Best Protest Songs in 2006

I know, I know. You've probably had enough of year-end lists by now. But why stop now when there are still 12 days left in 2006?

Folk music was a lot of things to a lot of different people this year, but one thing was constant throughout: protest music was alive and kicking in 2006. From Neil Young's Living With War CD to the somewhat controversial (decidedly non-country) return of the Dixie Chicks, to compilations arranged for the express purpose of protesting the Iraq War, there was plenty of anti-(fill-in-the-blank) sentiment to go around. As the year progressed and small (and sometimes rather large) changes became evident, I couldn't help but attribute at least a small part of it to the efforts of the protest singers.

photo courtesy Special Ops Media