Song: American Skin (41 Shots)

CD: The Essential Bruce Springsteen

This is a controversial song written about the police shooting death of Amadou Diallo, an unarmed citizen who was shot 41 times total by four plain clothed policemen.

Web: www.brucespringsteen.net

More: AOJ Music Recommendations

Song: “With God on Our Side”

CD: The Times They Are a-Changin’

Ballad about the tragedy of war and misguided faith.

Website: www.bobdylan.com

Song: “Pimps”

CD: Genocide and Juice

Hilarious and dark song. What if corporate CEOs bragged about their crimes via music the way that gangsta rappers do?

Website: www.myspace.com/thecoupmusic

Song: “Man in Black”

CD: Man in Black

Johnny Cash explains how his trademark clothing style is actually a form of social protest.

Website: www.johnnycash.com

Song: “Serpentine”

CD: Evolve

Long acoustic jam that chronicles a host of post-9/11 ills, with wit and melancholy.

Website: www.righteousbabe.com

Song: “Combat Rock”

CD: One Beat

Military-beat alt-rock track released just in response to the “with us or against us” tone after 9/11.

Website: www.sleater-kinney.com

Song: “Peace, Unity, Love and Having Fun”

Rap legend in a very, very 1990s clip.

Website: www.zulunation.com

Song: “Regret and the Grave”

CD: The Harvest Floor

Cattle Decapitation is a vegetarian metal band who opposes mistreatment (and consumption) of animals.  We’re pretty sure this song and video are the band’s attempts to get humans to see life from the point of view of  the animals they slaughter and eat. But the singer’s voice is so grindcore, it’s hard to tell.

Website: www.sleater-kinney.com

Song: “Love Me, I’m a Liberal”

CD: Live… for the Record

Brutally satirical song about the treachery of liberals.

Website: wikipedia

Song: “I Love Livin’ in the City”

CD: Live… for the Record

Don’t-give-a-fuck LA punk sneers sarcastically about urban decay.

Website: wikipedia