Music Review: Various Artists - Body Of War: Songs That Inspired An Iraq War Veteran
Published March 21, 2008
The music on this collection cuts across a variety of genres, and even several time periods. Much of it is also music that will be recognized, such as John Lennon's Vietnam era protest "Gimme Some Truth," Bruce Springsteen's haunting "Devils And Dust," and Pearl Jam's live version of Dylan's "Masters Of War." There are also more modern antiwar anthems represented here in the form of Neil Young's "Restless Consumer" (from his infamous 2006 album Living With War), Bright Eyes' "When The President Talks to God," and Public Enemy's "Son Of A Bush."
Somewhat less known, but no less incendiary are songs like Lupe Fiasco's "American Terrorist," and Talib Kweli's "Bushonomics" performed with Princeton scholar Cornel West. Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder contributes a song written specifically for the documentary, "No More," which is performed live here with Ben Harper. Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello shows up here in his alter-ego as The Nightwatchman for "Battle Hymns." There are also brand new voices represented here such as singer/songwriter Brendan James, whose "Hero's Song" appears as the very first track on the collection.
From Tom Waits to System Of A Down to Bad Religion to Against Me!, this two CD set stands as a broad, genre-spanning collection of great music in its own right. And for anyone who wonders where are our own modern version of the sort of angry, indignant, and compelling protest music that energized the Vietnam generation is today, look no further.
Proceeds from Body Of War: Songs That Inspired An Iraq War Veteran will be donated to Iraq Veterans Against The War (IVAW), a non-profit organization founded in 2004, giving voice to Iraq veterans opposed to the war. Sire Records, the label who released this great, timely collection has also made a donation on Young's behalf of $100,000.
- Music Review: Various Artists - Body Of War: Songs That Inspired An Iraq War Veteran
- Published: March 21, 2008
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Alternative Rock, Music: Classic Rock and Oldies, Music: Folk, Music: Hard Rock, Music: Hip-hop, Music: Metal, Music: Punk Rock, Music: Rap, Music: Rock
- Writer: Glen Boyd
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Comments
Here's one anti-war song of mine you have probably never heard.
Its So Wrong - "sounds like John Lennon"
Sounds like an excellent collection. Thanks for the review.
You're forgetting the fact that te music of the Vietnam era was heartfelt and not economically oriented or politically expedient. Their intent was purely about humanity. Surely politics was involved, but it was the broader scope of those in power. The supposed devisiveness of this war is because people are choosing to call out one man or one small group as being responsible. Look at how George Bush is lambasted in the titles of most of these songs. Do not foget that there was a nearly unanimous vote to start the war. Left vs. Right is BS. Do you want to win the war or not?
Finally, look up the number of casualties in in Veitnam. They were 10 times as high for U.S. military and 5 times higher for civilians in a similar 5 year period. Then you will realize, to a much greater degree, why people were so outraged.
Justin,
The outrage on college campuses was fueled in large part by the draft.
-Glen


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Hmm... Springsteen's "Devils and Dust" is one of the "more modern" tracks, since it's from 2005.