B E L L A C I A O - Mosh� for the Masses-The Most Important Protest Song of this Election, Courtesy of Eminem -

Mosh’ for the Masses The Most Important Protest Song of this Election, Courtesy of Eminem by Thomas Bartlett

As previously reported in Salon’s War Room, a song called "Mosh" has been leaked from Eminem’s upcoming record, and it’s a brutal, unflinching obliteration of President Bush and his Iraq war. It could also turn out to be the most important protest song written this year -- and I’ve listened to a lot of them this election season. However impressive the lineup of the Vote for Change concerts, with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam and REM, at this point Eminem sells more records and reaches more ears than any of them. And while I have no facts on this, I’d suspect that Eminem has a larger Republican audience than any other artist who has taken such a strong stand against Bush, save maybe the Dixie Chicks.

It also helps that "Mosh" is so articulate, persuasive and powerful in its criticisms of Bush -- although I wouldn’t expect any less from one of the greatest storytellers in popular music. "Mosh" moves at a slower tempo than most of Eminem’s songs, which was not necessarily a great decision musically -- he’s more thrilling in quicksilver mode, spitting out rhymes faster than most of us can think -- but it ensures that every damning word is heard, and heard clearly. This is not a particularly pleasant song to listen to: There’s nothing catchy about it, and the beat is a clanging, leaden monstrosity made for marching, not dancing. But Eminem is clearly not out to entertain here, and this song, with its ominous monotony, allows him to do what he does best: pure, seething anger.



View ’Mosh’ Here:

http://www.ifilm.com/viralvideo?ifilmid=2654122

http://www.gnn.tv/content/eminem_mosh.html

http://www.mtv.com/onair/trl/vote/