Neil Young
I’ve had a bit of a crisis with this chap recently. Of all the greats he’s the one I’ve loved most and own a good 40 odd of his albums. But itunes tells me that of all the greats, apart from 3 or 4 of his magnificent 70s albums, he’s the one I now listen to least. I came across him in the early 90s with Ragged Glory and in a jiffy I’d bought the entire backlist and I’ve religiously bought everything new since. Until Chrome Dreams II, the first album of his I’ve not bought. A concept which once seemed unthinkable…
Basically, despite every album being hailed as his best since (insert name here), not one since Sleeps With Angels has really been much cop – at least for me. OK, couple of excellent tracks per album but much of a muchness, whether loud neil or country Neil. Most of them I probably didn’t listen to more than half a dozen times.
The idea of Neil Young is still great, in theory he’s still as all over the place as he ever was, but the results don’t excite: weird, green-themed concept album plus added film – result, a bit dull; pro-war post 9/11 album – result, a bit dull; anti-war, post Iraq album – result, a bit dull etc. etc.
So, have I missed out on Chrome Dreams II? Was this really, finally, the return to form everyone claimed? Can anyone convince me to revisit any of his recent albums? And anyone know anything about Archives? Because that’s one Neil Young album I definitely will be buying – as long as it doesn’t focus too much on the humdrum 90s and 00s…
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Chrome Dreams II
The 18 odd minutes of Ordinary People is great. The rest you can forget. Significantly Ordinary People was dug out of the archives and was not a recent recording.
I did like Greendale though. Still do.
Yep
I'm with Carl on Ordinary People
Ordinary People
is indeed the only decent track on it.
As far as I'm concerned, I wouldn't miss anything after Ragged Glory, except the wonderful Razor Love, but that was also an old track, from 1984.
i feel very much the same, Madrid
there was a time I couldn't get through a day without something maudlin from On The Beach or a blast of Sugar Mountain, but I can't remember the last time I played any...
Me too...
I stopped buying Neil albums after 'Sleeps With Angels' and now play his stuff very rarely...
'On The Beach' and 'Tonight's The Night' get the odd spin, but he's really fallen off my musical radar.
Strange, as his gig with Booker T & The MGs at Finsbury Park in 1992 remains one of the best live shows I've ever witnessed.
he'll come around again
Most of his stuff lately has been, as noted above, rather dull. I think he will be back though. I occasionally I dip into his back catalogue and lately have been enjoying "After The Goldrush" I know "On The Beach" and "Tonights The Night" have been critically lauded but really isn't "Goldrush" his best work?
Also one cracking, not yet re-issued track is "Dont Be Denied" off the "Time Fades Away" album.
Zuma
I can listen to forever, even the near overplayed Cortez. First term at uni, which may have some measure of why it sticks so fondly to my heart.
Chrome Dreams II...
...no way in hell is this a return to form, in my opinion. It's very patchy indeed- Carl nails it in the first post above. One great track, but I can't even remember the rest!
Glad (and sorry) to see
I made the right choice.
Bugger is, Ordinary People is too long to download as an individual track.
It is long
You could send me an e-mail or alter your profile.
Ordinary What?
I love Chrome Dream II, I think he's been on fire with his last four LPs. Greendale and Prarie Wind are both total growers and Living With War is a politised Ragged Glory-esque stomper.
Chrome Dreams II is interesting as it's one of his most varied albums. It doesn't stick to a format in the way many of them do, which makes it an exciting listen. I quite like Ordinary People, but I'm really suprised it's getting called the highlight. For Me, No Hidden Path is probably best. I'd also sooner play Spirit Road, Boxcar or The Believer.