Neil Young News: The Unbearable Lightness of Being A Neil Young Fan

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Friday, June 15, 2012

The Unbearable Lightness of Being A Neil Young Fan

Neil Young
Frame from film A Day At The Gallery
(Click photo to enlarge)

Soon after the release of the new Americana album -- as the usual accolades were being accompanied by the usual criticisms -- we posted on The Unbearable Lightness of Being Neil Young. In the post we tried to explain how it seems increasingly impossible to please many die hard Neil fans, much less the more casual fans.

Which brings us to the comment of the moment in response to the particularly harsh comment by tjphoto. From a comment by peter d.:

I feel a remarkable similarity in attitude beneath the argumentation of a lot of those who disapprove 'Americana'.

Maybe even similar to all of those who have disapproved of the latest album by Neil for the last 20, 30, 40 years now:

1. This new album is not as good as --enter any NY album from the seventies here--
2. In order to keep our love and respect it should have been as good as one of these.
3. Now that we feel he has failed to reach that level, we may curse and revile him, and if we desire, expand that to accusing him of bad intentions with us and all possible listeners.
4. It is an insult therefore that he dares to demand money from us helpless people who are almost too weak to resist this requirement. We consider this to be perhaps the ultimate proof for the fact that he is no good, a money-grubber, and an exploiter.

...

I suspect that there is a high percentage of people around 40-60 years old among them, people who were young / adolescent around the time RNS (or Harvest) was released. They probably are disappointed in the life they have led after that time, and long back to that time when they were young, untroubled and happy. The soundtrack of that time in their life was written by Neil.

Because Neil's albums from the seventies are about youth and growing up (he himself was an adolescent then, and in my opinion a late bloomer), those albums have made a deep impression on these people - and on all of us.

Later albums were about fighting to communicate with his son, trouble with the record companys, and more and more about happy times with the wife and family.

That may be areas not everyone can relate to...

So the generally recognized theme of growing up changed to a less generally recognizable story of Neil's personal life.

If there is one artist who can transport the 'nay-sayers' back to the feeling from their youth, it must be Neil 'cause he's done it before. The obvious fact he does not even try to do that, hurts deep in their hearts.

I may be a bit cynical, but I too can have a tendency towards such an attitude, so in a way I understand. But to cherish this attitude, will continue to make you feel miserable about yourself and others, I learned that much, amongst others from Neil. There's no reason, and it is pointless to blame any one for your life. You just have to live it, everyday. And everyday there's chances and changes in this world. Grab' em while you can.

For me, this was one of the songs from Neil I didn't like, right from the start. It took me years to chew on it, it's sombre melody and strange arrangement to me felt like a mistake on the smooth, sunny, and sharp rocking sound of Harvest, until I finally realised what it meant to me:

There's a world you're living in,
No one else has your part
All God's childen in the wind
Take it in and blow hard!

Look around it, have you found it
Walking down the avenue?
See what it brings,
could be good things
In the air for you.

Thanks Peter! Appropriate lyrics for our times.

Also, see The Unbearable Lightness of Being Neil Young and God Save The Neil Young Fans (& Thrasher's Wheat).

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34 Comments:

At 6/15/2012 07:28:00 PM, Lauren said...: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
At 6/15/2012 08:04:00 PM, Anonymous said...: love neil, can't wait to see him and the horse this fall. but that does not mean i blindly worship him. i can say that the albums from about '97 on just haven't been the same quality as what came before. i can say that his ticket prices are INSANE. and you know what? i'm right!

and so are you.
At 6/15/2012 08:47:00 PM, no one said...: Passionately written but poorly reasoned. I find it amusing that none of the usual chatterers have commented on the section of the interview with Poncho where they talk about Briggs bring the only one who could tell Neil he was full of crap. What was clearly understood is that there is no one filling that role these days so the artist, unfettered by reality, who has always lived his life at the mercy of his latest whim, is free to indulge his worst and laziest instincts. So despite the vitriol visited on those who dare to note the invisibility of the artists clothing these days, and because there is clear evidence that attention is paid to the conversations taking place in this arena (and Thrasher, how about resurrecting the threads a couple years ago when a brave correspondent suggested that Neil might consider recording an album of covers to reinvigorate his artistic inspiration) no one will continue on occasion to suggest to those who dwell in the Land of Denial that they peruse the lyrics to Johnny Magic and then look in the mirror and see if they can keep a straight face when they tell themselves how hard Neil is working these days.
At 6/15/2012 09:13:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I still love and idolize neil young but not to the point where i will blindly like any album he releases.

I think Le Noise was top notch, same for Greendale.....but there have been quite a few misses of late (imho).

We expect greatness from neil but he doesnt always deliver. I think he has also changed over the last decade. Very much a loner in the last, it seems like he seeks the spotlight a lot more, He does TV interviews, attends the Grammys, does talks w Demme etc etc. Seems much more assesible than ever before.

Not that i mind....but i also loved how Neil always gave a big middle finger to the establishment. I miss that neil.

But he's still my hero.
At 6/15/2012 09:55:00 PM, Unknown said...: Come on "no one", you can do better than that. That is so obviously a troll. Your skills are slipping.

Fact is I agree with Demme when he said Neil is as good as he's ever been. "He's a master at the top of his game".
At 6/15/2012 11:09:00 PM, Greg Mantho said...: Interesting analysis, that mixes in some very strong points and potentially sound ideas, but I’m way out of my depth in trying to encapsulate the psyche of the garden variety Neil detractor, and don’t think it’s fair to try. Everybody has their own story and, you know, “walk a mile in my shoes”, and all that. Yeah, “I’ve been chopping down” that “palm tree for”, well, not 87 years, but at least as early as I started hearing the standard carping about Neil’s voice, and certainly from the time I first commented on this site at the amusing to me incredulity of fan reaction to Greendale. I keep waiting for someone to come along in a Cadillac to serve up the perfect rationale for the savaging that Neil takes on a consistent basis, something other than the increasingly mundane “his music just isn’t the same as it used to be, somehow. Somehow, it just don’t seem right…”, but I haven’t come across that either- not by a country mile. Anyways, I don’t think I’ll hold my breath too long waiting in vain for that broken back moment, so although it’s an interesting notion, and probably has an element of truth to it, I find it hard to reduce things down to “They probably are disappointed in the life they have led after that time, and long back to that time when they were young, untroubled and happy.”

But I think Peter comes very close to the truth of it, by relating to each album he cites a specific to that time current experience Neil was going through in his life, and that as time went by a gulf continued to form between the common experiences of awakening youth and young adulthood, and the divergent experiences of many Neil fans from Neil himself. While we were chattering about what Neil’s music means to him, as opposed to what some fans think it should mean to him, I took up the suggestion to ”peruse” the lyrics to Johnny Magic, just to see if somehow I had mistaken the thrust of their meaning relative to the coherent whole of Fork In The Road’s message, vis a vis the passion that it takes to do as Ghandi suggested, namely “Be the change you want to see in the world.” I wanted to be doubly sure that somehow the lyrics do not betray Neil indulging in “his worst and laziest instincts.” And you know what I saw? I saw lyrics depicting the spirit of Johnathan Goodwin/Johnny Magic bringing to reality the caring and integrity filled (I’d hate to use the word passion again) vision of an artist who in some quarters is deemed to be “unfettered by reality”. Now, I know I’m a little dense at times, and given to mindless worship, but I could swear that I discerned the presence right there in the lyrics of a strong thread tying together the theme of the album, back to the real life experience of its author, and an album and an author representing the passion (damn, just couldn’t find a better way to say it) of “lighting a candle in the darkness”, because “just singing a song won’t change the world.” But you know, I could be wrong, I guess it could be just some insipid “song about a car.”
At 6/15/2012 11:12:00 PM, Greg Mantho said...: Another thing I thought about while I was chattering away to myself, was how easy it seems to be to miss the simplicity behind all the complexity running through Neil’s career, a hyper sensitive individual of unique artistic bent, who has the just as unique personality trait to continually reinvent himself along the lines of what is happening for him in his present, as distinct from what is happening to anyone or anything else around him. I think this is referred to as single mindedness, another dart indiscriminately hurled at ‘ole Neil. In other words, “whim” falls far short of explaining Neil’s career decisions. Single mindedness that as far as I can tell usually made Neil impervious to anyone telling him he was “full of crap”. In fact, Neil himself addressed this in Shakey, when told of Briggs’ disdain for songs like “Ordinary People”, because “Neil doesn’t know anything about ordinary people.” Neil flatly turned the notion away, by saying that Briggs wasn’t always a part of his music, and something to the effect that Briggs wasn’t always right. No doubt that if anyone was ever in a position to speak to Neil frankly, it was Briggs, but is anyone really pretending that Neil was talked down from his decisions on a regular basis? No? Correct answer.

So a young, inspired and impressionistic poetic mind, newly off his first taste of the spotlight, and on the rise in the minds of other artists around him, is asked to write the lyrics and music to a movie that never gets produced, but puts it out anyways because it “captures the spirit of Topanga Canyon”, where he is living at the time. The rock world is being turned upside down by the iconoclast Punk Rock, and a little older man embraces it and puts his own spin on it. The much older man has a brush with death, and searches his soul and his past to find an understanding of the life he has led, of life and human experience itself. Then the wizened character looks around at a world suffering under the onus of runaway threats to the environment, and has the temerity to contribute a possible solution. Present experience, current music… current music, present experience… God, you could say the same thing about just about any album this pain in the ass has put out!

The common theme here, that the detractors seem to be missing is that nothing has ever changed in Neil’s musical approach, except for the circumstances of his present experience. Does the detractor expect that today’s Neil is going to sound and act like yesteryear's Neil? Can the prolific melodic value of the old stuff be churned out to infinity without repeating itself, which I think even the detractor can acknowledge that Neil will never allow himself to do, “It’s all one song”, or no?

Why am I trying to explain this? Again?

A Friend Of Yours
At 6/16/2012 04:06:00 AM, Anonymous said...: I am sorry thrasher, this should not be a comment of the week or moment. This guy, 'Peter D' is basically stating that if you criticize Neil Young's work its because you have some personal axe to grind, he is just condescending those who dare to have an alternative, minority opinion. The same way your idiot ex president Bush did to people who dared to criticise America's foreign policy.
People are allowed an opinion, you can still be a Neil Young fan without liking everything he does. You can still objectively analyse his output and still appreciate him as an artist and a man. I really do not think people would be posting on a Neil Young appreciation site if they had not liked any of Neils material since 1971 or 1979. His argument is flawed. Thrasher you should consider on an intellectual level what ideology you are promoting before giving Peters comment a higher status.
Can people not appreciate whilst remaining objective? Come on wake up!
Freedom of Speech
At 6/16/2012 06:13:00 AM, peter d. said...: @Greg
present experience, current music and vice versa. couldn't agree more. there's a clear and by no means thin line between ATG and FITR. And in my view, it's the line that leads from dreams to reality. From hoping and wishing, fearing and believing to doing, being, living, acting. Taking responsibility that where ever that lies within reach.

So, it's about growing up, and the twisted road of Neils life shows a common thread that leads from one vista to the next.

My reaction btw, was especially written against people who come here from time to time and write things like:

"This album is a boring repetitive PIECE OF CRAP! Charging for it in this economy, especially on top of all the other ways he gouges his fans, is abominable."

I feel an attitude there as if Neil owes them or is their slave, and particularly the fact that it really feels like they are personally insulted by him releasing an album such as -- fill in --.

I just thought about what could be happening in their minds. Can't say if I'm right, I tried to look behind it, not leaving out my own recognition.

Thanks anyway Greg, especially your second posting is how I look at it too.
At 6/16/2012 08:17:00 AM, La Johnson said...: This is good fun. Personally it's not what Neil writes about it's about the quality of the songs - in my opinion it's his song writing that has fallen away in the last 10-15 years. I don't car if it's a song about a car - look at 'Long May You Run'. Neil said on the radio recenly he arrived with no songs - so that's why we have Americana.
At 6/16/2012 11:00:00 AM, dean farinha said...: Sorry! I have no complaints or criticisms for the man.
At 6/16/2012 11:46:00 AM, Greg Mantho said...: Good take, LA. I thought that was an interesting thing when I read it too, no new songs. But I also read that it was the thought he had, in the midst of writing the book, that gave him the idea to do the folk stuff. I'm just guessing, but I think that this period of several years losing so many close collaborators, just recently Duck Dunn, taking a lot of time to look back, e.g. Archives, A Treasure, the book, Linc Volt, and whatever else he's involved in, maybe all added up to not being in the right space to have new songs. But theoretically that could bolster my point, his present experience is of not having any songs, for whatever reason, which opened him up to doing Americana. Just a thought.

Also, I hear what you're saying about the songs themselves. I would mildly disagree, I think he has come up with some great songs all throughout the last 10+ years, but I grant you that most of his production is not in the category of ATG, Harvest, RNS, Silver And Gold, etc. However, so much has happened in his life since then, and he is no longer the impressionable youth that produced a lot of that, maybe a little crustier, a little grumpier, who knows, I'm just throwing stuff out there. But we all went through this when we first were confronted with the Ditch, the need to deal with something that wasn't so "touchy, feely". But eventually we got a "return" to what preceded it, and I don't rule out the possibility of that dynamic repeating itself, all the while not buying entirely the concept that the songs just haven't been there. But I think I know what you're saying.

A Friend Of Yours
At 6/16/2012 12:10:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Sad that some people cant accept criticism of hero Neil. he's not perfect. He makes crappy albums from time to time.

And guess what.......he's human.

Deal with it, sychophants.
At 6/16/2012 12:12:00 PM, Greg Mantho said...: Peter, trust me, I know where you're coming from, and I think you took an interesting whack at the "palm tree", I just think that when it comes to trying to cope with the detractors- those who detract for the sake of detracting, not those who are expressing personal preferences in the context of their overall appreciation of Neil, or just honest uncertainty over anything he has done- that we're going to have to keep on whacking at the "palm tree" (people are getting the reference here I hope, tortured stretch of the metaphor tho it may be). Or somehow, and I admit I have failed miserably in this, we're going to have to learn to just ignore it when it rears its ugly head. That being said, I still welcome anyone's opinion that is coming from the right place, and which is not just simply mean spirited.

A Friend Of Yours
At 6/16/2012 12:13:00 PM, Anonymous said...: It's what he's moved by. Plain and simple. Use big words if you want.
At 6/16/2012 12:17:00 PM, brokenhead studio said...: Some great comments on here-my opinion of Neil is that he is a true artist-he follows his muse, and expresses what is important to him at the time. He doesn't give a fiddler's fart about how you or I are going to interpret what he does, as he recognizes that he doesn't have control over that. I respect him for continuing to take chances, and not just replay the past over and over again-(ie Eagles, Elton John, Van Halen, eetc...) he challenges himself, and is relevant today. I would much rather listen to a new album with 1 or 2 songs that speak to me, than to hear him give up, and just play the hits. I like Americana, and I have enjoyed a lot of his catalogue, old and new. The fact that he doesn't fall into the trap of resting on his laurels is what has always made Neil Young the man.
He still rocks, and I can't wait to see him again come this November...
At 6/16/2012 12:20:00 PM, Greg Mantho said...: Here's our chance Peter, lets start with Anon 12:10.

Anon 12:13, I for one wish I could be as "succinct" as you (smile).

A Friend Of Yours
At 6/16/2012 12:28:00 PM, Thrasher Wheat said...: @A Friend Of Yours - your handle name right back at you.

@Freedom of Speech - "People are allowed an opinion, you can still be a Neil Young fan without liking everything he does."

Absolutely. Has there ever been any other attitude on this forum?

For the millionth time, much of this has to do with "tone".

Disagree and criticize all you'd like. Just make it healthy, constructive, spirited, heartfelt, personal, meaningful, & reasoned.

But when folks come here all CAP LOCKED, exclamatory!?!?!, pissed off angry, well it comes off as not in the spirit of the community. It's a "tone" thing.

And the business of Neil fans who appreciate all of his work - whether commercially successful or not -- lets not label them as "sychophants", (sp sycophants) OK.

Wouldn't that be like calling folks who don't like Neil's music "idiots", "stupid", "culturally illiterate". Just to take the other side of the fence here, while we do challenge Neil detractors mainly for their straw man, hollowly argued, factually challenged diatribes, we've allowed them space on this forum to do so.

Many ask why do you allow such bile & venom thrasher? Well there's a saying something like "To know thy enemy, is to slay thy enemy".

Dylan said something like that...

peace
At 6/16/2012 12:48:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I'm probably an outlier here, but I guess Neil's latest weak efforts started exactly when Peggy joined the band. I know alot of people dismiss that out of hand or compare to Mac and Lennon. Think about how sensitive Neil is, how he's influenced by what's around. I think having the wife in all his music like that for the last decade has weakened him and made him somewhat sloppier/lazier in his writing. The 90's to my mind were brilliant and fresh. Silver and Gold was a pinnacle. Road Rock started the decline. Are You Passionate still was good but the writing was markedly weaker. Then pretty swiftly downhill after that. Think about what a sponge Neil is. Think about how the dynamic/motivation could change when your wife of three decades is now always singing in your band. And not very well in my opinion. I don't think it's a coincidence that Americana is my favorite record since Silver and Gold.
I think his wife seems like a fine person for sure. But I also think she's the bull in his musical china shop. To me, part of the problem with his records this last decade is he's overemphasized the back-up vocals to accommodate her role and help build a career for her. They ruin Greendale and Fork especially, for my ears at least. And the fact is she really can't sing.
Anyway, I am thrilled he's got Crazy Horse sans Peggy. I think he sound really fresh and fingers crossed he doesn't add her into the mix. Am I the only one? Maybe a delicate topic, or maybe not a permissible one, but in my mind, the elephant in the room. Just my opinion.
At 6/16/2012 01:17:00 PM, Anonymous said...: hell no you're not the only one! pegi is a great person, no doubt, but she is a TERRIBLE singer and she has no place on stage with neil. i mean, do you really think she would have ever been able to put out a record if she wasn't married to neil? god, i hope she's not on this tour...but i wouldn't be surprised.
At 6/16/2012 01:34:00 PM, Greg Mantho said...: Anon 12:48, very interesting thoughts, I never really thought about that angle. Don't know how accurate it is, but who knows? Although I know next to nothing about the career of Johnny Cash, it seemed to tail off after he started working mostly with June and the Carter Family(?). Feel free to shoot me down here, like I say, just an impression. I don't know, Peggy's singing never really bothered me, and if I knew that she was not of a class with some of the stronger vocal backup's in the business, I always attributed it to Neil's minimalist, a few pieces of 2x 4's Greendale set, throw Nils on the piano which he had never played before ethos. How would Neil tone things down in deference to Peggy? Or is it that he doesn't have to rise to a higher level? Or feeling he has to keep the music manageable for her? She's sung on some hard driving things, too, and it didn't seem to take anything away. I don't know.

A Friend Of Yours
At 6/16/2012 02:45:00 PM, Michael Macken said...: If you all think it's hard to please Neil Young fans(of which I'm glad to say I'm one) imagine how Bob Dylan feels.
At 6/16/2012 04:02:00 PM, Dominic Holdem said...: minimalism, sure...throw nils on piano. he's a MUSICIAN. thrown pegi on vocals? no way...she is NOT a singer.

i envy those of you who can't hear how horrible her singing is. for me, she's ruined just about everything she's sang on. for one egregious example, take "like a hurricane" from rock in rio 2001. her and astrid destroyed that song (and not in a good way like neil and the horse did).
At 6/16/2012 04:38:00 PM, Jonathan said...: Jesus said to love your enemies

Matthew 5:44

Peace
At 6/16/2012 05:37:00 PM, mrtew said...: I love Neil Young and just about all of his music too! I love ATGR and Trans and Rust and S&G and Broken Arrow. I love LandingOnWater and RUPassionate even more because they're so under-rated and practically forgotten. Greendale and Zuma are amazing and OTB and TTN and ChromeDreams1 are the best.

I can go on and on all day about how much I love those albums, most of which I've discovered in the past 10 years and in that time NY has come out with several albums that I didn't think were so great to say the least but I never felt the urge to post my contempt or anything about them. I just put them on the shelf and played Year of the Horse again!

Most people love to hear what albums people love and which they don't but who the heck wants to hear someone imply that Neil should hang it up or that he should start writing good stuff again. That's not a useful thing to post. And thank god he didn't stop because we wouldn't have Americana which I think is fantastic and I can listen to it all day even though I never thought I'd like any of those songs that's for sure.

You have to be brilliant still to make She'll be Coming Round the Mountain etc seem so fresh and dark and exciting and alive! I can't wait for the concert and the next album and I hope people saying that they want NY to do good music again are finally rewarded when it comes out!
At 6/16/2012 07:31:00 PM, Thrasher Wheat said...: @Jonathan - touche. Take #2...

"I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends."
~~Abraham Lincoln

"Great art improves with repeated consideration. Mediocre art reveals itself."
~~LLOYD COLE

namaste
At 6/16/2012 09:02:00 PM, punkdavid said...: I can be critical of Neil with the best of 'em, but y'all's on crack. Americana is great.
At 6/16/2012 10:58:00 PM, dean farinha said...: Americana has been playing at our house since it came out. I still wake up singing it. The biggest problem with Neil's music is too many Internet "Experts". All the answers and opinions with no accomplishments. Neil should play to please one person, himself.
At 6/17/2012 03:20:00 AM, Gilliam said...: All I gotta say is that for me Neil Young's music and the message in his songs is a very personal experience...that is why I never bother to take anybody elses opinion seriously, even the critics, because it means nothing to me. I get what I get from the music. Sometimes it connects sometimes it doesn't no big deal. Some folks spend way too much time over analyzing this stuff. Relax and enjoy or just move on.
At 6/18/2012 12:58:00 PM, Arthur said...: I don't need to see a shrink anymore after this.

Thanks, Thrasher.
At 6/18/2012 01:33:00 PM, LRR said...: I'll admit that Neil Young fanhood, for me, is more about just keeping that tradition/habit going. There wasn't really anything on the last few albums that moved me.

But, I think the Crazy Horse reunion has been successful so far. I think we've gotten some good, emotional performances with Neil and the Horse on Americana. In particular, I keep going back to Clementine. It's Powderfinger part2 to me.
At 6/19/2012 10:01:00 AM, dean farinha said...: We need a "like" button here. "Clementine" is amazing! We have know these songs forever but it's the first time I truly listened to the lyrics. We grew up with some dark music. lol
At 6/19/2012 12:07:00 PM, Worth Repeating said...: I LOVE THIS:

What was clearly understood is that there is no one filling that role these days so the artist, unfettered by reality, who has always lived his life at the mercy of his latest whim, is free to indulge his worst and laziest instincts. So despite the vitriol visited on those who dare to note the invisibility of the artists clothing these days,

Thank you, Thrasher! I cant believe all this hoopla over these stupid songs. Crazy Horse is officially dead. I dont know whats worse, reliving childhood or being denied one.
At 6/20/2012 08:59:00 AM, dean farinha said...: Who's looking for the old "Crazy Horse"? Enjoy it for what is is. Think of it as a bunch of old friends dot together to jam and they invited us to listen it.