Old Men, Take a Look at Your Work: Why Neil Young and Jerry Seinfeld Need to Stop Phoning It in or Retire Already

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

Not too long ago, we deconstructed a critical review of Neil Young's new album Americana. The review basically found the album to be a "self-parody" which we took issue with and made our counter arguments.

Rather standard blog affairs. Or so we thought...

In our comments on the blog post, some commenters were offended that we attacked a critic for their opinion which we disagreed with. Which we found somewhat puzzling because that's what we do here. Engage in differing opinions.

Anyways, this all a long background for the latest critical review of Americana that we take issue with.

But rather than go thru the tedious task of parsing the review, we'll just link over to it and you can read for yourself and be unfettered by our totally biased opinions and praise for Neil Young & Crazy Horse's Americana. From The Huffington Post Old Men, Take a Look at Your Work: Why Neil Young and Jerry Seinfeld Need to Stop Phoning It in or Retire Already by Christina Pesoli.

Ok, we can't resist, but... First, note Christina Pesoli's qualifications as she self identifies herself as Writer, Founder of "Emotional Hard Body Divorce Boot Camp". We have no idea what that qualification means relative to an album review.

Second, check out the comments to the piece. Here's a very small sample and a comment by lobewan:

Ms. Pesoli - While many here have criticized you for what they see as a puerile, muddle-headed, and ageist attack on two performers who have entertained, and perhaps, inspired, a generation, I would like to go on record as saying that not only do I agree, but, personally, I don't think you've gone far enough in this well-reasoned, thoughtful, and respectful commentary.

First, I agree that it is totally unacceptable, and, frankly, offensive, that these two men have chosen to age. Like you, I find it very distasteful when people get older, and while we can speculate that perhaps they've been given poor career advice by their "handlers", let's face it: in the end, it was their decision as to whether or not to get older, so I think it's fair to blame them for it.

Secondly, it's been suggested that you are out of place to be so critical, given who they are, and given who you are.

Frankly, I understand that complaint. After all, it may be true that very few artists can hope to achieve the same sort of lasting impact that "Emotional Hard Body Divorce Boot Camp" has, and it may, indeed, be unfair for someone at such a lofty height to appear so cruel to these two men, but I say: who cares about that? Their failures are fair game, and it doesn't matter if they aren't in your league. Indeed, if not for criticisms from their betters, how will they ever improve?

So, go ahead and read for yourself Old Men, Take a Look at Your Work: Why Neil Young and Jerry Seinfeld Need to Stop Phoning It in or Retire Already by Christina Pesoli.

And if you feel we've been too harsh, than you're probably right. It's all Neil Young's fault that he's Neil Young.

Ahh, The Unbearable Lightness of Being Neil Young.

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