Diehard Neil Young fans among the ETS! faithful are likely shaking with joy to hear about Shakey's upcoming CD release, "Living With War." Word is the all-new song cycle, written and recorded in a matter of days, is his most politically engaged work ever, and the special buzz within and beyond the Shakey community is all over "Let's Impeach The President," the centerpiece track featuring, according to advance publicity, classic Shakey raging guitar, a 100-voice choir, and the unimpeachably right-on opening stanza, "Let's impeach the president for lying/Misleading our country into war/Abusing all the power that we gave him/And shipping all our money out the door."

Great words and great news from the man who, confusingly for his fans, once praised Ronald Reagan and, post-9/11, wrote "Let's Roll," an absurdly jingoist anthem. But those were days when ol' Neil was cranking out crap like "Landing On Water" and "Are You Passionate?" Young's always done his best work--as art, not politics--when he was pissed off at the powerful, not absurdly licking their boot heels--witness "Ohio," "Freedom" and his 2003 diamond-in-the-rough, "Greendale." Shakey's political pendulum may swing yet again, but for now, "Living With War" promises to be, as one blogger described Neil after being privy to a sonic preview, "a motherfucker on a mission from God ... focused, angry and on target."

"Living With War" is due out in early May. In the meantime, the musical and political strata of the blogosphere are alive with the sound of chatter about "Let's Impeach The President." Wanna sample and hold? Start at http://livingwithwar.blogspot.com/.

I myself can hardly wait--for the new Neil Young CD, or for the fulfillment of its dream of Sweet Impeachment. Go Shakey go!