New Neil Young album, The Monsanto Years, streaming at NPR

It's sad to watch great artists squander their talents and become buffoons, but it's happened to greater artists than Neil. It's usually the result of the arrogance that comes from success in one walk of life that the artist assumes naturally translates into another (e.g. politics), when in fact the artist knows next to nothing about it. And because their focus wanders away from their true calling, we get naive, didactic garbage like Monsanto Years.

 

Unlike others I don't try to pretend to know what someone's "true calling" is or attempt to dictate what an artist should do with their time or their talents. I didn't enjoy Storytone that much, I've been enjoying this one. For me, it doesn't need to go further than that.

 

The album DVD film from Shakey Pictures is not directed by Bernard Shakey but Daryl Hannah.

 

3 songs I really enjoyed: New Day For Love, Big Box & I Don't Know. Zero awful songs. A few songs that left me, Meh. Overall, Neil still makes albums that I can get down with.

 

Listening now. Hoping this is not Fork in The Road - Part Duex.

 

New Day For Love - This rocks. Love the refrain.

 

Wolf Moon - sounds like a Harvest Moon outtake sung by a 90 year Neil Young. I absolutely love it.

2 tracks in...and i am feeling like a fan boy...

 

I cannot get it to sync between iTunes and my iPhone. Grr.

 

Beatrice Shakey?

 

People Want to Hear About Love - Ham handed lyrics. Little bit of that Living with War chorus background.... but I love the rough guitar work, it totally redeems the song for me...

 

I do. 'Fork' is my favorite Neil album since 'Silver Und Gold'.

 

I like it too. Was a lame attempt at humor...

 

Big Box - Neil goes for the jugular... love the line "Too Big too Fail, to Rich for Jail"

 

Working Man is great with it pretty much being a musical rewrite of Time Fades Away. Wonder if that is one of the tracks they have rehearsed?

 

A Rock Star Bucks A Coffee Shop - Catchy. Rocks along at a loping pace. Awkward rhyme in the refrain doesn't cost it much of it's charm...

 

Working Man - Nice rocker lyrics don't seem to be forced to fit... refrences Farm Aid... another keeper.

Rules of Change - Pretty Generic. No problem with it.. like the Tom Tom drumming.

Monsanto - I like the buzzing bee guitar work and sound effects, it keeps it interesting. a little choppy. Interesting strings at end. Lyrics are interesting. "I don't care what the bible said so long ago..."

If I Don't Know. - Bluesy guitar work...fades into the ther... good closer.

 

Downright apocalyptic track.

 

OK. Final Review- Sorry to be so annoying. Lyrics can be a little forced to fit... I find the lyrics to be much more clever than Living with war or Fork in the raod. Some good lines mixed into the "Forced to fit" lyrics. Kind of like "The Restless Consumer" off of Living with war. Musically this is verysatisfying. A garage rock album... I prefer it to Fork in The Road...and Living With War. This is a topical album.. it won't be for everyone but I give it a 4 out of five stars.

*I am not a fan boy per se. (example: I did not care for Storytone and Le Noise)

 

I think it is my favorite on the album... Neil gets some real shots in on this track.

 

Am I the only one who doesn't like this new Neil Young album? Just didn't get into it, the lyrics are terrible.

 

My free copy (through purchase of a concert ticket) arrived this afternoon. I like it. I can almost smell the Horse.

 

I was all prepared to hate this. The lyrics are icky and that Starbucks song is dopey, but listening to in in full in my living room, I'm pleasantly surprised. I think this is one if those times Neil goes up to bat with his eyes closed and hits a triple.

 

It's Living With War meets Fork In The Road and I mean that in a good way.

 

I believe she goes by Beulah.

 

Is this available without the DVD?