Ry Cooder’s album Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down from last year struck hard and fast against “the man,” with songs about political hypocrisy and abuse of power, the banking/mortgage scandal, immigration, war and religion.  We at Rock Cellar dubbed it the year’s most authentic protest record and along with Tom Morello’s World Wide Rebel Songs, Cooder’s album best expressed the anger and frustration of the Occupy Wall Street Movement.

Well that was last year. Now – just in time for our nasty and divisive political campaign season – Ry Cooder releases Election Special, and he shows no signs of letting up on the protest themes…in fact, he fortifies his attack.  These songs’ themes go directly for the throats of Wall Street, the White House, the military, the fallacy of democracy, prison torture, gun rights, even Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney.

There’s certainly no subtlety here, and time will tell if the public responds to his wake-up calls or (more-than-likely) just uses Election Special as another excuse to shred each other apart.   Here’s how Cooder describes his songs:

Mutt Romney Blues: Reverend Al Sharpton said, “How he treated his dog tells you a lot about him.” Where did Mitt Romney learn that hollow laugh of his? A correspondence course on how to scare your dog shitless? He sure scares me, I don’t mind telling you.
Brother Is Gone: The only logical explanation for the Brothers I could come up with is, they made their deal at the crossroads with Satan. Satan will need to get paid, but in the meantime, they are doing everything in their power to hurt you and me. The big hurt.
The Wall Street Part of Town: Is there a Wall Street part of town in your town? Start your own, it’s easy. When the police come, remind them that you pay their salary, such as it may be.
Guantanamo: There’s a beautiful Cuban song about a country girl from Guantanamo. The lyrics were written over a hundred years ago, and they say something about peace and freedom, so I guess the problem hasn’t been solved yet. Prisons are the new growth industry.
Cold Cold Feeling: The president, alone in the dark, walks the Oval Office floor. Before you criticize and accuse, walk a mile in his shoes.
Going to Tampa: As a mother, will Sarah Palin lead the Republican convention in a prayer for Treyvon? Will “Stand Your Ground” stand? Don’t forget your bed sheet and keep your money in your shoes.
Kool-Aid: A lament for this guy Zimmerman, and all the many Zimmermans. Too late, they find their masters have given them gun rights and new “Stand Your Ground” lynching laws instead of good paying jobs and secure futures. They drank the Kool-Aid, they really drank it down.
The 90 and the 9: A possible political discussion between a father and child. Here in Los Angeles, they allow military recruiters in public schools. If you speak against it, they come down hard on you. I don’t even know what name you give to a criminal conspiracy like that.
Take Your Hands off It: Woody said, “This land is your land.” There’s a famous photograph of a sign that reads, “Don’t let the big men take it away.” On the other hand, James Baldwin believed the concepts of nationhood such as freedom, equality, and democracy are superstitions, nothing more.

Here’s a taste of a couple of the songs on the record; Mutt Romney Blues:

and Brother is Gone – Cooder’s take on the Koch Brothers…

and here’s Wall Street Part of Town – a hit protest song from the Occupy Movement:

Election Special comes out August 21st on Nonesuch Records, and they’ve just announced a pre-order package that includes a bumper sticker and campaign button…!

RELATED READS:

Ry Cooder Goes Rogue on Romney in Latest UK Guardian Interview

Ry Cooder Makes An Authentic Protest Record

11 Protest Songs for The Now Generation (Including one here by Ry Cooder)

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