Sometimes current events inspire urgent art. After George Floyd was killed by police in Minnesota, artists started creating songs to comment on the moment quickly. 

This week Jim and Greg share their favorite instant commentary tracks, songs that were published in a hurry in hopes of effecting change. 

Plus they review the first Bob Dylan album of new music in eight years and Jim adds a song to the desert island jukebox.

Jim's Songs About Right Now

• Wyatt Waddell,“Fight!”
  
• LL Cool J's freestyle

Greg's Songs About Right Now

• Ric Wilson, “Fight Like Ida B & Marsha P”
  
• Nasty C and T.I., "They Don't"
  

Jim's Instant Commentary Classics

• R.E.M., "Final Straw"
  
• Vic Mensa, "16 Shots"
  
• Thursday, "War All the Time."
  

Greg's Instant Commentary Classics

• Steve Earle, “John Walker’s Blues”
  
• Richard Thompson, “Fergus Laing”
  
• Legendary K.O., “George Bush Doesn’t Care About Black People”
  

Listen on Pocketcasts / Spotify / Apple Podcasts

Featured Songs

Bob Dylan, "I Contain Multitudes," I Contain Multitudes, Columbia, 2020

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, "Ohio," Ohio (Single), Atlantic, 1970

Buffalo Springfield, "For What It's Worth (Stop, Hey What's That Sound)," For What It's Worth (Single), Atco, 1966

Wyatt Waddell, "Fight!," FIGHT! (Single), self-released, 2020

Ric Wilson, "Fight Like Ida B & Marsha P," Fight Like Ida B & Marsha P (Single), Free Disco / EMPIRE, 2020

LL Cool J, "Freestyle," Freestyle, not released, 2020

Nasty C & T.I., "They Don't," They Don't (Single), Def Jam, 2020

R.E.M., "Final Straw," Around the Sun, Warner Bros., 2004

Steve Earle, "John Walker's Blues," Jerusalem, E-Squared & Artemis, 2002

Vic Mensa, "16 Shots," There's Alot Going On, Roc Nation, 2016

Richard Thompson, "Fergus Laing," Still, Concord, 2015

Thursday, "War All the Time," War All the Time, Island, 2003

Legendary K.O., "George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People," (Single), unreleased, 2005

Bob Dylan, "Only A Pawn In Their Game," The Times They Are A Changin', Columbia, 1964

Bob Dylan, "Murder Most Foul," Rough and Rowdy Ways , Columbia, 2020

Bob Dylan, "Goodbye Jimmy Reed," Rough and Rowdy Ways , Columbia, 2020

Bob Dylan, "Crossing The Rubicon," Rough and Rowdy Ways , Columbia, 2020

Bob Dylan, "Key West (Philosopher Pirate)," Rough and Rowdy Ways , Columbia, 2020

Bob Dylan, "I've Made Up My Mind To Give Myself To You," Rough and Rowdy Ways , Columbia, 2020

Bob Dylan, "My Own Version of You," Rough and Rowdy Ways , Columbia, 2020

Romeo Void, "A Girl In Trouble (Is a Temporary Thing)," Instincts, Columbia, 1984

Bill Withers, "Ain't No Sunshine (Live)," Live at Carnegie Hall, Sussex, 1973

Blondie, "Hanging on the Telephone," Parallel Lines, Chrysalis, 1978

Tori Amos, "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Little Earthquakes, Atlantic, 1992

No Doubt, "It's My Life," Boom Box, Interscope, 2003

Kill Dozer, "American Pie," For Ladies Only, Touch And Go, 1989

Andy Shauf, "The Neon Skyline," Living Room, Anti-, 2020