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On the Shelf 077: Neil Young
Jul. 27th, 2012 06:45 amI was all ready to ignore Americana, the latest Neil Young album.
There were a few reasons. It is an album of American traditional standards. Reviews have been mixed (Allmusic gave it two stars, putting it in Landing on water and Trans territory). Also, I was not particularly impressed with "Oh Susanna", the song Adult Alternative radio has embraced.
Still, I don't know why. After I read Young's explanation which is essentially that these are heavier, darker songs but we have our Kindergarteners learn them. Also, it's Neil Young. he consistently falls on my Year-End best-of lists and you never know what direction his albums will take.
I quickly realized that I shouldn't have been asking "Would I be interested in an album of folk standards?", and instead should have asked "Would I be interested in an album of folk standards that sound like are Ragged Glory tracks?"
I then realized that remove all lead singers, and there's not a better band on the planet than Crazy Horse. It should be little surprise that the band that gave us Greendale, Living with War, and Sleeps with Angels in recent years are free to unleash holy hell here.
I am not a fan of what they call 'jam bands' (and jam band fans probably wouldn't like this). but it's hard to find another term for this. These quick standards are turned into five and seven-minute garage rock improv. If you are criticizing this album for sounding like a bunch of demos, then you just don't get it.
I never thought I would say "She'll be coming 'round the mountain" would be my favorite song of the moment (and that it would blow away Pitchfork's current favor of the month).
"Oh Susana" is still probably my least favorite song. It's obviously the most radio friendly though (and it improves dramatically when put in the context of the album). critics have criticized the bombastic "God save the Queen" (Hey, we were colonists once) and "Get a Job" (Neil has always loved his doo-wop). There really isn't anything here that I don't like.
if you're a Neil fan, then at least check it out. You might move along, but it's safe to say that if you do, Neil will have something different for you arriving shortly.
There were a few reasons. It is an album of American traditional standards. Reviews have been mixed (Allmusic gave it two stars, putting it in Landing on water and Trans territory). Also, I was not particularly impressed with "Oh Susanna", the song Adult Alternative radio has embraced.
Still, I don't know why. After I read Young's explanation which is essentially that these are heavier, darker songs but we have our Kindergarteners learn them. Also, it's Neil Young. he consistently falls on my Year-End best-of lists and you never know what direction his albums will take.
I quickly realized that I shouldn't have been asking "Would I be interested in an album of folk standards?", and instead should have asked "Would I be interested in an album of folk standards that sound like are Ragged Glory tracks?"
I then realized that remove all lead singers, and there's not a better band on the planet than Crazy Horse. It should be little surprise that the band that gave us Greendale, Living with War, and Sleeps with Angels in recent years are free to unleash holy hell here.
I am not a fan of what they call 'jam bands' (and jam band fans probably wouldn't like this). but it's hard to find another term for this. These quick standards are turned into five and seven-minute garage rock improv. If you are criticizing this album for sounding like a bunch of demos, then you just don't get it.
I never thought I would say "She'll be coming 'round the mountain" would be my favorite song of the moment (and that it would blow away Pitchfork's current favor of the month).
"Oh Susana" is still probably my least favorite song. It's obviously the most radio friendly though (and it improves dramatically when put in the context of the album). critics have criticized the bombastic "God save the Queen" (Hey, we were colonists once) and "Get a Job" (Neil has always loved his doo-wop). There really isn't anything here that I don't like.
if you're a Neil fan, then at least check it out. You might move along, but it's safe to say that if you do, Neil will have something different for you arriving shortly.
