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Saturday, January 14, 2017

Comment of the Moment: Yet More Thoughts on "Peace Trail", Neil Young's Latest Album


"Rockin' in the Free World"
Neil Young + Promise of the Real
Telluride, Colorado - 10/1/16

Photo by thrasher
(Click photo to enlarge)

The reactions to Neil Young’s new album "Peace Trail" continue to roll in.

Here is the latest Comment of the Moment posted to REVIEW: Neil Young’s "Compelling" Peace Trail by onthebeach:
I just got the album this past Saturday...I've been waiting for the vinyl but my local record store told me it was on backorder...I couldn't wait anymore so i got the cd. I'm kinda glad I got the cd now as I've been able to drive around with the album this past week and really soak it in...I think it's quietly one of his best since 2000 for sure. It's got little bits and pieces of Neil's past work sprinkled throughout it with fresh new twists applied to the similarities. The overall feel is morose to me (this is were I agree with past reviews shouting out On the Beach and Sleeps With Angels...I thought I'd do a track-by-track review.

Peace Trail: I love the pump organ and Keltner's drums and the bass...The guitar reminds me of the Dead Man guitar work...Plus I like how the melody is in the similar style of Ramada Inn which is a great thing because imo, that song is a late career masterpiece from PP.

Can't Stop Workin': Guitar reminds me of the verses on Down By the River...Neil's vocals sound great and the distorted harmonica just cuts through...

Indian Givers: I've dug this since it was released on the internet back in September...Jim Keltner's drums really shine on this track as they just keep consistently rolling on.

Show Me: Standout track for me...Bushnell is great on this track. This wouldn't be out of place on Sleeps With Angels or On the Beach...I love the quiet guitar work on the verses and the main riff is killer.

Texas Rangers: To me this is the weakest track on the album (although at times its a guilty pleasure)...Its a little messy but interesting. Sometimes a line will be too long for the melody which makes me think of similar parts LWW, CD II, and FITR.

Terrorist Suicide Hang Gliders: This song makes me think of the quieter parts of Chrome Dreams II (Ever After, etc)...I like when the beat drops out in the song...the harmonica playing fits the subject well, makes me think of hang gliders screeching down.

John Oaks: I agree with everyone else as this would fit on Greendale (sorta takes me back to Bandit)...I love the sparse instrumentation on this album.

My Pledge: Best use of Auto tune I believe I have heard...this one makes me think of Greendale as well...this one also shouts out to the recent Earth lp with the use of auto tune as backing vocals.

Glass Accident: I really like this one too...The melody reminds me of Beautiful Bluebird from CD II...great harmonica playing.

My New Robot: A shoutout to Trans with the return of the Vocoder...I dig this one too as I like how crazy its all getting before it shuts down.
Thanks OTB! Good to see you our dear friend. Nice track by track rundown. Yes, repeated listens are a must to fully appreciate Neil's latest minor masterpiece. Hope we see more of your thoughts in 2017.

More reviews of Neil Young’s Peace Trail album.

9 comments:

  1. Thanks for taking the time to post such a detailed review!

    ReplyDelete
  2. great photo Thrasher from a great show. do you remember what song?

    ReplyDelete
  3. @Art - good to see you! Happy Neil Year. Hope to see you more in 2017!

    @ wsanjose01 - thanks, man. appreciated. just posted to TW Home page in full size ragged glory.

    We've been going through our Telluride shots finally and starting to edit down and finding a few keepers. The lights were super hot for filming so lots of washouts.

    But yeah, really loved this shot with Neil on Gold Top. Good question on song. It was in encore set and one of these songs:

    17. Powderfinger
    18. Peace Trail
    19. When You Dance I Can Really Love

    But we just can't recall because he switched to and from Old Black. So it wasn't DBTR or CTK.

    Certainly someone recalls which encore song on 10/1/16 Neil played the Gold Top on?!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Regarding song of above photo, we checked withe authrities at Sugar Mtn for help.

    From Tom @ SM:
    "Interesting.

    From youtube it is not Words, DBTR, Powderfinger, Cortez, RITFW or Roll
    Another Number. It is unlikely to be Walk On or Winterlong - always on the
    Gretsch. It must be When You Dance or F*!#in’ Up.

    What’s odd is he usually brings the Gold Top out when he changes tunings
    or breaks a string. When You Dance I Can Really Love / Cortez The Killer /
    F*!#in’ Up are all played in a row and all in the same dropped-D tuning.
    But Cortez, in the middle, is on Old Black.

    Still it must be When You Dance or F*!#in’ Up"

    Thanks Tom for all of the detail!

    We think it's When You Dance judging from photos in sequence.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  6. RITFW was on the Gold Top: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvauzS0UUr8

    ReplyDelete
  7. OK we have a winner! Thanks Babbo for research.

    Why do we keep f'n up?!?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thrasher, it's in our nature! Great run down, OTB... we received our vinyl this week, can't wait to immerse ourselves soon.

      Peace and love,
      Ron
      Love And Only Love

      Delete
  8. @Ron/LAOL - Hey, Happy New Year. Good to see you to my friend.

    Immerse thyselves on Trail of Peace.
    always stay rustie,
    p&l

    ReplyDelete

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