Audio CD review:
Neil Young - Chrome Dreams II CD/DVD Special Edition

Neil Young - Chrome Dreams II CD/DVD Special Edition

Band: Neil Young Title: Chrome Dreams II CD/DVD Special Edition Rating: Release Date: 23 October, 2007 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Beautiful Bluebird 2: Boxcar 3: Ordinary 4: Shining Light 5: The Believer 6: Spirit Road 7: Dirty Old Man 8: Ever After 9: No Hidden Path 10: The Way

Editoral Review Young's finest work in years, one that erases the memory of his well-intentioned but anemic 2006 protest album, Living with War. What we have here is easily Mr. Recorded using analog gear, with Crazy Horse drummer Ralph Molina, pedal steel guitarist Ben Keith, and Rick Rosas on bass, CD2 manages to sound both home-grown and experimental. It's the work of an artist still not afraid to take chances, who also knows what his strengths are and doesn't stray too far from them. Trainspotters will note that three of the ten songs were written but never released before, while we all might puzzle over the title. Chrome Dreams is the name of an unreleased album from 1977. So, why is this Chrome Dreams II? Is it a similar case to 1992's Harvest Moon, when Young went back to the virtual land of his 1972 hit Harvest to write more material in that vein? As the original was reportedly lost in a fire, we may never know. Chrome Dreams II offers up gorgeous, plaintive laments and country-tinged numbers sung in that achy breaky, heart-on-sleeve voice of Young's, as well as ragged barn-storming rockers delivered with a growl. There's even an 18-minute dirge that excitedly mixes R&B back-up horns with searing electric guitar leads! Wow. --Mike McGonigal .. You can see a complete list of all Neil Young discography, or go back to the Neil Young tabs