The credits for Psychedelic Pill have reference to ProTools transfers. I’m willing to the bet effects on the title track are a plug-in
He mentions in Waging Heavy Peace about “fixing” mistakes in Pro Tools. No way PP was an all analog production. I don’t really care either way, though.
He mentioned in the latest batch of letters to the editor on NYA that the team is exploring possible live venues for next summer. So, the door looks to be still open a bit.
This is a very detailed description of those sessions to get an idea of what was ProTools: Neil Young’s Moonlit Sessions
Personally, I hear his most cohesive, exciting, and interesting album in two decades. In my opinion, it's not as sloppy as Barn or Colorado. Isn't the sloppy, messy shambolic hodge-podge part of the charm of many Neil Young records?
It's not the format as much as the usual limitations and bad compression and loudness how most CDs are mastered. He does prefer hi rez digital over CDs. One reason he released the first Archive set on DVD . This new records sounds great. Yeah theyrecorded analog, worked digitally and it was cut to analog for vinyl. More or less what MoFi is doing now. It can sound very good and this record sounds fabulous. Most people can't tell the difference anyway, except when they learn there was a digital step, then they frequently say they can hear it. Usually it is simply the mastering choice and nit because there is digital involved. .
"a sloppy, messy shambolic hodge-podge with no precision, clarity or direction" Pretty much like half of Neil's records. And they are still wonderful!!
I wouldn’t say that. I like several albums from the last two decades, but I feel World Record is one of his great albums.
Psychedelic Pill, Le Noise, Toast, Greendale, Noise and Flowers. All classic to my ears with wonderful moments here and there on other studio albums.
I'm shocked at the ambivalence towards The Visitor on this thread. That's a great record! Even a bonkers concept like "Carnival", and a further bonkers concept in its length, works well! He took some risks and it paid off, IMHO. I also adore the track "Already Great".
Given the abysmal audio quality of Noise And Flowers I’m thinking the “all classic to my ears” must be loaded with sarcasm when it comes to that title. The other 4 you mention are my 4 favourite 21st century Neil albums-classic to my ears too.
Plastic only becomes a problem when it's thrown out. As I see it, by producing an extra disc, he's actually recycling more plastic
I like Psychedelic Pill quite a lot but after listening to Colorado again last night I have to say it's one of my few handful of rejects from his discography. I can say that I don't like the album much at all. Psychedelic Pill has some amazing moments and if you can tolerate the long drawn out songs its a rewarding listen. My personal favorite in the last 25 years remains Le Noise though, love what he did with that one.
I like the storytelling aspect of Geendale. If that doesn't draw you in then I can understand how it wouldn't rank high for you. It seemed sort of fresh at the time and I still circle back to it from time to time. I'm not sure I understand what's taken so long to get a simple vinyl reissue though.
