Old Men, Take a Look at Your Work: Why Neil Young and Jerry Seinfeld Need to Stop Phoning It in or Retire Already
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.
by thrasher@PermaLink: 7/26/2012 08:26:00 AM
44 comments
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44 Comments:
I won't click on the link. Why provide what passes for credibility, eyeballs,to a "writer" who sounds like an obvious nitwit with zero qualification to provide any sort of worthy criticism?. It's like thinking that the *critics* who post their self aggrandizing reviews on Yelp provide any profound or well articulated insight.
I mean, WTF and who cares about "Hard Body Divorce Camp" or whatever? Thrasher, don't subject us to this garbage. The problem with the internet, unlike writers who used to have their work vetted and published, is that you can't wrap dead fish in yesterday's digital vapor.
To be fair, I am a writer and teacher but I think being a lifelong Neil fan "qualifies" me to write an album review. Does one really need credentials to have an opinion on an aesthetic work? That being said, she's full of crap! Long live Neil.
That comment you copied above is outstanding!
I don't wanna pile on too much because it is obvious that she is one of those that would have preferred that Neil stay between the ditches in 1972 (onward). If you don't like the way Neil sings (and I think he his singing is generally terrific but that might be my wart) why do you listen? (and BTW, I think calling Neil a "virtuoso guitar player" is a way bit of a stretch - but I love it).
Having said that, I got my vinyl "Americana" in the mail yesterday and cranked it on the stereo. I already had listened to all the songs so there were not surprises. And, to tell the truth, it was a bit of a let down. I don't think I am going to be having this in the "rotation", though I will be fair and give it several listens. The problem isn't the material. The problem is the tone and mix. It ain't there. I put on Ragged Glory right after listening to Americana and it was like a giant cloud had been lifted from the sky.
Neil misses Briggs - to record and mix his songs if nothing else.
I'd bet Baryshnikov does a mean Hokey Pokey!
On a un-related note... My doorbell just rang... found a fed-ex "tube" on my porch ... hmmm ... it's from Sony Pictures Clasics ...??? ... Open it up and its a beautifull poster form Journey's!...Awesome! ... Wouldn't have scored this with out you Thrasher... Thank you!
Posts like this are countered by positive posts like Hannah Brown's:
Riding the Dark Horse: What Neil Young Taught Me About Autism and Fear
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hannah-brown/autism_b_1635133.html
The Karma of blogging!
Why complain about these rants against Neil? Sometimes bullshit does turn into pure gold.By the way, if he can handle them, why do we whine and plug our ears?
I think both the original piece and the ironic comment on it are great fun. Hard Divorce Camp Girl puts down Neil in a way he hasnt been put down before, so that's progress (thanks for linking to it, Thrasher). The comparison to Jerry Seinfeld is, in my humble opinion, hilarious (and she's right about Seinfeld!)
For its part, the comment about ageism is brilliantly written.
So there you go, two nice pieces!
Some nitpicking: funny as it is, the ageism-comment misses the point. Hard Body Camp Girl is not so much putting Neil down because of his age, but because he - in her opinion - turned out a crappy album full of covers.
For her part, she misses the mark as well, beacuse she doesn't seem to know there's a second Neil-Crazy Horse album coming up, with new material. I'd be curious what, if anything, she has to say once that comes out.. Please, Neil, stick to covers?
The Huffington Compost is simply another far left rag that prints mostly lies, half-truths, and character slandering garbage...this piece by Ms. Pesoli is just par for the course...
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Give her a break its clear from the article she knows very little about Neil and had to slap something quick together before a deadline. An album of covers is easy to criticize particularly when you have no clue about the artist, the subject matter, or the spirit in which he created the album. This type of article reminds me how easy it is in the world of blogging to put out a sloppy, unintelligent, poorly thought out piece. In the old world of print media where journalists had real pride in their work you might have had a critical piece but it would have had some thoughtful, cogent arguments behind it.
Thanks everyone.
Our approach on this sort of thing is to try and call out what we feel is valid criticism and invalid.
That's just our opinion. And we like to give everyone a chance to disagree.
For us, that's what makes this all interesting. The give and take. we learn and we get closer to the truth.
peace
Really? After all the language and fighting I read on here, I get censored? I'm the only person here that uses a real name and pic. I'm the only person not hiding behind a persona. Silly rabbit.
Well...Neil DID kinda phone this one in. It's OK, but not transcendent. I don't know anything about this woman and don't put any credence in her ramblings, but I know what I hear as a life long Neil fan, and she has point. I agree with Old Black - Americana pales in comparison to earlier Crazy Horse albums. But, hey, not every album can be the best, and I'm sure we'll get another that is one of these days.
What's wrong with that article is that she mistakes what she deems as "bad music" with "phoning it in." If she doesn't like it and thinks it's complete crap, that's just fine. But I'll bet you a million dollars that Neil believes in it 1000% and he is emotionally connected to it at his core.
But man that picture of Neil is scary as crap! What's the story behind that? (I didn't real all comments in case someone has said).
@anon 7/26/2012 06:15:00 PM: The photo is a frame from "A Day At The Gallery". Follow link below pic.
Meh, just another writer trying desperately hard to be "edgy" and outrageous in the forlorn hope that someone may find her amusing.
Her other outstanding contributions to the cultural zeitgeist include articles entitled:
"A totally biased and not-at-all politically correct guide to avoiding Mr Wrong" and "How to survive your kids stint at summer camp without ending up in the funny farm"
This is hardly Greil Marcus we are talking here. I'm sure Neil and the Horse are re-evaluating their entire musical approach as we speak.
I've seen Barynishkov's hokey pokey moment on stage at two hundred a pop for phoning in one poisson jump and he was outta there man! No kidding, the ad read "starring the world famous" and he was on stage less than 15 seconds. I don't think Neil has ever phoned anything in except for the liner notes on his Americana. The only person phoning anything in was Christine Pesoli for basing Neil's entire career on one song and a confusing reference to universal truths that are self evident to everyone except her.
Here's the thing... The "Writer", has a grand total of 88 Twitter followers. The Huff will post anything by anyone. By posting her piece, she has more comments now than her "writing" career has ever garnered her. I'm willing to bet she hasn't even listened to the album.
I agree. The sign says "don't touch" on wet paint and what do we all do?
I have to say that I agree with 'Old Black' in that even though Americana isn't the most vital or original Crazy Horse record to come along in quite a while, there's definitely something amiss in the mix. Since I was already exposed to the music along with everyone else via the internet along with the videos as they were released, I was keenly aware that the sound quality had left a lot to be desired. especially since during this same era Neil had also been quite vocal of his dissatisfaction of the audio sources at his disposal. Though I don't care for the record as a whole there are a few songs that I consider to be genuinely legitimate Crazy Horse rockers that I get into. I was eagerly anticipating the arrival of my vinyl copy (compliments of my good friend Sandy Horne)which I must say left me disappointed when I placed it on my turntable for the first time. After having my ears teased for several weeks with the digital crap we were exposed to, as Old Black said the mix on the LP sounded 'muddy' and nowhere close to what I expected. I'm not even referring to whether I consider the songs not up to par with previous Crazy Horse recordings such as Zuma or Ragged Glory, I'm talking about the final mix here. Neil's guitar is buried in the mix at moments of brilliance which left me wondering how it would have been with Briggs at the mixing board. The vinyl recording did everything it was supposed to do as far as bringing out the depth and warmness and punch without feeling as if I'm being pelted by ice cubes, yet there is obviously something amiss in the final mix of the recording. I'm sorry if I let some of you purists down with my observations here but that's just my opinion. However, I don't think it has anything to do with Neil's age and I doubt if he handed the mixing chores over to Jerry Seinfeld but as for me, I wish I never got old ....
Got suckered in to reading the "article"... The only thing I'd like to add is that she also misses the mark regarding Seinfeld... What she is not seeing is the collaboration with Larry David.. maybe she's not aware they did the show together ?
It's strange to say that neil isn't so much all about the music anymore. I think Americana is a fantastic warm-up album after so many years away from the Horse and I'm so curious about the next album of originals. But in recent years neil has gotten more multi-media. I no longer think the sound is all that to him, sadly. How else can you explain his letting pegi literally wreck so much of his music this last decade? She makes a very unfortunate sound. And he's more into visuals. Like Greendale with the stage show and comic book, map and etc. He does alot of that these days. The painter on stage. In my opinion all of this extra stuff in recent years is trying to make up for the weakness of the music. However, i do think that Americana is an instance this comes together well. I think the paintings and videos really enhance and refine the very solid music. For once all this extra stuff enhances without covering up inadequacy. IMHO
Thrasher:
I value your opinion a lot more than any critic!
As I always like to say, why not just ENJOY the music...let it flow right through you rather than spending so much time analyzing everything as all the critics love to do.
NY Journeys is up here in Westchester for the next week, and I plan on spending a lot of time ENJOYING the film.
I'm also loving Americana!
Not ashamed of being called a fanatic,
Marian M.
I think her first paragraph really sums up her lack of knowledge on the subject of Neil Young:
I don't claim to be a die-hard Neil Young fan or anything. It's not like I've made any real effort to follow his career over the years. But I've always held three truths about him to be self-evident. Truth No. 1: He is a phenomenal song writer. Truth No. 2: He is a virtuoso guitar player. Truth No. 3: He can't sing worth a crap.
Never made any real effort...
I read the article (before seeing this post) and I have to say that I believe the author makes some fair points and is not deserving of all of the juvenile personal attacks that I see here. Just because she doesn't like Neil's voice does not make her ignorant or wrongheaded. There are many people who share this opinion -- it's all entirely subjective anyways (there is no "right" answer). But more importantly, I tend to agree with her that Neil has been mailing it in lately. I don't think he spends much time on refining his melodies or lyrics, in the recording studio, or with song production. When he was younger, it didn't matter. Back then, he was "pissing genius" and he could barely write a bad song if he tried. Things have changed. He can still write and perform great songs, but his slap-dash approach rarely works anymore. Usually, it just comes off as half-baked and lame. Let's face it, the lyrics to Le Noise are simply awful. Fork in the Road was an abomination on all fronts, lyrically silly and musically uninspired. Americana is kinda fun, but it will soon be forgotten. Neil needs to take a step back and, for once in the last 15 years, actually try -- really try -- to make some good music that will stand the test of time. His legacy otherwise continues to be diminished and tarnished.
-Big Old Rig
Le Noise was great! so was Fork in the Road. I was listening to both in the garage less than half an hour ago.
We were coming home this weekend from up North. There was an awful accident in the oncoming lanes. Our lanes slowed down to a near stop to see the carnage. Motorcycle everywhere. I opened the window to let air in and I guess my music was fairly loud? Americana was playing and some A-hole yelled, "Crazy Horse, Woooo!" People in other cars cracked up. It broke the tension. Some of us do like Americana.
I agree with Big Old Rig. Neil's got toooo many distractions. How many websites does he have? neilyoung.com, lincvolt, living with war, Neil's garage, Facebook. Then you've got the whole Lincvolt project, Pegi's "career"(don't get me started on that one), the Archives, his benefit projects which i don't think actually consume to much of his time or thought, and the space left for sustained contemplation, focused continuous writing and disciplined recording dwindles to a wisp. Who's holding his feet to the fire? He still thinks he can scribble any old thing and it will be gold. I agree those days are gone. He's scattered in a thousand directions in the digital age and it's doing him in.
He needs Briggs II. Briggs would have never let Pegi on those albums. That's just pure indulgence making a big mess. Briggs wouldn't have let fly lyrics like When I Hold You in My Arms. The frustration is that Neil is an absolutely phenomenal talent who's only here for a while longer and I know he still has wonders hidden inside. But I guess that's just me being selfish. He's put out so much great music in one lifetime and if he wants to spend his limited time left on other stuff, that's his perogative. He's earned it. But there's the other side of me saying Neil, get off the can, man, the hour's getting late.
I am a total NY fan for years and love almost all his albums especially Americana so I don't agree with her much but I have one huge question about the article. Why do some people love his voice so much and others think he can't sing worth crap? He seems to hit all the notes just fine and the tone is just beautiful. Someone here described it as a choir boy voice and I've always thought it was almost like hearing an angel. Totally weird.
Actually Emmylou Harris described it as a choir boy voice....
well, the only 'news' I get is that Neil closed out the last winter olmpiad with Long May You Run and the first song I heard tonight was God Save the Queen. So I guess he's in tune with the planet, and all with it.
The rest is conjecture and hyperbole and crap.
What happened here? Where is Matthew? Where's that other guy who wrote seven hundred paragraphs every time anyone wrote something even remotely critical? For that matter, where's Thrasher in full dander mode, bristling with righteous anger because someone has dared to post a well-written critique that dares to suggest that The Artist is, shall we say, clothed in transparent garb too often these days? Have cats begun to mate with dogs?
Except.... I read the interminable circle jerk (if two people can, in fact, make a circle) that recently appeared in the New Yorker in the guise of a profile of Bruce Soringsteen, and I had to ask myself, would I rather be a follower of a New Jersey factory rat who had one great theme that he expressed brilliantly, incandescently, for about three and a half albums and then became a pretentious ball of ego who churned out years of tuneless pontificating while having the hand of the Devil shoved up his rear manipulating his every utterance, or would I rather engage in furious debate over the artistic merits of a man who has created surpassing works of art for my entire lifetime, through a dozen styles, a hundred voices? Life is hard. Neil Young has made it better. .. Every year since 1969. So thanks... And I hope, ultimately, Lincvolt takes you farther than Mort.
This is called civil debate. Let's keep it that way.
This is called civil debate. Let's keep it that way.
Neil's entire life has been one big distraction after another so how can it be a barrier? Most of what emerges out of the creative process is a distraction. An artist moves through life from one distraction to another.. Some become consumed and some can break free. I'd rather have Pegi and Lincvolt there keeping him grounded rather than seeing him be consumed by the muse. If it wasn't for Pegi, Neil would have never emerged out from the ditch. M
One more thing about Pegi and what I've observed and heard over the years. Neil does not own her or her dreams. Yes, he helped propel her career by sharing his resources. Lots of marriages survive because the partner is supportive and selfless. Pegi's live performances are packed with a lot of energy. It's fun to watch her perform and she gives me confidence. If she can get up there and do it at 55 than so can I . No, I don't sing or play but I left a career to stay home. I love the idea that she is surrounded by so much support. Her life could have been a living hell. It sounds like a good deal of the criticism is fueled by jealousy and resentment .
Mother Nature, you say you can't sing or play. Well, you and Pegi have that in common. The favored comment of teachers for those students who don't have much else to offer is "enthusiastic". I'm all for Pegi keeping Neil grounded and supported. Just make sure to keep her out of the recording studio when Neil's in there. And for that matter, keep her mike turned off when she's performing with him. The woman can't sing to save her life. That's fine, just don't mess up Neil's music with it.
The only jealousy for many of us is for how much better his music would have sounded without her on it. But surely the distraction of her using his musicians and guitar tech and web page maintainers and publicists and studio guys, etc., etc. is more frittering away. Neil is the brilliant talent. The whole Pegi pseudomusician spiel just redirects his assets in an unproductive way. With kind regards.
Part of Neil's unique and unpolished sound are the equally unique eclectic group of musicians he has put together over the years. That raw sound and unharnessed energy he captures during recordings is what makes his sound so unique. The problem is that Pegi can sing but not like Emmylou or Linda or Nicky, Pegi's vocals during live concerts are subtle. She compliments Neil's sound without changing or redefining it. When Neil and Emmylou harmonize, it sounds beautiful. Its defined as Neil and Emmylou. When Pegi harmonizes, she's light and subtle so it stays a Neil song. Pegi and Astrid's vocals with Crazy Horse added to the rawness of the instrumentals. I've heard her back up Neil several times and she sounds great. I think most of you Anons are in love with a ghost. The recordings are there but the people who made them are long gone. Neil moved on. His muse and inspiration has been Pegi and his family whether you like it or not. His life is good now. He's healthy, wealthy, happy, and wise. Pegi made that happen. Get over it.
Thanks MNOTR.
"You know a man needs a woman right by his side.
A man needs a woman right by his side.
She keeps him warm at night, he keeps her satisfied.
Soul of a woman, soul of a man
A perfect combination ever since the world began.
Soul of a woman
Soul of a woman, soul of a man."
NY
I think you're in love with a ghost. Neil will never ever do another Ditch trilogy because he's already done it and moved on. Pegi scraped up what was left and moved on.
One thing that has been the mark of distinction is the eclectic group of musicians he's put together over the years. Pegi is not Robin, Nicky, Emmylou, or Linda Ronstadt. Their vocals give his song a definite characteristic than had he done it without them. What is interesting about Pegi's vocals is that she blends without changing the vocals. She's subtle. Light. And she can do it. Neil doesn't have to go through a contract or agent to hire a singer.
If Neil ever wants to be successful, he should start reading comments and taking advice from nameless people on the internet.
Not sure who's "that other guy who wrote 700 paragraphs" (maybe me?) but I did truly love Bruce back in the mid 70's (six shows during a 3 year stretch from '74 to early '77) and am content with my memories of the golden years. Lots of great new music out there now, just have to look in the corners sometimes.
Saw a very cool band last weekend up in beautiful Denmark ME, where the band Coke Weed (yes that's their name) played a great set of music that harkened back to early psychedelic folk. They even did a 10 minute version of Sally Go 'Round the Roses, and I hadn't heard that one in so long I thought it was an original tune at first (but of course it's Great Society et al via The Jaynetts). Keep on rockin' friends!
What's my line?
I'm happy cleaning windows
--Van Morrison
Who needs that bad boy way and tough guy turn off when you can have Neil n Bruce kick off their shoes, turn down the city lights and serenade the ladies with their country boy charm....
Meh...i'm a younger Neil fan, and I love his failures and mistakes as much as his many great successes. I bought "Americana" on CD, and I've listened to it while driving at least fifty times, straight through. If I didn't know better, I could swear I hear old Shakey laughing in the background, at his fans, his detractors, old washed up rockers, and himself.
It's a damn good and fun album. And even though it consists of some interestingly arranged "covers", it's inspired me as a songwriter and performer.
God bless Neil and the Horse!!
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