LIVING WITH WAR: New Neil Young Album- "Metal Folk Protest"
Neil Young's official website now confirms his new album's title as LIVING WITH WAR. Neil's letter appears as ticker at bottom of page. Neil calls it "Metal Folk Protest" like Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan.
Lyrics to "LIVING WITH WAR" are scrolled.
UPDATE from former president of Reprise Records, Howie Klein on DownWithTyranny! on hearing the album the first time:
"Ok; first: the album is beyond belief. I mean it's so great I was jumping out of my skin. That's the good news. The less good news is that they wouldn't play it for me unless I agreed not to write about it for "a few days." (Not even the label has heard it yet and they felt it would be impolite for me to go blabbing the whole story all over the world until after they get to play it for Reprise and the NY Times.) So what can I tell you before "a few days?" Not much. From the time Neil started writing the songs until he finished recording the whole incredible project: 9 days.
Every song is about... you know what (and who). Musically it is so powerful and emotionally it's even more powerful that that!! Many tears while I sat alone with the headset on. Since I already mentioned "Let's Impeach the President," I'll just say a few things about that. It's this great rocker that ends as a gospel song and reads like an indictment. I mean Neil sounds like he's been reading Daily KOS or FireLakeDog! Someone's gotta get this to Henry Waxman! Neil even lays out some evidence in the form of Bush running his mouth on tape.
Will this go down as Neil's greatest album ever? It will be a contender musically. And the impact lyrically could be profound. I'll talk more about that when my period of musical purdah is up next week. If you're walking down the street and someone comes up to you and offers you the opportunity to hear just one song, ask him to play "Flags of Freedom." (Have kleenex handy.)"
More new album news and reaction .
by thrasher@PermaLink: 4/14/2006 07:37:00 PM
89 comments
>> Pre-Order on Amazon.com << 
Human Highway
Concert Review of the Moment
This Land is My Land
FREEDOM In A New Year
*Thanks Neil!*
![[EFC Blue Ribbon - Free Speech Online]](http://www.thrasherswheat.org/gifs/free-speech.gif)
The Unbearable Lightness of Being Neil Young
Pardon My Heart
"We're The Ones 
Thanks for Supporting Thrasher's Wheat!
This blog 
(... he didn't kill himself either...)
#AaronDidntKillHimself
Neil Young's Moon Songs
Civic Duty Is Not Terrorism
Orwell (and Grandpa) Was Right
What's So Funny About 
89 Comments:
Unbelievable.
was album news release pegged to full moon?
Neil rocks my free world!
As I write this, I believe that Neil is backing off on this and maybe we'll see an album that's less in your face politically, with maybe one or two songs from this "new" album on it. But, I could be wrong. The Archives are being released soon too, aren't they? A new album will be like his old jeans, with patchwork on the knees and butt. I could be wrong though! I still love anything the guy puts out there because you never know what the hell yer gonna get! That is what makes his work so enduring to us all.
I find it innaresting that everytime Neil's politics are critical of the current administration's policy, lots of folks use the "shut up, your a Canadian and you don't have the right to say anything" bs in order to dismiss his comments. Let's not forget that he is a LEGAL resident of the USA, works in the USA, pays federal taxes, (probably more then most of us), and his wife and children are citizens of the USA. He has every right to say anything he wants. There is no way that disagreeing with ANYONE in government is an unpatriotic act, that's what it's all about folks....
and as for the archives, I never really believed they were on the verge of release anyway, I'll believe the archives when and if I ever see 'em.....
I am ready for this, if it is really gonna be released...... Loud? Ol' Black?
Bring it on!
Neil kicks (BushCo) ass!
-HMO
Three days to record, it is bound to be hot. OHIO was down the same way, and it made Nixon nervous. THANK YOU NEIL... let's impeach this BUSH!!!
Sorry to Neil, his new album will not find it's way into my iPod. It's easy to rip the president; all his buddies are doing it. As an aging, counter culture hippie, it's the safe thing to do. I would respect Young, or any of the leftists in the entertainment industry, a lot more if they would focus their creative energy on blasting the real enemy - Islam, rather than attacking the only force in the world attempting to preserve their over compensated, cushy lifestyle.
Hey Neil! How 'bout an album called, "Muslims Suck!"? You could have songs on it with titles like, "Allah, The Mythical Moon God", or "Hey Moron, There Aint No Virgins in Islamic Heaven", or "My Boyfriend Stuck an IED Up My Ass", or maybe, "Mohammed's Favorite Wife Was a Camel", or how about, "Cave Dwelling Blues", or finally, "There's No Time like Medieval Time". I think we all would go out and buy music or movies that represented reality like that as opposed to the ignorant and simplistic, "Bush is evil" theme that is so prevalent in the music and entertainment industry today. But, given the Rusted shut mindset of the leftists today; I won't be holding my breath. Again, Neil, it's time for Rust to Sleep.
I'm sure he'll be horribly disappointed to lose the 'right-wing extremist' (or in your case, flat out racist) demographic. Cause you know those are his favourite people!!
I hope he wrote another 'southern man' too, about you blindly anti-islamic folks. That would be nice.
Ok, scud, if Islam is the real enemy.... Why isn't Bush waging war against Islam? Why are we in Iraq of all places? There were no Iraqis on those planes on 9/11. Why aren't we blowing up Mecca and Medina? Could it be that because the most holiest of all places in Islam are in Saudi Arabia and the Saudis are great friends and financial partners with Bush and his oil buddies? Bush has declared war on "terrorism", an abstract enemy, not a defined enemy. See, this way, he gets to blow up whoever he wants, whenever he wants, for as long as he wants.....A blank check for an open-ended war without any concrete objectives or strategy to end. If any one questions him, they are labeled "unpatriotic" by our Vice-fool Cheney. Our military is stretched very thin and our National Guard can't perform the duties here at home when we need them, because they are serving in Iraq. Listen, I am a proud veteran and appreciate all that these soldiers are going through, but ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Are we going to go through decades of this crap before we wake up and vote in folks with a little sense? I sure hope not....
And Happy Easter everyone!
I sincerely doubt Neil would want a fan like you, anyway... He's not very fond of bigots, see.
I really hope Thrashers won't be flooded with more crap like this in the weeks to come.
Is CSN&Y touring this summer?
Thrasher,
I just posted a story on Living With War for Blogcritics.
Check it out at
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/04/15/234057.php
Gave ya a link in the story too Thrasher. You basically broke the story as far as I am concerned...and I always give credit where credit is due.
Glen Boyd
The World Wide Glen
http://theglenblog.blogspot.com
Neil Young can roll up and die...if he wants to make records for stupid liberal terrorist supporters he can go ahead...but like the dixie chicks and others it sure hits you in the pocketbook and the record charts when you take the side of defeat and surrender and do nothing to help protect the world except make it that much easier for these scumbag terrorists to achieve their goals...screw liberals,screw the terrorists, and Neil Young can go to hell.
I was on vacation in Syrianna last week and the doorman at the hotel told me,"good night and good luck!", and as I walked down the street, there was an explosion to the right. The left side of the street, the one I was on, was nothing but strip bars and single men. My family was back at the hotel, out like little lights. I never felt so....lost. So I plugged in my ipod and the album "Life" came to life. And then it hit me. It's my own damn fault. All of it. I wet my finger to see which way the wind was blowing and it was blowing right at me.
Wow... reading Howie Klein's comment makes me tingle. I'm dying to hear this fucking thing.
And Neil's been writing songs like this for 40 years now. If you right-wing blowhards are just now realising this, that's your own problem. Go ahead and boycott Neil. He's not going to lose any sleep over it. He probably assumed you all boycotted him long ago... when he put out Southern Man, or Ohio, or one of those records.
And as for the rest of us... well... you're not really going to accomplish anything by bitching to us... and we certainly don't want to hear it... so you might aswell stop talking altogether. Go put on some Garth Brooks, crack a bud, shoot some deer, relax... this isn't the end of the fucking world!
first, to all Neil's detractors, is some rabid fundamentalist be he Christian or Muslim, holding a gun to YOUR head insisting you buy the album ? No ? Then FUCK OFF...
secondly, I am/was ready for the Archives, but I'm beginning to think Amelia Earhart will turn up dead or alive before Neil releases
anything from his Archive
Neil's great and I love his music but I think everyone is getting a little tired of beating the hell out of Bush. Right now it is the liberal thing to do, but it accomplishes nothing. Look forward to hearing the new album anyhow. I'm sure it will be good. I'm just disapointed that Neil would fall for this liberal garbage.
"but like the dixie chicks and others it sure hits you in the pocketbook and the record charts when you take the side of defeat and surrender and do nothing to help protect the world except make it that much easier for these scumbag terrorists to achieve their goals...screw liberals,screw the terrorists, and Neil Young can go to hell."
This guy isn't so bright and obviously doesn't know much about Neil's aversion to commercialism, not does he know much about Neil's fan base. Unlike the Dixe Chicks, Neil appeals to educated blue staters far more thanred state hicks.
"Neil's great and I love his music but I think everyone is getting a little tired of beating the hell out of Bush. Right now it is the liberal thing to do, but it accomplishes nothing"
And this genius seems to be so uninformed to suggest that everyon eis getting tired of Bush criticism!? I'd hate to break it to this poor soul, but the critics are just getting started as the truth emerges, elast of all Neil.
After years of active deception, the truth is just starting to emerge about Bush's corruption and pretext for war. Get used to the Bush bashing, because it has only just begun.
And as for the racists on this board who will condemn every member of Islam becasue of the acts of a few insane fundamentalists, I say to you, go back and listen to Neil, and try to learn something this time. Love is what it is all about.
Go Back to canada if you dont like it
LEAVE NOW JACKA__
Actaully, you should leave anon. Neil is a citizen who actually contributes to the culture. You are just an angry ignoramous who reacts irationally and violently to other ignorant people acting irrationally and violently. Political criticism is one of the highest forms of public service and is as patriotic an exercise as possible.
Doea anyone really think that a commenter on a Neil Young fan site who spells "A Horse With No Name" as "horsewifnoname" does NOT already know it's not actually a Neil Young song? Not me. I'd say it's kind of like that's actually the joke in and of itself..."dude".
Lots of musical acts have been derivative of Neil, but few have been such blatant copies as the band America. Ironic, isn't it?
Unlike the Dixie Chicks, Neil's fanbase does not take its marching orders from Sean Hannity, et. al. I highly doubt any conservative's call for a boycott will have much impact.
Lastly, is anyone truly childish enough to confuse opposing an elected official with anti-Americanism? Of course, all Bush did was order us into a sovereign country due to "weapons of mass destruction", meanwhile real threats such as Iran and North Korea go unchecked, and our domestic response to Katrina was woefully inadequate. Hmmmm. At least he didn't get a BJ in the Oval Office...that's grounds for impeachment!
I hope all of you rational types follow my lead here:
For each idiot on this board who bashes Neil for being the aging hippie he is and actually having the appropriate disgust for this lying administration to use his fame to say something in protest, I plan on buying an extra copy of the record. Good thing I'm rich. So all of you Bush supoprters and Neil bashers, go ahead, display your ignorance and reactionary fearfulness.
Long live life, love, peace, the idea of global community and world citizenship, and most of all Neil Young.
Great to see that Neil's got the guts to make an album like this one.
To the guy who said there has always been war and always will be.That's a very wise comment,when Bush is prepared to attack any Country he pleases and for no reason ,sure,there's always going to be war.
It's frightening stuff when the President of the U.S.A.can't read and is a so called born again Christian.
I noticed the right wingers call those who support Neil on this issue as "Potheads".Phew some comment that !
Good to see you angry again Neil !!!!
Hey hey my my, will neil young ever die?
Gee I cant' wait to hear another burned-out faded hippie rocker get out his rocker and 6 string and try to stir up some more political jargon. Hey Neil do urself a favor and move back to Canada and grow some more weed and shove it up ur ass!
BTW- can't wait till ur record bombs!
Neil Young has been burnt out since 1970. The alcoholic-junkie really has a lot of nerve commenting on the U.S. government considering the Socialistic mess Canada is in.
He hasn't released a decent song in 25 yrs either. I suppose he is down to his last few remaining brain cells and thought it would be PC to jump on the Hollywood band wagon and bash Bush along with all the other mental defectives out there. I
was a Neil Young fan until today. Now for all I care he can shoot up an eight ball and jump in Lake Huron. Hang up your guitar, harmonica, and sell your piano.
You've lost it, eh!
Michael Liberatore
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
Hate is not a family value.
Well I'll be go to hell. They did it. They did what they set out to do. And it's all being realized, in short, on this page. We're all at eachothers throats. We're telling eachother to go bite the big one when we should be gathering strength as one. It's the beginning of the end folks.Unless we put our faith where it should be, this "Horse shit" is going to bury us, especially the younger generations. Let's put it on the table, "Love your enemy as you have loved.....yourselves." Don't let the spirit passover.
Let's arrest all the black people while we're at it! They're all criminals anyway! And lock up the japs for spyin'! And the Indians and Chinese for stealin our jobs! And the Mexicans for moochin' off of us taxpayyers! And the Jews for killin' Jesus and eating babies!
You right-wing idiots need to have your heads examined.
*Reads Cold Bowl of Chili's posts*
*proceeds to bang head against wall*
The simpletons have invaded.
i really don't think anyone on here really cares if you hate neil and his political views, so ranting on about how he is an idiot for his views so you can get a rise out of people is really pointless. Second i believe neil could careless if his record "bombed"
It is sad how these people who claim that they we are at war to prtect the "American Freedoms" are the same ones who are calling all of Islam terrorist and getting pissed of when Neil Young speaks his mind (guess they never heard of the 1st amedment.) Anyway I won't say that they can't talk like that because then I would be a hypocrite just like all of them.
Can't wait for the new album, and Archieves would be great too. Long live Neil Young and Democracy.
Why are all you people that obviously have a problem with Neil even reading this website? Go back to whatever white supremacy forum you usually post on and let us talk about the album.
I personally can't wait for the album. Was that 6-8 weeks comment referring toa single or the actual album coming out? I hope it's out as soon as possible.
And Michael, calling Neil an alcoholic junkie? Where the hell does that come from? He hasn't shyed away from drugs and alcohol, but he was certainly never either one of those things. And burnt out since 70? Give me a break.
Yeah, you're getting him confused with David Crosby.
Haha I also love how obviously out of touch and insane this Michale person is. "Shoot up an eight ball"? If you're going to make up that Neil Young is a drug addict at least try to get drug terminology correct. And you say Neil is "burnt out" but then go on to say you were a fan of his until today. So you like burnt out musicians as long as they don't disagree with you politically? That's strange. And finally, Neil is hardly jumping on the Bush bashing bandwagon. He's been riding it for quite some time now. I guess you somehow missed that aspect of Greendale.
Go ahead and be pissed off about Neil's political views. I'm sure he doesn;t give a shit whether or not you like him. But this libel of him being some junkie is uncalled for and I guess just some sort of right wing/anti-drug attack.
I'll take "Forms of Government" for $500, Alex...
What is "Representative Democracy"?
Ding Ding...we have a winner.
We in the U.S. periodically and democratically elect officials to represent us in our government. Hence, "representative democracy".
Above, I have stated facts. Some commenters here have claimed that everyone chiming in against them does not know "the facts". Yet, those accusing others of "not knowing 'the facts'" don't seem to be backing up their claims with many "facts" of their own.
Oh, wait, I almost forgot...this is a Neil Young FAN site. It's almost like it's supposed to be about THE MUSIC, not civics "lessons"...
Isn't it amazing that all of these pronouncements have been made without even hearing the album? It kind of reminds me like deciding to go to war without a plan on how to make it work. Why do I suspect that most of the pre-judging detractors are from red (i.e. southern) states. "Alabama, you got the rest of the Union..."
"Anyway, I'm surprised nobody was confident enough to yell out "DEMOCRACY" a very common misconception. Which I think prooves all these Libs are just "repeaters" they hear stuff in the LA times and Michael Moores movie-repeat it, and htey become experts on the direction we need to go."
Let me get this straight...you post a question presuming you'll get a certain answer, "democracy" (because, liberals are idiots in your view). Then, when no one jumps in with the incorrect answer you expected, you conclude it's because the people you thought were idiots are now merely "repeaters". Hmmmm....not exactly a scientific experiment there, cold bowl.
I admire your passion (unless you're just baiting people for the entertainment value). But, you seem to have a tendency to pre-judge people and an unwillingness to accept that you might be a bit off-base at times yourself.
Hey, I found your flag-pissing theory of BORN IN THE U.S.A. interesting, though.
Cold Bowl of Chili, why don't you go troll somewhere else? Almost every one of your posts has been a childish taunt, and this is coming from someone whose personal politics are close to your own. What do you think all this name calling accomplishes?
Well, obviously something, since you have yet to quit whining.
Wow, people never cease to amaze me at how ignorant they can be. Neil Young is protesting the President. Good for him! No, I mean it, good on ya, mate! He at least has the balls to stand up for himself and voice his opinion. And he is NOT alone in thinking this. Why does everyone feel the need to bring up the "dixie chicks"? Country music is known for it's backwards redneck inbred republican views. The chickies said, "um, no." Do you really think they would have back peddled if the pressure wasn't there? Neil is a true artist. Call him what you want. I'm sure he doesn't lose much sleep knowing he's pissed a few people off. Hell, I wouldn't be shocked to find he enjoys it. Neil's a rocker, a hippie, even a bit rebellious perhaps. Whatever. That IS rock and roll, no? I've read many whiners bitching they have no plans to buy the album due to it's content. Let me just say this to you. Pull your fucking head out of your ass. Nobody said you had to agree with everything he does. Buy it or don't just stop whining. If you were really a Neil Young fan, you'd expect nothing less from him. When exactly in his career has he bowed to anyone in order to kiss ass? That isn't Neil, and it shouldn't be anyone. He recognizes the difference from right and wrong. Bush thinks he can make that up as he goes. Kudos to you Neil for doing something. Too bad others couldn't learn from your example, instead of trying to see where exaclty they fit...Neil's family truly have a treasrue in Neil. In fact so do we, as fans. Really,you naysaying people should either respect his views, and decisions or just realize they are different from yours. Our 1st Amendment rights are the same. Is it really fair to ignore his, just to spew out yours? Neil has a song to sing and a message to bring. I say let him. By the way. I most definitely will be adding LIVING WITH WAR to the other 34+ NY solo CD's on my rack. If you're really a fan of Neil, what's stopping you? If you can honestly say you're for an unjustified war that is hurting everyone, well...
Conservatives like to bring up that "republic not a democracy" thing whenever public opinion turns overwhelmingly against their latest idiocy.
It's a talking point that Rush Limbaugh popularized during the Clinton impeachment.
Note how proud this guy is of parroting it -- almost like he had a real genuine thought of his own.
This is a man who confuses "your" an "you're." He seems a bit confused that a republic and a democracy are not mutually exclusive words or forms of government. A representaive democracy in the form of a republic is still a democracy.
The bottom line is it probably isn't wise to respond to uneducated people who live miles from other people and even father from anyone who doesn't look or act like them, let alone someone who equates criticism of elected officials with hatred for one' country and government.
When people start saying you hate your country for exercising your free speech rights (let alone when there is cause for criticism), they probably haven't graduated from highschool.
WOW-
I had no idea Democrats said that stuff.
THOSE QUOTES ARE NOT REAL!
Your just a bitter person telling a pack of lies!
The difference is that George Bush and his cronies deliberately lied about it to gain support for the war. Not just to the American people, but to the international community awell.
It was not a far-fetched thought that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction, I'll admit. Most of us probably assumed he did, which is why the lies were so easy to swallow... whether you thought they was reason to go to war or not.
The fact of the matter is, unlike the rest of us, the Bush administration flat-out knew they didn't have WMD, but lied about it anyway. (How many American soldiers have died under these false pretenses?)
I don't know what their motives were for going to Iraq. All's I know is that the real threats to this nation are going unchecked... and all the while we're making the middle east more of a political disaster than it already was.
I don't care if a few democratic candidates flip flopped on the issue. That's their problem. I'm not arguing as a "democrat". I'm arguing as an individual who sees some bad shit going down in the White House, and I for one am glad that Neil has the backbone to stand up for what he, and many others believe in.
You can accuse Neil of hopping on some imaginary bandwagon all you want. Atleast he's on the right bandwagon, and not blindly following a bunch of right-wing war hungry radicals. And if you ever expected him to do the latter, you don't know Neil Young very well.
Chili doesn't seem to understand that part of the criticism against the Bush administration was that they were cherry picking intelligence and feeding information to congress that only supported their bellicose goals. Lot sof Democrats believed Iraq had WMDs, becasue the executive branch, which controls all intelligence agencies, was selectively misleading congress. Thus the calls for impeachment.
It is a very different thing to be the one misinformed, and to be the one lying and misinforming.
But seriously Chili. I don't fault you for typos and spelling. But mixing up "your" and "you're" is really indcative of a poor education and general ignorance. You should work on that if you care about credibility.
Wrong. You only lie if you know the truth is otherwise. The whole point is Bush knew otherwise and still said Iraq had WMDs. Clinton and others were misinformed.
See the distinction Chili? I'm sorry for your disability.
neil young should sing and shut up
That's what he's doing, Betty.
And Chili, You're (notice You+are = you're) dumb and uneducated. Good luck with that. Now please leave this fan board.
I just love it when the morons call me out by name, truth hurts,eh coldbowl? You attack my name and suggest that I must not even know anything about Neil, but I think rusties get the joke, Thanks for pointing that out, haahnster.....My cybername is another story besides the America joke, but I'll leave that for another time.
Ya know, coldbowl, you don't mind if I call ya coldbowl, do ya? It's real easy to attack someones name, like mine, or their religion, or the fact that some of are old hippies, so what? Want some more ammo to use against me? I am also very fat, so you can call me lardass, fatso, or whatever else your little peabrain can come up with, I can hardly wait to hear it, but try to be original, ok? I've been fat my whole life, and I doubt you can come up with something I haven't heard .....In the meantime, here are some more truths for ya:
251 billion dollars earmarked for the war in Iraq with no plan for success and no end in sight.
10 billion dollars in NO-BID contracts Halliburton recieved in Iraq.
1 in 5, the number of American children below the poverty line....an increase of 12 percent sonce bush took office.
423 billion dollars, the projected 2006 deficit under George Bush.
6 million, the number of WORKING Americans who have lost their health insurance since "Uncle George" took office......
Consider this, America's total debt is now 44 TRILLION dollars, this doesn't even count off-budget items like Social Security and Government pensions. This amounts to $147,312 per man, woman, and child........
We don't need to wait for impeachment folks, we got an election year THIS YEAR, vote out all the poiticians who rubberstamp this President's agenda. We owe it to our kids and grandkids.......
"neil young just sing and shut up'
WTF?????? I thought coldbowl was hard to understand, how in the world can some one sing and shut up at the same time? some one tell me, please...
Sorry for the late response, cold bowl. I was in meetings all afternoon. Work sucks...always glad to have a decent-paying job with medical insurance, though. So, don't get me wrong.
Sorry, I'm not from Yorkville, IL. I don't have your CD. I am missing my own THE FREEWHEELIN' BOB DYLAN, though.
I have loved Neil Young for over twenty years, own every album, been to most every show here in Arizona, and generally love his art. Heck, I even love Landing on Water. But I don't love how Neil has apparently changed his mind (read "flip-flopped") again and decided to sing about it (again). Neil can sing about whatever he wants. This is one fan who is really upset. Remember Hawks and Doves?
"The big wind blows,
so the tall grass bends
But for you don't
push too hard my friend.
Ready to go, willin' to stay and pay
U.S.A., U.S.A.
So my sweet wife can dance
another free day
U.S.A., U.S.A."
Too bad Neil has decided to jump on the Moore bandwagon. And hey LazerLou: for evertime you misspell a word on this blog I am going to buy a Ted Nugent album. Good thing I'm rich too....hahaha
" I say to you, go back and listen to Neil, and try to learn something this time" --posted by LazerLou (As the reader glances at the lyric above once again)
~Chris
coldbowl, you are truly a buffoon...
Yea, GWB is doing wonders for freedom. Warrantless searches based on executive war powers is really protecting our freedom from the bad guys, not compromsing it. Dolling out money to churches to handle social welfare is great for the establishment clause.
I didn't like the 4th and parts of the 1st Amendments anyway.
The funniest thing about wingers is that they argue anyone who exercises their right to free speech by criticizing a bellicose administration is somehow anti-American, or opposes freedom, as if going to war and killing people in the name of lies is somehow protecting out rights, while a powergrab by the executive branch that flies directly in the face of the constitution is nothing to worry about.
The manner in which the uneducated fear mongers think in overly simplistic, black and white terms is astounding. If you question this war, you are somehow anti-American and hate freedom. Brilliant!
The sad fact is, our culture is producing more and more of these people, unable to think about complex problems with any nuance.
Fire= BAD! GWB = good! War = freedom! Dissent = Terrorist!
This is what happens when a country creates a dramatic amount of wealth in a short period of time, but fails to educate its public. It develops a sense of entitlement without concurrently developing a sense of informed humility, which ends up with a bunch of poorly educated people voting against their finiacial interests in favor of motives inspired by religion and fear.
(And then of course almost psychotically defending their decision even when its failure is patently obvious to even the most casual observer)
People like that will be defending Bush even if he is the guy who starts the next world war and gets us all killed.
Coldbowl, what photos? I must have missed something.... And yes, I can handle the truth, just what the hell are you talking about? You take lyrics from decades old songs (out of context as well) and expect Neil to somehow be guided by that? Are you the same person you were 30 years ago? Ever had to change your mind, admit you were wrong, use an eraser for cryinoutloud????
"I know you are but what am I?"
Who are you, Peewee Herman?
I think opening a dialog is what Neil was hoping for all along. pretty interesting that its gotten this stong and the albums not even released yet.
I do feel sorry for anybody that is so insecure that they need to leave more than one post. To them I would say look no further than the mirror for the most pressing problem in your life.
I especially enjoyed the Neil is a drug addict comments. Clearly a lot of people are too lazy to research anything they just sit in front of the TV and allow themselves to be "programmed" by the media
Wake up
or
sleepwalk through the rest of your life
its a free country
Neil is an artist of the musical kind. I believe part of the duty of an artist is to shed light. When an artist sheds light on darkness, it can be disturbing. As long as the art is not created solely out of greed, unnecessarily graphic, or does not grossly cross the lines of common decency, it is up to the artist to decide what he (Neil, in this case, so I'll use the masculine form of the word) is going to produce. Case closed. If you don't like it, don't buy it. Simple. However, FREEDOM OF SPEECH *IS* (or, used to be, prior to this administration's rise to power, and I use the word "power" intentionally, which happens to tie in with their main concern, big oil, energy, power, and the profits derived therefrom) A CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEE. That's, yes, here in the United States. I am rabidly anti-fanatical when it comes to religious or other types of extremism, a basically, middle-of-the-road kind of person, much as I would suspect Neil is, most people believe in keeping the earth viable, oppose racism, and so on. I think Neil is raising a hue and cry for common sense and decency, no more, no less. Now that they are "vigorously prosecuting" a Democrat (now formerly) with the CIA for "leaking" (obviously an attempt to deflect from the President's illegal behaviors), let's be fair, and hoist President Bush on his own petard (dull though it is) and prosecute him for the very same thing. Bush leaked, and just because a President decides to do something *doesn't make it legal*. It does't take someone with even below average level intelligence to figure that out. So, what is your excuse? We need to stand for the *principles* America is founded on, and not get caught up in defending *individuals* without trying to honestly determine whether they are right or wrong, or in this case Right AND Wrong. Do not let politicians define for you what our country is all about. Get the FACTS and decide for yourself. It's all in the Declaration of Independence, the Consitution, AND the Bill of Rights. (Duh.) Read them again (if you ever have) and really think about what they mean. Neil sure doesn't need my defense, but I think America does. Let's stand for what is right (morally, ethically) instead of what is Right (as defined by Republicans or any other group). Neither Republicans nor Democrats founded the Untied States of America. Think for yourself (as George Harrison once said). Just as we Americans can criticize other countries and their politics, so can a Canadian criticize ours. Right?
Hey, that post was pretty good, even if a bit rambling. I was tempted to post my name, but won't due to (either paranoid or realistic, you decide, however, you might want to wait a few decades before deciding, since I am sure many previously unknown facts about this administration's actions will emerge in the future..) fear of the Bush/Cheney secret police. Laugh? Think again. It's happening now, in America, little by little... so you won't notice until all your freedoms are gone. Think Neil Young is a lone wolf crying in the wilderness? Frank Zappa was onto this erosion of freedoms decades ago, and there are many, many other people who are onto what is happening. "What's that sound? Everybody look what's goin' down." Even Still(s). Don't take freedom for granted. Stand up for the real America!
OK, 3rd post in a row, sorry, but I don't think "religion" per se should ever be scapegoated. If you intently study the teachings (the original messages of the "originators" for lack of a better word, whether Buddha, Confucious, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Mohammed, etc.), they all have good messages, many of which agree, and most of us would agree on, "religious" or not. Love others, don't steal, don't cheat, don't lie, etc. This is a simplification and, necessarily, glosses over differences in specifics, but the generalities, the main messages of these "religions" are basically "all good". It is the people who distort these basically good and congruent messages (propounded by the original leaders, NOT necesarily the followers) for their own personal/political/national, what have you, gain that besmirch the name of religion. Again, don't take someone else's (in this case probably made of equally of those on the Left and the Right) word for the truth. Discover the truth for yourself. Go back to what we have of the original teachings (which are sometimes altered/censored by followers, admittedly) and see if what these great moral leaders taught are the cause of war, suffering, greed, fanaticism, etc. I submit a careful reading will show they are NOT, it is the people distorting these original (mostly beautiful, ESPECIALLY to those who are most often loudly, even angrily, often ignorantly, critical of "religion"). If one would only read with an open mind, set your biases aside, and truly try to understand what we have of the original messages, it becomes readily apparent that these persons had it right, and that the abuses in the name of religion are due to imperfections in the people claiming to be followers, who are, alas (surprise!) IMPERFECT, as are we all. It's like RFK said (3 quotes, bearing on what I believe to be the purpose of "religion", which can be purely personal, and go by the name of morals/ethics, personal code of conduct, personal belief system, without reference to any specific "organized religion", and/or organized religion, again, look to the original authors, not the necessarily interpreters, and both religious fanatics AND the Bush administration in particular:
1.) "Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world."
Isn't this a good distillation of the main message of most "religions", as propounded by the original Messengers? Don't be ignorant, study the teachings, know whereof what you speak (and sometimes blindly criticize).
2.) "What is objectionable, what is dangerous about extremists, is not that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant. The evil is not what they say about their cause, but what they say about their opponents."
This applies to the self-described "religious" and "non-religious" alike, does it not? And to the Left and to the Right (that's why I'm not registered as Democrat OR Republican). We have probably all seen intolerance among people of ALL races, religions, creeds, and belief systems, sometimes ESPECIALLY the "non-religious", if we are honest about it, but it applies to all.
3.) "Whenever men take the law into their own hands, the loser is the law. And when the law loses, freedom languishes."
Our current political climate and administration.
I posted this because I am tired of "religion", which as originally intended, have overwhelmingly beautiful, positive, and helpful messages (for I have actually put in the time to study and understand what the original proponents of these "religions" had to say and teach, and I'd bet you'd agree with the substance of what they were trying to tell us, and believe in most of what they actually taught, even if you identify yourself as "non" or "anti-" religious).
End of rants. : )
Neil is one of the greatest guitar players AND songwriters of ALL TIME. I support his right to exercise freedom of speech.
OK, ...and I'm spent.
I knew deep down inside I'd probably make another post, sorry if I have over- (or under-) whelmed anyone. Dialogue is good. Questioning, examining, critical thinking, exchange of ideas, is GREAT! Let's keep it up!
Again... Neil is a feakin' bitchen guitarist!!! As a guitar player, that's what I enjoy about him MOST, politics aside, and... LIBERATE "TIME FADES AWAY"!
LazerLoser,
You are a crass indignant narrow-minded sycophant.
If Neil were to suddenly stop you would have your head so far up his ass you would need surgery to have it removed. Do you have a life outside Neil's ass?
Have you accomplished anything beyond a BLOG and Neil’s ass? Sports, Family, started a company, gone fishing with your Dad? Taken your Mommy to a nice lunch? Sports???? WELL HAVE YOU!
I bet you are one big fat blob with no life outside the confines of your lover's grip....um I mean your keyboard and with your head up Neil's ass.
TYPICAL 5 Min in LazerLosers life:
Toke, type, eat chips, eat doughnuts...."yummy doughnuts". Type, toke, drink diet beverage, type, be a complete ASS. Toke, "Man I am funny"...Type, toke, eat chips, type.
Very sad LazerLoser I would hate to be you.
There is a process called critical thinking and this not the act of being insulting too others who do not ascribe to your wussy French Canadian philosophy of life. Now that I have insulted you it is only fair that I offer to meet you any place, in the US, to continue this discourse in a more…um traditional fashion. Yeeeesss let’s call it traditional values vs. wuss. Now, It has been a while since I have had the pleasure of being in the ring for a one-on-one debate, but you know what they say….It’s like ridin a bike.
In short, you are low-breed, common, fat assed liberal who believes in the bigotry of mediocrity.
Sincerely,
Mr. Man
He's from the north
Has never sat on a Southern man's porch
We'll have to deal with the froth and the bait
as we wait
for his debate
But hither and thither;
is no reason
We sit here wondering aloud
Is it Treason?
Oh poor Neil stuck in the 60's
Oh poor Neil at 60
Looking for one last hurrah
To hang his hat on from a far
Tisk, tisk Mr. Can man from the north
Wish we could wisk you…
Dis you…
But, alas I have no stage
No lackeys too page
No cash or Asses too burn
I have to work for a livin and earn
listin to your disin about my girl
Almost causes me to hurl.
Tisk, tisk Mr. Can man from the north.
You feel the sands of time ebbin away?
Wishin for one last day?
You are not Peter Pan - MAN.
Not James Kirk.
Not even close to Kurt.
So stop your disin
For you will always be stuck in a rut
Wishin for the 60’s at 60
God bless my Girl!
Mr. Man, you are a bigot with violent tendencies, obviously. I'd shut up and go away before you make yourself look worse... just some helpful advice.
Phil, get a life. Don't resent people for their success. Neil earned it the American Way, he took chances, believed in himself, risked all he had because he believed in what he was doing. Why resent someone for fulfilling the American Dream, even if they are Canadian? And it's not "The 60's" that we (and Neil in particular) are nostalgic for, but it is *now* and *the future* we are solely concerned with, and the loss of precious freedoms, the squandering of precious resources, etc. I'm beginning to wonder, because of the utter ineptitude of the two previous posts, if Cheney is putting y'all up to this. Just admit it, that way you won't look so foolish. Just say, "Yes, someone composed those posts and sent them to me so that we can defend the administration by posting them on this site." OK, we can believe Cheney would stoop so low, and be so inept (I'm wearing orange, by the way, so he won't have the excuse of saying he didn't see me...) as to come up with the ideas in the last two posts. Signed, the guy who rambled 3 posts long and went semi-off-topic, but thought he had some good points to make that everyone, left or right, coould learn from, but seems to have been merely wasting his time judging from the last two posts. The previous two posts are merely juvenile attempts to slander a person (or persons) instead of actually making a point and backing it up with evidence. So, this is what our educational system produces nowadays? I suppose there's always been a moronic segment of society, decide where you fit in... go ahead, think about it.
Further, I MUST admit that SOME Canadians can seem snobby and holier-than-thou to Americans specifically, and the French are, alas, the French, with all the cultural good and bad (from an American perspective) yet, by the same token, Americans are Americans, with good and bad qualities endemic to our culture, also. Hey, there's one in every crowd. (It's all about the individual, not what "category" we can fit them into. There are good people on almost all sides, and in almost all walks of life, no? I don't include "all", since there *are* those groups that actively seek to hate, destroy, etc. and we should not be encouraging that, heaven knows.) I'd rather meet the tolerant, big-hearted, honest, open-minded (it IS OK to have personal values that differ from others, whichever side you're on, and we all have to accept the consequences for our choices, here and hereafter, if one is inclined to believe in the herafter, perhaps even if one is NOT inclined to believe in the herafter ; ). Signed, once again, the guy who rambles on...
"Alice B. Toklas said...
As I write this, I believe that Neil is backing off on this and maybe we'll see an album that's less in your face politically, with maybe one or two songs from this "new" album on it."
Hey, Alice B., "toke less...". I can't see Neil backing off at this point, but I could be wrong, also.
"Ooh, somebody stop me!"
(The Mask)
...before I post AGAIN!
BTW: Don't fret, moderator, all this is making your site more popular by the hour... advertising rates up! Expenses up!
"Is everybody happy?"
"Break ou the hardware, let's do it right!"
You don't advertise? You should!
And I do see that you endorse Free Speech Online, and that's the beauty and the misery of the whole thing, isn't it? Gotta take the medicine with the sugar... is that a real saying or am I imagining that? How 'bout, "gotta take the good with the bad". Freedom of speech is a goooood thing!
lunar said...
"was album news release pegged to full moon?"
It's alittle whacky, Neil's website, that is. PArt of the charm, I suppose, however, I do wish the site had an ongoing, current events type page that just ran down everything all in one place and kept the old current events along with the new.
Now, if there is a page on his site like that, I look uninformed and lackadaisical (which I certainly can be at times, so I'm not fretting about that...!), if there isn't, there should be!
Signed, "The Post Hole", I think that makes sense in a strange kinda way... matter-of-fact, in a few!
That's okay, I've got time. I could stay here all night... take your time...
Well, hurry up, already, I need more grist for the mill!
I'll TRY to restrain myself...
I DID say "try"...
It's Saturday Night Live!
Yeah, all that hippie, dope-smokin', save the trees, peace and freedom crap, and not only that... he's Canadian, for crying out loud!
The "Love Generation", right?
Neil's no Jerry Garcia, that's for sure...
[Har! Har! Har! They're BOTH...
G-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-E-A-T!]
That "Living With War" cover is wild! Perhaps I have an over-active imagination, but I'm seeing some wild stuff in there... I won't elaborate at this point. Don't want Neil to pull the cover... I'm sure it's just us... I mean me. Er...
Caveat: I'd like to say, THIS BLOG IS THE [4-letter word, female anatomical objects], wait, can't say that... this blog is awesome. It is a big person who can let the words flow, pro and con, and let it be. I agree we should encourage "good things", but then again, we must fight the tyranny, right? Neil, and artists like him, SHOULD be praised. At least he's saying what's on his mind, which is sure to alienate some people who might otherwise be putting money into his pocket. It takes a big man to stand on principle and what he believes in. If he has changed his mind in the past or does so in the future, he's got a right! We all do. Life is not static, things change, but positive change is usually the result of people like Neil who are willing to put it out there come what may. I appreciate his candor, and his courage for taking a stand.
And thank you AGAIN for this forum for debate and discussion. YOU are one of the best! (Don't know your name, sorry.)
"So today, tell us something about yourself, your faith and beliefs. Your hopes and dreams. As for Thrasher?"
Wow. And I thought I was OFF topic. I have actually been ON topic. Cool... like I say, "Great blog!" (That's what the kids call it nowadays, eh?) I'm slow... regardless of my psycho-chemistry (apt phrase). No, this is NOT an attempt at "gonzo journalism", I've always written like this, honestly. Pretty sad state of affairs, right? ; ) Selah. (Hah!)
You either get it, or you don't move on...
Wow. Be sure to check out the CNN Showbiz Tonight interview with Neil (video). I just watched it, and if I hadn't known better, I might think some of my (previous and numerous) posts were straight from the (crazy?) horse's mouth. I'm more than proud to feel pretty much exactly the way Neil does! A true patriot! Freakin' A, Neil has it EXACTLY right!
Dear Anonymous,
First, you did not understand my posting and there is no threat of violence. It is a measure only used as a last resort.
Respectfully, my post to LazerLoser had nothing to do with you. In my humble opinion; LazerLoser is a mean spirited bully, on this thread, to anyone who does not share his worldview. And, I did discount the barbs between he and Chili. Normally, I would not have responded in such a fashion, but he hides behind a keyboard not thinking about how his comments will incite others and further debase the discourse to school yard thuggery.
It is ironic how you attack me and not the hate monger LazerLoser, for my comment is very specific.
Kind regards,
Mr. Man
BTW - I loved the poem by Phil. All artist have the right to be heard.
Oh BTW - or what? If I don't shut up as you say I should.
You are not making a good argument for whay I should.
Mr. Man
Libs (Hate America First crowd) just don't get it. This is only the beginning of the war.
Don’t take anyone’s word about what Islam is about, find out for yourself. Please study the Koran and the teachings of Islam. It will scare you; remember the Satanic Versus? The idea that there is a moderate Islam is a Myth!
The tenants of Islam are clear: Deception, conquest, subjugation and conversation to Islam or death. There is no middle ground, no tolerance in the Islamic religion.
Gays, Women, Christian, Jews, Buddhist, Atheist et al; Wake-up before it is too late.
Libs (Hate America First crowd) just don't get it. This is only the beginning of the war.
Don’t take anyone’s word about what Islam is about, find out for yourself. Please study the Koran and the teachings of Islam. It will scare you; remember the Satanic Versus? The idea that there is a moderate Islam is a Myth!
The tenants of Islam are clear: Deception, conquest, subjugation and conversation to Islam or death. There is no middle ground, no tolerance in the Islamic worldview.
Gays, Women, Christian, Jews, Buddhist, Atheist et al; Wake-up before it is too late.
The tenants of Islam are clear: Deception, conquest, subjugation and conversation to Islam or death. There is no middle ground, no tolerance in the Islamic religion.
Correct. The region that is now Greece lived under Islam for 400 years, and as you can see, everyone there is Muslim, now. All of the Christians were faced with either converting to Islam or being killed.
Incidently, the Dixie Chicks' sales went up after they (subtly) criticized Bush and they've continued to rise, particularly because Bush is so unpopular now. I, for one, am pleasantly surprised to see Neil Young release a new album so quickly, and my only regret is that he didn't write "let's impeach the president" sooner.
You Sir are not being honest (the first tenant of Islam – Deception). It was a bloody war between the Christians and the Muslims over Greece/Constantinople; many thousands of innocents died. Wherein, Christendom finally expelled Islam. Hide your head in the sand all you want, but the times are a changing. This is something you cannot wish away like a bad dream for if it was I would be first inline to make it so.
I am a student of History, Theology and Philosophy. We (the West) are in for a rude awakening.
From Ala himself:
191. Kill them wherever you may catch them, and expel them from anywhere they may have expelled you. Sedition is more serious than killing! Yet do not fight them at the Hallowed Mosque unless they fight you there. If they should fight you, then fight them back; such is the reward for disbelievers. However if they stop, God will be forgiving, Merciful. Fight them until there is no more subversion and [all] religion belongs to God. If they stop, let there be no [more] hostility except toward wrongdoers.
221. Do not marry women who associate [others with God] until they believe. A believing maid is better than an associating woman, no matter how attractive she may seem to you. Do not let [your daughters] marry men who associate [others with God] until the latter believe; a believing slave is better than an associator, no matter how attractive he may seem you. Those people invite (one) to the Fire while God invites (us) to the Garden and to forgiveness through His permission. He explains His signs to mankind in order that they may bear them in mind.
222. They will ask you about menstruation. SAY: "It is a nuisance, so keep away from women during menstruation. Do not approach them until they are cleansed. Once they cleanse themselves, then go to them just as God has commanded you to do. God loves the penitent and He loves those who try to keep clean.
223. Your wives are [meant] for you to cultivate: so go to your cultivation whenever you wish. Send things on ahead for yourselves, and heed God; know that you will be meeting Him. Proclaim such to believers!
Think about it....Chili and LazerLou have the same viciousness, decorum and weird since of humor.
I have been looking over these post for 6 days now and I beleive that Wheattrasher and LazerChilli are in cahoots to stir up controversy on this tread. IOW - It's all about traffic hence cash$$$.
Yes. It saddens me also. But, if you pay attention to the three (buffoons) It is plain as day. Visit their websites, read how they interact. We have all been set upon each other like dogs...And, some took it hook line and sinker.
Do not post here or they win.
Roberto is such a gay name. Are you stupid as well. Have you been listening to the Terrorist netork AKA CNN all day all the time?
What the hell are you saying that Muslims and the current state of facts in the US are not linked?
You are very wrong and I hoep you stay in Brazil.
I don't know if anybody saw Neil Young on Showbiz Tonight (CNN), but he really came off as an idiot. Let me be clear: I love Neil and own every album, as he is my number one musical choice on earth. What I saw on CNN however made me question the mans' sense. It is one thing to criticize the administration, but to criticize from a basis of misinformation (or a lack of information) is typical Hollywood garbage.
"Look at me...I didn't make it through High School and I am in a unique position to assess the world from my comfy chair..."
-typical Hollywood elitist
~Chris
I got to see Crosby Stills Nash & Young when they came to Los Angeles. It was a great concert, but the highlights came from Neil Young’s new album LIVING WITH WAR. The beginning of the concert featured a stunning version of “Flags of Freedom” and later on they played a great version of “Let’s Impeach the President.” When the song ended, the packed crowd erupted into thunderous applause.
As far as the album itself goes, it’s a great album. However, you need to realize that it’s not EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS NOWHERE, HARVEST, or AFTER THE GOLDRUSH. Those albums are masterpieces and nothing will ever sound like them, but this album is still Neil doing what he does best, play his guitar on 10 with Crosby Stills & Nash singing backgrounds with a chorus of 100 people! You will not hear too many solos from Neil, but the music is still great. “After the Garden” is a great song with a great chorus along with great lyrics. “Living with War” is a beautiful song featuring lines from our very own Nation Anthem. “The Restless Consumer” is somewhat weak here, but when he sang it live, you could see the anger in his eyes! The music is hard driven and the lyrics are direct. Neil Young’s singing only got better as he played these songs live. “Shock & Awe” features pure Neil Young lyrics using the juxtaposition of Bush’s photo-opt and the fallen soldiers “back in the days of mission accomplished.” This song also features several short solos by Neil. “Families” and “Flags of Freedom” pays homage to our soldiers. “Looking For a Leader” challenges the direction of the country, and “Roger and Out” is a beautiful song with great lyrics where Neil recalls his own youth playing a short beautiful Neil-like solo. The album ends with a wonderful version of “America the Beautiful.”
“Let’s Impeach the President” is the most controversive song on the album. The song itself is hard rocking from the first theme of “Taps” to the listing of grievances against George W Bush using actual clips of the monkey speaking during the verse of “Flip… Flop.” Any supporter of George W Bush should listen to this song. Even if you don’t agree with it, every word is true. When you think of how much Bush bashed Kerry for being a “Flip-flopper,” you realize how much more of a “Flip-flopper” George W Douchebag is. In this liberal writer’s opinion, I (along with everybody the 17,000 people who were at the CSNY show) think this song is brilliant and I give Neil Young a large amount of support for telling the truth.
Now the reviews here are split in two: Democrats love it, Republicans hate it. I’m glad to see some Republicans support Neil’s freedom of Speech even if they disagree with it. But to those Republicans who put the album down without even LISTENING to it, I say if you don’t like it, you don’t have to listen to it. To those who say he’s just doing this to be cool or make money, then I guess Neil wrote “Southern Man,” “Alabama,” “Ohio,” and “Rockin’ in the Free World” to make money? NO! Neil Young must hate America right? WRONG! In “Looking for a Leader” he says: “America is beautiful, but she has an ugly side, we’re looking for a leader, in this country far and wide.” The lyrics are self-explanatory for a reason. And why would he record a version of “America the Beautiful” if he hated the country? One narrow-minded Republican writes “Neil Young is Canadian and has no right to bash our country… go back to Canada.” Neil Young may be Canadian, but he has lived in America for 40 years, he was in one of the greatest American bands of all time, and he pays a lot of attention to American politics. Republicans, you need to stop being hostile. Neil Young has as much right to say what he wants as you do. I must also say that people who write negative reviews should only be from people who LISTENED to the ENTIRE album and use actual facts for backup as Neil Young has in this album.
Any fan of Neil Young will like album, but just keep in mind these important points.
To see how much the fundies hate it, read this rant:
http://www.shelleytherepublican.com/2006/08/21/neil-young-an-enemy-of-george-bush-an-enemy-of-god.aspx
He must be doing something right!
Post a Comment
<< Home