CPS

Archive News-2004

British Home Secretary serenades backbench colleagues
15^th December 2004
British Home Secretary, David Blunkett, stunned colleagues as appeared at the backbench annual Christmas dinner and sang a rendition of Pick Yourself Up, Dust Yourself Off and Start All Over Again. Mr Blunkett has been embroiled for three weeks in a career-threatening political and personal controversy over alleged favours for his ex-lover, Kimberly Quinn.

Jello Biafra collaborates with The Melvins on new release
14^th December 2004
Never Breathe What You Can't See is the new album from Jello Biafra and The Melvins. The former Dead Kennedys frontman tackles mandatory drug testing, yuppies, the Patriot Act and terrorism. Tracks include Islamic Bomb, Lighter Side of Global Terrorism, Yuppie Cadillac and Dawn Of The Locusts: "Thank you Osama, you are the savior of our economy today."

Roots reggae star records protest song
14^th December 2004
Roots-reggae singer Richie Spice has released a new album, Spice in Your Life, which includes the protest song Earth a Run Red: "Watch out fi de vampire who will sneak up in the dark/Watch out fi de big-time thief who claim say that dem smart/Stop bringing the crack and the gun, come mash up the youth dem heart."

Italian Prime Minister pens new song
14^th December 2004
Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, sang a new composition entitled Samba and Chocolate which he defiantly sang at a recent post-trial party. Berlusconi was acquitted on charges of bribing judges in a privatisation deal in the 1980s. He is expected to perform the new song as his contribution to the San Remo song competition: "You are chocolate and coffee/And you know I would die for you/Because I hold you inside me/Come and dance this samba with me/It speaks about you."

United Artists for Justice in Ukraine concert
9^th December 2004
United Artists for Justice in Ukraine held a benefit concert on Wednesday December 8th in New York City. Formed as a direct response to the mass demonstrations in Ukraine demanding justice and freedom - the United Artists for Justice in Ukraine is comprised of Ukrainian-American musicians who assembled to show support for, and promote awareness of, the opposition demonstrators through the medium of song and music.

Seattle rockers release politically-edged album
8^th December 2004
Seattle rockers Ms. Led have released their second album, These Things We Say, which combines leftist politics, queer pride and feminism. The opening track, Stigma, challenges what they regard as a collective resistance to the necessity of feminism and draws inspiration from the riot grrrl feminist-punk phenomenon of the early 1990's led by bands like Bikini Kill: "1990 - Kathleen (Hannah of Bikini Kill) said we wanted revolution-grrrl style and we're going to start a riot/ We have to let them know that we still have that voice/ Got to turn it on, turn it up louder/We say things that won't play on radio."

Rock the Kasbah: Songs of Freedom from the Streets of the East
7^th December 2004
Rock the Kasbah is a new recording of 16 artists from all corners of the globe. The album includes the Clash's Rock the Casbah  by French-Algerian superstar Rachid Taha, Joe Strummer and the Mescalaros's acoustic version of Bob Marley's Redemption Song, legendary rai singer Khaled with his paean to the Algerian rebel leader Abdel Kader, No More by Pakistani rock phenomenon Junoon and a remix of Iraqi singer Kadim Al Sahir by Trans-Global Underground.

Unpublished Guthrie material to be recorded
7^th December 2004
American folk icon and dust-bowl balladeer Woody Guthrie is known for his enduring songs about America's workers and underdogs. A batch of his Jewish lyrics have been set to music and recorded by the Klezmatics, a New York City band, in a CD entitled Happy Joyous Hanuka. Similarly, Scottish folk musician Dick Gaughan is to record songs  which reveals Guthrie's fascination with Scotland and his Scottish heritage. The collection is taken from letters uncovered by his daughter Nora written during his service in the merchant navy during the second world war.

Jazz singer Patricia Barber gets political
7^th December 2004
Patricia Barber's new album, A Fortnight in France, includes the controversial new composition White World. The song starts as an indictment of First World anthropologists, "I arrive in the jungle/With my new khaki clothes...poking and prodding progenitors of respiratory disease are we." Barber then implicates military imperialists, "I struck the driver/For pushing me aside/The old man struck me back/So that I/Had to kill them all."

Simon and Garfunkel to record political song
7^th December 2004
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are to record the new song, Citizen of the World, on the duo's Old Friends Live on Stage CD. The song is the duo's first recording in nearly thirty years. According to Garfunkel, "it is not a cliche to say that war is a no-win, horrific choice".

Original Derivatives release Mission One (Dictator Mix)
3^rd December 2004
Mission One (Dictator Mix) by Original Derivatives remixes Bush quotes ("Our enemies are always looking for new ways to harm our country, and so are we" and It would all be a heck of a lot easier if this were a dictatorship, just so long as I'm the dictator") with the sound of bombs, sirens  over industrial dance music.

Anti-American rap by Cabinet minister's son
2^nd December 2004
A British Columbia minister is defending her son's right to perform a spoken word rap about the softwood lumber dispute that labels Americans as "thick-skulled thieves". Joyce Murray, the Minister of Management Services, insists her son, Baba Brinkman, was merely exercising his right to freedom of expression. "And I for one believe in Mike de Jong/When he gets hold of these thick-skulled thieves with their greedy mitts full of our money/He's not the type to let go/He's like the Liberal equivalent of a pit bull".

Artists pledge to make trade fair
1^st December 2004
As part of their continuing goal to overcome poverty and suffering, non-profit organization Oxfam has teamed up with some of the planet's biggest stars to make trade fair. Fourteen famous faces from music and film, including Chris Martin, Thom Yorke, Michael Stipe, Alanis Morissette and Youssou N'Dour have joined together in a campaign called Ever Felt Dumped On? Speaking up for farmers faced with unfair trade laws, each artist is featured having rice, chocolate and milk dumped on their heads.

Socially conscious release from Bacilos
29^th November 2004
Miami-based Latin pop band Bacilos have released a new album entitled SinVerguenza (Without Shame). Many of the lyrics deal with issues of race, immigration and class - Sangre Americana reflects on what it means to have "American blood" whilst La Ollah tackles the issue of cocaine wars.

Ukrainian pop star in hunger strike
29^th November 2004
Ukrainian pop star Ruslana Lezhychko has reportedly ended the hunger strike she began in support of opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko's claim to her country's presidency. Lezhychko, who won this year's Eurovision contest, announced the start of her protest on Thursday to tens of thousands of Ukrainians gathered in Kiev's Independence Square.

Judge delivers ruling in George Harrison case using Beatles parody
26^th November 2004
Judge Robert Gigante used a parody of the Beatles' classic love song, Something, to deliver his ruling in a case involving a doctor accused of forcing the musician to autograph a guitar while on his deathbed. The judge agreed that the malpractice case of Dr Gil Lederman could be moved from New York's Staten Island but said that, "Something in the folks he treats/Attracts bad press like no other doctor. He's in our jurisdiction now/He gets Beatle autographs somehow. And all I have to do is move this trial/Somewhere they don't know George Harrison. If this case I were to keep/Defendant would gently weep."

Muslim rapper praisesAllah
26^th November 2004
Chicago rapper David Kelly, aka Capital D, is part of a new wave of Muslim-influenced music in the US. His new album, Insomnia, offers praise to Allah, criticises U.S. foreign policy, corporate America and the music industry. Islam is not new to rap music - the Nation of Islam and the Five Per Centers have influenced hip-hop since the late 1970s. Other mainstream hip-hop artists practising orthodox Islam include Mos Def and Everlast.

City seeks anti-gay album ban
24^th November 2004
Brighton is considering a city-wide boycott of reggae and rap albums with anti-gay lyrics. Councillors want music retailers HMV, Virgin Megastore and MVC to stop selling albums with homophobic lyrics in its Brighton and Hove branches. The ban would include Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Elephant Man, TOK, Vybz Kartel and Bounty Killer. Brighton and Hove is regarded by many as the gay capital of England.

Metal band record pro-Bush song
22^nd November 2004
Virginia-based metal band Veracitor have recorded the track Warmongers of Discontent to reflect their support for the war on terror and the war in Iraq. According to the guitarist and lyricist, Mark Rathke, "I wrote this song to counter the anti-war, hate-Bush propaganda that seems to have tainted the metal community."

Ethiopian MPs record Aids awareness song
22^nd November 2004
More than 400 Ethiopian MPs have recorded a song in an attempt to raise awareness abouts Aids. The song entitled Find A Solution was inspired by the work of the National Women's Coalition Against Aids. The song is due to be recorded in English as part of the CD to mark World Aids Day on December 1st.

Afrobeat Sudan Aid Project Compilation released
22^nd November 2004
The Afrobeat Sudan Aid Project (ASAP), which aims to provide support and raise awareness about the crisis in Darfur Sudan, have released a compilation album. The album includes music from afrobeat's biggest stars including Tony Allen, Antibalas, Akoya Afrobeat Ensemble, Dele Sosimi, Wunmi, Ikwunga, Keziah Jones, Frank Biyong and Massak.

Daniel Gannaway rails against student debt
18^th November 2004
New Zealand independent folksinger Daniel Gannaway has released a new album, Darling One Year. It includes the track Student Debt Sucks: "And all your talk of student debt/Increasingly exponentially/It's no wonder that you leave/If they just wanted to make money/Why didn't they say so?/Instead of lending you astray/Then saying you can't escape to/Somewhere you can make a dent/Against a growing debt/It's like a mortgage tied right around your young young neck".

Troubled Times from Holcombe Waller
18^th November 2004
Troubled Times is the new album from San Franciscan independent singer-songwriter Holcombe Waller. The album includes the tracks Troubles Times, Literally the End of the World and No Enemy: "When the terror reached our shore/With no war and nothing to kill for/You saw the enemy coming/You saw the enemy coming/But there is no enemy, Condoleezz."

Xzibit  to release Weapons of Mass Destruction
18^th November 2004
West coast rapper Xzibit is to release his fifth album, Weapons of Mass Destruction. The 16-track album includes State of the Union in which Xzibit takes direct aim at George W. Bush, comparing him with the violent terrorists he often rails against and Cold World in which he comments on the war in Iraq.

Papa Dish releases post-election song
17^th November 2004
Progressive folksinger Papa Dish has written and recorded a new song lamenting the outcome of the US Presidential election. Livin' in a Red State with the Blue State Blues reflects on the election victory of George W. Bush: "Voting is over/You can't believe your ears/We're going down the drain/Now they're saying four more years/But the people all around you/Don't know what they've got to lose/Cause you're living in a red state/With the blue state blues".

Colorado high school talent show turns political
16^th November 2004
A Colorado high school talent show generated controversy following complaints from some parents that a trio of students planned to use a Bob Dylan song to express their wish for the death of President Bush. The school band, known as the Coalition of the Willing, intended to perform the Bob Dylan anti-war song, Masters of War. The 1963 song ends with the lyrics, "And I hope that you die and your death'll come soon. I will follow your casket in the pale afternoon. And I'll watch while you're lowered down to your deathbed. And I'll stand o'er your grave 'til I'm sure that you're dead." Threatening the president is a federal crime and the Secret Service was called to the school to investigate.

Queen of Haitian song releases new album
16^th November 2004
Emeline Michel, the so-called Queen of Haitian song has released a new album, Rasin Krevol. Her music intertwines the roots of Haitian music with political and social themes. The album includes the track Nasyon Soley (Sun Nation): "We don't want to die before our children can see our country back on its feet. We don't want to die without going back to Haiti no no no".

Nas and Kelis get political on American Way
12^th November 2004
New York MC Nas has teamed up with fiancé Kelis on his forthcoming double album, Street's Discipline, to address the state of American politics. The song, American Way, discusses the recent influx of voters to the polls. According to Nas, "We talk about America all of a sudden jumping on the bandwagon of politics out of fear. Our point is, if we were concerned and educated about politics beforehand, maybe we would have stopped Bush from ever getting into office."

Norwegian rap group face charges over alleged Bush threat
11^th November 2004
A Norwegian rap group is facing criminal charges for setting up a website called www.killhim.nu that urged web surfers to offer money towards a bounty on U.S. President George W. Bush. The website stated, "Shooting this man is not just self defence, but is the only reasonable thing to do." Washington's Oslo embassy filed a police complaint against the rap group Gatas Parlament (translated as Street Parliament) accusing them of threatening President Bush. The website has been shut down and in its place is a copy of the police order closing down the site.

Camper Van Beethoven return with protest album
11^th November 2004
Camper Van Beethoven's first album in a decade, New Roman Times, tells the story of a young Texan who volunteers for military service after a catastrophic attack on the United States. He is sent to fight abroad, loses a limb and returns home with his life shattered. The album includes the tracks Civil Disobedience and Hey Brother - a haunting tune about suicide bombers.

Blues Explosion collaborate with hip-hop veteran
11^th November 2004
Blues Explosion, formerly known as The John Spencer Blues Explosion, have released a new album entitled Damage. The album includes the anti-war track Hot Gossip featuring Public Enemy's Chuck D and the late Elliott Smith.

Republican Party victory song recorded
11^th November 2004
Dr Bruce L. Thiessen, aka Dr BLT, has released his official Bush victory song, We're Havin' a Republican Party! He recently released the CD, Right-wingers Need Love Too! which included the tracks FahrenHYPE 9/11, Saddam is a Weapon of Mass Destruction, Never bin Laden and The Kerry Flip-Flop. His most recent song celebrates the re-election of U.S. President George W. Bush: "We're havin' a Republican party/We're celebratin' victory tonight/We're celebratin' winnin' the election/And everyone's invited/On the right."

Album of Korean political song released
10^th November 2004
Noraeleul Chatneun Saramdeul or Nochatsa (which translates to People Searching for Songs) were a collective of more than 150 Koreans who recorded political songs between 1984 to 1996. Two and Three is a double album of songs the organization performed - protest songs sung by dissidents and sung at rallies. These protest songs never spoke directly of political parties and presidents, but were metaphors and folk tales to describe heroes overcoming obstacles.

Ross Golan and Molehead release political debut
10^th November 2004
Reagan Baby is the 13-track debut album from Ross Golan and Molehead. The 13-track album includes the songs Revolutionist featuring a spoken word intro from Reagan himself; Move which touches on Arafat, the Inquisition, the Holocaust and the Six Day War and M.I.A: "Face it, like Oswald woke the nation/Osama woke my generation/Now the kids of Nintendo/If drafted will attend the/Bush administration family agenda/Of bending back hands and sending children/Attacking Iraqi lands and building/So Cheney can rebuild for 200 billion/They'll disarm the regime but not the children."

Live Aid: The Greatest Show on Earth DVD released
9th November 2004
Warner Vision International is proud to announce that the biggest concert in Rock n' Roll history, Live Aid, has been released on DVD worldwide. The unforgettable global event, staged in London and Philadelphia on Saturday 13th July 1985, was watched on television by over 1.5 billion people around the world. These concerts led to pledged donation and royalties of over $140 million towards the devastating famine in Africa.

Song criticising South African fat cats
9^th November 2004
The Durban band, The Burlesque Supergroup, have penned a song about a former financial advisor to South Africa's Deputy President Jacob Zuma, who recently pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud and corruption. Millionaire businessman Schabir Shaik is accused of making improper payments to Mr Zuma of more than $150,000 in an effort to secure business contracts. The song was written by Supergroup frontman, Richard Walne, and deals with the political demise of former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni, with the chorus dedicated to Shaik: "Fat cats in Parliament/In trouble all over again/But it doesn't matter as long as you're in with/Another fat cat who knows you name/Some come on - get it right!/Shaik a leg - Shaik, Shaik it tight!/Don't be a fool - even if you are."

Joint Israeli-Palestinian radio station launched
8^th November 2004
All For Peace is Israel's newly launched joint Israeli-Palestinian radio station. The name for All For Peace in Hebrew - Kol Hasholom - sounds exactly like the Hebrew equivalent of the legendary and new defunct The Voice of Peace pirate radio station operated by Israeli peace activist Abie Nathan in the 1970s and 80s. It had a similar co-existence message.

Lyrical Swords: Hip Hop and Politics in the Mix
1^st November 2004
Adisa "The Bishop of Hip-Hop" Banjoko is one of the San Francisco Bay Area's pioneering hip-hop journalists. He has recently published his new, self-published book, Lyrical Swords: Hip Hop and Politics in the Mix. The book offers concrete suggestions on how hip-hops fans can forge a political movement from the culture.

Bookman tackles Bush administration in new song
1^st November 2004
Stepping Razor by reggae artist Bookman is a song which criticises the entire Bush administration and particularly Colin Powell, who is described as a republican who "went from a strong Black man to George Bush's little slut." When asked why such a harsh stance was taken against Colin Powell, Bookman replied, " Well I am a Jamaican and he is of Jamaican heritage, so I hold him to a much higher standard than I do Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld or Rice." The song originally appeared on the album, Any Type War, released in December 2003.

Rock with John Kerry
1^st November 2004
Rock With Kerry is a website which lets people download instrumental tracks from U.S. Presidential Candidate John Kerry's 1961 recording with the Electras, record their own lyrics and post them on the site. Current entries include Kerry in 2004 by Daniel McKenzie, Talking 'Bout John Kerry by Mirror Lake and Times Are Changing by Sight: "I know times are changing and I know what you're craving/Its someone you can believe in/To help lead us to our dream - the American Dream."

Country music star releases song in support of U.S. troops
1^st November 2004
Due to an overwhelming response from U.S. military troops overseas, country music star Chely Wright has released a recording of her song, Bumper Of My S.U.V. The song, written by Wright, is about the need for Americans to continue supporting the men and women fighting the war on terror. The lyrics describe a U.S. Marine Corps stickers on Wright's S.U.V. which she describes as a tribute to her brother, Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Wright. The lyrics describe Wright's real-life experience when another motorist responded to the sticker with an obscene gesture.

The Right Brothers release new album
1^st November 2004
Conservative country duo, the Right Brothers, have released a new album entitled For My Country which includes the tracks This Ain't Your Daddy's Party, Freedom Is Not Free, I Want My Country Back and The Waffle House: "Last night I had a nightmare/John Kerry was president/He was talking on TV/From his brand new residence/The press was all around him/They were hanging on every word."

Rappers to help homelessness
29^th October 2004
Kayne West, Common, Musiq, and the X-ecutioners are to perform at The New Life Project Inaugural Concert on November 5th at the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC. The concert is to celebrate the launch of the New Life Project, an organisation whose goal is to end homelessness in the United States. The artists will create and perform original songs based on the poems and stories of people who have faced the reality of homelessness.

Band Aid III charity single to be released
29th October 2004
The founders of Band Aid, the 1984 charity effort that raised millions for Ethiopian famine relief, are planning a new version of the single Do They Know It's Christmas. The all-star effort will involve members of bands such as Coldplay, Travis, Keane and the Darkness. The song's original writers and Band Aid protagonists, Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, are involved in the project.

Takin' My Country Back
29th October 2004
Takin' My Country Back is a song by David Kent written for the Honky Tonkers For Truth - a group of Nashville music industry professional who support American troops overseas and believe in family, faith and freedom. They say the songs of Toby Keith, Charlie Daniels, Darryl Worley and others give the false impression that everyone in country music supports the current administration: "I'm takin' my country back/Son, you ain't been doin' her right/Oh I been watchin' you and I don't like/How you've been treating' my stars and stripes/You took our jobs and sent 'wm overseas/Now we owe billions to the Red Chinese/You blew the budget and you botched Iraq/So I'm takin' my country back.

A Perfect Circle release political album in time for U.S. election
28th October 2004
Art-metal band, A Perfect Circle, have released a political album entitled eMOTIVe - a collection of songs about war, peace and greed. All the tracks, except two, are covers including Nick Lowe's What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding, Marvin Gaye's What's Goin' On, Black Flag's Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie and Fear's Let's Have a War.

Political song from James McMurty
28th October 2004
Texas singer-songwriter James McMurty has released a political track entitled Can't Make It Here: "Vietnam Vet with a cardboard sign/Sitting there by the left turn line/Flag on the wheelchair flapping in the breeze/One leg missing, both hands free/No one paying much mind to him/The V.A. budget's stretched so thin/And there's more comin' home from the Mideast war/We can't make it here anymore."

Protest song-a-thon to coincide with US election
27th October 2004
In an attempt to mark the United States election, Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter and Acoustic Idols runner-up, David Ferrard brings to Edinburgh Songs for Change, the city's first protest song-a-thon. The event will run for 12 hours, from noon to midnight, on the United States Election Day. Host Ferrard will be joined by an array of incredible local and international talent including Acoustic Idols winner Hannah O'Reilly, runner-up Electic White Boy, SL records signees The 55's, award-winning Candaian singer-songwriter Sara Kamin, and many more of Edinburgh's top musicians. According to Ferrard, "To give Bush another four years at the reigns of the world's superpower is just too dangerous and depressing a prospect. If the world could vote, Bush wouldn't even be on the ballot." Songs for Change will be held on Tuesday November 2nd at the Forest Cafe, 3 Bristo Place. Edinburgh.

Brakemen released protest song
27th October 2004
Detroit rock 'n' roll band, the Brakemen, has released a single entitled Taking Down King George. The song tackles the subject of George W. Bush using King George III as a metaphorical template.

Eminem anti-Bush video leaked
27th October 2004
A video for Eminem's anti-George W. Bush anthem, Mosh, has appeared online. The video starts with a commercial airliner flying over a school and exploding off-screen. Then it shows Eminem in a school reading a book to the class, as Bush was doing in the minutes following the September 11th attacks. The book Eminem is reading is upside down. The video also includes cartoon footage of soldiers being given their orders to go to Iraq, a women given an eviction notice and various clippings about the war. More information

Political parody from Former Lt. Governor of Nevada
27th October 2004
Former Lt. Governor of Nevada Lonnie L. Hammargren, M.D., has released a political parody in time for the U.S. presidential election. The song entitled Who's the Mule? is adapted from the song Mule Train by Ernie Ford and Frankie Laine: "I want to sing a song about a senator from Boston/In a presidential race with a cowboy out of Austin/The senator shifts positions, quick as hurricanes change directions/A wind called Busssshhh...(wind), Kerry shifts again." More information

Politician Rapper Volume One released
26th October 2004
Californian politician turned rapper, David Munoz, has released his debut album Politician Rapper Volume One. The 13-track album includes the songs A People's History, Revolution, I'm Just One Man Doing What I Can and Hail To the Thief: "Since you stole your seat, look at how badly rich people cheat/Just look at Enron and I ain't even got to Saddam/Come on, look at the mess we're in, you made another Vietnam/Couldn't even walk home after your inauguration/Too many people demonstratin', I smell bacon..." More information

Political hip-hop from Sierra Leone
26th October 2004
Socially conscious hip-hop artist Daddy Saj has released a new album entitled Densay Densay (Rumours, Rumours) which aims to change attitudes to sexual harassment. According to Sierra Leonean Daddy Saj, women in Sierra Leone have no choice but to sleep with their employers to keep their jobs. Saj shot to fame last year with his album Corruption e do so, meaning in Krio, Corruption - Enough Is Enough. According to Daddy Saj, "Music brought peace to Sierra Leone. During the war all our songs were based on peace, reconciliation, love and unity. Then we had peace. Now there is another war, which is corruption."

Kenyan musicians oppose corruption in new CD
26th October 2004
Love Rhythms are Kenyan musicians Tim Love and Ben Katana. Their new single is entitled Ufisadi Hatutaki. The musicians have joined the anti-corruption crusade and claim the song is about corruption, its origins and consequences. They will be distributing their CD free of charge. Love Rhythms have all released a song entitled Uncle Moody, in which they pay tribute to Vice-President Moody Awori's conciliatory and politically mature style.

13 Ways to Live benefit album released
25th October 2004
Conceived in Austin, 13 Ways to Live is a new CD created in response to the Iraq war. The album was compiled by Screen Door Music and features Austin's most prominent singers and songwriters including Abra Moore, Jack Ingram, David Berwald, Alejandro Escovedo, Eliza Gilkyson, Bukka Allen, Richard Buckner, Will Sexton, Screen Door Music and Butch Hancock with the track Damage Done: "Oil rigs elections/And oil stains our hands/Soon we'll have a mighty pipeline flowing/Across Afghanistan/One day in hell two towers fell/What's lost can never be won/By war on war adding terror to/The damage done." All proceeds will benefit the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation. More information

Political song from Rilo Kiley
25th October 2004
Los Angeles indie group Rilo Kiley have released their third album, More Adventurous, which includes the track It's A Hit: "Any chimp can play human for a day/Use his opposable thumbs to iron his uniform/And run for office on election day/Fancy himself a real decision maker/And deploy more troops than salt shakers." More information

Who Rules the World?
25th October 2004
Canadian musician Nathan Sloniowski has recorded an anti-Bush track which appears on his forthcoming album, No Wicked For the Rest. The song is described as Nathan's contribution to the de-elect George campaign: "Ahkmed's lookin' for his home/Three kids and a wife in a pile of rubble/And the Yankees just gave the word/The towers are on fire and there's gonna be trouble/And I'm just sittin' here/Watchin' it all from my solid-state bubble." More information

Slam Bush: The Official Mixtape released
25th October 2004
Hard Knock Records, in association with Slam Bush National Rhyme Contest, Hard Knock Radio, The League of Pissed Off Votes PAC, Free Range Graphics and UMA Production, presents Slam Bush: The Official Mixtape. The CD contains 29 rare and exclusive tracks featuring the 24 year old National Slam Bush Rhyme Competition Champion and Pittsburgh native, Vanessa German, with her track Thank You Poem to George Mutha F*cking Bush. More information

Concerts for Change presents Kerry Rising!
25th October 2004
Concerts for Change presents Kerry Rising: The Music of Bruce Springsteen with John Wesley Harding, Marshall Crenshaw, Martha Redbone, Richard Barone, David Poe, Lee DeLaria and many more. The show will include two special guests: John Kerry's bandmates in his high school garage-rock band, The Electras - Guitarists Larry Rand and John Prouty. More information

Eminem gets political on new album
22nd October 2004
Detroit rapper Eminem has included a Dr. Dre-produced track entitled Mosh on his forthcoming album, Encore. Mosh criticises U.S. President George W. Bush: "Maybe we can reach Al-Qaida through my speech/Let the President answer on high anarachy/Strap him with AK-47, let him go/Fight his own war, let him impress daddy that way/No more blood for oil, we got our own battle to fight on our soil/No more psychological warfare to trick us to think that we ain't loyal." More information

Ted Nugent records anti-Kerry song
22nd October 2004
US Republican Ted Bugent has recorded a new single entitled Stand which criticises Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry: "I don't need John Kerry to wipe my ass/Don't need Ted Kennedy to spill my glass/Al Not So Sharpton is a horses ass/Redistribution is a f***ing laugh/I don't need nobody to hold my hand/Don't need nobody, I can stand/Make it on my own in a Rock-n-Roll band/Kiss my American ass I'm a Republican". More information

Blues track questions Iraq war
22nd October 2004
Blues musician Billy Perry has released a new album, Raw Deal, which includes the track Terrorists: "Why are we fighting this crazy war/I think it's oil, oil and greed/I think young George is trying to fill Daddy's deeds." More information

Anti-Bush track samples Super Freak
22nd October 2004
David Boyle has recorded an anti-Bush rap track entitled George W. Pussy. The track denounces Bush's foreign and domestic policies and samples Rick James' Super Freak, which was also used by MC Hammer for his track U Can't Touch This: "George W. Pussy is your name/Cat in the dunce hat, you're the one to blame/Not to mention the election you robbed/And how come y'all lost three million jobs/Of course, I love Americans too/God knows I love them more than you." More information

Political track on new Elliott Smith album
21st October 2004
From a Basement on a Hill is Elliott Smith's posthumously released album. It includes the track A Distorted Reality is Now a Necessity to be Free and includes the lyrics: "You disappoint me/You people rakin' in on the world" and "It's so disappointing, first I put it all down to luck/God know why my country don't give a f*ck". More information

Political hip-hop EP released
21st October 2004
Lateef & The Chief a.k.a. Maroons have released a new EP entitled Ambush. On this collaboration, they turn battle rhymes into statements of peace and celebrate survival and solidarity. Ambush includes the overtly political track If: "If power and greed didn't tempt it/Maybe our leaders would be positive and productive/Instead of conniving, deceitful and corrupted/Caught up by a love of dollars so seductive/If government wasn't enmeshed with big business/Maintaining its status and stretching its limits/Forsakin' religion and educatin' the children/Maybe society wouldn't be so sick." More information

Hip-hop tracks aim to raise political awareness
21st October 2004
Om Records and J Boogie's Dubtronic Science have released You're the Murdera, a new single available for free download to help raise political awareness in America. The track, which also features Deuce Eclipse, Tony Moses and Zion-I, is taken from J Boogie's Dubtronic Science new album Live! In the Mix. The song includes the lyrics: "Now there's a war going on across this scene, George Bush dropped the bombs, while the cops watch me." More information

Campaign song against Bush's environmental record
21st October 2004
The 1962 hit song, Monster Mash, by Bobby Boris Pickett has been re-recorded on behalf of the Campaign to Protect America's Lands and Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund. The new version of the song, Monster Slash, has been recorded with new lyrics to demonstrate opposition to the Bush administration's plans to permit logging, mining and other commercial exploitation of roadless federal forest areas. The song is available online with an animation depicting the President, along with Vice President Dick Cheney and other administration figures, as despoilers of the environment. More information

Tell Us The Truth tour CD and DVD released
20th October 2004
The Tell Us The Truth tour campaigned on issues such as the forthcoming US presidential elections and the dangers of media consolidation in the States. An audio CD, Tell Us The Truth - The Live Concert Recording and companion DVD, Tell Us The Truth - The Documentary have been released. The recordings feature Billy Bragg, Tom Morello (as the Nightwatchman), Mike Mills of REM, Steve Earle, Lester Chambers, Boots Riley, Jill Sobule, and other performing in the United States in November 2003. More information

Song to help fight poverty and HIV/Aids
19th October 2004
Some of Africa's most famous musicians are releasing a song to help fight poverty and HIV/Aids. The song - We Are The Drums - is part of an initiative by the United Nations to accelerate the achievement of Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Salif Keita, Youssou N'dour, Chiwoniso, Acheng' Abura, Malouma, Meiway and Baaba Maal are among the African stars who have contributed to the track. More information

VH1 presents 25 Greatest Protest Songs
19th October 2004
VH1 presents 25 Greatest Protest Songs hosted and narrated by John Mellencamp. VH1 and Mellencamp salute the songs that made a difference and the artists who raised awareness through music. Interviews include David Crosby, Chuck D, Steve Earle, Moby, Tom Morello, Graham Nash, Henry Rollins, Ann Coulter, Al Franken, Janeane Garofolo, Bill Maher and Ben Stein. Featured songs include Black Eyed Peas' Where Is the Love, Bob Dylan's Blowin' in the Wind, Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA, Marvin Gaye's What's Goin' On, Public Enemy's Fight the Power, System of a Down's Boom!, U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday and many more. The programme will be broadcast on October 20th at 23.00.

New political song from John Mellencamp
19th October 2004
Words & Music collects 35 of John Mellencamp's biggest hits along with two new songs, Thank You and his new single Walk Tall: "The simple minded/And the uninformed/Can be easily led astray/And those that cannot connect the dots/They look the other way/People believe what they want to believe/When it makes no sense at all/So be careful of those killing in Jesus' name/He don't believe in killing at all." More information

Benefit album for Aung San Suu Kyi
19th October 2004
U2, Avril Lavigne, R.E.M. and Pearl Jam are among the artists donating tracks to a benefit album for Aung San Suu Kyi, an imprisoned Burmese humanitarian. For the Lady: Dedicated to Freeing Aung San Suu Kyi and the Courageous People of Burma is due for release on October 26th. The double album's final track, Tempest of Blood, was written by a jailed student activist for democracy in Burma (also known as Myanmar). Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest by Burma's repressive junta for the past 14 years. Proceeds from the sale of the album will benefit the non-profit organization U.S. Campaign for Burma. More information

The Music get political on new album
19th October 2004
The Music's second album, Welcome to the North, includes the track Bleed From Within: "I'd like to know what I'm fighting for/I've not reason to die/I said I'd like to know what I'm fighting for/Before I die/You give him the gun/And tell him to take a life/I said I'm not ready to do that baby/I'm not ready to do that baby." More information

How your band can fire Bush
19th October 2004
Damian Kulash, frontman for the Chicago four-piece OK Go has written How Your Band Can Fire Bush - a guide for bands to take part in the election process: "As a musician, you are the loudest, most effective voice that the political left has. No one else comes face to face with the progressive and left-leaning citizens of this country every day. No one. Think about it. Conservatives speak to their followers at church every week. They have an immensely powerful voice through right-wing radio. Liberals have nothing like this, except you. You are it. You see them every night, you speak to them on the radio and in magazine, you are on their television sets. They trust you and they look up to you." More information

Good Charlotte reflect on soldiers in Iraq
19th October 2004
Pop-punk band, Good Charlotte, have released the single We Believe about the death of an American woman's son in Iraq and those who made the decisions to send her son to war. The single is taken from the band's new album, The Chronicles of Life and Death: "There's a woman crying out tonight/Her world has changed/She asked God why/Her only son has died/Now her daughter cries/She can't sleep at night" and "Downtown another day for all the suits and ties/Another war to fight/There's no regard for life/How can they sleep at night?/How can we make things right?" More information

Sum 41 dedicate new album to UN worker
18th October 2004
Canadian punk band Sum 41 have named their new album, Chuck, as a tribute to Chuck Pelletier, a United Nations worker who guided the group out of the civil-war torn Congo in May, after the group had gone over to help make a documentary film for the War Child organization. According to Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley, "About a week into it, fighting broke out between a rebel group and the Congolese army. We got caught directly in the middle of it; we were in a hotel that was right on the road where the battle was being fought, and our hotel was getting hit with stray bullets and mortars. We were stuck there for about a day and a half and we were joking around with him, saying 'Chuck, if you save us, we'll name the record after you.'" More information

Immortal Technique to release new album
18th October 2004
Immortal Technique is due to release a new album in March 2005 entitled The Middle Passage in a partnership between Viper Records and Babygrande Records. Babygrande CEO Chuck Wilson said, "In these trying times of war, terrorism, and world-wide instability, Immortal Technique is an important artist not only for hip-hop fans, but for the world." Babygrande and Viper are also in discussions about the release of a DVD documentary about Immortal Technique's life and experiences as a hip-hop artist. More information

Labour party allowed to use Fat Boy Slim track
18^th October 2004
The British Labour Party has angered Fatboy Slim and Skint records by using Norman Cook's Right Here, Right Now are their election anthem. Fatboy and Skint are powerless stop Tony Blair from using this track as political parties are not required to obtain any special permission from the artist. Cook is reported to have said, "I am anti-war and I don't trust Blair. I don't want anyone to think that I support him. I can't believe somebody can use it to promote a political party without my permission."

The Love of Richard Nixon
18^th October 2004
In a return to their incendiary political roots, Welsh rock band, The Manic Street Preachers turn their sights on Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal. The song is a sardonic homage to the disgraced politician and is taken from the Manic's latest album, Lifeblood.

Fred Wreck produces new anti-Bush track
14^th October 2004
The S.T.O.P. Movement 2 - Dear Mr President is a new anti-Bush track produced by Fred Wreck. (S.T.O.P stands for Stop the Oppressive Politics) The track features Mobb Deep, KRS-One, Everlast, Alchemist, WC, Mack 10, B-Real of Cyress Hill, Defari and Dilated Peoples. The chorus: Dear Mr. President, the world has gone astray/Brothers are dying they won't live to see today/Was it all worth it, you had to lie to get your way/Blood's thicker than water, what a price we had to pay.

Estrada launches campaign with a song
14^th October 2004
Ousted Philippines President Joseph Estrada launched his Revolution Against Hunger campaign to fight hunger among poor Filipinos with a song he composed while in detention on charges of economic plunder. The song, If We Plant, was adapted from a popular folk song, Planting Rice is Never Fun.

Wyclef releases new political single
13^th October 2004
Wyclef has released a new single entitled President in the run up to the U.S. presidential election. The single is taken from his recently released album Welcome to Haiti Creole 101 and according to Wyclef, "'President' is more than just a critique of the current political and social environment. It's a message to young people about the importance of making their voices heard by voting and educating themselves about issues that affect their lives."

Big Big World: Glasgow's Festival of World Music
12^th October 2004
2004 marks the tenth anniversary of South Africa becoming a democracy after a long struggle by its people. Music was at the heart of that struggle and to celebrate a decade of the new South Africa, this year Big Big World is proud to devote its opening weekend to three musicians who help to provide the musical heartbeat that continues to inspire South Africans and give them optimism for the future. Singer Miriam Makeba has been an inspiration since her rise to prominence in the early 1960s. Guitarist Louis Mhlanga, although born in Zimbabwe, played a crucial role in many South African bands, including Hugh Masekela's group. And we can think of no figure who promises more strength for the future of South African music than Pops Mohamed, a multi-instrumentalist who has travelled from the townships to genuine world musicians status. The Centre for Political Song will also be contributing events to this year's Big Big World programme.

Michael Jackson protests against Eminem video
12^th October 2004
The video for Eminem's controversial new track Just Lose It has been threatened to be withdrawn from Black Entertainment Television (B.E.T)'s schedule. The single mocks Michael Jackson about the child abuse allegations he is currently facing. One scene of the video shows Eminem dressed up like Jackson, sitting on a bed with boys jumping in the background. The lyric says "Come here little kiddie, on my lap. Guess who's back with a brand new rap? And I don't mean rap, as in a case of child molestation".

New CD aims to help stop genocide in Sudan
11^th October 2004
Waxploitation Records have released Genocide in Sudan, a benefit album to aid the more than one million victims of genocide and famine in Sudan, with all proceeds going to the United Nations Relief Agency and UNICEF. The album includes tracks donated by Jurassic 5, X-ecutioners, Jill Scott, System of a Down, Yoko Ono, Gorillaz, DJ Spooky, Danger Mouse & Murs, Toors and The Maytals and others.

Anti-Bush mixtape released
11^th October 2004
The Young Democrats of America (YDA), the official youth arm of the Democratic Party, in association with the League of Pissed Off Voters, the League of Hip Hop Voters, MoveOn Student Action and National Stonewall Democrats, have linked up with DJ Green Lantern to release Sirius Bizness, a new mixtape hosted by Eminem. The 24-track mixtape includes Bin Laden by DJ Green Lantern featuring Mos Def.

Yo La Tengo record song urging people to vote
11^th October 2004
Underground rock band Yo La Tengo have joined Chris Stamey to record a song entitled V.O.T.E (Very Obvious Total Emergency) which features the lyrics: If you don't get out and vote this year/You're really not groovin'/It takes every one of us/To keep the country movin'/You can make it to the polls/You can get it together/Won't you meet me there?/We'll vote/We can make things better/V-O-T-E: Vote!

Bob Dylan's memoirs published
11^th October 2004
Chronicles: Volume One is a candid memoir that pulls the veil of mystique from pop culture's reluctant icon. This is the first volume of the three-volume memoir of one of the greatest musical legends of all time. Dylan takes us back to the early 1960's when he arrived in New York to launch his career. This is Dylan's story in his own words - a personal view of his motivations, frustrations and creativity.

Punk: a True and Dirty Tale
11^th October 2004
The Hospital, in London's Covent Garden, presents its new exhibition Punk: a True and Dirty Tale. The show is a journey through the most significant points in Punk music's history and contains unforgettable elements that made up a culture that shocked society: outrageous fashion from SEX and Seditionaries, Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren's shop; posters from Sid and Nancy's Chelsea Hotel room; handwritten lyrics from Never Mind The Bollocks; rare examples of the Sex Pistols graphic designer Jamie Reid. The Cinema at the Hospital will be hosting a Punk inspired film series scheduled to run throughout the exhibition's duration.

Wilco get political at recent show
11^th October 2004
Jeff Tweedy and co found time to get political at a recent show, warning the crowd, "don't trust Republicans". The alt-country outfit finished the show with covers of Woody Guthrie's Christ for President and Bill Fae's Be Not So Fearful.

Independents 4 Kerry CD released
11^th October 2004
Independents 4 KerryThe multimedia CD features 10 songs from contemporary independent artists. The CD includes Only Human by Bluesativa; Lonely by Don-e; One of Those Days by Doud Segree and more. The CD is produced by CDs4Business, Inc.

Israeli rappers to tour the States
11^th October 2004
Hadag Nahash (Snake Fish) have announced a forthcoming tour in the U.S. The seven-member Jerusalem-based band will be on tour from October 15-28. Rap in Israel has become a popular medium for commenting on the country's political and social ails - from Hadag Nahash's biting left-wing commentary to Subliminal's notorious right-wing stance. Others include Mook E (ex-lead singer from Shabak Samech), Masika, Killa 6 and Sagol 59.

Songs about war: what are they good for?
11^th October 2004
Electing a new leader...at least that's what the anti-Bush, anti-war movement on America is hoping for. But can mixing pop and politics really bring on a revolt at the ballot box? Sunday HeraldThe investigates.

Manufacturing Dissent: New album from Tin Pot Operation
8^th October 2004
Tin Pot Operation are due to release a new album entitled Manufacturing Dissent which reflects on racism, terrorism, alienation, humanity and the media. Formed in the winter of 2003, the Belfast-born band have mixed lo-fi punk, rock, ska and indie.

Robert Wyatt releases new album
7^th October 2004
British musician Robert Wyatt, perhaps best known for his anti-Falklands war song Shipbuilding, has released a new album entitled Cuckooland. The album includes the track Lullaby to Hamza, which Wyatt wrote about Hamza al-Gahnem, a boy born on January 17th 1991, at the start of the first Gulf war: When the bombers bomb again/I need your lullaby/Fires are burning/The nightmare's begun/The world is dark again/I need your lullaby/Sleep has gone/Night is long again/Sing me your song/Let me sleep/Bring me peace.

Philip Glass organises civil liberties benefit concert
7^th October 2004
Composer Philip Glass has organised a benefit concert in New York in aid of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). ACLU is protesting against a U.S. Government demand that charities screen employees against being on a suspected terrorist "watch list". Non-compliance would result in a charity losing support in raising funds from government employees. Paul Simon and Patti Smith are supporting the campaign.

Dixie Lullaby: A Story of Music, Race and New Beginnings in a New South
7^th October 2004
Former Rolling Stone editor and MTV executive, Mark Kemp, traces the roots of Southern rock in U.S.A to one of the nation's cultural and historical touchstones - Martin Luther King's assassination in his new publication, Dixie Lullaby: A Story of Music, Race and New Beginnings in a New South.

Prince releases controversial music video
6^th October 2004
Prince has released a controversial music video depicting the discrimination of Arab Americans to accompany the release of his new song, Cinnamon Girl. The video depicts an Arab-American girl detonating herself in a crowded airport terminal on what looks like U.S. soil. The song reflects upon post 9/11 racial tension in the U.S.: Cinnamon girl mixed heritage/Never knew the meaning of color lines/9-11 turned that all around/When she got accused of this crime.

Musicians to speak at European Social Forum
5^th October 2004
The estranged Libertines guitarist, Pete Doherty, will join Billy Bragg, Martin Smith and Asian Dub Foundation's Pandit G at next weekend's European Social Forum in London. The artists will be discussing the relationship between protest movements, politics and music, from Leadbelly to Marvin Gaye to the 1970's Rock Against Racism and Love Music Hate Racism today.

Travis go busking for The Big Issue Scotland
5^th October 2004
Travis surprised fans when they started busking in Glasgow yesterday. The Scottish four piece turned up for an impromptu gig at Sauchiehall Street to raise money for the homeless charity, Big Issue Scotland.

Music Inspired by Fahrenheit 9/11
4^th October 2004
Music Inspired by Fahrenheit 9/11 is to be released on 5th October and includes the tracks I Am A Patriot by Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, The Revolution Starts Now by Steve Earle, We Want it All by Zach de la Rocha, live covers of Chimes of Freedom by Bruce Springsteen, Masters of War by Pearl Jam, Fortunate Son by John Fogerty.

Mixing Pop and Politics Conference
4^th October 2004
This weekend saw the second annual Mixing Pop and Politics Conference take place in Montreal alongside the Pop Montreal music festival. Founded last year in response to the lack of musical protest against the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Mixing Pop and Politics is a multi-faceted examination of popular music's important place in the struggle for human rights and democratic freedoms. Whereas last year's discussion was provoked by concern that popular music and popular protest has become disconnected, this year's conference is one encouraged by the widespread return of music with a message, and musicians speaking out for justice and human rights.

Vote for Change tour commences
4^th October 2004
The 10-day Vote for Change tour kicked off in Philadelphia on 1st October. The concert series, which includes for example Bruce Springsteen, Bright Eyes, John Fogerty and R.E.M, will raise money for America Coming Together (ACT), a pro-Democrat group which will use the money to mobilize voter registration for John Kerry. The first concert had overt political overtones with the set list including R.E.M's World Leader Pretend, Final Straw and Losing My Religion; Springsteen performed Born in the U.S.A, Badlands and No Surrender and was joined by Fogerty for a rendition of the Credence Clearwater Revival anti-war anthem, Fortunate Son. The show closed with the all the performers singing Patti Smith's People Have the Power.

Music for Sudan benefit CD
4^thth October 2004
In collaboration with the relief charity Concern, the Sunday Herald newspaper gave each reader a free Music for Sudan CD. The CD includes tracks donated from Belle and Sebastian, The Delgados, Teenage Fanclub, Arab Strap and more. Ten pence was added to the cover price of yesterday's edition of the Sunday Herald and that money will go directly to Concern to help fund their West Darfur Emergency Intervention Programme.

Former Stone Roses frontman gets political 
4^th October 2004
Former Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown has released a new solo album entitled Solarized. The album includes the tracks Kiss Ya Lips (No I.D.) in which he voices his concerns about the national ID card debate and Upside Down: 7% own 84% of all the wealth on earth/Oil is the spice to make a man forget a man's worth.

Damon Albarn lines up for CND
1^st October 2004
Blur frontman and vocal anti-war supporter, Damon Albarn is due to appear at CND's Protest and Survive club night in East London on 7th October. Albarn will perform a DJ set alongside renowned multi instrumentalist Remi Kabaka.

Poppa Chubby implores for peace, love and respect
1^st October 2004
New York blues musician Poppa Chubby has released a 12-track album of hard hitting, politically inspired songs with Peace, Love and Respect. The album includes the tracks Un-American Blues about upholding first amendment rights and Young Men which protests the plight of young people dying in the lust for oil and power and Peace: The eagle hides his head in shame/His sons are wicked and to blame/For genocide and poverty/They subjugate all humanity.

Talib Kweli continues the struggle
1^st October 2004
Talib Kweli has released his second solo album, The Beautiful Struggle, following the success of his 2001 debut Quality. The 14-track includes contributions from Common, Hi Tek, The Neptunes, Mary J.Blige and producer Kanye West. Controversy surrounded the release of the album following a well publicised internet leak. Kweli refers to the album's title, "Basically all that means is that you can't really appreciate struggle unless you see life's beauty. You can't have beauty without struggle." The album includes the track Going Hard: You say you never scared?/There's kids in other countries making jerseys, jeans and sneakers they can never wear/Parents never there.

Rev1 releases debut album
30^thth September 2004
Rev1 brings a strong social and political message to hip hop with the release of his debut album WMD. Taking on the criminal justice system, the music industry, the mainstream media and neo-conservatives, the focal point of the album is an intense resistance to the direction the United States is travelling, in policies and practices both foreign and domestic. With 14 tracks, WMD is a refreshing display of political knowledge and righteous indignation.

Le Tigre Protest the Bush War Presidency
30^th September 2004
Post-riot grrrl feminist electronic rockers, Le Tigre, have released the single New Kicks to express the anger of millions at the Bush administration's war presidency. The track, taken from the band's forthcoming third album This Island, expresses the band's dissatisfaction with Bush and the war in Iraq. It features samples of anti-war speeches by Susan Sarandon, Al Sharpton and others and includes simple messages such as "Peace now", "No Blood for oil" and "This is what democracy looks like, this is what democracy sounds like". The song is accompanied by a video, directed by Samuael Topiary, which includes footage of the February 15, 2003 anti-war protest in NYC.

No Child Left Behind CD released
30^th September 2004
No Child Left Behind? Bring Back the Joy is a 15 track album by professional folk singers, educators and children's choirs throughout the U.S. The album urges less emphasis on standardised testing and more freedom for teachers to teach. The album's first track entitled Save Our Schools is sung to the tune of Skip to My Lou: High-stakes testing, they push through/Herding students, teachers, too/Let our natural gifts show through/That's what they'll do for children/Save, save, save our schools.

Female emcee seeks truth in new release
30^th September 2004
Female emcee DAYZE has released an album entitled Truth Seeker which seeks to take listeners on a lyrical journey from the injustices of globalization, colonization, corporate and public surveillance to income tax protest. The album includes the tracks Watching Me (Surveillance), White African Teacher, Korporate Klimate, Respect the Struggle, Alien Race and more.

Kef for Kerry benefit concert
30^th September 2004
The Armenian-American community came out in support for the presidential campaign of John Kerry in an all-day music festival held in Franklin, Massachusetts, dubbed, Kef for Kerry (Kef is a type of Middle Eastern music). Combining a celebration of Armenian music and political activism, Armenstock 2004 touched on the importance of Armenian-Americans voting in the November 2nd election.

American Idiot - new album from Green Day
30^th September 2004
American Idiot is the new album from Green Day. The 13-track album has been described as a snapshot of American culture and includes Jesus of Suburbia, Letterbomb and the title track: "Don't wanna be an American idiot/Don't want a nation controlled by the media/Information nation of hysteria/It's going to out idiot America" and "I'm not part of a redneck agenda/Now everybody do the propaganda/And sing along in the age of paranoia/Welcome to a new kind of tension".

How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
30^th September 2004
How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is the title of the new album from Irish group U2. The album includes a cover of German band Kraftwerk's Neon Lights and new songs including Crumbs From Your Table, Yahweh and Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own. U2 frontman Bono, yesterday, addressed the Labour Party Conference in Brighton calling for action to combat the spread of AIDS and ease Africa's burden of debt.

Crosby, Stills and Nash release new political song
13^th September 2004
Crosby, Stills and Nash has written a new political song entitled Don't Dig Here about the U.S. federal government's plan to develop Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The song appears on the new album Crosby/Nash and also includes a haunting post 9/11 song entitled Half Your Angels.

Rock for Life lends support to Bush
13^th September 2004
Rock for Life is a project of American Life League, the largest pro-life educational organisation in U.S.A. The organisation is committed to offering the information on abortion, infanticide and euthanasia to America's youth through music and ministry.  Rock for Life have challenged the activities of Vote for Change, the liberal grassroots group who launched a concert tour in an effort to defeat President Bush in the forthcoming election.

Street Signs: new album from Ozomatli
13^th September 2004
Los Angeles music collective Ozomatli have released a new album entitled Street Signs. This is the third album from the group who have spent the last decade pushing political and musical boundaries with their unique blend of Latin rock, hip-hop and funk. Street Signs includes the tracks (Who Discovered) America and Who's To Blame which offers a probing look into the escalating problem of terrorism and unrest.

Controversial 9/11 song released
13^th September 2004
A new song about September 11th entitled Not in Vain revisits America's response to the tragedy. The song, performed by rap artist The Prophet MC, pays tribute to the lives lost and examines American foreign policy: They must hate us so much 'cause they're jealous of our wealth and might/And now because we let a half million kids due by our sanctions oversight/After 9-11, we can relate to a nation's painful call/And if we respond like in New York, they'll see heaven through us all. The song can be downloaded for free at www.heartherevolution.com.

Common endorses political candidate
13^th September 2004
Conscious rapper Common has endorsed U.S. Senate nominee Barack Obama in his remix of the Jadakiss track Why?: Why is Bush acting like he trying to get Osama? Why don't we impeach him and elect Obama? Jadakiss stirred controversy with the original release of Why by asking: Why did Bush know down the towers?

Bush Trashers compilation album released
13^th September 2004
Bush Trashers compilation album includes 11 songs written and performed by independent artists Kid Mercury, MC Frontalot, Pat Humphries and Sandy O, David Yarborough, The Bots, Coiler, Jynkz, John McCutcheon and Papa dish. Bush Trashers are opposed to everything Bush and his administration stand for and symbolize.

Lullabies from the Axis of Evil
13^th September 2004
Lullabies from the Axis of Evil is a collaborative work from women around the world making a statement of hope and peace. The album contains 14 lullabies from Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan and Cuba. Each lullaby is presented in its original form and includes a western interpretation in English sung by Nina Hagen (Germany), Eddie Reader (Scotland), Lila Downs (USA) and more.

Two albums related to Fahrenheit 911 to be released
10th September 2004
Michael Moore has struck deals with two record companies to release two Fahrenheit 911 theme albums prior to the U.S. presidential election. Sony BMG will release a compilation of artists whom Moore said provided motivation to him and his crew whilst making the film. It includes new songs from Zach de la Rocha and Nightwatchman, an alter ego of Tom Morello, the former Rage Against the Machine guitarist and songs from Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, the Clash, System of a Down and Jeff Buckley. Warner Music is set to release a soundtrack of the film's score and several songs used in the film, including Neil Young's Rockin' in the Free World and R.E.M's Shiny Happy People.

New album from Sage Francis
10^th September 2004
Independent rapper Sage Francis gained notoriety with his single Makeshift Patriot, released a month after September 11th and an indictment of post 9/11 politics and media coverage. Sage followed up with Hey Bobby, an update of Bob Dylan's war protest Masters of War, as the war on Iraq commenced. His new album is entitled A Healthy Distrust and will feature collaborations with Reanimator, Alias, Dangermouse, Will Oldham and more. The album is due for release in February 2005.

Two protest songs from Roger Waters released
7^th September 2004
Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters has released two new songs to protest the war in Iraq. Leaving Beirut is a 12 1/2 minute epic: Are these the people that we should bomb/Are we so sure they mean us harm/Is this our pleasure, punishment or crime/IS this a mountain that we really want to climb/The road is hard, hard and long/Put down that two by four/This man would never turn you from his door/Oh George! Oh George/That Texas education must have f*cked you up when you were very small. To Kill The Child which describes as 'a timely reminder of a world run by corporations, religions and fanatics': Take this child and hold him closely/Keep him safe from the holy reign of terror/Take this child hold him closely/Take this child to the moral high ground/Where he can look down on the bigots and bully boys/Slugging it out in the yard.

One Nation Under God
7^th September 2004
SRM Records presents One Nation Under One God - a 2 CD compilation of patriotic music. Proceeds go to the Mission of Freedom Alliance, an organisation to help support the troops in Iraq as well as their families back home.

Sunday in the Park Without George
7^th September 2004
Sunday in the Park Without George is a benefit concert dedicated to bringing about real change in the White House. The event is taking place on Sunday 12th September with Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Will Durst and other special guests. All money raised will be directed to MoveOnPAC's 50 For The Future Campaign to help elect Kerry/Edwards.

Documentary of 'Black Woodstock' reissued
6^th September 2004
Dubbed the "black Woodstock" in some circles, on August 20th, 1972, some 112,000 people turned out at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for a celebration of African American music, culture and pride. The event was Wattstax, and a feature documentary of the same name with clips from the concert, which included performances from the Staple Singers, Isaac Hayes, the Bar-Kays, Albert King, Johnnie Taylor and others, is being re-released.

Siren songs of the Counter Culture
6^th September 2004
Siren Songs of the Counter Culture is the new album from Chicago's political punk band Rise Against. The album includes the disgruntled anthem Life Less Frightening: I don't ask for much/Truth be told I'd settle for a life less frightening; the political song Anywhere But Here: We've been alright up until now/But the air that we breathe is about to run out and Give It All, which appeared on Rock Against Bush Vol. 1.

War Crime Blues
6^th September 2004
War Crime Blues is the new album from Texas based singer-songwriter Chris Whitley. The album includes a version of The Call Up by the Clash - a moving solicitation of dissent directed at the young sacrificed in military misadventures. It also includes his own material such as Invisible Day and War Crime Blues, which envision an endless, open-ended war without victors.

Stealing of a Nation
6^th September 2004
The third album from agit-prop New Yorkers Radio 4, Stealing Of A Nation, , wears its political affiliation on its sleeve, the title referring explicitly to George W Bush's 2000 election win and the war in Iraq. The album includes the track State of Alert about bogus terrorism warnings.

Peace Not War: volume two released
3^rd September 2004
The second Peace Not War CD will be released on October 4th to rock the White House before the election. Selected from 500 submissions and aimed at a youth market, this compilation redefines protest music for the 21st century: non-stop funky beats on one disc, fat guitars on the other, with deep and inspiring lyrics throughout. Produced and funded independently by a small collective of non-partisan peace activists and musicians (not a record label), the CDs are sold by peace groups to raise funds and retail in record stores in 21 countries.

Iranian rapper releases socially conscious album
3^rd September 2004
Iranian rapper Shahkar Binesh-Pajooh has released an album entitled Eskenas (Persian for banknote) which  focuses on the malaise of poverty in the country: No one is born a thief, but you cannot find a loaf of bread at night.

Politically-charged EP from Will Hoge
3^rd September 2004
Will Hoge has released The America EP - a politically charged piece, consisting of four original tunes and a cover of The Times They Are A-Changing. The 5-song EP also includes Hey Mr. President (Anyone But You), a diatribe against the current U.S. administration's foreign policies and the war in Iraq and Bible vs. Gun, a portrait of a soldier in a battle zone, wishing he were holding a bible instead of a military-issued rifle.

Papa Roach get political
3^rd September 2004
The new album from North California's rock-rap quartet, Papa Roach, is entitled Getting Away With Murder. The album includes two politically motivated tracks: The Tyranny of Normalcy which examines a government motivated by fear and greed, and Blanket of Fear which is about the shroud of fear surrounding people in wake of war and terrorism.

Benefit album for Sudan
3^rd September 2004
A benefit album has been released in aid of the hundreds of thousands driven from their homes by the violence in the Darfur region of Sudan. Among the acts who have donated exclusive tracks to Oxfam's Songs for Sudan are Badly Drawn Boy, Faithless and Roots Manuva. All the artists and record labels donating tracks to the album are forgoing their royalties, and each album purchased will pay for clean drinking water for 15 people. The album can be downloaded from www.bignoisemusic.com

Rodney King to release rap record
26^th August 2004
Rodney King is to release a hip-hop CD and hopes to collaborate with Snoop Dogg and Mary J. Blige. King became famous when his beating at the hands of the LAPD was caught on videotape, an act that led to the 1992 L.A. riots. This experience is reflected in his rhymes: "And to think it ain't changed, still fightin' the same war, still watching good boys try to be hard-core / Now ten years have passed and the fire just quit, the smoke just cleared and it's the same old ****, the same head trip, man I'm sick of sayin' it."

Iraq veterans join Iraqi-American protest singer
26^th August 2004
Iraqi-American singer Stephan Smith, whose antiwar song The Bell became an anthem for the peace movement, will be joined by Members of the newly formed Iraq Veterans against the War. Members of IVAW will present their mission and discuss untold realities of the ground war in Iraq. This free event takes place in New York's Joe's Pub and is open to the public as part of the Imagine Festival of Arts, Issues, and Ideas.

No Vote Left Behind Benefit Concert
26^th August 2004
Pearl Jam are among more than a dozen groups and musicians performing at local clubs in Seattle from September 23rd - 26th to raise money and awareness for No Vote Left Behind, a Seattle political action committee striving for "regime change" in the November election. Performers include Queensryche, Mudhoney, John Doe, Grant Lee Phillips, Pansy Division, Matthew Caws of Nada Surf, John Roderick of the Long Winters, Jon Auer of the Posies, John Vanderslice and El Vez.

Black President: The Art and Legacy of Fela Kuti
26^th August 2004
A season of events at the Barbican in London during October will celebrate the legacy of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the Nigerian born singer-composer, trumpet, sax and keyboard player, bandleader, and politician. Events include performances from Femi Kuti, Manu Dibango, Baaba Maal and dead prez; an exhibition including over 40 works from 34 international contemporary artists, including Turner Prize nominee Yinka Shonibare; a film screening of Music is the Weapon and a talk on The Legacy of Fela by Trevor Schoonmaker, curator of the exhibition.

Slash and Burn: new album from Stephan Smith
25^th August 2004
Slash and Burn is the new album from multi-talented singer and dedicated political activist, Stephan Smith. The album features 12 new topical songs with styles ranging from rap to rock to country to folk. Described as the heir apparent to Woody Guthrie, Smith last year released the anti-war anthem The Bell recorded with Pete Seeger, Dean Wean, DJ Spooky and Mary Harris.

Music to Beat Bush By: A new EP from Dan Bern
25^th August 2004
My Country II is a new 8 track EP from Dan Bern which he describes as "music to beat Bush by". The album includes the tracks President, Tyranny, After the Parade and Bush Must Be Defeated: Bush must be defeated/His evil gang unseated/His base of power deleted/His energy depleted and Bush must be defeated/Further services unneeded/His departure speeded/There's a land but you don't lead it.

The Thalia Follies: New York's newest political cabaret
25^th August 2004
The 75-minute political satire, designed to have audiences falling in the aisles with laughter, agita, and rage, will be presented every evening during the Republican National Convention. This irreverent political cabaret is a lively combination of European cabaret and American political street theatre featuring sketches, songs, monologues and poetry from some of New York's most talented writers and stars. It includes a Teresa Heinz (wife of Democratic Presidential candidate, John Kerry) song sung in the style of Marlene Dietrich: "It's so hard to look adoring, when campaigning is so boring."