TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

It's been a long time, but it looks like Neil has gotten back together with Crazy Horse:-

http://neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org/2012/01/report-new-crazy-horse-album-recorded.html

Jules

Fab news. That's made my morning.  :)

That is good news  :) Now all we need is a tour.

I can't believe he's 66 tho  :-\

Oooo - Friday night headliners maybe   [;-)

I thought I was only 35 (still)

but I am watching htis with bated breath :D

Related NY news..

http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/news/archive/2012/01/23/794563.aspx

Sounds like some new Neil Young & Crazy Horse streaming here!

http://www.neilyoung.com/

Jules

F***ing fab.  Thanks Jules  :)

That long jam ends on a fab new version of Cortez.  I hope that gets put out as a bonus track or CD or something.  Really cool.  Great to see all that footage of his studio too.

Jules

I was just getting there.  Its fab indeed...

Quite (wonderfully) exhausted by the end of that.  Wondrous stuff.  I love acoustic Neil too, but this is what really whets my appetite...

Same here.  Neil's long overdue a really strong album.  Fingers crossed....

Jules

Good lord - were those the lyrics to Gallows Pole at the end there...?  :o

Yup.   8)

Jules

New album announced: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/neil-young-and-crazy-horse-to-release-new-album-americana-on-june-5th-20120319

It also includes "She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain".  This may be the greatest recorded work by a musical icon since Bruce recorded "Froggie Went A Courtin'".

Wasn't that Bob?

Bruce did it on the Seeger Sessions album.

Oh yes. Bob beat him to it though on Good As I Been To You.

This does seem like a case of giving with one hand and taking away with the other. Neil is recording with Crazy Horse. Hooray! An album of cover versions of old folk songs. Oh dear.

Nobody wants an album of cover versions of anything from Neil Young. What we want from a reunion with Crazy Horse is a new set of blistering originals but with this coming along in the wake of La Noise and the lightweight Fork In The Road I fear Neil is in a creatively fallow period.

The story is that Neil is doing 2 albums with the Horse - the Americana album, plus an album of origianls to follow soon(ish).

Jules

And with Neil even though it's announced even though there is a release date it still may not come out or he may release an album of original children's songs instead you never know.

Neil

[/quote] This does seem like a case of giving with one hand and taking away with the other. Neil is recording with Crazy Horse. Hooray! An album of cover versions of old folk songs. Oh dear.
[/quote]

I was thinking the exact same thing.  Though, I'm hopeful...

Uncut have a preview of Americana here:-

http://www.uncut.co.uk/blog/wild-mercury-sound/neil-young-crazy-horses-americana-first-listen

It all sounds akin to what I'd think and expect...except for calling Are You Passionate? Neil's worst album (a bit of a streatch that one, considering some of his more notable lame ducks!).

Jules

He can't win, can he? If this had been leaked as a torrent the freetards would have been all over it like flies on sherbert. Make it available as an official release and suddenly it's "But this isn't what we wanted...".  ::)

I am hoping for Greendale II myself.  ;D   You can please some of the people some of the time etc etc.

I was watching a (surprisingly not as bad as the blurb made it out) DVD called The Wrecking Ball last night which pretty much starts "...after the lukewarm reception given to Zuma...". Y'never can tell, eh?  ;D
And as a fan of both "The Ditch Trilogy" and Postman Pat I'm also always looking out for the follow ups to 'Greendale' in order to complete 'The Kids' TV Trilogy'. Possibly to be titled 'Pontypandy', 'Trumpton' or 'Sunflower Valley'.  

You are aiming that at the wrong person as I am one of the few who is prepared to defend Landing On Water and I actually like Fork In The Road too. I just think this is a wilfully perverse move. No change there then!  ;)

Actually Al, I thought I'd probably badly phrased it just after the self-edit timeout. It was intended as a conversation prompter, not pointed directly at anyone, no more, no less. I'm more of a Trans man, myself... 8)
Apologies for the perceived slight.
S.

As a bit of a NY contrarian (is there any other kind of NY fan?), I really like Greendale, most of Are You Passionate, Life, Living with War, Prairie Wind etc; the one album that is lauded and applauded which does nothing for me is Ragged Glory..There are a couple of others I'm indifferent to: re-ac-tor, Trans, Old Ways for example..

i think for me the worst NY album is mirror ball.  

Probably not and just to prove the point, I think it is hard not to be indifferent to re-ac-tor. Trans is patchy but I love Old Ways & Ragged Glory.

Surely we must have consensus on the pointlessness of Ev'rybody's Rockin though. Quite dreadful and a complete rip off as it was barely long enough to be an EP.

The production didn't help!  The songs are actually good, and his lyric writing is stellar on that record, but sonically it's mush.

Jules

I adore Ragged Glory.  I find Old Ways hard to love.  I find re*ac*tor great in parts.  I'm ambivalent about Trans.  And Ev'rybody's Rockin' is just plain shockin'.

Other Neil albums I'd cross the road to avoid:  Arc and This Note's For You.  The latter may be a bit controversial.  I like the title track, but the rest bores me.  I never was much of a blues man.

Oh and Greendale.  Nice idea, halfway decent live shows, but a horribly executed record.

Jules

Just watching a DVD called The Wrecking Ball - John Einarson, Robert Christgau, Barney Hoskins, Clinton Heylin and Johnny Rogan all having a very similar series of thoughts out loud. I keep being distracted by Johnny Rogan's astonishing teeth though. I'd never seen him before.  :o
Not a bad way to spend an hour and a half on the sofa in sole charge of the remote.

Did Clinton manage to avoid being rude about anyone?   ::)

And tell me more about Johnny Rogan's teeth!

Jules

He looks like Jaws from The Spy Who Loved Me  :o

Woah!  Big gold fangs?

Jules

Uh huh. Huge shades and a t-shirt with a wolf on it. I really liked his NY biography, but I wasn't expecting that.

I love Everybody's Rockin, it reminds me of a lovely summer I had in the eighties. I always get a wistful smile when ai hear Kinda Fonda Wanda.

Are You Passionate is however awful, although Goin' Home is a classic.

Of course I like Greendale and parts of Landing on Water and think Reactor has many redeeming qualities not least being Opera Star and Surfer Joe and Moe The Sleaze, Lucky Thirteen is my favorite retrospective album.

Neil

Especially from a former theology student!

I actually found his Neil book a bit dull, but I love his Byrds tome.

Jules

Goin' Home was an amazing song live.  The studio version on that record is lame-ass!  Having said that, I find much to enjoy on Are You Passionate? - songs like Two Old Friends, You're My Girl and When I Hold You In My Arms.  I think they're groovy.

Jules

A brief taste of Oh Sussanah!:-

http://www.musicme.com/#/Neil-Young/albums/Oh-Susannah-0054391977380.html

Jules

Lot better than I feared it might be..

Radio 4 Neil Young interview and excerpts from new album w/ Crazy Horse on iPlayer:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/programmes/schedules/fm/2012/06/08#evening

Jules

As I posted elsewhere, I am totally underwhelmed by the new album. It probably doesn't help that I had high expectations of this one. I mean, back with the Horse, covering American folk songs, what could go wrong? As it turned out, quite a lot!
It just seems to be Neil by numbers (and with a very limited palette at that).
A case in point is "Tom Dula", where the incessant  chanting of the title throughout becomes unbearable. And don't get me started on "Get a Job", it's just an embarrassment. It sounds like it could have been an out take from his Everybody's Rocking album, and that ain't a good thing!
The album is slightly redeemed by "High Flyin' Bird" which could be great live.
I think I'll be filing this with Mirror Ball and Greendale.

Woah!  That's harsh!  On Mirror Ball, that is.   ;)

Jules

Yes, agree - Mirror Ball is not perfect, but it has many high points, and it's a great record to speed drive to.

The production is muddy as hell, but Neil wrote some of the best lyrics of his career for that record.

Jules

Hmm: I have a soft spot for Greendale, but that said much of what I have heard of "Americana" so far is not good, especially God Save the Queen (not sure what the intention was there).  

That interview I posted a link to will give you clues.

Jules

Link doesn't work here - presumably due to my lack of computer skills or some issue with broadcasts outside the UK.

Shame.  Well basically, Neil was saying that they sang that song in Canada when he was growing up, and that in America they sing My Country 'Tis Of Thee to the same tune, so that the song got its claws into early American culture.  That at some point way back Americans were still singing God Save The Queen.  That was Neil's justification and reasoning in short.

Jules

Interesting..bit off topic, but I read that during the American Revolution George Washington and his generals would drink a toast to the king.  Back on topic: NY and CH's version of GSTQ is what the skip button was invented for..

Neil Young and Jonathan Demme being interviewed and in fine (and often funny) form too:-

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7412986n&tag=mncol;lst;1

Jules

CD release announced 'Psychdelic Pill'

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2012/09/neil-young-crazy-horse-announce-psychedelic-pill-r.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=feed

I do hope they come over to Europe next Spring (but rather suspect they won't).  The recordings I've heard from the recent dates (that include Twisted Road and Psychedelic Pill at least from the new album) sound great.  Americana was a bit of fun and nonsense but this is a proper Crazy Horse album.  Looking forward to it  :)

I have a feeling this will be the most essential Neil album for at least a decade.

I'm more optimistic than you about them coming here, David.  I reckon it will happen.

Jules

The last few times he toured with the Horse he played with them in North America and then came to Europe doing solo acoustic shows... We'll see.  Hope you're right, of course.

I've been lucky enough to see them twice...Wembley '87 and the Phoenix Festival '96.  Would definitely like to do it one more time.

To follow the least essential Neil album for more than two decades?

Maybe, but there has been some stiff competition of late.

Jules

I'm not so sure. I'll grant you that it has been uneven and I am personally not that fond of La Noise or Greendale but he hasn't put out a complete stinker since Ev'rybody's Rockin IMHO and that was 1983. I know Are You Passionate is not very highly thought of (and it is the worst album title ever!) but I quite like it.

I guess it depends how you define essential. With Americana I just knew I would never listen to it. That puts it in the exclusive company of La Noise & Ev'rybody's Rockin'. Even they have one track each that I like, as does Landing On Water. I just don't see the point of Americana.

You clearly haven't played it loud enough then....

 ;D But why would I do that David?

Why would I play Americana loud when I could be playing Rust Never Sleeps or Ragged Glory or Live At The Fillmore East at the same volume?

I haven't even played my copies of Le Noise or Americana yet.  That's how underwhelmed by Neil I've been of late.   :(

Jules

You're taking it much too seriously.  As far as I can see, it's a bit of fun which got the Horse all singing from the same page again.  And it really does sound great loud...  Great driving music.

Not at all. It is just never gonna rise to the top of the heap when I think, "What shall I listen to today?" Even in the car. Fork In The Road will do that job just as well.  ;)

"Americana" has grown on me: yes there are some clunkers (Get A Job), but the band sound like they are having fun and it makes for good car music.  Will report after the NY & CH show here in November: busy 2 months for the oldies here: NY, Brooce, Sir Paul, Steve Winwood, Leonard Cohen, Dylan/Knopfler for starters..

More Neil news:

Two CDs, nine tracks - pop music this is not

Neil Young and Crazy Horse's Psychedelic Pill is released in October and it will consist of two CDs and some VERY long songs.



Reports suggests that at least two of the tracks stretch through 20 minutes and the album was recorded straight after the band's other album this year, Americana, was finished.


According to Young's website the album will be released as 2CD, triple vinyl and digital editions as well as "a recommended high resolution 24/192 full fidelity version on Blu-ray which will include all the videos".


‘Psychedelic Pill’ Track Listing


Disc 1


1. ‘Driftin Back’
2. ‘Psychedelic Pill’
3. ‘Ramada Inn’
4. ‘Born In Ontario’


Disc 2


1. ‘Twisted Road’
2. ‘She’s Always Dancing’
3. ‘For The Love Of Man’
4. ‘Walk Like A Giant’
5. ‘Psychedelic Pill’ (Bonus Track Alternate Mix)

Change of cover at the last moment!

http://www.relix.com/news/2012/09/18/neil-s-pill-looking-a-little-less-psychedelic

Preferred the original cover, I think...

Here's a couple of nice recent youtube clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohH0uKFvIvg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CFt9oyk7ic

Can't get the rotten page to open.   >:(

Jules

You're not missing much  :)

[Photo over 400 days old. Removed by Admin.]

I actually quite like it!  I think I prefer it to the first version.

Jules

I don't think there's much in it  ;D

Like I said, I like it.  Best Neil cover in an age.  I know that's not saying much, mind you.   ;)

Jules

Fabulous interview with the man here

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/magazine/neil-young-comes-clean.html?pagewanted=1&_rmoc.semityn.www&smid=fb-share

A new book as well as Psychedelic Pill to look forward to...

I see that Neil is fanning the flames in the, 'to illegally share files or not' debate.    Haha.   :-X

http://www.relix.com/news/2012/09/18/cracker-apologizes-to-neil-young

'Fanning the flames' or 'expressing his opinion'?  I'll go with the latter...

I'll go with the former......the old goat.

 Is this available in the UK yet   ???   http://sonyclassics.com/neilyoungjourneys/

Sadly not...pushing £40 (inc p&p) to get a copy on import too...

US DVD release in mid October so I am guessing over here shortly after that.

Well the Neil Young/Jim Jarmusch from before that, Trunk Show, hasn't been released here yet, so who knows....?

Jules

It hasn't been released (on DVD) anywhere as far as I can tell so the portents for Journeys are better given that it is officially scheduled for a US DVD release.

Jonathan Demme by the way, not Jim Jarmusch.

 29th September concert....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQOSqKrpInU

Doh!

Jules

Article with link to streaming of the Bridge School concerts for 2012..

http://www.pollstar.com/news_article.aspx?ID=803079

The first picture in the article looks like Simon Nicol jamming with Neil..!

Just read a review of Psychedelic Pill. The length of both the album and some of the songs are pretty astounding:

Total length 88 minutes
"Drifting Back" 27'37  :o
"Ramada Inn" 16'50
"Walk Like a Giant" 16'29

Here's hoping it's not a triumph of quantity over quality!

What I've heard is very promising.

Jules

Twisted Road on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCbEOT4PTDc

Neil did a live Twitter chat thing last night (which I forgot all about).  Not much to report really, except that he did say he's coming to Europe with the Horse next year.   8)

Jules

Really good interview with Poncho Sampedro:-

http://www.offbeat.com/2012/11/01/frank-poncho-sampedro-tells-neil-young-and-crazy-horse-story/

Jules

Fab stuff...  :)

Frank really, really, loves it doesnt he.
great interview

Cracking read, cheers

A positive (4/5) review of Psychedelic Pill in The Independent today.
The reviewer ends by saying it is "by some way the best non-essential album Neil Young has ever made".
Unfortunately he doesn't say which albums he considers to be essential!

Hmmmm......that's a strange way to finish a relatively positive review isn't it?

After listening to, and generally enjoying Psychedelic Pill for a few days now, one thought constantly pops into my mind.
Now I'm not saying that he cant keep a beat but, oh how many times have I wished that NY used a different drummer.  So very metronomic, unadventurous and heavy handed.  Perhaps thats what NY insists upon.  

He often does use other drummers!  But, yes, I think that's what Neil wants.  And hey it's what Ralph does.  It suits the Horse.  As long as Ralph doesn't actually lose the beat (which he sometimes does!), then what he plays is just fine with me.

Jules

I see that Guns n' Roses have been covering Don't Let It Bring You Down during their Vegas residency. Am I the only one having trouble envisioning this?   ???

Neil played it with them at the Bridge concerts this year:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R_lrF7RYGg

Jules

Crikey!  :o

Guns 'n' Roses playing Vegas - what has the world come to?  :-\

In my opinion Guns n Roses were always utterly Vegas.

Jules

Especially now with the Axl and hired guns line up..I wonder if they start on time?

Hope to see NY and CH tear through My Michelle or Paradise City to reciprocate.

Hired Guns 'n' Roses?

The bass man is Tommy Stinson though, ex-Replacement.  Won't have a word said against him.

Jules

And indeed, current replacement!  ;)

I was about to ask what a great bloke like that is doing in an appalling band like G'n'R but the answer is self evident...

It is...?   ???

Jules

Probably the first decent pay day he's ever had.

Ha!  Yes, probably.

Jules

Right...everybody got their tickets then?

I don't know yet - my mate's getting mine.  He's better at this sort of thing than I am.

Jules

He just emailed me.  He got 'em.   :)

Jules

Glasgee for me...

Forgot to check for the pre-sale email this morning so only remembered when I saw these posts. Have got tickets for London but they are up in the Gods. Heaven help anyone who is trying to book when they officially go on sale tomorrow. It is nearly sold out already.

Birmingham for me, mosh pit ahoy!

Ahem, not that I'm suggesting for a moment that you wouldn't, but please do pay your best attention during the gigs... :o
http://neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org/2012/12/if-you-text-during-neil-young-concert.html

Excellent - I'm all in favour of that!

Well done Neil.

good for him! If she wanted to text all the way through, why didn't she stand at the back and let people who wanted to see him stand at the front. Hope her phone got wet !!

Ooooooo Bridget, you can be bitchy when you want............ ;) ;D

moi?  ;D

A very nice little Neil-less Horse rarity appeared online today.

Crazy Horse
1972-02-13 Gorham, Maine University of Southern Maine at Gorham (M-AUD REMASTERED)

01. --crowd noise & tuning up--
02. Move
03. Dance Dance Dance
04. Beggar's Day
05. You Won't Miss Me
06. One Sided Love
07. I Don't Believe It
08. Gone Dead Train

Total Time ::: 38:10

Apparently opening for J.Geils Band the lineup is thought to be Billy Talbot - bass, vocals // Ralph Molina - drums, vocals // George Whitsell - rhythm guitar, vocals // John Blanton - piano, organ, vocals // Greg Leroy - lead & bottleneck guitars, vocals.  

Just received an email telling me Neil and the Horse are at the Liverpool Echo Arena on August 18th.  

Now I have concert tickets all I need are the airplane tickets.

Neil

Almost unreasonably excited that Ian McNabb will be supporting Neil Young and Crazy Horse in Liverpool on August 18th.

Neil

I hope he doesn't get too excited by it as, judging from recent experience, that does not benefit his performing abilities.

 ;D   :-\

Jules

Great interview with Billy Talbot.  My respect for him just went up immeasurably....and I dug him plenty enough anyway:-

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-crazy-horse-bassist-billy-talbot-on-neil-young-new-solo-album-20130723

Jules

Anyone see this?  How did Ian do?  

It hasn't happened yet. August.

D'oh...I knew I should have read the original email more carefully..

Ummmm just read this news...

http://neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org/2013/08/tour-dates-cancelled-neil-young-and.html

Sad news...I hope Poncho's hand recovers fully.  I doubt we shall see the Horse back in Blighty...hope I'm wrong, mind.

What a bummer!  Poor Poncho.

Jules

Sampedro is on the mend apparently.

http://www.relix.com/news/2013/08/09/crazy-horse-guitarist-on-mend-from-broken-hand#.UgfVpdI3sfU

Not quite sure how he wouldn't be 'on the mend' from a fractured hand, mind?

Perhaps it wasn't really broken, but just badly bruised, and they just didn't fancy touring any more for a while??  ;)

I'll be honest...I'm not fully convinced by the story.  'Neil fallen off the wagon' was one story I heard online.  Wtf knows... Hope all is well though.

Happy Birthday Neil Young!!  Here with Pearl Jam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK4D52e6ZCU

68!  Long may he run....

Anyone got this? http://www.uncut.co.uk/blog/wild-mercury-sound/reviewed-neil-young-live-at-the-cellar-door-unveiled-neil-young-the-ultimate

Any good?  Likely to learn anything remotely interesting from it?

I can't answer that yet - I'll be picking up a copy later today.

Jules

According to some reports I'm reading this morning, Neil and the Horse are going to make good on those cancelled European shows next Summer.  Looks like its genuine.  Neil does the opposite of what we predicted yet again - by not doing something else entirely!  Must be because everyone suspects it'll be the final victory lap, no?

Jules

More Neil news:-

"Confirmation that Neil's next album was recorded in Jack White's record booth.

It should be out sometime in the new year. I don't know its release details but would be surprised if it's only available via Third Man. But this is Neil, so who knows. I anticipate this will be a very big seller. It is an album of covers. In it, as anticipated, he pays tribute to other renowned singer-songwriters. There are 12 tracks on it. There are no Neil Young originals, but...each side starts with an introduction (part 1, part 2) of the same title. That could be a Neil Young original although I have another theory on what these might be... A couple of the songs chosen will astonish you. Sorry for the secrecy but more on this might leak soon..."

Jules
 

....Looking forward to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" by the Youngster.

See you all there.  Great supporting cast too.

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/dec/09/neil-young-crazy-horse-hyde-park

Even more tempting is the McBusted/Backstreet Boys show a few days earlier..not.

A somewhat devilish £66.60 a ticket, mind..

Think that's about what I paid for my Hard Rock Calling (also in Hyde Park) ticket a few years ago, mostly in order to see Neil. Tempted to do it again although the supporting lineup took my fancy a bit more last time (Pretenders, Seasick Steve, Ben Harper, Fleet Foxes)

I was there that year - Neil was on top form, easily one of the best concerts I've every seen.

Not sure if I want to go to Hyde Park again tho, I'm not much of a fan of the venue.

Same.  Genuinely not sure I can be arsed.

Jules

Interesting responses about the lineup.  I think this lineup is head and shoulders above the last one.

I'm sure I'd feel exactly the same (can't be arsed) if I hadn't failed to see them last year.  But I'm definitely going to this...and a whole load of sixth form chums who I first got into Neil with in the early to mid 80's are meeting up so it should be a gas.

It generally is when a group of mature gentlemen get together   ;D

 ;D  :D

Jules

Iiinteresting. The recording booth at Third Man Records is literally an old-fashioned 'Record Your Own Voice!' type affair with a single mono microphone that records direct to vinyl. It's a novelty thing as part of the actual shop (Third Man Records is a record shop, gig venue and recording studio all in one space and is very cool - I visited there when I went to Nashville), so wouldn't say it's for public consumption, but Neil being Neil, that probably appeals to him. You can see an example of how it works here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlFysAciLrU

The one recording made there that's in circulation is Jack White and Willie Nelson singing Red Headed Stranger on Willie's 80th birthday - it came out as part of the Third Man Records subscription service (on 6" coloured vinyl, no less) and the quality is poor to say the least. But it's interesting to note that Neil Young made a guest appearance at the Third Man Records gig for Willie's 80th. He did duetted on Long May You Run (the Willie Nelson song, not the Neil Young song), which again probably appealed to him in a perverse way.

EDIT: You can hear the quality of the recordings from the booth here with Jack White's rendition of Cola Miner's Daughter:
http://www.uncut.co.uk/neil-young-and-jack-white-record-tracks-in-the-third-man-vinyl-booth-news

I've since learned that Jack has a proper recording facility there as well, so I'm guessing that Neil used that rather than the booth.

Jules

Wrong place for this but still... I think Neil needs to find another way to unwind now he's given up the weed...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/10558380/Clappy-unhappy-why-Neil-Young-was-wrong-to-tell-his-audience-to-be-quiet.html

I'm very, very upset to hear Neil and the Horse are scheduled to play in Tel Aviv on July 17th.  Not happy.  Probably best if I don't say any more on the matter.........

Indeed, but apparently he played there with Pearl Jam in the 90s so presumably made his decision then.

Less controversially - here's details of a new project:

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jan/17/neil-young-jack-white-covers-album

...complete with misplaced apostrophe!   ::)

Jules

NY's a contrary character to say the least!  He's playing some benefit shows in the GWN (Great White North) in support of honouring first nations' treaty obligations and in protest at the development of the Alberta tarsands, worthy causes indeed, but then he's off to Tel Aviv (like the Crimson Projeckt incidentally)..perhaps he will make up for this by covering Marillion's "Gaza" at the Tel Aviv gig..

You need to get out more.

...says the man who posts here more than I do!   ::)

Jules

Latest NY news..

http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/neil-young-to-launch-low-tech-album/

Take 231...

They're back, but this time sans Poncho...(but plus Nils)

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/neil-young-plots-new-crazy-horse-gigs-with-nils-lofgren-w519538

Odd, but intriguing.

Jules

Well anything that can drag him out of his current creative malaise has to be a good thing in my book....

I'm not convinced there's even a chance of that happening ever again.

Jules

Perhaps he should take up weed again.  ;D

Lol.  How about the 'Yoko Ono' argument?

I think the bigger issue has been the loss of David Briggs. It seems nobody else is willing to go head to head with Mr. Young.

I really don't think Yoko's had that much influence on Neil.   ;D

Jules

Yep.

I've always thought that the Briggs aspect gets overstated.  I think it's more a case of Neil running dry.

Jules

I think he has always had no idea of his best stuff and without Briggs feels free to release everything unfiltered. A better handler/honest critic would have him please less, there are often decent songs lost in the pap, its just so hard to go through the pap these days.

Niko Bolas makes better-sounding records, but David Briggs made better records.
https://kvams.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/david-briggs-on-how-to-make-records/

And again... https://www.uncut.co.uk/news/neil-young-teases-new-crazy-horse-activity-110084?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=twitter&utm_term=uncut&utm_content=manual#VqKt3XbceCq5lg6r.99

Although you wouldn't know it from this taster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UktO-IH0928&t=112s

Question (mainly rhetorical): Can Neil still write a decent song?  What previously seemed so natural and freeflowing sounds so laboured to me these days.  The lyrics just sound trite, although I can mostly ignore them on this....which is a very pleasant if 'heard it all before' musical backing.

I wonder if there's anything surprising (ly good) on the album?  We can but dream....

I haven't listened. I will buy it of course, not least of all out of a lifetime devotion to Nils Lofgren but I am skeptical at this point. Colorado was a profound disappointment.

Neil making a stand - https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jan/25/neil-young-demands-spotify-remove-his-music-over-joe-rogan-vaccine-misinformation - well done Neil!

Well, Neil might not be able to, but at least Nils can still write something worth listening to... a new Crazy Horse album (sort of )

https://www.nme.com/news/music/neil-young-and-crazy-horse-members-announce-new-album-all-roads-lead-home-3400640