Richard BodinCarsie Blanton is an American folk singer and songwriter, full of communicative energy and revolutionary optimism. She has released eight albums and three EPs over the past 20 years, all independently, using a pay-as-you-please pricing strategy. She explained: “My true calling as an artist is to share… What I actually want to do is make beautiful music and then give it to everyone, regardless of what they give me back.” Clearly, she is not in it for the money but genuinely for the sake of art and the message it can carry.
A couple of months ago, I attended a theatre charity event where she performed between short plays. She connected instantly with the audience, and her music caught my attention. It was simple, full of emotion and humor, while carrying a message—in the true tradition of politically engaged folk singers like Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and Joni Mitchell before her. I could have reviewed her latest album, After the Revolution, released last year. But considering the heavy political climate in her country, I thought it would be more relevant—and maybe cathartic—to talk about her most recent EP, The Red Album (Vol. 1), which was also released last year.
A collection of protest songs
The Red Album, as one might assume from the title, is a collection of protest songs—a genre that is dear to my heart and defining to my musical identity. As a Frenchman, my references may be different, such as Léo Ferré, Georges Brassens—both self-proclaimed anarchists—or Boris Vian, but the essence is the same. Protest songs carry powerful messages, often with humor, and can be cathartic as fuck.
Carsie Blanton opens the festivities with Ugly Nasty Commie Bitch. The song points out that while commies and rednecks are busy exchanging derogatory comments based on empty stereotypes, the real problems persist, and the rich keep getting richer. She explores the issue further in The Democrats, using caustic humor. Blanton urges listeners to see beyond partisan lines and focus on the wealthy elites in power—whether Republican or Democrat—who continue playing to their own advantage and that of their billionaire friends.
Sharp Lyrics and a Timeless Message
The bouncy You Ain’t Done Nothing (If You Ain’t Been Called a Red) is an invitation to express your opinions without worrying about the derogatory comments you might receive in return. In other words, you can’t start a revolution if you stay at home feeling sorry for yourself.
In the jazzy Rich People, Carsie Blanton highlights how easy it is to lay blame on the left or the right when things go wrong. Her analysis traces back to the Reagan and Thatcher era, when policies were implemented that drastically changed the way the game was played—stacking the deck in favor of the wealthy. It reminds me of Frank Zappa’s similar critique at the time, when he predicted that Reagan’s politics would lead the country toward a fascist theocracy… Words that resonate strangely today.
A Much-Needed Dose of Revolutionary Optimism
The Red Album follows directly in the tradition of folk protest songs: witty, sharp, and packed with infectious melodies. While targeting the rich is a classic theme on the left, she looks beyond partisan lines, aiming to bring people together with her music and a dose of common sense. Although I don’t believe being rich automatically makes someone evil—I wouldn’t know; I’ve never been rich—the current political context certainly supports her point.
With this short but powerful EP, Carsie Blanton shares her revolutionary optimism—and the world could definitely use some of it. Buckets of it.
