Living With War - Neil Young

Living with War may just be the capstone of Neil's Career, merging folksy acoustic protest songs with the bombastic electric work that earned him the nickname- the "Godfather of grunge". It is a perfect protest album crafted with the experience and exposure to protests that espoused half truths, languished in metaphor, or succeeded only through polarization. Living With War is biting, honest, hopeful, tragic, angry, and above all patriotic. Stream it.

Neil doesn't repeat the mistakes of his generations Vietnam's protests. He doesn't vilify soldiers. They are shown to be courageous people, doing a job, and wishing that they could be back with their families. The religion of the silent majority isn't mocked as outdated or hypocritical. Instead, it is declared "hijacked" to manipulate the masses.

The songs aren't written on party lines. While Neil spares no criticism of the Bush Administration, there are voices for democrats and republicans in these protest songs. Colin Powell and Barack Obama are named as potential leaders who could unify America after the next election.

Who would have guessed that America's most moving political album in years would be penned by a Canadian ex-pat. Yet somehow, Neil Young manages to embody America's great spirit and give it a voice to express outrage and hope for peace. He lashes out at consumerism, the war in Iraq, wire taps, and the mismanagement of New Orleans during Katrina.

Living with War is raw, unadulterated Neil Young. The instrumentation is simply Neil's guitar rich with analog distortion, bass, drums and the occasional trumpet. A 100 voice choir of lay people provides an emotive depth, and populist relevance. There are some warts in the recording, some missed timings, and awkward harmonies. These flaws add to the albums homespun feel. It's nothing if not a genuine expression of Neil Young's current take on US politics.

Perhaps the poignancy of the songs comes from Neil's point of view as an American who truly feels mislead. He wasn't anti-Bush from day 1. Like most Americans, Neil was deeply angered by 9/11; but ,unlike many of his hippie compatriots, Neil spoke in favor of the patriot act. He wrote songs honoring the Hero's of Flight 93 and expanding a metaphor justifying war to stop evil.

It really doesn't matter why it's effective. Living with War is simply the most moving record I've heard since Springsteen's "The Rising".

Rating: 5/5
Top Track: Let's Impeach The President
Reason to Buy: Honesty....Patriotism....Hope.... That's three... Sorry.
Reasons Not to Buy this Album: You're an ostrich with your head in the sand.