Neil Young And Crazy Horse - Greendale

by Anthony Strutt

published: 3 / 9 / 2003

Label: Select Label
Format: CD

Controversial slow-burning new concept album from Neil Young, set in an imaginary township, which proves to get stronger with each new listening

Review

You either love Neil Young or like most other people outside of older musical circles have never heard of him.I am still a beginner with his work as I only have about 30 of his albums and don't own anything by his first band, Buffalo Springfield. Prior to this release, Neil played around Europe on an acoustic solo tour playing all of 'Greendale' live and also doing 30 minutes of oldies to please the hardcore fans who coughed up their £55 to see him. 'Greendale' is unlike any other album from Neil Young and his backing band Crazy Horse, as it is a concept album, which is based around the characters that live in the fictional town of Greendale. It comes as a regular CD and also as a CD and a DVD package with a lovely smelling booklet. Be warned though, as appearing on recycled paper, the booklet is both both thick and sensitive. I tore mine trying to put it back into the plastic CD case. The DVD features a solo live performance recorded in the early summer in Dublin. And so onto the album itself... Approximately Neil's 40th album to date, its puts a special emphasis on storytelling. It is a slow burner, but it does eventually burn into you easily. With only 4 of its songs and tales clocking in at under 6 minutes, and several others running at well past the 10 minute mark, the album has an urban blues feel and personally I feel gets much stronger after the fifth track, 'Carmichael'. 'Bandit', the sixth track, finds Neil returning to his old style folk roots with a spoken work delivery upon which he sounds a little like Lou Reed in a reflective mood.The guitar has some weird vibes going on in there as well. 'Grandpa's Interview', the next track, has Crazy Horse playing in typically strident fashion, which is cool with me. There are a lot of other songs in similar vein on this record too. Crazy Horse's sound changes with the way Neil Young delivers a record, and on this one they allow him to be more self indulgent, and sometimes to rock out. The album gets better and better with each new listening, and has quite a few shocks that jump at you when you don't expect them. As Alan McGee once said "God Bless, Neil Young, and all that sail with him."

Track Listing:-

1 Falling From Above
2 Double E
3 Devil's Sidewalk
4 Leave The Driing
5 Carmichael
6 Bandit
7 Grandpa's Interview
8 Bringin Down Dinner
9 Sun Green
10 Be The Rain