Normally Neil Young, as with few other musical acts nowadays, acted as the voice of reason and conscience in rock ‘n’ roll. Living with War is no different. As usual, a strong aura of rebellion courses through the entire album.
As with Young’s normal style, he’s picked out some things in modern society to talk about or protest against. As you can probably tell, this album’s topic is war and talking out against the current presidency.
Young’s writing still finds a way to get a foothold as you feel the music climb up from your toes and the message of the lyrics climbs down from your brain.
Few artists are able to do that, let alone utilize more than one stylistic aspect of a music genre throughout the entire album. Quite simply, it is beautiful. Neil Young is one of the few true artists left in music today.
Young usually picks a topic and goes with it. It is going back to the old-time anti-war songs. It also covering the materialism in a consumer culture and the na’veté of most of those who live in it. It deals with the fact that consumers are usually thinking “Me, me, me” when there are bigger problems in the world.
There are songs against the current president, like “Let’s Impeach the President” and “Lookin’ for a Leader.”
While it is a political statement against war and George W. Bush, it supports the troops. With “Families,” Young points out that soldiers aren’t all that different from us civilians, and that they miss what they have back at home.
“Flags of Freedom” outlines a parade of soldiers who are marching off to war while their families say goodbye, wishing and praying they not only come home well but come home in one piece and not in a box.
Though Living with War is purely a political album, it definitely is worth the money that would go into getting it. Its heartfelt message of peace is one that is needed in times like now, as is its message of love and support to the troops who are stationed far from home, risking their lives. It is something that needs to at least be listened to and heeded.