I finally got this ( for Christmas ) and just listened to it on my studio system and boy it's really good. Rick Rubin did a great job with the sounds I don't think someone else could have fit the sounds into the Sonic space as well as he did. This record is more creative and fulfilling than any of them in a while and I really liked Colorado. I still don't have barn. I just think that The melodies are fresh and the lyrics are nice and blurry, and Chevrolet is especially blurry musically as well which is great. I like the way he's working with ambiguities which he hasn't done for a while. And I just like the way everything sounds so good. Now I'm listening to the vinyl so I don't know about the streaming or CD versions.
Absolutely agree that the new album is just ear candy. I’ve now been three times through and it’s getting better each time. Cannot wait to get my hands on the vinyl. I’d highly recommend you pick up Barn though which is a very strong album. Neil has been on a roll!
Lyrics from Walkin’ On The Road: Walkin’ on the road to the future is scary, We want to make the best of the past and not tarry TARRY???? What the fk is that for a word? So, in my indignant rage I repackaged this album and was about to send it back to NY HQ with a stern letter saying that if he was going to start making up words just for rhyming sake, then I want my money back. However, I thought it best to check the dictionary first - and there it was: TARRY, an auld English word meaning to wait or loiter! Well, everyday is a school day with Uncle Neil…….
A very nice and interesting interview. Great move by Apple to recruit Zane Lowe, who is always very thoughtful and well researched in his interviews. Long time since I saw Neil being this funny and sharp.
Also heard in Steve Harley's Come Up and See Me "There's nothing left All gone and run away Maybe you'll tarry for a while"
I must have heard that song 100 times without ever noticing that word. Maybe Neil is channeling his inner Cockney Rebel……
"Tarry" isn't that unusual a word, but it's uncommon in a rock lyric for sure. Still, not as unusual as the use of "dawdle" and "toddle" by John Sebastian in the Spoonful's "Darling Be Home Soon." But, darling, be home soon I couldn't bear to wait an extra minute if you dawdled My darling, be home soon It's not just these few hours, but I've been waiting since I toddled For the great relief of having you to talk to
I agree. I got the album for Christmas too so am only now really hearing it properly and it is a great sounding album. I saw the Harvest Time movie at the cinema during December and I really felt there was something of the feel of those sessions in these recordings. Definitely my favourite of the recent Crazy Horse albums. I'm still not convinced by some of the lyrics though and I can't see that Neil's on the nose environmentalism really serves any purpose lyrically, sincere though he clearly is about it. It is somewhat preaching to (a decreasing number of) the converted.
I’ve just finished reading Neil’s Special Deluxe book - an enjoyable romp through his life from the perspective of the cars that he’s owned. Thought it would be interesting to see how it tied up with his Chevrolet song (but, I mostly came up with nothing). I don’t recall reading about a Chevrolet and there are certainly no paintings of one. Strange….. There is a chapter on a Corvette though, which is mentioned in the lyrics. The book dates the car to a purchase in 1966 and then the car was soon repossessed when he failed to make payments on it. This doesn’t tie in with the ‘new Mama’ reference, which most likely refers to Carrie Snodgress and their son Zeke. (New Mama appears as a song on the Tonight’s The Night album.) But, it’s still a cool song and I won’t be letting Neil’s artistic license spoil my enjoyment.
I'm going to assume you mean a decreasing number of those who need to be converted. But I'll leave it there before I get a warning (however non-political I feel this topic is). I too enjoy the new album. It's definitely a very different sonic palette from the 'typical' Crazy Horse album. Would be interesting to see how this batch of songs fits in with a Crazy Horse setlist...
I just meant Neil's audience is decreasing generally, like most performers of his generation sadly. Nobody is getting any younger.
I’ll answer my own post…… Just realised that Chevrolet were the manufacturer of the Corvette, as the Chevrolet Corvette is mentioned in a news article about classified documents being found in Biden’s garage. Still doesn’t explain the ‘New Mama’ reference though, if the car in the song is the 1957 Corvette written about in Special Deluxe, which was briefly owned by Neil in the late ‘60s.
Don't forget it's a song, not a documentary. The inaccuracies are narrative pretexts, they are not mistakes or mysteries. For example, in Long May You Run the protagonist is in Blind River in 1962. A mistake? No, 1962 just sounds better
I have to admit, as a long time Neil fanatic, I have been losing interest in his present ventures. I find myself going for what I know. That often leads to On the Beach. I have loads of Neil in my collection too. He was the first big concert I saw (1983). I liked when he crafted material rather than just go with flow of consciousness. I do love that he does exactly as he pleases. I saw Neil first right as Trans was released, so I am on for the long haul. So I saw this thread and read some of the posts and thought I need to shake off the desire to just go for the standards. I appreciate the push and poke to get me out of the rut. Thanks for that.
The new radio edit of Chevrolet released today on streaming services actually works well and does the song justice.
Chevrolet is great. The rest of this album does nothing for me. Barn on the other hand is one of his best.
Well, I tried. Agree that Chevrolet burns a hole in the rest of the album. Where some hear Neil 'exploring ambiguity' I hear underwritten or half baked songs. They're not bad, but they're not good either. I like the pump organ or whatever and the new approach to Crazy Horse as a low key ensemble. But I guess he should have let Nils play accordian (check out Grin albums if you want to hear some cool Nils accordian!) Getting tired of Neil confusing spontaneity with inspiration. Or even the requirement for some refinement. Yeah I know. That's his thing. But the muse seems to have run dry herself. Neil's dad on the cover? Meaning what? Neil's part of a journalistic tradition? LOL. Journalist don't try to shut down people asking questions. Neil's voice is fading so that's not helping. Maybe he could have gotten some of this material across better with a stronger voice So, I keep trying to hear what I might be missing, I haven't been moved by a Neil Young song since 'Natural Beauty' or maybe 'Without Rings'. Let me put it this way: If this was Neil's first album, I wonder if he'd be able to make another on a major label, or sell enough copies to justify being an indie. Would there be an audience for this without the context of his past genius?
Not a lot of artists put out their first album at age 77. It's not really a fair comparison to his solo debut which was when he was 55 years younger. I get that this new album is not for everyone, but I love it. It's my favorite since Silver and Gold. Neil has always put out albums that not all of his fans are going to like. That's part of the reason why he is so great. He doesn't care if people like it. He does whatever he likes. His past success allows him to do this.
I am still digging it. I like to listen to Dylan's Rough And Rowdy Ways and Neil's World Record back to back.
I like "World Record". It has its flaws, but I think it's stronger than the previous two. That said, I have to admit I agree with this: So am I! I'm pretty sure he still have a couple of great albums in him if only he would work a little bit harder. But I'm glad he's still productive and delivering strong (imo) albums like "Storytone" and "World Record".
