You've got to hand it to Neil Young. The man definitely defies convention. For some four decades now, he has made a career of doing the unexpected. Where many other artists - especially those of Young's generation who have endured the way he has - often have chosen the path of least commercial resistance, he has consistently followed his artistic instincts.
Never one to simply settle for "whatever works," Neil Young more often opts for what feels right in an artistic sense. As a result, his career has been one of alternating commercial peaks and valleys.
Neil Young's artistic muse has led him to create a body of work over the years that stands out as much for its often bizarre turns of style as it does for the great songs he is best known for — from "Heart of Gold" to "Rockin' In The Free World".
In the seventies, this meant following up his "commercial breakthrough" album Harvest, with the darkness and desolation that permeates such personal work as On The Beach, and the only much later to be appreciated Tonight's the Night.
In the eighties, it meant releasing a series of albums so stylistically schizophrenic — from syntho pop to rockabilly — that his label at the time, Geffen Records, first begged the artist to make a "Neil Young" album. Then they finally sued him for breach of contract, citing failure to deliver a commercial release. Neil countersued and eventually returned to his original label, Reprise Records.
Now it appears Neil Young is preparing once again to throw one of his trademark artistic curveballs. Where, on Harvest Moon, Neil Young sang "No one wins, it's a "War of Man," on the upcoming Living With War, he directs his anger at the "Man of War."
Less than a year after the release of the quiet, reflective songs of his most recent album Prairie Wind - an album released in the wake of both his father's passing and his own brush with death after a brain aneurysm - Neil Young is about to release a heavy metal protest record.
Say what?
The news, first reported early Friday morning on numerous Internet blogs (most notably by our good friends over at Thrasher's Wheat), and since confirmed by Neil Young's Official Site, is that Neil's new album, is being described this way:
A power trio with trumpet and 100 voices...A metal version of Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan...folk metal protest.
This comes from the artist himself.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Barry Stoller
Guilty conscience for supporting Reagan in the 80's, I suppose. Better late than never.
2 - Triniman
A few days ago we learned that he would be on tour with CSNY, and playing my home town - his home town - for the first time in a decade.
3 - Glen Boyd
Yeah, for a guy who nearly bought the farm last year, Neil shows absolutely no signs of slowing down.
Two records in less than a year; a concert film soon to be out on DVD; the CSNY tour (and hopefully a solo tour with the new "power trio" or maybe Crazy Horse?)...and there's still hope he may get around to work on the long promised "Archives".
As for your comment Barry...I could never quite figure out Young's support of Reagan in the eighties either (this from the guy who sang about "Tin Soldiers and Nixon's coming in "Ohio").
So yeah, as Springsteen would say, it's been a "Long Time Comin"....
Still I've got a feeling that "Impeach The President" is going to stir a shitstorm (Drudge already has the story up on his site).
Move over Dixie Chicks...and meet the new sheriff. Same as the old sheriff.
4 - Barry Stoller
Call me cynical but this is a bit like GFR doing "People Let's Stop The War" in '72. Why didn't NY consider this sorta album BEFORE the election?
5 - Scott Butki
Neil is the man.
6 - Lynard Skynard
"A southern man don't need him around anyhow?"
7 - Glen Boyd
But didn't Neil Young and Ronnie Van Zant finally bury the hatchet ovewr that one?
Check out this link:
8 - Glen Boyd
Barry,
Comparing Neil Young to Grand Funk Railroad? I mean...you're kidding right?
Scott, Neil is indeed the man. Yes he is.
9 - Barry Stoller
However little NY sings to me personally (and I'm old enough to remember buying both Harvest and On The Beach the week of their respective releases; the latter canceled out the gains of the former), I respect his transformation from sensitive stoner crooner to recalcitrant feedback dude. He's got a BIG catalog, no question (with as many duds as classics).
That said, I DO compare the political opportunism contained within his latest PR campaign to that of GFR's with E Pluribus Funk. Where was Young when it had BALLS to oppose Bush? And, indirectly, I would say as much of Springsteen's new-found appreciation for Pete Seeger (who, like Phil Ochs, remains the gold standard in gutsy anti-establishment folk slingin').
Nevertheless, Young has heart and brains (most of the time) whereas Mark Farner has neither anytime.
10 - Glen Boyd
Barry,
Here's the thing with Neil.
Anyone who knows his music well (and I think you and I are probably about the same age...I bought those albums the week they we're released too)...anyway...anyone who knows the man and his music well knows that he can be a little goofy. How else do you explain things like Trans and The Shocking Pinks?
And his catalog, large as it is, does contain it's fair share of clunkers as well as the classics. Incidentally, I'm a little surprised you dismissed "On The Beach" (I think you said something like it cancelled out the gains of Harvest). On The Beach, especially side 2, is for my money one of Young's best. I simply can't think of a more beautifully desolate set of songs than the three found on Side 2 of that album.
Anyway...to get back on point here...I do not think the timing of Neil doing an anti-Bush record right now is calculated at all. I just think that for Neil himself, this was the right time.
Why I don't find it calculated is because I don't think it is a move designed to sell records. If Neil wanted to do that, all he'd have to do is make another record like Harvest. And don't think for a minute he couldn't do it if he wanted to.
I think this just happens to be where Neil's "muse" leads him at the moment.
Neil Young has nothing to apologize for. He just does what he does and that's how it has always been. Brief support for Reagan in the eighties notwithstanding (which has been exagerated over the years anyway in my own opinion)...this is still the same guy who wrote songs like "Ohio" and "Southern Man".
Comparing Neil to Grand Funk Railroad?
GFR's every move during the period you referenced was calculated for maximum commercial impact by their then svengali like manager Terry Knight. If you look up the word "calculated" in a musical dictionary you might well find Knight's picture there.
In one of the only smart moves they ever made...and like you correctly noted, Mark Farner was never the sharpest knife in the drawer...Knight was dumped by Grand Funk I believe right after the record (E Pluribus Funk) you mentioned.
You also mentioned Springsteen, who I think has been very consistent in his political statements.
Up until he did the Vote For Change tour for Kerry in 2004, Springsteen chose not to speak out politically at all...but rather to let his songs do the talking for him.
Because of this, a few of his own songs, most notably Born In The USA, have been misunderstood and misappropriated by certain politicians.
So to summarize, this new record does not smell like a move calculated to do anything but say what Neil apparently feels he needs to say right now.
Because that's how it always been with Neil Young.
I can't wait to hear Neil railing aginst Bush with ol' Black cranked up to eleven.
I can't wait.
11 - Jewels
Sometimes I think Neil even took himself too politically serious. You know, bottom line; he was always more about The Music than The Politics.
Still, man, a big fan. Always.
12 - Glen Boyd
Exactly Jewels. Neil Young usually is much more about the music than he is about the politics.
Which I think is why he has been somewhat quiet politically speaking during the Bush years...
The song "Let's roll" notwithstanding...and unlike some who share my basically liberal political views, I had no problem with Neil doing a song about those very brave folks unlucky enough to be on that plane that particular day.
I don't think Neil has ever really been that political of an artist. At least not on a consistent basis he hasn't been.
But he does occasionally write political songs. And apparently this is one of those times where he feels he has something to say.
But for the most part, yeah...he's much more about the music.
Thanks for the comment.
13 - Glen Boyd
Jewels,
I went to check out your blog...like I do with everybody who leaves comments on my articles here.
And man...
You need to get those "ActiveX" things off your blog.
That was a SERIOUS Spyware moment.
Get those removed my friend.
For your sake, get them removed.
Just some friendly advice.
Glen
14 - Luke
I've heard plenty of folk metal albums, and it's quite a bit different from heavy metal, it sounds like what you'd imagine celtic people would play 150 years ago if they had electric guitars, or something like that, difficult to explain, having said that, I've heard little to none of Neil Young's music at all, so I'm keen to see what the hell this ends up sounding like.
15 - Barry Stoller
'I don't think it is a move designed to sell records. If Neil wanted to do that, all he'd have to do is make another record like Harvest.'
He does exactly that from time to time. Then he's got to do his 'grungy' and 'unexpected' record to retain Dylan status.
'If you look up the word "calculated" in a musical dictionary you might well find Knight's picture there.'
Imagine someone giving ME the rap on Knight.
16 - Guppusmaximus
Sorry, but Neil Young and Metal in the same sentence doesn't sound accurate. Though I have to say,his last album was brilliantly egineered...I mean what a great sounding CD,even though I didn't get into the music much.
17 - DJRadiohead
The question is: will the music be any good. There have been multiple artists who have taken on President Bush and the war in song. The songs have been fairly awful and have not gotten a lot of traction. Lots of people in the entertainment community have protested. What is lacking is quality protest material.
Some of the vintage 60's protest songs are still heard today on classic radio stations because they were good songs that happened to be about sensitive politcal issues. Plenty more have been forgotten because they were shit songs regardless of the message.
NY hasn't been able to give away a record in a dozen years. This seems to me an awful lot like Steve Earle's song a few years back. When the record is released it will raise some eyebrows and then the story will die. He'll have some publicity. If the songs are good, the publicity could launch this record and it might sell a few copies and gain some traction. If it sucks, it will sell about as many as Greendale or whatever that
piece of crap(sorry, I am just not a Young fan) concept album he just did was. Protests are fine. But you gotta have some fuckin' songs.18 - Rodney Welch
I suspect you wouldn't recognize a good Neil Young song if you heard it.
19 - DJRadiohead
Play one for me and we'll see.I can recognize a good song regardless of who made it.This won't be Young's first protest record. Maybe it will be a good one.
20 - Rodney Welch
Well, let's just say, based on your previous comments, you're not the first person I'd turn to for an assessment.
21 - DJRadiohead
I'd be more likely to turn to someone who didn't drink the NY Kool-Aid than someone who did.
22 - Rodney Welch
If by "drink the NY Kool-Aid" you are referring to people who think Greendale is a masterpiece, then I'll have no choice but to crank it up to 11 as I bask in the warmth of your contempt.
23 - DJRadiohead
Get over yourself, brother. That's a bit of overstatement you have there. Neither you, Neil Young, nor Greendale merit my contempt. Simmer down.
24 - Martin Lav
A protest song is a song that's so specific that you cannot mistake it for bullshit - Phil Ochs
25 - Vern Halen
I believe "Even Richard Nixon has class" is another Neil Young line.
Now, on a related topic, don't go dissin' Grand Funk, particularly E Pluribus Funk, which to me is much much better than Closer to Home, which is considered to be their best album by most fans & critics. EPF, like all their work, contains weak & hackneyed political statements, and yes indeed was orchestrated by their manager for maximum commercial appeal. So, isn't that somewhat similar to the MC5's management by John Sinclair? Although Sinclair wasn't necessarily trying to make a buck, he was looking to push his band into prominence in the alternative community. An GFR appealed to 10 - 12 year old kids who didn't get big political statements or undertand the depth of the problem - I was one of them, and if nothing else, I knew from GFR that there was a war and it wasn't a good thing.
I'd like to think that due to the efforts of Grand Funk (and that other great lost and unacknowledged political band, Steppenwolf) that when people lke myself were old enough to get the point, we found that we were already on the right side.
Furthermore, when I finally got around to hearing Neil Young make ambiguous personal/political statements, I was able to see both sides & accept the ambiguity.
So, "Footstompin' Music" or "People Let's Stop the War": find a copy & play it real loud 'til the Neil albumm comes out. And use your vote (for either side) when the time comes around - but use it.