David Rovics - Halliburton Boardroom Massacre
Rating
RIYL
Heavy-handed Democracy that doesn't believe in compromise or cede a single point to anyone on any subject.Tracklist
1. crashing down2. how far is it from here to nuremberg
3. new orleans
4. tsunami
5. halliburton boardroom massacre
6. when johnny came marching home
7. rpg
8. four blank slates
9. song for cindy sheehan
10. waiting for the fall
11. paul wolfowitz
12. life is beautiful
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There are far too many problems with Halliburton Boardroom Massacre to be discussed here. The self-importance of the songwriter, the blandness of the overall content, and, let's not forget the most important thing, Mr. Rovics is said to be "the musical version of Democracy Now."
Hey, that's actually a really nice thing to have said about you when you're a Democratic political folk artist. But then, who would say such a thing? Press release, make yourself known! Oh, look, it's Amy Goodman of, where is that? Democracy Now! If you're as sick and tired of these self-aggrandizing bastards as everyone else is, try not to be too hard on David Rovics. He's the smallest animal in this subservient, quid-pro-quo, I'm-right-you're-wrong society of political talk radio.
However, the fact is, the man can't write a decent tune to save his life, so even without the content, there's nothing here. If you're into his viewpoint, it's still not worth it because he's not telling you anything new or saying it in a way you’ve never heard. Give anyone a guitar, the political bent of Mr. Rovics and his Air America Radio lackeys, and the desire to write folk songs about politics (America's leading source of revolution since 1931!), and you'd get this album. Even with its fantastic album title, the lyrics contained herein are nothing revolutionary or mind-altering. Quite simply, anyone who watches the news could have written this album word for word.
The only plus is the track "Paul Wolfowitz," which is both upbeat, fun, and much less directly fed by the big storylines of this here Iraqi war/terrorist witchhunt. However, the heavy-handed pageantry of "How Far Is It From Here to Nuremburg" is ghastly in all senses, minus the chugging backing music featured therein. Of course, "Song for Cindy Sheehan" would press hard on anyone's gag reflex with its overly-sugary, clearly rose-tinted view of this attention-grubbing mother of a lost soldier. No, Mr. Rovics, she is not everyone's mother and he was not everybody's son. Not by a long shot. Your "My way is the only right way" God complex is thoroughly appreciated by someone, though, I'm sure. But I don't wish to get into that in this forum.
--Ben Rice
Comments
St. Louis, MO
Thank God I grew a brain. Good review.
~Tom
The Silent Ballet: The very best in instrumental and post-rock reviews and coverage.
Minnesota
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Sacramento, CA
I'm not here to make things better; only to observe and pass judgement.
Oklahoma
MA