Neil Young

I've seen Young in concert multiple times starting in 1970.  He's excelled at staying fresh and reinventing himself over and over again.  The last few years he's gotten stale, like anyone that age (one might expect) but has done an enormous job of marketing himself (just go to his website).  Personally, I've had enough Neil Young and maybe he should rest on his laurels.  Stephen Stills said it best about Neil:  he never played team sports growing up.  An individual, needs to be in charge, doesn't play well with others except on bursts (CSN&Y).  Not really a putdown, but true.

When released, Greendale, I wasn't receptive to a Neil Young "rock opera" so I skipped it.

Years later ,was having a tasty beverage in a brewpub when a NY album came on I'd never heard before, and it was good!

Yep, Greendale.

I suggest all NY fans give it a chance; strident, but timely lyrics and some great playing.

I’ve seen him three times.  Twice acoustically at the Beacon, NYC and once with Crazy Horse.  He’s a master expressionist.  To me his soul comes through in everything he does.  The one string rock soloist comment stems from his one string solo on Cinnamon Girl - also full of expression.  His guitar playing is so deep in the pocket - checkout CSNY - 4 Way street, he’s the guitarist in the left speaker.  Say what you want about him, but he’s a massive talent with very broad appeal. McCartney even said “Harvest” is one of his favorite records ever.

It’s both amusing and disheartening to witness, again and again, complaints about artists "injecting their politics" into their art. These comments reveal a deep lack of understanding about both art and politics. 

First of all, it is neither the function of art nor the responsibility of artists to reinforce your personal opinions about the world. Quite the contrary. Secondly, you cannot divorce politics from the artist. To suggest so displays a profound ignorance regarding the roots of  individual’s political leanings and the depth of these roots. Those of you who like Neil Young’s music but don’t like his politics must be listening to him on a very superficial level. Whether explicitly spelled out in his lyrics or not, his politics are there, deeply entwined with everything else that makes him unique. 

As @rivington66 asserts:

his soul comes through in everything he does. 

You cannot have the soul and not have what matters to him at a deep level. You cannot expect him to move you yet be inauthentic. You cannot expect him to entertain you but censor his humanity. You cannot expect him to be passionate and discount his conscience. If this is what you want from art, you are looking in the wrong place!  

@stuartk Exactly. Artists have the right to express themselves in music and conversation just as everyone else does. Ah, but then we have those who profess they love freedom but then want to censor others from speaking their mind. Personally, I have disagreements with various artists and people from all walks of life, I respect their right to speak their mind. 'True' freedom means respecting the right of free expression from those you may disagree with.