I've just counted and I own 16 Neil Young CDs. Now I quite like a lot of Young's music but I'm no megafan and can only put this down to Young's prodigious output and that his CDs generally aren't expensive in charity shops.
This one was acquired this week, and it's one I hadn't heard before, although had heard it recommended.
And to be honest, my first impression wasn't positive. I'm not a fan of country music, and the first half is quite heavy on the country side of Young.
The Old Country Waltz doesn't inspire, but Saddle Up The Palamino feels brighter and more interesting. Hey Babe, however feels limp, and Hold Back The Tears drags equally. Bite The Bullet is musically much more interesting, although lyrically could be considered a little misogynistic.
The second half kicks off with the quiet, ordinary Star Of Bethlehem, while the still laid back Will To Love feels much more mellow and interesting. But it's only with the fantastic Like A Hurricane a solid-gold rock artifact, that the album comes to any sort of life, ending on a high with Homegrown, a bit throwaway, but a decent enough ending.
But the overall feeling is one of disappointment. This set of songs really doesn't sit as one of Young's strongest, with the notable exception of Like A Hurricane. Is it enough to save the album? Since it was included on the compilation Decades, the following year, probably not, perhaps rendering this album almost redundant.
2* - Like A Hurricane apart, a very lacklustre Neil Young
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