Neil Young gets political on upcoming album

[BlackWolf]

Neil Young's 1989 anthem "Rockin' in the Free World" was scathingly critical of the social policies of then President
George Bush. Now the rock icon has found himself a new target: Bush's son.

The musican has announced via neilyoung.com plans to release Living with War, an album protesting the war
Iraq that he recorded earlier this month in just three days.

Living with War, to be distributed by Warner/Reprise, takes sharp aim at the administration of
President George W. Bush with the scathing tune "Let's Impeach the President."

Bushies, beware. Per online reports, the partisan call for the commander in chief's ousting will feature samples of Bush speeches laid over a 100-member chorus chanting "flip-flop."

Young described the hastily assembled 10-song set as a return of sorts to his '60s roots. In addition to his own guitar skills, the album features drums, bass and a trumpet, as well as the massive ensemble of vocalists.

"I think it's a metal version of Phil Ochs and
Bob Dylan...Metal Folk protest?" he wrote.

The singer-songwriter also revealed some of the lyrics for the title track:

"I'm living with war everyday...I'm living with war in my heart everyday...I'm living with war right now...and when the night falls, I pray for peace...try to remember peace (visualize)...I join the multitudes...I raise my hand in peace...I never bow to the laws of the though police...I take a holy vow...to never kill again...to never kill again."

Other tracks on the album include "Looking for a Leader" and an a cappella rendition of "America the Beautiful."

Reprise spokesman Bill Bentley told Reuters that the speed with which Young recorded Living with War came as a shock to Warner executives who were still busy promoting the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's last album, Prairie Wind, released a mere seven months ago.

"We didn't know he was making a record," the rep said.

Young's longtime manager, Elliot Roberts, stressed that the politically themed tunes were written in such a way as to have a broad appeal with all Americans, telling the New York Times that "it's not a political, Democratic versus Republican feel."

Before any Red Staters go thinking the prolific Canadian crooner should make a run for the border, it's worth noting that in 2001 he recorded the single, "Let's Roll," a poignant tribute to the victims of 9-11 and the passengers and crew of Flight 93 in particular.

Of course, Young is well known for penning politically-charged ditties. He's protested the Kent State massacre (Crosby, Still, Nash and Young's 1970 classic "Ohio"), racism (1970's "Southern Man"), corporate rock (1988's "This Note's for You") and, as previously noted, Papa Bush (1989's "Rockin' in the Free World").

When he's not exercising his freedom of speech or touring, the veteran rocker is turning up on the big screen. Last year, he teamed up with director
Jonathan Demme for Heart of Gold, a concert film capturing Young's two-night stand in Nashville last August which premiered at the
Sundance Film Festival and is currently in theaters.

No word yet when Living with War will hit record stores.

neil young rules!one of the top three live performances that I have seen,the other two being frank zappa and pink floyd.

[T-J]

Cool! I think this is good news

I remember he got in trouble back when he recorded "Southern Man". It was a song about slavery and Lynyrd Skynyrd criticized him in their song "Sweet Home Alabama".

[BlackWolf]

You guys can hear the album for free right now.

clicky

[solo1]

Neil Young rocks. Just when you think he's settled into a particular style, or a particular way of doing things ... BOOM! something new.