Folk-rock artist Jonatha Brooke, one of the true "success stories" in indie music, has made one of her more timely tracks available as a free MP3 at her site. "War," a defiant statement of personal autonomy written years ago for her album Plumb, is newly re-recorded and re-released for our attention and contemplation. As Brooke explained recently in her online journal http://www.jonathabrooke.com/core2.html?jonathaindex :

Most recently, I've been in the studio working on a few new things, and most pressingly, I've decided to re-record and re-release "War" ­ a song from "Plumb." When I was at the recent Future of Music Conference in DC, Patti Smith spoke up from her panel at one point and asked, "Where the hell are the artists, where are your voices, why is no one speaking up, we're about to go to war and our names are on every one of those bombs!!" My song, sadly enough, is just as a propos now as it was when I wrote it shortly after the first gulf war. I thought I'd give it a little more urgency, re-harmonize, refocus it and see what would happen. It's at least a gesture, my little voice of dissent. Strange that Donahue has a new show and Hogan's Heroes' has been back in the news lately (see lyrics to "War"). Feel free to send it out, it's here as a free download: WAR. I think this is a situation where downloading is a great tool.

Brooke announced the track's availability during last weekend's Global Entertainment & Media Summit, a summary of which will follow soon here at DMusic. More information on Brooke and her music are available at http://www.jonathabrooke.com.

Jonatha is a performer that I have to admit that I had never heard of until Jan. 2002 when she was a last minute substitute for one of the panels at the Future of Music Conference. Later that evening she was the performer at the ASCAP cocktail party where unfortunately she really kind of became background music, but I heard enougth to know that I had to hear more. I went to her website and bought her CD and DVD of "Steady Pull". The DVD is recorded in 5.1 Digital Surround and DTS which is wonderful. Excellent quality video and audio. (plus the flip side is DVD Audio (takes a stand alone player) There is not week that goes by the DVD doesn't get played, and the CD is always handy on my desktop. I had no idea that she was going to be at this years FMC until I ran into her in the elevator at the hotel early Monday morning on her way to some much needed coffee. Jonatha is passionate about what she does regardless if it is appearing on a panel, performing, songwriting, or expressing her views. Hats off to Jonatha.