Top Seven Anti-Consumerist Songs

By Alex Rendon Fri., Nov. 23 2012 at 8:24 AM

Categories: Black Friday, Useless Lists

As we lay heavy in recovery from our overindulgent ways during this Thanksgiving season, we can't help but sneer a little at the hysteria occurring across American malls today. So USA, do you really prefer to spend this most American of holidays camped out in front of a Wal-Mart in order to save $100 off a plasma-screen TV? We know you're stressed, but has this country sunken so deeply into mindless consumerism that it's preferable to save a few bucks versus spending quality time with the fam? With retail stores now opening not on Black Friday, but on Thanksgiving night itself, we'd say the answers to those questions are yes.

All these ridiculous people trampling over each other for deals on boxer briefs tie our stomachs in knots. Join us as we jam our collective pointer finger down our throats and puke all over the ever-expanding over-consumption ideology. Give a middle finger to the trappings of capitalism and check out this collection of the top seven anti-consumerist songs of all time.

1. "Buy, Buy, Buy" - the Slits
"You could be addicted?," questions Slits lead singer Ari Up (Ariane Forster) in her quavering vocals. This seminal, late-'70s, pre-Riot Grrrl group hits the consumerist nail on the head here.

The American's incessant need to save as much money on a smoothie-maker, while maxing out all your credit cards in the process, is certainly an addiction. "I want to satisfy this empty feeling," blurts out Ari Up as a response to her previous question. Makes us wonder if that's what's on out there on this Black Friday... Emptiness.

2. "The Valley of Malls" - Fountains of Wayne
On this chunky track off Fountains of Wayne's 1999 album Utopia Parkway group frontmen Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood tackle the world of the suburban soccer mom. They present to us a slice of life: Traveling in a minivan from suburb to suburb, scoping out the best deals. To us, it feels vapid. We'd rather sink deeper in our couch and pack in turkey leftovers.