The Official Neil Young Thread

[Kevin Davis]

When "Prairie Wind" first came out I thought it was terrible -- "Silver and Gold" without the tunes. But after a few years I went back and was blown away by it. "Far From Home" is a blast.

[darth_vedder]

Even more than some of their classic-era albums, "Ragged Glory" provides the template for how I want Crazy Horse to sound -- loose-fitting, like a worn-in shoe; loud, cavernous, capable of going on forever without ever really getting anywhere. I too have fond memories of playing this album at deafening volumes when getting into Neil.

Revisited "Ragged Glory" over the holidays, and damn what a fine listen it was. Pretty much the whole album is good. I love the looseness to it. It's just how I like Crazy Horse.

[Kevin Davis]

Listening to "Peace Trail" for the first time on the day of Trump's inauguration is really depressing.

[tragabigzanda]

[Simple Torture]

"Albuquerque" makes me so very happy.

Top 10, Top 5? So friggin' awesome. Iron and Wine does a good cover at a different tempo, but nothing beats Neil.

[tragabigzanda]

Top 10 maybe?
Hello Morning
Close Captioned
The Kill
Place/Position
Do You Like Me?
Latest Disgrace
Recap Modotti
Nightshop
Break
Life & Limb

I'd maybe bump Life & Limb for Epic Problem

[LetMeSleep]

I was chatting with a mate and we both realized we'd missed the last 4 NY albums, the last being PPill. But the question is, have we missed anything?

Also I'm about to start Shakey and I intend to listen to as much as I can as I'm reading. Looking forward to this.

[tragabigzanda]

[VinylGuy]

Oh im so in love with Le Noise...but i think Chrome Dreams 2 is just above everything else.

Haven listened to Peace Trail.

[LetMeSleep]

CD2 was good and No Hidden Path is a fab of mine. PPill was okay and the tour was really strong. Le Noise didn't do much for me though.

I'll check out Peace Trail.

[Strat]

Chrome Dreams 2 is a favorite of mine, so is Prairie Wind though i realize that was a decade ago.

Fork in the Road has a couple good tracks but its a hilarious listen. Some great playing though. Le Noise is definitely worth a couple spins but more novelty. Psych Pill is great, Americana is great, Peace Trail is average

[Kevin Davis]

None of the last four albums are essential in the sense that I'd put them in a top ten or anything, but I'd recommend them to anyone with a deep fondness for Neil's music -- at some point, what's he going to do that's really going to throw you off?

"A Letter Home" is a really enjoyable listen, if you can get past the poor audio quality of the Jack White recording booth thingy. Classic songs performed with a lot of heart, and Neil, God love him, really seems to buy into the authenticity of the method. Probably my favorite of the last four. Grade: A-

"Storytone" seems overblown with its 100-piece orchestra and whatnot, but the album also comes with a second disc of solo/stripped back versions of the songs that illuminate the fleshed-out takes and vice versa. A few of the songs are just flat-out duds (something you'll encounter on most modern Neil albums), but I find a lot on both editions of the album that works. The solo version of "Tumbleweed" I suspect is influenced by EV. Grade: B

"The Monsanto Years" -- probably my least favorite of the last four, but better than you'd guess from reading some of the lyrics out of context. There's plenty of loud Neil guitar, which earns it some bonus points. Grade: C+

"Peace Trail" -- I've only listened to this a few times but it's kind of like a folkier version of "Living With War," though with a few genuinely weird tangents -- its literal, off-the-cuff writing feels apropros and vital now, maybe (hopefully) not so much in a few years. Grade: B-

I haven't checked out "Earth" yet.

[tragabigzanda]

[Strat]

Peace Trail reminds me very much of Sleeps With Angels, in its ramshackle, pawn shop instrumentation vibe.

Sans the great songs

[Strat]

What a great Album name that is. That should be pj 11

[Kevin Davis]

I just realized "Le Noise" was seven albums ago. That seems crazy to me.

[tragabigzanda]

Top 10 maybe?
Hello Morning
Close Captioned
The Kill
Place/Position
Do You Like Me?
Latest Disgrace
Recap Modotti
Nightshop
Break
Life & Limb

I'd maybe bump Life & Limb for Epic Problem

[Kevin Davis]

Silver and Gold
Are You Passionate?
Greendale
Prairie Wind
Living With War
Chrome Dreams II
Fork In the Road
Le Noise
Americana
Psychedelic Pill
A Letter Home
Storytone
The Monsanto Years
Peace Trail

All since 2000. Not to say there's no filler in there but man, would that all artists stayed so productive into their 60's and 70's.

[Strat]

Silver and Gold
Are You Passionate?
Greendale
Prairie Wind
Living With War
Chrome Dreams II
Fork In the Road
Le Noise
Americana
Psychedelic Pill
A Letter Home
Storytone
The Monsanto Years
Peace Trail

All since 2000. Not to say there's no filler in there but man, would that all artists stayed so productive into their 60's and 70's.

Does "Earth" kind of count? He probably spent as much time adding in the overdubs on he did writing Monsanto years

[tragabigzanda]