TONEAudio Review: Americana by Neil Young and Crazy Horse

Here's another early review of the upcoming Americana by Neil Young and Crazy Horse.

From TONEAudio MAGAZINE by Bob Gendron:

Neil Young’s electric guitar jabs, retreats, and then stabs again, frayed-wire distortion coating the clusters of notes, the intensity evoking images of a fire-eyed preacher determined to spur his congregation to sit up and take notice. There’s talk of killing a big red rooster, proclaiming “hallelujah,” and celebrating with a communal gathering. Young’s longtime Crazy Horse mates stomp and clatter, giving the traditional tune a unified drive that turns it into an Indian war dance, the refrains doubling as dead-man’s curves as the insatiable momentum tumbles forward.

No, the children’s song ordinarily known as “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain”—named “Jesus’ Chariot” here in tribute to its Negro spiritual and salvation-based origins—has never sounded quite like this. It’s one of eleven folk songs Young and his inimitable backing band reinterpret and upend on the impossible-to-ignore Americana, a thematic album exuding immediate relevance and forceful contemplation.

Never shy about making bold political or civil statements, Young brilliantly borrows songs from the U.S.’ historical fabric and tosses them as live grenades that explode on impact, broaching the staple concepts—freedom, liberty, justice, equality, rights, conflicts, privacy, the common good—on which America prides itself. He and Crazy Horse invoke these broad subjects without advocating one party or another; Americana owes some of its political and cultural potency to its impartiality.

More of review on TONEAudio MAGAZINE.

Also, see:

• NEW VIDEO: "Clementine" by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
• Song Video Premiere: "Jesus' Chariot" (She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountain) by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
• OFFICIAL VIDEO: "Oh Susannah" by Neil Young & Crazy Horse

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"Clementine"
Art by Gary Burden and Jenice Heo

Set for a June 5th release, you can now pre-Order "Americana" on Amazon.com (Thanks! You'll be helping to support us here at Thrasher's Wheat.)

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