Audio CD review:
Neil Young - Greendale

Neil Young - Greendale

Band: Neil Young Title: Greendale Rating: Release Date: 24 February, 2004 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Falling from Above 2: Double E 3: Devil's Sidewalk 4: Leave the Driving 5: Carmichael 6: Bandit 7: Grandpa's Interview 8: Bringin' Down Dinner 9: Sun Green 10: Be the Rain

Customer Reviews Call Me Crazy, But This CD is Top Five post 70's Neil Young This record rocks my world. I know I've reviewed a couple of CDs over the years, but not nearly commensurate with the number of CDs I own (over 3600). It's vintage Neil. It's so easy to get beaten down by the sheer volume of his work. I own them all and have seen him several times, but this one is different. When I think of a solo artist (I love Crazy Horse to death, but I'll always think of Neil as a solo artist) the only name that compares in terms of longevity, volume and quality is one Bob Dylan. Talk about exclusive company. I find something I really like on almost all of his CDs, but this one just grooves. It's got the controlled distortion of Crazy Horse combined with the folksy story telling Neil. It's not loud like Ragged Glory (God Bless It); a record I just love, but it's not put you to sleep soft like some of his 90's stuff. There isn't a bad cut on this CD and I know Neil has had a few of those in his time. I just keep reaching for it. I can't explain it exactly. You won't hear it on any major radio station so none of the tracks are seared into your brain like Keep on Rockin' in The Free World (a song that's like number 172 on my list of favorite Neil Young songs). For me that means you can listen to it as often as you like without feeling like you are burnt out on any one song. I'm not going to go over this CD track by track. It's one big track if you ask me, but this CD is a standout in my book. I do love Be The Rain though. He records his voice through a megaphone or something for part of the song and it works for me for some reason. Anyway, if you are wishy washy on this particular CD because you feel like you got burned on a couple of his later efforts; pay the money. I promise if you like Neil you will love this CD. . Neil Yawn and Lazy Horse I have been listening to this album for a week and keep falling asleep by track two or three. Remember "Weld"? Remember "Ragged Glory"? Remember "Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere"? Well, keep remembering because there is nothing like that here. I wonder - is there any way to euthanize a recording?. "Gotta trust someone" Not surprising Greendale is akin to Turbulent Indigo (distorted) - dangerous, disaffected, pained and proud. Of all the voices born at "Woodstock" who resist corporate whoredom into the ragged, sagacious today, only Neil Young stands resolute - with (bitterer) Joni Mitchell. Greendale's sonic template is Chuck Berry's "Bye Bye Johnny" - Poncho got pinkslipped? - with wearied hippyisms ("John Lennon said that"; "Bob Dylan said that") - and gnarly harmonica. Unambitious chords with adventurous utterances - hypnotic simple - Ledbelly stomp - John Wesley words - harrowing criminal tales - mercilessly acute - tender, imploring - pathologically obscure - On The Beach - six-string riddles and Sam Shepardesque fables. Unhinged, modestly. Killer (downbeat) tracks: "Devil's Sidewalk," "Leave The Driving" and "Bandit. " Sloppy. Perfect. And Young really needn't be so deferential towards Lennon and Dylan. He passed 'em both by - years ago. . . You can see a complete list of all Neil Young discography, or go back to the Neil Young tabs