What does it sound like?:
Not an official review by any means, but a few words about a fine album. I had decided not to buy any more new Neil studio albums about a decade ago but this one is challenging that commitment .
He was never Scott Walker and his voice is showing signs of age, but his plaintive delivery fits the themes of these songs. The lyrics are often clunky and the tunes are somewhat familiar, but for me it is a beautiful album. He looks back wistfully, challenges current political leadership and sings movingly about aging and being close to the end of his life. The Chrome Hearts do an excellent impression of the Stray Gators and it is beautifully recorded
This is something of a year for 80 somethings releasing strong albums, unlike Jagger he is not pretending to be in his 30s or 40s, not going to call it a late period masterpiece but I am enjoying it a lot
What does it all *mean*?
Time fades away
Goes well with…
Harvest, Comes a Time, Harvest Moon etc
Release Date:
Already out
Might suit people who like…
Neil Young
Hoping mine arrives today. The title track drew me in as it is strongly redolent of Harvest Moon which I consider one of his best.
Top of my inbound list. Gorgeous little video for the title track sold it to me.
@stevet presume you’ve seen the magical performance of Harvest Moon by The Brothers comatose and AJ Lee?
Indeed Vulpes and it is brilliant
I gave up with Neil after Fork In The Road.
However given the positive noise around this, I might give it a go. The title track was quite pleasant. I think a few Spotify listens should sway me one way or the other.
Fork in the Road is a stinker. Looking at my playlists, Barn (2021) seems to be my favourite recent-period Neil album before this one. But that statement alone illustrates how many times I’ve actually listened to it
Ah Fork in the Road * was a huge privilege to witness the live premiere of Cough Up the Bucks and 2 other FITR songs at a (superb) concert in Worcester, MA (Dec 2008). Wilco were the support, perfect night for me.
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/neil-young/2008/dcu-center-worcester-ma-2bd6803a.html
* yeah it’s a stinker
I had decided I had more than enough NY albums – some of which have been played no more than a couple of times. But reading some very positive reviews of this one I decided to take a punt and ordered a copy yesterday.
Like all the above fuckers have already said, September really straining my excuses, as yet another square flat package drops through the door……
Like all the above have felt that quality control has long left the building.
But again based on the above I will give it a spin.
I would get the vinyl, but the ridiculous decision (by Neil? By record company?) to straddle the title track across 2 sides means I probably won’t. He has done this before on Psychedelic Pill but Driftin’ Back was 27 minutes long, Second Song could fit on one side
I’ve listened to this a couple of times and I really wanted to like it, especially as it’s had generally positive reviews, but no, it’s just more of the same old uninspiring stuff with banal lyrics that Neil has been churning out for years. I gave up on his new material decades ago, but I have all the standalone archive CDs, all the ‘lost’ albums, and pretty much everything else he’s endlessly released from his glory days. Neil must have the longest lasting artistic decline in popular music. Sadly no late career masterpieces for him it would seem.
Naturally he had better lyrics in his heyday, I did mention they were clunky, but this time around I find them also quite affecting and there is the odd decent turn of phrase
I concur. On first listen I found the lyrics simplistic and the songs equally short on surprises (even for late-period Neil). However, it’s wormed its way in, mainly down to it sounding so sincere. Harvest Moon was the same. They’re all a mixed bag but this is already the one I’ve played the most since Chrome Dreams II.
I’m not quite there yet. I’m still in the underwhelmed stage.
I am even less whelmed than that.
I really like it. Love the “80 year old chap having a little reminisce” vibe à la The Boys Of Dungeon Lane.
There’s a great interview with ol’ Neil on Rick Rubin’s Tetragrammaton podcast
I’ve been playing it for the last week and I love it, Shakey’s voice goes well with these songs and as @dai said the album is beautifully recorded. If you’re a fan of Shakey you’ll love it if not don’t bother.
Leave Jagger ALOOOOONE.
Leavehimalone.
I really like The Stones album too, but it’s a different kettle of fish. Over produced and somewhat tough to listen to. This one is a delight in that respect
It’s perfectly produced, by a producer who uses a hands-on approach, which is what the band needs. Tough to listen to? I’ve seen this over at the Hoffman board from some of the snowflake-eared, but it hasn’t got much support. It’s the Rolling Stones. It’s 2026. This is what they sound like. Yes, I know, “it’s all subjective, innit”, but if the production is getting in the way of enjoying a top-tier Stones album – this late in the day! – then that’s a damn shame. People didn’t like the production of Exile, either, or Born To Run. Watt is a kind of contemporary Spector (and people don’t like him, either).
(For what it’s worth – I find this Neil album unlistenable, in spite of the “authentic” production. It’s a drag.)
For what it’s worth, I’ve listened to the above. Dreadful.
It’s slowed down a little here, but we can see Neil when he was bulletproof.
If you want to get ahead – get a hat!
I said that I like it, even if the production/mastering is an issue for me. I am glad they released it. I recognize Neil won’t be to everybody’s taste but I am with those who think it’s his best in some time
I remember when we didn’t know what “production” was, let alone “mastering”. We just liked records.
As to Neil’s latest vulnerable wheeze-fest, saying it’s his best in some time is a very low bar. He gets too much love.
Ok fine
Reviens, cheri! Fait pas la gueule!
Just ordered mine from Rarewaves.
With this weekend’s 10% discount, the album is £24.77 plus free postage. All the other retailers are charging a tenner more than this, which makes this a good deal.
I’m genuinely pleased that Shakey, Macca, Van, Ringo et al get to make new albums well into their retirement. It makes them happy. It must do, or why would they bother?
I just don’t feel the need to hear them, let alone to buy them.
The last I bought and played more than once was Ragged Glory, and he’s released 29 (!) new albums since (plus numerous archive releases).