The Iraq war is not only front and center in the Democratic primary, it is also the subject of a new film focusing on an injured Iraq war veteran called Body of War that features original music by Eddie Vedder. In addition to Vedder, the soundtrack includes cuts from Ben Harper, Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, The Nightwatchman and many more.

Bobby Bare Jr. is hitting the road in support of his new record The Longest Meow (mp3 below). Bare received some help on his new effort from, among others, Carl Broemel and Patrick Hallahan of My Morning Jacket and reportedly tracked all 11 cuts in a single long day in Nashville. Bare will take the new tunes on the road next week for some solo dates and then join Son Volt for a couple weeks in April.

Just call Joss Stone the Chicken Whisperer. In a new ad for Peta, the sexy songstress touts her vegetarian bona fides and love of chickens, the un-cooked kind. Speaking fondly of a feathered friend, Stone is quoted as saying "“The chickens were so adorable and really comfortable. I think one of them started to fall asleep in my arms. So sweet!” Almost makes me feel guilty about the rotisserie Perdue I had for dinner - almost.

MP3s:
Bobby Bare Jr.: The Heart Bionic
Nada Surf: See These Bones
Dr. Dog: A Long Time Ago
Apostle of Hustle: National Anthem of Nowhere (Spoon Remix)
Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles: The Day We Met (live)
Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles: Lord Only Knows (live)
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: Tae Parade
Donna Jean and the Tricksters: All I Gotta Say

James McMurty has a new record coming out next month. His Just Us Kids hits stores April 15. To celebrate, James' peeps are posting new tracks on his MySpace every Tuesday, where you can also get a free download of "Cheney's Toy." Yes, James continues his political themes on the new record - after all, 'tis the season.

Labels: Dr. Dog, James McMurtry, Mp3s, Nada Surf, Pearl Jam, Tom Morello

America's new record Here & Now is out tomorrow and Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell will celebrate with a performance on Letterman with special guest Ryan Adams. They will perform "Ride On" from the new record, which was produced by Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne) and James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) and features guests like Adams, Ben Kweller, and members of My Morning Jacket and Nada Surf.

Bunnell says "Ride On" is "the closest thing to a rocker for me on this album. Ryan Adams plays a real retro guitar on it and Ben Kweller plays a little electric piano ala Ray Manzarek of The Doors." He adds, "Adam [Schlesinger] added some 'sha la la' vocal pads things to the pre-chorus that drew it into a little more of a pop vein from it being just a jam song. The theme is about pushing on...it's a rallying song."

You can listen to "Ride On" featuring Ryan Adams, Ben Kweller and Adam Schlesinger here: Windows Media / Real / Quicktime

Labels: America, My Morning Jacket, Nada Surf, Ryan Adams