I WAS a huge Neil Young fan. I still love most of his older music. I've seen him a few times. Even saw The Shocking Pinks. Neil has the right to his political opinions but I have the right to choose not to support him any longer. I can still appreciate his music while feeling like he has crossed the line with me politically one too many times. Plus, I haven't found much of his more recent music to be that great.
Neil Young
Thought I would share a few thoughts here.
Neil Young is again on tour, so I am again giving this artist some thought.
I remember reading an interview with Bryan Ferry where he said that Neil Young was one of his favorite artists. I thought this odd given the glam rock of Roxy Music. But he described Neil Young as a musical chameleon, always changing up his music and bands, which is why he liked him so much.
That quote stuck with me. Buffalo Springfield, Laurel Canyon, Solo Acoustic, CSNY, The Shocking Pinks, The International Harvesters, Rockin’ In The Free World, and so on. Always a new twist for Neil. He really doesn’t stay stagnant.
Then, reading about his current tour it seems at every stop he is breaking out some long forgotten and unplayed live tune to keep his set lists interesting.
I’ve never seen him live, and frankly don’t think I have that much interest in seeing him live. Yet I own a metric ton of his recorded material. I remember reading someone else who described Neil as a one string soloist when it comes to rock guitar playing. That kinda stuck with me.
I do appreciate his approach to analog releases from his vast catalog.
Anyway, he is indeed a hall of famer.
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Because I'm an Old, "After the Gold Rush" is peak Neil Young for me. Jonathan Demme filmed Young’s 2006 concert at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, and you can hear a lot of good music in it (along with some stuff I didn’t much care for). His solo version of "The Needle and the Damage Done" is remarkable. https://www.roku.com/whats-on/movies/neil-young-heart-of-gold?id=3217a52bc7995bf4a91fb5b7f2ffef2d |
I think Neil is an aquired taste. He's creative, a great guitarist but, if he doesn't speak to you move on. He is very diverse. I saw him in 83 on his Trans tour. He was booed and wildy applauded at the same show. I was also at the show Laps referred to and it was so was great! You have to take his albums and multiply it 2 or 3 to get close to live. Even his live recordings are not quite the same. Unfortunately like all are hero's he's slowing down and losing a couple steps. I would say watch him on You Tube and make your own judgement. |
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