Tampa Calling

For reasons abstractly philosophic, pragmatically political and deeply personal, I’m feeling pretty anti-war these days. If you’re with me, here are my recommendations for a mostly contemporary anti-war playlist.

(If you can think of anything worth hearing that I’ve ommitted, let me know. I’m always hungry for new tunes.)

Rise Against, Hero of War: When I heard this simple and gripping song on 97X a few weeks ago, I thought I had mistakenly flipped to WMNF, Tampa Bay’s awesome community radio station. It is a miracle that a song like this is on mainstream commercial radio. It tells the tragic and all to typical story of a young soldier’s disillusionment.

Ani DiFranco, The Atom: This cut is one of the strongest from DiFranco’s latest release, Red Letter Year. Here’s what she has to sing about the Nobel Prize winning physicists who developed the atomic bomb: “I bet there were no windows or women in the room / when they applied themselves to the pure science of doom.” She certainly has a way of putting things into perspective, doesn’t she?

 Lexi Pierson, Misunderstood: For those of you that haven’t had the pleasure, Lexi is one of Tampa Bay’s local treasures and this song is a masterpiece. Order a copy of her self-titled album here and enjoy this clip of Lexi performing Misunderstood live in Clearwater:

Liz Phair, Shane: An obscure song from a record that came out 14 years ago certainly stretches the meaning of the word “contemporary,” but Shane is too subtle, intense and killer to be left off this list. Phair’s ending refrain, “You gotta have fear in your heart” is the most hypnotic, sad and wise thing I’ve ever heard.

Flobots, Handlebars: Another miracle of a song that I can’t believe gets mainstream airplay. It’s terrifying, complex and features a very respectable trumpet solo. I hear it as an anti-war song, but it’s definitely open to interpretation.

Lorna Bracewell, If I Was the Sun: I know it’s totally tacky to recommend my own songs, but if I don’t, who will? This song is from my latest album, Released. You can listen to it on MySpace and order a copy of your own at my website.

U2, Love and Peace or Else: From their brilliantly titled 2004 release, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, this is one of the only songs where a hook like “We need love and peace” doesn’t make me want to throw up in my mouth.

Sheryl Crow, Shine Over Babylon: I lived and died for Sheryl Crow when I was 13 and beginning to write my own music. I was so relieved to hear a song like this one on her 2008 album, Detours. It’s so good it almost makes up for Soak up the Sun.

Bob Dylan, Masters of War: This is the anti-war song to end all anti-war songs. It was written in 1963, but it is more contemporary than any thing else on this list. Listen to it at Bob’s really awesome website. 

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