I’ve only peripherally paid attention to the controversy surrounding Wal-Mart invading downtown Athens, Ga., the town where I not only went to college but more importantly formed a lot of who I am today as a person and a music lover/writer/producer. Every time I go back to visit, there’s a new store or a new parking deck obstructing the sky, but despite those changes, the attitude of Athens never really does. But with a corporate entity like Wal-Mart adding to the low-lying downtown skyline, I do fear for Athens’ “out of time” culture that always seems to move forward at its own pace… and, yes, that is a R.E.M. reference.

Drive-By Truckers member Patterson Hood and a formidable list of Athens musicians (including members of R.E.M., Widespread Panic) have come together to protest the Wal-Mart invasion with a song that, yes, is a little too straightforward lyrically to hold up years from now, but gets the point across. The music video not only features Patterson and friends (it’s nice to see the talented Claire Campbell of Hope for Agoldensummer pop up several times) but also close-up shots of local businesses and landmarks that have made Athens Athens.

You can download the song and find more info here.