Information/Write-up
Vinyl transferred Mar 25, 2025
Winnipeg’s punk underground cracked wide open in 1994 with I'd Rather Be Flag-Burning, a raw, furious, and deeply principled split between two of the prairies’ most radical voices: Propagandhi and I Spy. Released on the then-fledgling G7 Welcoming Committee Records (co-founded by members of Propagandhi) and California's Recess Records, this record has since earned cult status as one of the defining Canadian punk releases of the 1990s — and rightly so.
The Propagandhi Side
Following their breakout How To Clean Everything (1993), Propagandhi’s contributions here sound grittier, angrier, and more immediate. Tracks like “...And We Thought Nation States Were a Bad Idea...” and “The Overtly-Political-But-Oh-So-Intensely-Personal Song” deliver blistering indictments of nationalism, capitalism, and complacency — all wrapped in fierce, melodic punk that’s equal parts Dead Kennedys, SNFU, and razor-sharp sarcasm.
One of the most searing moments comes with “(I Want To See) Oka Everywhere,” a track whose title references the 1990 Oka Crisis — a 78-day armed standoff in Quebec between Mohawk land defenders, the police, and eventually the Canadian military. The crisis began when the town of Oka attempted to expand a golf course onto sacred Mohawk burial grounds, igniting a confrontation that exposed deep-rooted colonial violence, land theft, and racism in Canada.
By invoking Oka, Propagandhi weren’t just reacting to a recent event — they were aligning themselves with Indigenous resistance in a way few punk bands (or white Canadian bands, period) were doing at the time. The song’s title isn’t a call for violence, but a rallying cry for Indigenous sovereignty and direct action across the country. It stands as one of the band’s boldest political statements, challenging punk listeners to move beyond slogans and into solidarity. In hindsight, it’s a pivotal moment in Canadian protest music — unflinching, unapologetic, and prophetic.
There’s also something uniquely vulnerable about this version of Propagandhi. Songs like “The Woe-Is-Me-I’m-So-Misunderstood Song” manage to be both bitter and self-aware, breaking the mold of one-dimensional punk posturing. The inclusion of Noam Chomsky audio (“Naom Chomsky on Terror and Violence”) anchors the band’s rage in intellectual critique, offering bite-sized radical theory to anyone willing to listen between riffs.
The A-side closes out with “Haille Does Hebron,” unfolding like a rasta-infused drone attack - “The West Bank – Gaza Strip – soon to be parking lots for American tourists and Fascist Cops.... Sound familiar? It's a lyric that once sounded like bleak hyperbole, but now reads like prophecy. As of March, 2025, political figures like Donald Trump have openly promoted plans to displace Palestinians and redevelop parts of Gaza into luxury real estate ventures — literal beach resorts built atop rubble. What Propagandhi screamed about in ‘94 isn’t just still relevant — it’s actively unfolding. The song doesn't hold back: Fuck Zionism - Fuck Militarism - Fuck Americanism - Fuck Nationalism - Fuck Religion.....
The I Spy Side
I Spy’s half of the split erupts like a Molotov cocktail — messy, emotional, and unmistakably urgent. Where Propagandhi’s songs are tightly structured and sardonic, I Spy offers pure chaotic energy laced with vulnerability. Tracks like “Remain,” “Just Between Friends,” and “Sixty Billion Served” tackle everything from toxic masculinity and emotional repression to class war and fast food imperialism. The lyrics — often scrawled like zine poetry in the album insert — hit hard with no filter, but also show a level of introspection rare in hardcore punk.
James and Todd’s dual vocals give each song a manic, unpredictable edge, swinging between screaming anger and whispered confession. Their politics are punk-as-fuck, but never feel performative. Instead, they’re the kind of guttural truths shouted from basement shows, spray-painted on city walls, or scribbled in fanzines — not for clout, but because there’s no other way to survive.
Legacy
The YouTube (American exploitive content monetezation website) upload of this record still draws hundreds of comments — many from listeners who first heard it in the '90s and never forgot it. One fan recalled buying it at a basement show in Kansas; another calls it “the best punk split of the 90s.” For many, this wasn’t just a record — it was a lifeline.
I'd Rather Be Flag-Burning isn’t about polish, perfection, or nostalgia. It’s about communication — ugly, urgent, and necessary. It gave a voice to kids who never saw themselves in mainstream punk, and a platform for ideas that still feel radical today.
And in an era where a certain orange-hued fascist is out fantasizing about annexing Canada like it’s a new golf course development, this record’s defiance feels more relevant than ever. Punk wasn’t — and still isn’t — just about noise. It’s about resistance.
-Viva Canada
No Comments