Mike Nessing Dissents: Neil Young Still Rockin’
Neil Young smiling, somebody call the gloomy gus police
I didnt have the jack to splurge on it, but all accounts ive read say his “Archives” volume 1 is drop dead teriffic. I also applaud Neil for taking out new material on the road and eschewing the lure of being a human jukebox. Hell, hes been doing that since “Time Fades Away” so why should he stop now? If you buy a Neil Young ticket expecting to hear all the hits, then you are woefully unaware of what he’s all about. As far as the re-releases, just like with the Beatles. You have 1986 cd technology sitting on store shelves that is vastly inferior to the vinyl versions. No midrange, too much treble and lousy bass. A sonic upgrade was necessary.
His newer stuff is hit and miss, but I thought “Greendale” was great and for better or worse I wish more artists would just lay it down and put it out quickly like he did with “Living With War”, which does have some gems like “Restless Consumer”.
As far as the remixes? Worth it. Go ahead and pay 9.99 for a 20 year old CD of his first album on Reprise and listen. It sounds like shit. It deserves better.
