HAPPY DUST GANG RELEASES INFECTIOUS NEW POST-PUNK SINGLE “MONEY”

There are plenty of songs about money (Cabaret, Pink Floyd, etc.), and yet, it seems like the world has not run out of things to say about it. Happy Dust Gang puts a post-punk twist on their commentary. Their vibrant new single, “Money,” articulates the way money makes the world go ‘round — as the Emcee famously put it before them.

This acknowledges the criticism of societal reliance on currency while also admitting to it. For example, they repeatedly exclaim, “We need money.” All the while, Happy Dust Gang proclaims each of the things they need money for. These reasons range from simple things, like necessities, to larger-scale criticisms of capitalism. Most notably, they criticize the societal reliance on “money for ads.” Everything feels transactional these days, and Happy Dust Gang is evidently fed up with this new normal.

Sonically, the song’s chaotic composition works perfectly well for it to tell its desired story.

The drum beat contrasts the lead guitar riff, adding tasty conflict that drives their point home. Compositionally, the track deviates from most modern rock. They have a clear hook, certainly, but the background vocals’ positionality shifts listeners’ focus from everything else going on, an ode to the way money distracts from…everything else.

Overall, “Money” by Happy Dust Gang is both absurdly catchy and culturally necessary. Though plenty of people have criticized capitalism, this take doesn’t run away from the problem or rant about it. Instead, they discuss why society requires currency so severely.

And they sound cool as f*ck while doing it.