The Rock Album Released to Influence Elections

A Perfect Circle released their 2004 album Emotive specifically to coincide with the US presidential election. Rather than typical rock anthems, the band filled the record with anti-war cover songs to make a political statement.

The band timed the launch to maximize their message during a heated national debate. One of the album's most famous tracks is a haunting, somber reimagining of John Lennon’s Imagine. Despite the album hitting number two on the charts, the band refused to tour for it and entered a long hiatus shortly after. This bold artistic choice remains a rare instance of a major rock band using a studio release as a direct political protest.