Neil Young
Americana
Every single time fans and critics have thought they had Neil Young pegged, the man went right back out and confounded everyone. Now, 66, Shakey’s still refusing to settle for the middle of the road; still aiming for the ditch.
So really, do I need to mention that Americana -- Young’s new record and first collaboration with Crazy Horse since 2003’s Greendale -- sees our old man inciting riots of sound with his old Gibson Goldtop? Do I need to say that Young sounds as vital today as he did when put out Ragged Glory (1990), Freedom (1989), Rust Never Sleeps (1979), Zuma (1975), After the Goldrush (1970) and Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969)? Or that his vocals are still gnarly, that he is still seething with angst? That he’s still, 44 years on from Buffalo Springfield’s debut LP, an unknown legend, peddling chrome and steel and dirty riffs?
No, of course not.
Neil Young, as fans and the world already know, is a peerless music maverick. But what no one, perhaps, could have seen coming was that for his new record, Young would delve into his old bag of childhood campfire sing-alongs and rip them apart. That he’d approach She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountain with Fuckin’ Up-like aggression. That he’d run Oh Susannah through a Shocking Blue/Venus filter. That Tom Dooley -- reworked as Tom Dula -- would sound like a cross between Powderfinger and White Line. And most of all, that despite the inspired moments, all 56 minutes of Americana would come off as polarising and exasperating.
Yes, that’s right. Exasperating.
Americana has its moments, to be sure. But it’s by no means a classic Neil Young record. And the reasons for that are one, that the songs contained within are way too familiar. And two, that Young and the Horse hardly ever sound like they’re breaking a sweat.
Neil Young, I’ll say it again, is a musical genius who has constantly operated outside the realm of the tried and tested and has always, always sought to challenge himself. The problem with Americana though, is that he seems to be playing by old rules.
Clementine still kicks ass, though.
I like it. i mean, every chance i get to hear him jam with crazy horse is always a welcome to me.
ReplyDeleteSure, the songs are familiar, but who would have thought he'd go out and do covers of classics in his own style? well, thats Neil Young for you, does whatever the fuck he wants LOL.
but yeah i still want to hear CH originals though...
Andri