neil young

neil kind of addresses these concerns in one of the new monsanto tunes -- live version here: http://www.bigozine2.com/TRKSA/NYsanluis/NYsanluis102.mp3

haha ok ya got me Neil lol

neil young, ilm lurker

recording is pretty murky but i think he's singing
"aint got time to deal with Οὖτις / Can't even pronounce his name / Gotta save the planet / da croupier is lame"

i can't hear that because i only listen to pono now

The thing is, his '80s genre experiments have songs as good as any of the earlier putatively autobiographical material.

Just keeping you on your toes.

The thing is, his '80s genre experiments have songs as good as any of the earlier putatively autobiographical material.
i'm as much of an 80s neil apologist as anyone, but ... which songs are you thinking of here?

Psychedelic Pill has songs about relationships, though not up-close confessional; Storytone uses layers of imagery too, but the sound of regret, belated insights, etc. comes through. Also, his Storytone Chicago blues song talks about early shows in Chicago, and is otherwise personalized, like other tracks---he's not gonna spill his guts all over the place, but I don't find his recent approaches to be too distanced. Seems like he really does care about the environment, for instance.

I'll assume "the '80s Young" stops with Eldorado.

Shots
Like an Inca
This Old Homestead
Southern Pacific
Grey Riders
Transformer Man
Sample n Hold
Prisoners of Rock 'n' Roll
Hippie Dream
Pressure
Mideast Vacation

that's a helluva playlist and I'll put them against any '70s classic.

yeah those are all good (though technically shots and old homestead are 70s songs), but wouldn't trade any of them for his earlier stuff. but opinions vary!

was listening to the Unplugged version of Transformer Man earlier, that really is up there w his best imo

Forgot "T-Bone."

Ain't got no t-bone

it's a cold bowl of chili when love lets you down

I love when neil sings about food

i love "coupe de ville" from this note's for you.

I love "Around the World". What a bizarre bridge (for Neil): as lusty as he ever got in lyric? except tbone obv

I'll assume "the '80s Young" stops with Eldorado.

Shots
Like an Inca
This Old Homestead
Southern Pacific
Grey Riders
Transformer Man
Sample n Hold
Prisoners of Rock 'n' Roll
Hippie Dream
Pressure
Mideast Vacation

― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, June 5, 2015 2:54 PM (41 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

some of these weren't written in the time period though, they were 70s songs...."Shots" for sure was kicking around since mid 70s and I think "This Old Homestead" and "Like an Inca"

it's kind of amazing how long he mined that 70s peak, even as late as Le Noise for "Hitchhiker"

and I'd argue the "80s" part of "Shots" isn't what makes it great anyway unless you like the "pew pew pew" laser gun sound efx record shit, this is the definitive version imo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMnljgJRiz8

and "Too Far Gone" one of the best songs off Freedom is just an inferior version of original on Chrome Dreams which I hope will be released soon

Guys, I read Shakey -- I know he's got drawers full of this stuff. If it sez 1982, I'm counting it as an '82 song because he still fiddled with it in the studio.

the "pew pew pew" laser gun sound efx record shit

always improves a song imo

fair enough Alfred I don't necessarily agree but I respect that you've got a job to do when it comes to 80s albums

xp also canons firing/explosions ("long walk home")

was just thinking that might be the worst neil song ever

If liberty was a little girl
Watching all the flags unfurl
Standing at the big parade
How would she like us now?

i dunno, i like the hook and as far as metaphor abuse goes, it pales to johnny cougar's "justice and indepedence '85"

He was born on the fourth day of July
So his parents called him Independence Day
He married a girl named Justice who gave birth to a son called the Nation
And she walked away

Independence would daydream and he'd pretend
That some day him and Justice and Nation'd be together again
But Justice held up in a shotgun shack
Wouldn't let nobody in
So a Nation cried...

Oh, Oh,
When a Nation cries
His tears fall down like missiles from the sky
Justice look into Independence's eyes
Can you make everything alright?
Can you keep your Nation warm tonight?

worse political neil lyric imo

Oh Alabama
Can I see you and shake your hand?
Make friends down in Alabama
I'm from a new land
I come to you and
See all this ruin
What are you doing?

Alabama
You got the rest of the union
To help you along
What's going wrong?

idk some pretty strong contenders for worst political neil lyric...

I mean

Let's roll for freedome,
Let's roll for love,
We're going after satan,
On the wings of a dove,

i imagine living with war has plenty of ham-fisted political yammering but i've only listened to it once

In Waging Heavy Peace, he repents for "Alabama" and/or "Southern Man"---also did this medley of "Alabama" and "Sweet Home Alabama":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCd43ntfxB0

someone might be able to pull an awkward couplet or 18 out of living with war, but as a heartbroken, embarrassed album long apologia for "let's roll" its pretty great

the version with just neil singing i mean, not the one where 100 people chant along

still vote for "alabama" as the worst. it's like "Southern Man II: The Quest For Crosby's Gold"

the "pew pew pew" laser gun sound efx record shit

always improves a song imo

― Οὖτις, Friday, June 5, 2015 4:54 PM (5 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

xp also canons firing/explosions ("long walk home")

― brimstead, Friday, June 5, 2015 5:43 PM (5 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

This is secretly my favorite thing about 80s Neil; "Mideast Vacation" has gun sounds too!

Living With War is way underrated (the choir free version)

I'm kinda bummed (albeit not hundreds of dollars worth of bummed) that I have been p much unable to hear a single complete Neil album since Greendale. I can't afford to buy any of it with these ridiculous $45 vinyl sticker prices, and can't find any of it for free (I don't use torrentz).

like I hear clips whenever he puts something new out and I can kinda keep tabs on him that way - he's certainly interesting - but as a result I hear snippets once and then that's it.

spotify

is a monster I will not feed

feel like being able to listen to neil young albums i don't actually want to own is the best argument for spotify

CDs are hella cheap now; can likely find whatever recent Neil stuff for less than $10/disc.

you should definitely just go ahead and buy psychedelic pill if you haven't already, it's amazing.

that's kinda the one I want the most, cuz I really liked "Walk Like a Giant". Although LeNoise seems attractive too. And I did like that one song from the electric car album that had that "where did all the money gooooo" refrain.

so many hits to choose from!

out of the last 10 years, i'd say psychedelic pill, le noise and chrome dreams ii are the best...

For me, Le Noise was the best thing Neil had done since Ragged Glory (and I'm not a fan of Lanois at all).

i dunno, i like the approach/sound of le noise, but i wish the songs themselves (with a few exceptions) were a little better.

Yeah, le noise was the one that stood out for me as well. It's tough for me to listen to his other newer stuff without it making me want to listen to his older stuff that I think is much better. Even psychedelic pill, which was quite good in parts. But he couldn't have made le noise back in the day. It's just different and awesome.