NEIL YOUNG: LIVING WITH WAR

Neil young rocks.
Go Neil!
Sock to Bush!
We are with you!

unlike the folks at jambase,I'm not at all surprised by Neil's releasing another album so quick. He almost died last year. It's a shame we half to wait for people like Neil & Steve Stills & even the Stones to write songs about OUR great president.Where the fuck are you youngsters.Don't you realize what these people (our elected officials) are doing around the world in our name.Why don't I see any of you protesting this crime(war).If the me generation does'nt stop worrying about only themselves there is'nt gonna be a lot left for yourself.I've been a Neil fan for 30 years I'm glad he has the guts to say what needs to be said. When he and his peers are gone who's gonna carry that cross. Think about it,his generation will be gone soon, what will your generation do. Listen to his new album & learn.Music is power.

Neil always speaks the truth. More peeps need to band together about the plague that resides in the whitehouse.

new neil ... Cant wait.

that is amazing I can't wait to hear.

Kidk are you joking? there are a lot of young bands that have written songs that are against Bush. Flaming Lips, Pearl Jam, Interpol (am not including Punk cause it sucks). In the last two years I have seen Moe, String Cheese, North Missippi Allstars all speak out against Bush in concert. And when Pearl Jam was touring back in 2003 Eddy Veder would make fun of Bush by wearing a Bush Mask.

Damn... I can't wait to check it out..

I am oh so grateful to still have Neil around. You are a piece of my heart and soul. Where would we be with out your voice and influence that prompts and evokes us all to think and act. Everything you put out is pure goodness like fresh air or clean water! Keep on keepin on! I was at the GreenDale show at Red Rocks and you can say this was just the beginning of what was in store for America! YES

I love you Neil.

Bush sucks!

Wayne Coyne is 45 and Eddie Vedder is almost 42. I wouldn't call them young exactly

Hey KidK....every thought that everyone does not believe in the same things you, the Stones, NY times, etc are trying to project on us. You say "I'm gald he has the guts to say what nees to be said." Uh....have you even heard the album yet. All you read was a six paragraph story with 'sketchy details,' but here you are running with it.....just like the lasy and one sided press. I'll wait for the album and them make my judgements.

I'm glad that established musicians are getting into the act. Groups like The Freedom Toast (www.thefreedomtoast.com) are putting out fabulous satirical stuff that mercilessly puts Bush and his cronies in thier place, but they don't have a wide following (yet!!), and so it's heartening to see the likes of Neil Young put his music where so many of our hearts are.

He's at it again.It really is great, he has so much to say and is not shy about a damn thing. It'll be funny to hear controversial this and that. "This whole world keeps spinning around." Rock on neil!

I LOVE NEIL! YOU ARE THE MAN~

If you want to hear two great songs about the Iraq War:
"Rich Man's War" - Steve Earle
"Baghdad" - Bruce Cockburn

Asking a jamband to write about such topics when many of
them cannot write quality songs to begin with?!

Here's hoping Neil's new effort is better than the overrated
and overproduced Prairie Wind.

A REAL LEADER!

Neil is a helluva songwriter, horible guitar player and an even worse philosopher. Like almost all actors and musicians, he hasn't a clue about reality or the threats we face from terrorists. Understand, they hate us, they hate Neil, they hate our music, our supermodels and our way of life. Get a freakin clue people. Open your eyes, study history and read the Constitution. Bush is definitely not a great President but that has more to do with his liberal domestic policies and not the fact that he has freed two nations from tyranny and has prevented another 911. If you're against the war then you are for rape rooms, mass graves and dictatorships. Panic rules, can't wait for Red Rocks.

In response to "eajones":

You lost me at "horrible guitar player." Are you fucking kidding? Ever heard Crazy Horse? ANYWAY, the thing i'm really curious about is why you think YOU have any more of a grip on "reality" than Neil Young? Man, you sound like one of those FOX News droids...

But you know what my favorite part of the comment is, "Panic rules, can't wait for Red Rocks." - I agree, Panic does rule, but are your panties in a bunch because they named their new album EARTH TO AMERICA? What do you think they could be talking about? Hmmm..... ohh... jeez... maybe America (aka Bush) is so fucking whacked that even non-political bands like Panic feel the need to speak up. Now whose not in touch with reality?

-Kayce

Panic's songs are open to interpretation, one of the many reasons I consider them the best (perhaps the new album title can mean different things to different people). And of course the fact that JB is just too cool. Fox News, sure I 've watched, but as a libertarian I choose to stay informed by non-traditional news sources. Don't recall anyone whining about Clinton bombing Asprin factories in the Sudan, invading Somailia or claiming that WMD's in Iraq and Sadam were a threat to civilization. The truth is out there if you care to find it and I'll leave it at that. But really, this is the problem, I like bands who jam and don't get into politics. Who cares what Springsteen or Dave thinks about public policy? I'll get that info. from Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams or someone else who have spent their entire life studying such issues. Don't be so angry people, we live in the greatest country in the history of civilization. Time for a Red Stripe, "barstools built for dreamers."

If you are not ANGRY you are not paying attention... it's really that simple.

Neil is a genious and so in touch with the pulse of america.

Bush and that fair news channel are so far from the truth it is an outrage.

Lets hope this album starts an impeachment of Bush the liar.

I supported the invasion of afgan but no way should we ever had invaded IRAQ ... the price of oil started rising as soon as deployed the marines and has been rising since.

IRAQ is now the center of terrisom. we just created a place for all of them to meet and plan another attack.

Saddam and bin laden hated each other ... yet Bush tried to tie them together.

Bush should be impeached.

Hi, this is specifically meant for kidk who is wondering where all this generation's great songwriters with consciousness are.
I want to share an amazing songwriter who has written many challenging songs about the current state of affairs, but unfortunately he is still unknown, so his words and music stay silent. His name is Joel Moore. He wrote this:"Young professionals sucking glee to conform; leads me to believe our future's a storm; of turning in our rights in vig to the state"- in his song "Talkin' America tis of thee Blues". I think he is the most brilliant songwriter of his generation.
You can check out his lyrics and songs at www.joelmoore.org.
Music IS power.

This will probably never be posted, but here we go anyway...let’s see what you are made of Kayce. Although the article does not give credit to an author I believe it was Kayce or another writer at Jambase. Anyway, I really find it unfair and ridiculous that Kayce is a senior writer for JamBase, editor of other people’s posts (including mine which was slightly edited), and commentator all at the same time. Jeez...talk about no checks and balances. I love that you can say fuck several times and make commentary like ‘if your not angry your not paying attention’, but take a sentence of my post due to your three jobs that have confliting interests. That is exactly what is wrong with the news today….I can’t tell the difference b/t the NY Times front page and the editorial sections. And believe it or not…that scares me WAY more than Bush. Keep spreading the hate folks and continue filling the democrat’s base with more and more wacko leftists and all you are ensuring is the loss of more elections. Not everyone may agree with Bush, but America certainly has more disdain for you, the press, and all the hateful speech from both that is directed towards our President. Now put those words to music and you got a hit.

music and all arts have always been about issues, love songs always were second in line to songs about oppression and politics from peter and the wolf to whisky in the jar to born in the usa and millions of lines of lyrics from great artists. If you dont want politics or issues in the lyrics just go listen to brittany you fuckin dumbass

Eajones, I like some of what you say. But I'm not getting my political information from Neil. He's just inspiration and motivation to care more and to act. We need people like him to rally us together for a cause.

Horrible guitar player??? Sure he doesn't have the chops or blistering technique of Santana, Jimmy Page, or the clarity of Trey Anastasio. But he has a style all his own (what more can you ask for than that) and the sounds, oh the sounds that he makes with distortion etc. are simply divine to my ears. I've never heard anything else like it. Check out WELD (live double disc), disc 2, Love and Only Love. The solo in the middle- out of this world guitar sound.

I respect Neil and am excited that he's feeling similarly to how I do about the world right now.

And a new album? Sweet!!

One man does not create a war!

In response to Berns, I'll compare degrees and album collection to yours anyday. Try completing a sentence without the "f" word or a personal insult toward intelligence or someone's character whom you don't even know.

I'll check those discs out banjohorn, thanks much

yeah, lack of checks and balances at jambase is what we should be worrying about as opposed to the same deficiencies in our federal government. power is being consolidated in the executive branch, i.e. senate losing right to be the ones to declare war, and in the judiciary anyone who would rule contrary to christian fundamentalist opinion is labeled "activist". bush has prevented another 911, eh. easily proved on your part. ever read orwell? at least it has only cost us upwards of 50,000 iraqi civilian lives. so less than three thousand of our citizens died in the attacks of 911. the christians who blindly bankrolled bush to his position of power must only remember the old testament eye for an eye, or in this case 30 eyes for an eye, and not the whole turn the other cheek thing. which is ridiculous too, but i am not the one purporting to follow the teachings of jesus. so thank god bush has saved us and in doing so transfered countless billions from our tax coffers into the hands of the military industrial complex. now this is freedom. forgive the rambling, but i am in a hurry.

Go Neil, The only real jam master from the early dayz who puts his money where his mouth is... a true soldier of not giving into politics or record label mishaps. Only a few bands today know how to stay corporate free, mix their jams w/ the times, motivate the youth....us, them, all of us. Neil albums are a history of social wrongdoings. Neil,
Thanks for staying around,your music and innovation is genuine and lovely. Thanks again for the Bridge School and other goodwill deeds you have passed onto the challenged and underprivelaged and helping keep Lionel Trains alive...
Touring with your bio diesel rigz and helping our family farmers w/ Farm Aid....Gravy!! out of Flagstaff is a younger version of the spirited musicians like Neil who know how to fly just under the radar putting their money where their mouth is and getting folks to think and get out of the tranze.....YoYoYo...Freedom Let's Get It Back!

oh yeah, and i love neil

yknow..... guys there are some people in the world who like jam bands and happen to be conservative politically, (don't lecture me I study political science)its a real drag when you people ecspecially the muscians decide to mix the two..... thats all I have to say

This is a website about music, not politics. Yes, music has played a role in giving voice to people, but agree or disagree, about policy of our govt, I think jambase isnt a place for discussion on this topic. If you are mad about something, write your politicians, and freaking vote, rather than blabbering on here about what is right and wrong.. Love the music, Love the artist, Support your ideas with your vote, but spare the rest of us your opinions about governmental policy. Write something here about how you love Neil Young for standing up to the lost ideals of the 60's. To quote Ben Harper, "there has got to be a better way" I am sure Neil agrees or he wouldnt have put out this political release.
I just wish the material contained in the album is loved because it is art, not because its politically oriented.
That is the most important thing to remember. Peace Yall..

When is the next CD going to come out about the disdain for Palestinian suicide bombers, or the radical Islamic Imams who are brainwashing young men and women from third world countries to hate Americans and Jews in order to maintain their power, with promises of riches and sexual fantasies being fulfilled in the afterlife? Where is the ANGER about that...maybe that is what America needs to wake up about...the fact that we have real enemies in this world, and maybe the war in Iraq will evolve into a change in that region that nobody could posibly forse at this point in time.

Kayceman, I have enjoyed reading many of your articles on WSP before...why are you trying to make the title of their new CD out to be a message of Bush-bashing? You know as well as I do that they have never looked at things one-dimensionally.

is it really that sad when artists delve into political discourse. should art be only for arts sake. many prominent artists would say that in a perfect world art would only be created for aesthetic ideals. of course we all know we are not in that world. so josh was it sad that every one of bob marley's songs contained social and political undertones. should picasso never have painted guernica or neruda wrote about the blood running through the streets of madrid. all these artist would have gladly dealt with other topics but felt a certain responsibility to their fellow humans to draw light on a topic that needed talked about. and bandini study the real impetus behind palestinian anger and desperate violence. you wonder if a change in the region will be brought about as a result of the iraq invasion. the answer is absolutely yes. for every civilian killed there is dozens of friends and family members heretofore uninvolved in the antiamerican aggression, joining the ranks of islamic extremists, and blowing themselves up to get what they perceive to be the only revenge they can acheive.

I agree with joshl92482

Just leave the musicians and actors to entertainment and politics to politicians. Yes everyone, all you neo-hippies and trustafarians and "normal" folk there is a dichotomy between music and politics. And Susan Sarandon or Neil Young have virtually no power over the majority of the voting constituents of America. Sad? Maybe, but like I've always said Democracy just doesn't work. I mean the people on the Jerry Springer show have the exact same impact of vote as Neil Young (they both count one a piece friends) so in the words of Bob Dylan:

"I said I like Fidel Castro, I think ya heard me right."
-"Another Side of Bob Dylan" (Motorpsycho Diaries)

Dude, hellyeah...terrorists were blowing themselves up long before the invasion in Iraq because of anti-americanism.
Also, the Palestinians were blowing up people in Israel long before Bush came along or the US unvaded Iraq. It's called anti-semetism and mind control by radical Islamic terrorist leaders who have hijacked Islam and hate the Western ideal of freedom. How would you fight that?
After seeing millions of Iraqi's vote in democratic elections, I think my vision of the change that that region will undergo in the future is a lot more accurate than yours is.
Of course I guess we can all live in Communist Cuba because Bob Dylan says we should, and because Communism hasn't led to mass killings of millions of people in the past.

Long time fan of Neil Young for over 20 years. Now with this childish album I'll be throwing his concert T in the trash. Take your barely tolerable off-key singing and retarded guitar solos back to Canada and complain about your own government.

I agree with whoever wrote that this should not be a page for political arguments. But it also annoyes me to see people angry that Niel Young or any artist for that matter writes songs with political messages. It is his right to sing about what he wants to. How dare anyone say that songwriters should not mix polotics. For as long as music has been around people have wrote about problems that they want remided. Think to Woody Guthrie in the early 40's and all the music that criticised vietnam in the 60's. It is important that someone is a voice for change. I applaud Mr. Young for continuing to write protest music especially since he has been doing it since the late 60's. By the way I don't understand how anyone can see a posotive future for Iraq by what has happend so far we have practically caused a civil war.

I love these comments from people about musicians needing to stay out of politics. What a joke. Art and politics have always crossed paths. Music in particular and politics have always intersected. 60's protest songs? Slavery gospel songs? "We shall overcome" anyone. Vietnam protest songs... The old political campaign songs of early American history... Labor/union protest songs. Shall I go on? And that's just American history there are many examples in the rest of the world as well. You may disagree with his politics but please don't be foolish enough to question the value of music and art in politics and social issues. I often wonder if all this complacency about the war would be there if all you under 25 men were facing a draft. If you are so convinced this is a good idea then why haven't you signed up to go over there and do your part? If that is to much maybe you can volunteer to be a grief counselor for children who just lost a parent over there. Sorry to vent but I just don't understand how a man like Neil who has written so many brilliant songs can be turned on for expressing his feelings. That and the sentiments here that if you do not support this ill-conceived foolish war then you are "for" the terrorists. By that logic if you are "for" the war then you are "for" dropping bombs on civilians. Neither argument makes any sense...

neil young 4 president

I can’t speak for him but I believe that Neil supports the war on terrorism, just not the war in Iraq. He was one of the driving forces behind the “America: A Tribute to Heroes” live performance after 9/11/2001. There are lots of Americans who share these views and it is an artist’s responsibility to express political views in their art. Plenty of conservative artists have recorded albums that praise the President; both sides have a right to be heard.

The only one with a brain here seems to be hellyeah. Joshl92482 for example, might take political science but that hasnt helped his logic much. Ever considered what art would be like in your world josh? An artists only job is to be true to himself and his art, not to worry what might and might not be acceptable to some dimwitted student.

Throwing away a concert t isn't going to help. Some fan you are.

Yeah, I wonder how many of the South Vietnamese and Cambodians that were slaughtered by the millions and put into work camps by the Communist Pol Pot North Vietnamese army, loved the anti-Vietnam war protest songs? Musicians should certianly be involved with voicing political messages, but they should also be held responsible for the consequences of their actions.

I also don't see the US "dropping bombs" on Iraqi civilians...I do see a lot of terrorists blowing up innocent people though. How about we protest radical Islam?

bandini i never implied that palestinians blow themselves up because of bush. i told you to study the real impetus behind it. perhaps it stems from them being uprooted from their own territory to accomodate the newly formed jewish state after world war 2, given to them as a way of "making up" for the holocaust, and all because our religion stems from their mythology. and it has not been just one sided violence since then.

bandini
do you remember any shock and awe footage. i remember specifically two incidents where entire wedding parties were killed. independent news organizations have put the total between 30,000 up to 100,000. just cause you don't remember something doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

The Vietnam example is actually a very, very good one. Having several family members who lived through it - and several more who died there, I think there are great parallels between the two. And I can't think of one person who feels that Vietnam was a good idea. Hence, Iraq - not a good idea. Does anyone really think we did good in Vietnam? Have you been there? Do you have any idea how the rest of the world views America? We have lost all of what it is that made us great... It's a sad sad day in America... Vietnam and Iraq - there are way too many similarities.

-kayce

Yeah, fighting to stop Pol Pot from murdering millions of innocent people in Vietnam and Cambodia in order to spread his communist ideology was not a good idea for a war?

Removing Saddam Hussein from power was not a good idea for a war?

Why did we fight in WW2 then? Why was that war justified, and neither Vietnam or Iraq are?

I personally think America should be proud if its actions, and people should hold their heads up high, and not act like self-loathing little spoiled babies who don't think they have to sacrifice anything for the amazing freedoms that we are blessed with. God bless America and the troops fighting in Iraq.

From the wise Howie Klein:

"Neil has a new record, and, apparently, he's as sick of the corrupt, lying Bush Regime as the rest of us are!

Neil made it pretty clear with GREENDALE, a truly incredible but underrated album, that he isn't happy with the direction George Bush has taken the country. He told David Fricke of ROLLING STONE "This is a time, I believe, of great inner turmoil for the majority of the American people. There is a new morality coming out of this administration -- fundamentalist religious views; a holier-than-thou attitude towards the rest of the world -- that is not classically American. I don't think Americans felt holier-than-thou in the twentieth century. We were happy and successful, with a great lifestyle. But something else is going on now. That's what Greendale is about. That's what Grandpa's problem is. He can't understand what's going on. He sees all of these things that the Patriot Act has taken away from what he feels is America."

That pretty much sums it up. Believe me, I value what America once stood for, but this shit is beyond apprehensible. You tell the world to fuck off and go into a war on your own because of "Weapons of Mass Destruction" then find out they don't exist and Bush figures, "well, that wasn't the point anyway. We've never liked those Middle East guys anyway, and he tried to kill my daddy!" No one said Saddam was a good leader or should have been in power, no one said they liked Pol Pot, it's not our job to stick our nose into the world's problems alone. This IS NOT AMERICA'S WORLD, but it's the people who believe it is that are ruining this country. Until we take care of our own troubles i suggest we stay out of issues we have no idea how to handle. What makes anyone think that American's would know how to deal with the Middle East or Asian issues? We don't have any clue about the intricacies of these areas.

bandini
you are of course believing the government line for why we went in. they always drape wars in ideology the public can swallow. and we have seen that this government official line changed at least three times with the iraqi war justification. as for WW2 although our government was well aware of the fact that jews were being killed by the millions for several years, we did nothing. hitler had overrun parts of africa and much of eastern europe before we became involved, and many would say the only reason we got involved was the opportunity to participate in the inevitable rebuilding that takes place after whole countries are destroyed and of course we destroyed one ourselves(Japan) in order to remake it in our own image. and our troops are there to this day. oh yeah and by the way we never actually went to war with cambodia, and pol pot was not the leader of vietnam. and we went into vietnam to protect our friend's business investments(the french) we have always hated communism only because such governments are not friendly towards US companies owning all of their land. that is why our government has propped up fascist military dictatorships for years in central and south america when grassroots socialist democratically elected movements have come close to taking power. democracy is fine as long as they choose the right people. google Salvador Allende if you want an example. and nobody appreciates you wrapping the flag and love for soldiers around you to try and justify your argument. we all support them, just not their leaders.

and no removing saddam was not good justification for war. do you realize how many tyrants there are in the world. not all of them are sitting on huge oil reserves and directly in the path of the proposed largest national gas pipline to be constructed by american and european interests. ever heard of Sudan, or Congo, or Myanmar, or north korea, or......

Hellyeah - America has its share of critics, and we make enough mistakes to support a cottage industry of specialists chronicling our failures and footnoting our shortcomings. Even the most ardent patriot might concede that we provide fodder for this with frustrating frequency. We come complete with our national faults, embarrassments, scandals and scars, and horrors. Reminders of these can serve a necessary if painful purpose. But fairness alone dictates that it be balanced by a consideration of our national character.

For every failed international initiative, we have a dozen disaster relief efforts. For every indictment of corporate greed, American ingenuity compensates with countless technological advancements. For every instance when we turn a blind eye to an atrocity perpetrated by other nations against innocent neighbors or even their own citizens, we have forests of tombstones marking the graves of our soldiers who fought and died to protect the liberty of strangers.

Italy, Germany, Japan and others. . . . Modesty and discretion may not be the chief American character traits, but we shouldn’t have to remind our allies about these as if they were minor accomplishments.

What happening here. First Neil wrote "Love On The Rocks," now he is a political figure. I really enjoyed him in "Saving Silverman."

-Rino-

I can't belive anyone would seriously belive we entered Vietnam or Cambodia to stop Pol Pot or that we invaded Iraq to depose Sadam. Pol Pot came about towards the end and after our time in South East Asia. We had no reason to be involved in the Vietnamise civil war, just as we have no reason to be involved in Iraq...It is not americas job to remove other countries dictators. If it was then why have we not invaded Burma, Belarus, Saudi Arabia and half a dozen south american countries we call allies. Bandini i think you should study history a little more before you make another rediculous post the people we were suporting in Vietnam were just as brutal as the north there was no good guy. It is not America's right to decide what form of government people live under. By the way WW2 was not fought over because Hitler was a bad guy...if Hitler had never invaded anyone and just killed his own people we would not have cared. We got involved because the war affected our intests and those of Great Britains, im not saying the outcome wasn't a good one or that we were on the wrong side but FDR didn't care about the concentration camps. Also to even suggest that America does not bomb civilians is ludicris, Im not saying we are a bunch of baby killers but since ww2 our leaders have had no quams about large destructive air raids(Hamburg Dresden Hiroshima Hanoi bahgdad) i could go on, I apologize to get off the topic which is Neil Young is a great musician and a true great in our time.

I never said we went to Vietnam to stop Pol Pot...we went to stop the spread of Communism. Once we left Vietnam, the slaughtering of millions began. Historic fact.

You can get into good guy v. bad guy moral relativism if you want Wingo. The fact is, America is not an isolationist country, and that means that we do have to become involved in other countries affairs on a frequent basis.

I for one would love to see the "Historic fact" that indicated that "the slaughtering of millions began" after we left Vietnam versus the amount of people who died in blanket bombs, napalm etc etc... I'm not saying what happened in 'Nam - or really any other number of places is "OK" - but America has proved time and again we have no idea what we are getting into - and perhaps we should be a bit more "isolationist." We are not the Police of the World, (even though we think so). Again, i'm sure many of you have traveled; i am time and again reminded of how much disdain the rest of the world has for us. If we are doing such a great job why does the rest of the world absolutely hate us? We had a chance after 9/11 to embrace the idea of a world-community; we had great sympathy from around the globe, but now we wage this war in Iraq, we spend billions and billions yet we can't even re-build New Orleans? It's a fucking disgrace.

It's the fact that we do get involved with all these other countries and can't even deal with our own that really pisses me off. We have the worst fuckin' health care system, we have a horrible homeless problem, NOLA is DYING and yet we have plenty of time and money to go rage wars we have nothing to do with... Sweet.

Oh, and "Bandini" you pretty much did say we went to war to stop Pol Pot: "Yeah, fighting to stop Pol Pot from murdering millions of innocent people in Vietnam and Cambodia in order to spread his communist ideology was not a good idea for a war?" -But that's just splittin hairs and not really the point... the point is we can't care for our country yet seem to have everyone else’s all figured out.

I think Neil would be happy to see that a simple announcement of his album has sparked so much debate on one website. Whoever says artists shouldn't get involved in politics, just look at how Neil has made us not only consider these issues but discuss (argue) them together, even if it is on the net.

yay, neil young good.

Eajones!!(16 up) Neil is an AWSOME guitar player! and 911 happened whilst bush was in office, in fact his friends helped plan it! and as his ratings and credibility fall be prepared for ANOTHER HUGE tragity to keeps the stupid americans blind with fear!

Banjohorn, Great point and thank you to Jamebase for allowing this discussion to continue, I know these things often can turn into flame wars quickly. Everyone seems to be keeping it civil. I think this is exactly what Neil wants: Discussion. The sad part about Iraq as an issue in America is not the diverse opinions but the lack of them. There is a certain apathy towards it lately. I truly think that would be different if our youth were facing a draft (not that I am advocating one). Iraq supporters seem to be able to be able to hide behind our "all volunteer" Army. Like I said before if you are of age and supporter of this mess why haven't you volunteered??????

As for Vietnam, my father was there for two years. he didn't die there but his youth, his innocence, his optimism and a great deal of who he was did. He was never the same when he returned and neither were his veteran friends that I got to know as a kid. That war was an unmitigated disaster. Even McNamarra ended up admitting it. I think you would be blind not to see the similarities between Vietnam and what happened in Cambodia after it and Iraq and what is now beginning to happen in Iran. No they are not exactly the same situation but think about it...

AS far as Neil goes, just listen to his body of work. Dig up a show from '71 after he had just written many of his greatest songs and listen to him perform them alone with just a guitar and piano on stage. He is/was a brilliant song writer. Not everything he has written is great but his career speaks for itself. He has lived here a long time, I believe he is a citizen and he loves this country. What do you think "let's Roll" was about? And why do the left leaning musicians get trashed and Toby Kieth and all the other "Love it or Leave It" country stars get a pass???

Poor frett, calling others stupid with bad grammar, now that's impressive. You personify the uninformed left by stating such lunacy as Bush and his friends planned 911. Calling the people who put their lives and legacies on the line to protect you is many things, one of which is delusional.

Can't wait this should be great now if only we could get Bobby D. to write a few new songs about the high water risin'. Oh one more thing.....If you're against the war then you are for rape rooms, mass graves and dictatorships. Panic rules, can't wait for Red Rocks. ...rape rooms=gitmo mass grave=untold number of innocent iraq civilians killed, dictatorship=bush's neoconservative scare campaigns........open your eyes...

Neil Young is Canadian. He should comment on political affairs in his own country, he's not going to be involved in impeaching anybody.

eajones
frett may have bad grammar but you certainly do take the prize for most ignorant comment posted with that you support rape rooms if you don't support the war. you sound like bill oreilly. of course you might take that as a compliment. is it really such a stretch to believe what frett implies. can you think of an event that would better rally the american people around a series of wars so unquestioningly, with a stateless enigmatic enemy that can never be declared defeated since new ones are made each day as a result of these wars. i am not saying i believe this completely but an intelligent person would not overrule anything just because they don't want to believe it. the administration is either cunningly evil, like frett implies, or just naively blind to the actual implications of their policies and wars, as their performance implies. let us hope that frett is not correct, though as our gearup for the next showdown with iran accelerates, and our spending in the post 911 wars climbs more hundreds of billions, i cant help but wonder.

Watch the grammar now!!!
Surely the point is this, as Mr.Bush has decided that he has the right to intefere with whomever he pleases, Mr Young has the right to criticise and call for his impeachment if he sees fit. Neil, being a civilised human being doesn't seem to beleive that killing people is the way to resolve the worlds problems, he gets my vote! Can we bomb Texas...I hear they have oil.

What is your solution to ending terrorism and Islamic fascism? Appeasement, diplomacy? You can't negotiate with terrorists. Just remember, these thugs would just as soon kill us and the bands we listen to as they would Bush and his cronies. We are their enemy and we must defeat them. Are any of you against free elections in Afghanistan or Iraq, which have happened as a result of our military policies? The U.S. is the only country that goes to war to free others; historically nations went to war to conquer. The pictures and articles are out there of soldiers with Iraqi children and Iraqi men and women thanking America for what we have done. Turn some of your anger and hate on the real enemy and not on America.

there you go again. criticizing our leaders=hating america. what an ignorant analogy. and buying into the nobility of these guys is even more ridiculous. if you just admitted that all they want is a strategic military positioning for the last few decades of real oil production in the region, and stop talking about their mission of bringing freedom you would get my attention, but until you can grasp the simple concept that bush/cheney/rove just might have ulterior motives i will just turn and talk to my brick wall here.
"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."
that quote is by howard zinn. forgot to put that. read him eajones.

4 those who r looking 4 comments of 'youngsters'-rap is their thing & if u like me can't "understand" rap; remember, our parents couldn't "understand" rock or folk. do u remember the apathy of the 1950's? the 'youngsters' often vote & talk with their feet. they walk away from & turn their backs on the mess. remember when u were young; did you listen 2 preaching like urs from the over 30's. u may not hear the voices of 'youngsters' because ur not listening or deaf. listen 2 the complaints of army recruiters about not meeting monthly enlistment quotas-even though the recruiters & the army offer big enlistment bonuses. the 'youngsters' don't say shit to recruiters or listen 2 the recruiter's rap. the 'youngsters' simply turn their backs on recruiters & walk away s-l-o-o-o-o-w-l-y. there is a message in that. don't 'live' in a bubble as w, sure-shot cheney, rum-dum, et al do. the 'youngsters' are saying things that those in w's bubble would get them plenty riled if the bubble boys & girls could see, hear, or think.
as 4 neil, he experiments & is as close 2 a genius as many of us will see or hear.
those who 'live' in bubbles & with their heads so far up their asses that they'd need a glass navel 2 see forward aren't 2 swift. remember pete seeger & the folkies b4 1968? nobody else does either. the agit-prop singers never did mean much 2 those on the picket lines. the agit-prop singers were put in bars 2 'recruit & educate' the apathetic drunk & to take up collections from do-gooders & drunks.

If we wanted to control the world oil supply nobody, I repeat nobody, could stop us. This is not about oil. How about drilling for oil on our own shores? Are you for that, I am. For the last time, I am not a Bush supporter, a Republican or a Bill O Reilly supporter. I do agree with the war on terror, as do many people and I am a libertarian. Bill O Reilly, while correct on a few things, is a populist and a collosal jewel of contradictions. I, like yourself am a dissenter but I do appreciate the government doing it's primary and most important responsibility: protecting us from enemies abroad and within. I disagree with pretty much the rest of Bush's policies, from spending more federal money on education (3 times what Clinton spent), all foreign aid, which never helps a population but enriches their dictators and frankly, his immigration policies. Moreover, I think he is one of the worst public speakers around (as are most of us). My dissent is not the fact that we are trying to kill terrorist and Islamo-Fascists but instead the unfairness of such policies as: banning smoking by government fiat in privately owned businesses (yet I don't smoke cigarettes and never have), high taxes on everything from food, to gas, to medicine, to beer, to clothing. What did the government do to help produce, manufacture or market any of these things? I choose to appreciate the fact that we need brave men and women who voluntarily choose to protect us and would rather dissent on more meaningful and unjust travesties like: declining education curriculum, the woeful understanding by our youth (and many adults) about basic economic maxims, high, puntive and unfair taxation (i.e., the Income tax), Socialized medicine, crooked, lying cheats who con Realtors, buyers and Title companies out of just compensation (true, personal story from this week) and so many other "real problems." I wake up everyday happy and thankful; regardless of who is in the White House or Congress I know that I'm blessed to be alive in the greatest country in the history of civilization. I have my health, a beautiful wife, good people, family and friends. War is real and ugly. We were attacked on 911. Many brave men and women serve and sacrifice each day to help insure that it never happens again. If anyone wants a total intellectual challenge go read an Ayn Rand novel or one of her non-fiction works. Maybe it will change your life; it did mine several years ago. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must enjoy a little el supremo and get ready to check Panic Stream for the Raleigh real live setlist/opener. My call: Second Skin into Chilly. Thanks everyone, it's been fun and may your glass be filled, E

So Neil is Canadian which somehow disqualify him from ever makeing a statement? Bush on the other hand has the right to start a war with a foreign country on the basis of obviously trumped up charges? The lunacy of your argument speaks for itself.
The rest of the western world has to live with the consequences of the war, why shouldnt they have a say in the matter? And that question doesnt even take in to account that Young has the right to speak his mind about whatever he choses, even though he might be a foreigner. Hellyeah for president is my opinion, but hey what the hell do I know im not even north american.

I don't care about the politics involved, I just want the music to be good. If the music's good, then he can say what ever he wants in the lyrics.

Great Another peacenic (Like Bono) lets save the world, and oh yeah boost my record sales while we're at it. Lets review what it got in the past. April 30th, 2006 marks the 31th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. Three decades in which the Vietnamese communist government and proxies killed 7.5 million people. Oh thats right, peace will prevail... if we bail. Peace in out time??? sure

lets see. i am sure saddam would have had equal statistics if we had left him alone. and now as many of our soldiers have died in iraq as were killed in the completely unrelated attack on the world trade center and fifty times that many innocent iraqis. so whose lives are we saving by going into iraq? the few hundred potential political dissidents that might have been killed by saddam's death squads had he continued unchecked. hard to imagine him killing more than we have. so it is all about numbers, and i just don't know what equation to use to make us out as the good guys. guess you are the better mathematician ron2345. oh yeah and bono is no neil young.

I’m a big fan of Neil Young, but the Bill Madden album, “Gone” is by far the best political album condemning the Bush administration this year.

Void of preachiness, Madden not only does not mention George W. Bush by name, but never once tells the listener what he/she should do. He merely lays out the facts and asks the questions.

“How many barrels of blood does it take to fill an SUV these days?”

“Gone” is a brilliant album by an American songwriter of the current generation who actually has the huevos to tell it like it is. In this era of political correctness where so many Americans kept silent due to silly partisanship, apathy, and fear of being labeled as traitors… it’s about friggin time!

With all due respect to Neil Young, Pearl Jam, Bono, Steve Earle, etc…we need new voices and they need to be heard. And yea, Devendra Banhart is goovey, but I’m not really into the neo-hippie, kumbaya thing. IMHO, the Bill Madden album, “Gone” is not only the best political album of the year, but it’s the best singer/songwriter album of the year, PERIOD.

Music is to entertain and inspire, not as a political platform. I love ya Neil, but don't get all Michael Franti on us, O.K. buddy!

Tell ya what hell yeah. You can have Kofi, Neil, Bono and the entire world community. I'll take the marines any day. BTW What was the UN timeline for an Iraqi Constitution? Besides Never? Hows that Tsunami Relief going? Clinton Enegrize it yet? Funny how the UN screams for more aid money, Yet can manage to come up with $2 billion to renovate their playpen. It really was all about the oil..Funny How the European economies are in the dumpster without that "Blood money". As for equal statistics , what number are you quoting? Those "numbers" were people. Guess your saying the europeans are out of luck if they expect us to help them in their next little War to end all wars. What happened in eqypt today? Another terrorist attack on civilians. Guess they didnt hear neils little peace song.

WOW, I'M PROUD OF THE LARGE RESPONSE TO THIS ARTICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT AS AN OPEN MINDED "OLD SCHOOL REPUBLICAN" I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ANYBODY IS STUPID ENOUGH TO SUPPORT GEORGE DUBYA BUSH. PANIC FANS IN GENERAL SEEM TO BE A BIT CONFUSED (NOT ALL THOUGH). I AM REALLY POINTING MY FINGER AT THE LITTLE RICH BITCHES SUPPORTED BY THEIR DADDY'S (KINDA LIKE DUBYA WAS). i LIVE IN ATHENS AND SEE FRATERNITY AND SORORITY IDIOTS WITH THEIR "W-STILL THE PRESIDENT" STICKERS RIGHT NEXT TO THEIR PHISH, GD, AND WSP STICKERS. WHY DON'T ALL OF YOU WHO READ THIS AND HAVE THE SAME THING GOING ON ON THE BACK OF YOUR CAR 1)GET SOME INFO ABOUT THE WORLD FROM SOMEONE BESIDES YOUR IDIOT DADDY WHO GIVES YOU TONS OF CASH TO PAY FOR FRIENDS 2)UPON HAVING REALIZED YOU ARE SUPPORTING A GREEDY BASTARD FOR PRESIDENT...RIP THE GODDAMN "BUSH-STILL THE PRESIDENT" STICKER OFF OF YOUR CAR AND 3)STAY INFORMED SO THAT YOU WON'T BE FOOLED AGAIN. JOHN McCAIN FOR PRESIDENT 2008!!!!

music has long intertwined w/ politics & our politicians need inspiration

inapaine,

i’m somewhat shocked that someone else has the bill madden album, but i guess given the topic of this message board, i shouldn’t be.

i’m really looking forward to listening to neil’s anti-war album, “living with war”, and i also have to agree with you. i can’t believe there aren’t more new singer-songwriters calling out and taking to task george w. bush and his corrupt administration over the lies, fear mongering and hubris that took america into a war of choice. considering the fact that mr. madden doesn’t have neil’s reputation or discography to fall back on, as you say, he is a very brave man (huevos) to have tackled what is happening to our country. if his album, “gone” wasn’t as good as it is, it could have easily killed his career before it even got going. to madden’s credit, his album isn’t all politics or the war in iraq. it’s actually quite diverse.

obviously kindred spirits, i’d love to see neil and madden together. an old political voice with a new. that would be something.

yea neil your great and all but your canadian leave the bush bashing to us

I've listened to the stream twice now. This album rocks. Like one reviewer wrote, this is electric neil young at his grunge best. Musically this reminds me of ragged glory but more up tempo songs throughout. The songwriting is really strong. I was looking forward to this release, and it has really lived up to my expectations.

BATTLE OF THE ANTI-WAR ALBUMS: On the popular Netherlands Americana music site, www.hanx.net, both, the Neil Young album, LIVING WITH WAR, and the Bill Madden album, GONE are reviewed. FWIW, Neil's album got 2 stars, Madden's 3 1/2.
Anybody speak Dutch?

God bless you Neil for voicing the disgust which all sensible people feel about the war in Iraq.Been listening to Living With War all evening and I think I will just carry on doing it right through the night.Great music! Right up there with Harvest Rust Tonights Goldrush Ragged and Prairie winds.Best tracks-- impeach,leader,consumer

Hoorah for Neil!!
Boooo for Bush
Is that simple enough for you dozy twats to understand. War is profit, that's all, simple! There isn't one war in the entire world which can be justified by the killing of another human being. Even with Islamic fundamentals and the CIA running around the world before 9/11 we were all safe. Since the war on terror, is it war, I thought it had stopped (oh there are just too many contradictions)the world has become a more frightening and dangerous place. So much for freedom! Governments rule by creating a culture of fear within there own populous. The people who claim to be protecting your rights are eroding them. Emancipate yourselves from this mental slavery!
Go back to your donuts!

All I can say is:

Neil Young (Have You Forgotten)
words and music by Dr. BLT (c)2006
http://www.drblt.com/music/neilyoung.mp3

Those of you suggest that Neil Young, a Canadian, lay of the good old U S of A & criticize Canada will probably criticize Neil for taking too much time if Neil chooses to criticize Mr Harper for sending Canadian forces to join the 'coolision of the willing" [sic] to die in Afghanistan. Remember Blair of UK & Howard of Austalia have sent troops to 'nation build & restore democracy" in the near east too; they along with Japanese politicians are being criticized along with W & crew. One could call the incentives W & crew offer other nations to join the USA in its loss of the peace bribes. A number of nations such as Spain have pulled out despite the generous incentives the USA's W & crew offer.
Watch Fox news on weekday afternoons from 1:00 -3:00 pm edt & see how the clumsy talking heads clam up when the critics of Bush turn back the old material Bill O'Reilly with pithy, logical responses. To risk being called sexist the female talking head who keeps asking Bush's critics when the present damning facts & conjecture about W & crew, "How do you know?" must find it difficult to listen to the terse & effective responses she gets to her smarmy mantra of a question for she frequently winces & chokes as she hears them.
Neil admits his mistakes. R Murdoch, who controls Fox News, who never publicly admits mistakes is holding a fund raiser for Hillary Clinton who is running for re-election as a US Senator for NY & is considered a contender for the Democratic nomination for president. Do you think that the ever pragmatic Mr Murdoch sees in W's plunging poll numbers that while W remains in office-W has squandered his phantom political capital & W no longer has power? Neil Young didn't eviscerate W's admistration with a song but Neil did point at the mess oozing out of D.C. due to W & crews self inflicted wounds. When Mr Murdoch sees the same mess- Mr Murdoch hedges his bets by contributing to Democratic centerists so Mr Murdoch might find a cozy spot with Democrats when Mr Murdoch jumps W's sinking ship of state like a rat. While Mr Murdoch has abandoned his Australian roots to become a naturalized US citizen he might have the case of Conrad Black, a Canadian like Neil Young, in mind. Mr Black, the Canadian, arranged to become a British subject &, in due time, became Lord Black.
Since Conrad Black faces hard time in a US jail-he is seeking to become a Canadian again so that he might serve his sentence in a gentler Canadian prison if he is convicted in USA. What ever reason Neil has for remaining a Canadian is his business & only his business.
While you xenophobic critics criticize that Cannuck furriner, Young, daring to have & express his revised opinion of W, I'll have a Canadian Club with a ginger ale chaser. Make it a double. Got that kidk, et al.

Did any of you see the article on Neil in Sunday's GUARDIAN? I'd like to see some feedback. I felt that it was fair. But I'm an Anglophile & supporter of OLD Labour. Blair & W are cut to the same pattern from the same bolt of shoddy.

I got to see Crosby Stills Nash & Young when they came to Los Angeles. It was a great concert, but the highlights came from Neil Young’s new album LIVING WITH WAR. The beginning of the concert featured a stunning version of “Flags of Freedom” and later on they played a great version of “Let’s Impeach the President.” When the song ended, the packed crowd erupted into thunderous applause.

As far as the album itself goes, it’s a great album. However, you need to realize that it’s not EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS NOWHERE, HARVEST, or AFTER THE GOLDRUSH. Those albums are masterpieces and nothing will ever sound like them, but this album is still Neil doing what he does best, play his guitar on 10 with Crosby Stills & Nash singing backgrounds with a chorus of 100 people! You will not hear too many solos from Neil, but the music is still great. “After the Garden” is a great song with a great chorus along with great lyrics. “Living with War” is a beautiful song featuring lines from our very own Nation Anthem. “The Restless Consumer” is somewhat weak here, but when he sang it live, you could see the anger in his eyes! The music is hard driven and the lyrics are direct. Neil Young’s singing only got better as he played these songs live. “Shock & Awe” features pure Neil Young lyrics using the juxtaposition of Bush’s photo-opt and the fallen soldiers “back in the days of mission accomplished.” This song also features several short solos by Neil. “Families” and “Flags of Freedom” pays homage to our soldiers. “Looking For a Leader” challenges the direction of the country, and “Roger and Out” is a beautiful song with great lyrics where Neil recalls his own youth playing a short beautiful Neil-like solo. The album ends with a wonderful version of “America the Beautiful.”

“Let’s Impeach the President” is the most controversive song on the album. The song itself is hard rocking from the first theme of “Taps” to the listing of grievances against George W Bush using actual clips of the monkey speaking during the verse of “Flip… Flop.” Any supporter of George W Bush should listen to this song. Even if you don’t agree with it, every word is true. When you think of how much Bush bashed Kerry for being a “Flip-flopper,” you realize how much more of a “Flip-flopper” George W Douchebag is. In this liberal writer’s opinion, I (along with everybody the 17,000 people who were at the CSNY show) think this song is brilliant and I give Neil Young a large amount of support for telling the truth.

Now the reviews here are split in two: Democrats love it, Republicans hate it. I’m glad to see some Republicans support Neil’s freedom of Speech even if they disagree with it. But to those Republicans who put the album down without even LISTENING to it, I say if you don’t like it, you don’t have to listen to it. To those who say he’s just doing this to be cool or make money, then I guess Neil wrote “Southern Man,” “Alabama,” “Ohio,” and “Rockin’ in the Free World” to make money? NO! Neil Young must hate America right? WRONG! In “Looking for a Leader” he says: “America is beautiful, but she has an ugly side, we’re looking for a leader, in this country far and wide.” The lyrics are self-explanatory for a reason. And why would he record a version of “America the Beautiful” if he hated the country? One narrow-minded Republican writes “Neil Young is Canadian and has no right to bash our country… go back to Canada.” Neil Young may be Canadian, but he has lived in America for 40 years, he was in one of the greatest American bands of all time, and he pays a lot of attention to American politics. Republicans, you need to stop being hostile. Neil Young has as much right to say what he wants as you do. I must also say that people who write negative reviews should only be from people who LISTENED to the ENTIRE album and use actual facts for backup as Neil Young has in this album.

Any fan of Neil Young will like album, but just keep in mind these important points.