In spite of that, for people that are fans of his work he remains a constant in a world of inconsistency, because of his individuality and the distinctive sound of his voice. It doesn't seem to matter if he's singing one of his folk songs like "Sugar Mountain," or burning the roof off with something like "Down By The River." In the last few years, he's spread his artistic wings even further by getting involved with making movies based on song cycles he has created.

But music is still what he does best and while there are those who will probably disagree with me, I think his latest Chrome Dreams ll is one of his better efforts in years. Last year's Prairie Wind was a step in the right direction, but I found it a little too sentimental, and lacking the bite that normally elevates his acoustic work beyond the norm. Although considering the year he had come through (surgery for a brain aneurysm and the death of his father) it was more then a little understandable.

Chrome Dreams ll sees Neil still working the quieter side of the street. But the lyrics have a lot more to them. In some ways, its the equivalent of the novel where the characters go on a long road journey. But the real road their travelling along is the one inside where you begin to figure out things about yourself. Road and travel imagery abound in the songs on this disc. But they primarily exist to help explain the inner journey needed to get back home to yourself.

From the bluebird who always looks like she's flying home in the opening track, "Beautiful Bluebird", to the spirit road in your mind that you have to find to get home that's talked about in "Spirit Road", to the fact that it's not that big a mystery on on "No Hidden Path," — Young talks about the importance of taking the time to get to know yourself and the world about you.

Spirituality is not something that most people are too comfortable talking about in our society. But Neil doesn't share that reluctance. Heck, I've always found "Helpless" to be one of the most spiritually moving songs I've ever heard, because of the way it evokes the power that memories have on the spirit. So it shouldn't surprise people to hear Neil advocate finding your spirit road, or talking about praying among the trees.

But then again it just might.

Neil is one of the few folk who can actually write a musically satirical song. Maybe it's his voice, or something to do with the way he can control his inflection. "Dirty Old Man" is a typical example of his best satire. What sounds funny and glib on the surface is really a criticism of those people who find those sorts of attitudes funny. There's nothing funny about people who are drunks and piss their lives away, yet you can already hear the idiots cheering when Neil sings "I love to get hammered on a Friday night, but sometimes I can't wait and Monday's alright".