Neil offers up a few alluring morsels about his rock and roll life. But the writing is juvenile and really lacks any real feeling. "Shakey," the book written a few years back by Jimmy McDonough offers a lot more insight into Neil Young. "Waging Heavy Peace" only serves to re-enforce McDonough's observation that Neil is pretty much an asshole.
Now don't get me wrong, Neil Young is a great artist. He's done some great things like helping start Farm Aid and The Bridge School. He's also written some of the most enduring music of the last 50 years, but I would think being a part of his inner sanctum would come with a very heavy price. Which gets me to "Psychedelic Pill." The new double disc with Crazy Horse is largely unremarkable. It is a good album, but not a great one. Only nine songs (one a repeat) grace the two discs with the first tune on the first disc "Driftin' Back" clocking in at an epic 27:36.
Only four of the songs on this release are worth a listen. "Walk Like A Giant" is an epic classic as is "Ramada Inn." But for all of Neil's wailing in his book about sound "Psychedelic Pill" is one of the worst sounding albums that Neil has done in 25 years. It is woefully under produced. It's pretty clear Neil was trying to capture the live spirit that makes Neil Young and Crazy Horse so great, but the album simply lacks the power of a live performance of the band.
Bob loves that old timey sound and he's surrounded by great musicians. But since "Love and Theft" he's doggedly stripped away and stripped away at the full sound that some of his best albums have delivered. As a producer Bob Dylan is his own worst enemy. The songs on "Tempest" deserve better, irregardless, it is a fantastic album.
Dear John, it turns out the French translation was in the bookstores over here at the same time as the original version in the US. Give credit to NY inc. for their savvy marketing.
ReplyDeleteAs for the text, I would agree that the writing (even in translation) is about 7th grade level. Nonetheless, it is cleverly structured with the to and fro flow from present to past creating sort of rythm which carries the narrative and keeps the reader, me in this case, interested. On the psychological level, it's clear to me that NY is attempting to make peace with his past, mainly by glossing over or conveniently forgetting his most glaring errors of conduct. He seems to be counting on the fact that nearly every baby boomer husband and father has a closet full of ghosts he'd like to forget. That provides a huge readership base - on the masculine side of the market. I can't help but be somewhat touched by the "loner's" story, because it's clear that, as he looks back, he seems to realise how lonely he is.
Kind regards, Mason Duede - Namur