Archives Comment of the Moment: A Younger Perspective

The Neil Young Archives Comment of the Moment from Neil Young News: Archives Commentary Open Thread by Steel Madsen:

Hey everyone, I've posted on here occasionally, and I've decided it was time again after playing around with the archives for over a week. I haven't posted about the archives yet, so this might get long.

I waited a few days to buy it, unaware of the shortage. I'm only 20, and I began to have second thoughts about putting that much money down when I don't have any fancy audio setup, just TV speakers. I was going to go blu-ray or nothing though, because I'll eventually have a nice setup in a few years, and I don't want to buy it twice. Luckily, when I got to Best Buy they still had 2 Blu-Ray versions on the shelf, so I grabbed on and took it home.

Having listened to itunes mp3s and cds for most of my life (with the exception of some of my dad's vinyls), I can't believe the sound difference from my low quality MP3s.

The new songs, the song wraps, the video footage, the interviews, the different mixes, they're all so incredible, and something all Neil fans will hopefully appreciate.

I love a lot of Neil's early stuff, and while 'I Wonder' might not have the complexity of stuff like Ambulance Blues or Thrasher, it's becoming one of my favorite songs, probably because it's just so easy to relate to. I'm very surprised at how good his early songs were. I didn't know anything about I'll Love You Forever, I Can't Cry, Hello Lonely Woman, Casting Me Away from You, or the early versions of Clancy and Sugar Mountain. Those have become some of my favorites on the entire Archives.

Out of the videos, I love the whole Massey Hall (only had the CD), A Man Needs a Maid, the Barn Sessions/interview, Mr Soul, and of course. JttP.

I guess I'll finish by posting my favorites from each Disc:

0 I Wonder, Casting Me Away, Clancy
1 Sell Out
2 EKtiN (1st), (New version) Birds
3 1956 Bubblegum, Whiskey Boot Hill
4 Everybody's Alone, It Might Have Been
5 Cowgirl in the Sand
6 Wonderin
7 Man Need a Maid/Heart of Gold, Cowgirl
8 Words, War Song

~ Steel Madsen

Thanks Steel! Great observations!

And -- as always -- see Everything You've Ever Wanted To Know About The Neil Young Archives But Were Afraid To Ask.

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