Happy Independence Day, America, don’t fuck this up- or at least that’s the message UK band Andy B and the World sent out when they dropped their newest single and music video on July 4th. And with that message, Andy B & The World formally announced their 2nd album “Minus the World” although a release date is not yet set.
Andy B & The World is a collaborative band dedicated to building community through collaboration. The first album, called “The First One” was a collection of 14 original ska, folk, and punk tracks that included 172 artists from all around the world collaborating to make the music happen.
This second album is going to be “Minus the World”, and while Andy B promises it will still have some friends and guest appearances, it will not be a large collaborative project. This second album is mostly to raise money for the second collaborative album which has already been started. The second collaborative album will feature around 500 artists, but these projects can get expensive, so this is a way to help fund it. In addition, all money raised from the collaborative albums gets donated to charities, because collaboration and community is nothing without social responsibility.
The first single for Without the World is called “Keep Him Away”. It was first written after Donald Trump officially announced his intention to run for US President again. The song attacks policies of division, pitting one group against another, policies that harm the poor, the attacks on welfare and Healthcare, and also call into question the moral and ethical personal issues the former President has had from bribes and playoffs, crimes, claims of fake news whenever a negative story comes to light or an election is lost, and his attacks on climate change that hurt the entire world often in the name for personal profit.
The song blends some elements of ska and punk, with lyrics that are almost rapped. The rhythm sticks with you and makes you want to sing along and take action. It does exactly what it intends to do. And to anyone who thinks that politics don’t belong in music, I’d like to direct you to Andy B & The World’s last single, Apathetic (featuring Roshambo and Common Sense Kid).
Written by Gimpleg
