Well thats your issue right there.
Propagandhi are one of the most politically motivated bands i have heard, but along with them bands such as the clash and the dead kennedys are obvious bands who wrote songs with alot of substance. NOFX when they were at their peak, around the ribbed - white trash two heebs and a bean - punk in drublic era were supurb. Had their share of 'jokey' type songs but also had some very well written songs, musically and lyrically. Even my favourite band of all time, Frenzal Rhomb, have some songs with some decent social commentary (although they also have alot of jokey type music). If you want to get into the darker side have a listen to the Subhumans, very moody lyrics but pretty well put together. And if you want to class At The Drive-in as a punk/hardcore band they are right up there also. Rise Against, especially Revolutions per Minute, is another excellent example of some meaningful punk rock. Stiff Little Fingers are a brilliant Northern Irish band who convey some anger in their music.
Punk has long been my favourite genre of music, and it was the happy go lucky punk that first got me into the music, stuff like blink. Once you hear that and decide to explore the genre past these 'gateway' bands you find alot of excellent work. I dont think any other genre quite captures the raw energy of music like punk, and it came about as a reaction to the self indulgance of early 70's rock n roll.
And yet their is also the fun side to it, with bands like The Descendents who really wrote the copy book on good pop-punk, Milo Goes to College being of the finest albums released. Screeching Weasel and the Meanies are other good examples of really high quality pop punk music.
The no substance comment is pretty rediculous IMO. I personally think stuff like Muse is where you go for no substance, decent music, not particularly my cup of tea, but generally wanky lyrics and not much too it. Silverchair are the epitome of no substance. Michael Jackson was no substance. I see electro as being music of no substance, because having seen a bit of it live half the bloody show is about the visuals, the stage show etc, the entertainment factor rather than the music itself, and that is what I cant stand (Lights and Music by Cut Copy sums up the genre IMO, there is not much too it other than those two things). Im sure there are exceptions because I sure as f**k havent explored it fully because the music does not appeal to me. I just think that stuff such as the presets, cut copy is pretty rubbishy.
