moments becoming more powerful than the record’s most abrasive post-punk and industrial sections. Perhaps this makes me a naive optimist, but I’d like to think there’s at least a sliver of hope woven into the Shook listening experience. It knows the world is, in many respects, crumbling around us, but it also acknowledges, if obliquely, that it’s still a world worth saving.

The quotable lines come fast and furious on this record, beginning with the opener, “Everybody Shattered.” Vocalist Big Rube, in a searing monologue, opines that “we imprison ourselves and don’t see we have the keys to unlock the shackles.” Later, on “Irreversible Damage,” Rage Against the Machine’s Zach De La Rocha throws one-liners as sharp as daggers, like, “Nazi pop opera, they found a flock/Now I’m lookin’ for a road to block.” However, the most potent moments for me were when the record dared to get weirder, such as on “Bite Back.” Spooky piano and electronic tones start innocently enough before building into a full-on onslaught, punctuated by angry cries to “bite back the hand that feeds you if it’s poisoned.”

The perfectly executed hairpin turns from hard and post-rock to experimental hip-hop and back again is a testament to how much Algiers has grown in a relatively short period. The layering on this album is more adventurous and textured, the product of the band adding more field recordings and oddball techniques to their recording process. It’s a resounding success and likely a stepping stone to even greater heights.

👉 Don’t forget to click the album image to stream the album on your favorite platform 👈