BODEGA Pokes Fun at Hyper Consumerist Culture on Playful New Wave Post-Punk Single “Cultural Consumer III”

BODEGA, photo courtesy the artists

BODEGA channel a bit of early 2000s New York post-punk revival sound in “Cultural Consumer III” with the minimal guitar work in a power pop style and a nervy urgency in the pace of the song. The music video looks like something that was filmed on VHS and shared on a cable access show in the 90s with wonderfully low budget production values of the band riding in a car through the night looking like a roller coaster cart. But it’s BODEGA so of course there’s more than the surface level in the lyrics and the meta-commentary about how many people, often ourselves, consume culture like it’s throwaway while participating in consumer culture because there are few authentic choices in late capitalism. The songwriting is reminiscent of the plasticity of early 80s New Wave which often also had pointed things to say about that era of alienation of the “greed is good” decade but the hooks are genuine and the song makes the ride through the harrowing modern times seem at least survivable though the cheesy explosion at the end of the song is a bit cheeky in the best way. It’s part of a loose trilogy on the band’s new album Our Brand Could Be YR Life (Michael Azerrad and the Minutemen should be proud) which is filled with the usual surreal and self-aware lyrics and avant-pop leanings and out now on limited edition LP, CD, digital download and streaming. Watch the video for “Cultural Consumer III” on YouTube and follow Brooklyn’s BODEGA at the links below.