This past weekend, Neil Young posted another Message From "The Visitor" (#7) regarding the upcoming Online Archives planned for December 1st.
As a followup, we posted PREVIEW: Neil Young Online Archives - December 1st and received the following comment from Lone Red Rider:
I'm viewing Dec 1st as Young's re-jiggering of the Archives concept.Thanks -- as always -- Lone Red Rider!
We spent a good part of the last 30 years waiting for Neil to settle on a format. From CDs (including HDCD) to DVD (including DVD-A) to Blu-Ray. It appeared that he wasn't going to release the Archives until he got the format he wanted. But, when the Blu-Rays came out, as good as they were, they already felt dated. The navigation was plain clunky. And the idea of viewing information content by scrolling on a TV seemed...awkward. And Neil must have agreed, to some extent, because within a year, he stopped issuing BD-Live updates into the Blu-Ray-Sphere.
Also within a year of NYA-V1's release, the first iPad came out, showing the world what a smooth user interface looked like for consuming content. But it wasn't well married to high resolution. So,then PONO came out, with some promise that it could point the way to future Archives deliveries. And then it died before the high res Archives files were even posted to the PONO Store.
What then of the Archives? As early as 2013, there were hints out there that Neil was pretty much done with Blu-Ray and that Volume 1 was being redone "to be made suitable for computers". Whatever that means. Well, we now have some idea. A website will now depict the timeline and file cabinet functionality of the Archives Blu-Ray disks and the music will be streamed in an adaptive resolution format.
Personally, on December 1, I am not expecting any new music content beyond what we already have. We will simply get NYA-V1 in it's web form. But a few complaints will be addressed. What complaints do you remember from the first few days of NYA-V1?
1)It doesn't contain everything! Falcon Lake, Loosing End, Out On The Weekend, etc. Well, now it will include all that stuff. All of the released stuff in one place.
2)Clunky navigation. Well, now you can use your mouse or touchscreen to select things. And I am really curious as to what sort of networking support will be made available so that we can get the great sound over home networks to a decent stereo system.
3)Hidden Content. As far as I can tell, the hidden content has been promoted to it's own separate files.
Beyond that, I have hopes to see further enhancements: Remember those discontinued and then killed BD-Live updates? Well I have it on good authority than MANY had been prepared and were awaiting release but never authorized by Neil. These were to have included songs and even videos. I am hoping and half expecting to see these on the new NYA timeline. So this is exciting.
What I am NOT expecting on Day 1 is anything beyond the Volume 1 era. That will come. Just not on that day. How will it come? Well, it may trickle out over the years in a series of onsey-twosey single disk releases, such as the SRS series (Hitchhiker) and NYAPS series. Maybe we will get a batch of disks akin to the Archives Vol1 CDs. Maybe there will be files that appear which may never actually come out in a CD format (like those BD-live downloads or hidden tracks from the BD/DVDs). We may be well into a subscription mode by that point.
So, that's how I see it. Good times are coming
Many, many astute points on Neil's Archives and it all makes sense. As time marches on, maybe Neil has finally come up with a plan that works for him to share The Vault.
We should also note here that Lone Red Rider was a vital voice during the release of Neil Young Archives, Volume #1 back in 2009. Those were some of our most exciting times here at TW, with daily comments often exceeding 200+ comments per posting and Lone Red Rider was consistently accurate on both technical and content matters.
More on PREVIEW: Neil Young Online Archives - December 1st .
Online Archives?! -
ReplyDeleteJourney thru the Past meets Computer Age.....flying mother natures silver seed.....to a new home.
The restless consumers have felt a bit helpless, singing words, between the lines of age!
Anyways, bring it on! New Neil is good Neil, even when it's Old Neil.
Greendale playbill, anyone? I have two extra copies. FIrst two replies get one.
ReplyDeleteHi. Alan in Seattle. I would love a copy.
DeleteHi Art I'd appreciate a copy if you still have that other spare. Cheers.
DeleteStill on?
Deletehttp://www.musicradar.com/news/best-garage-sale-in-the-world-neil-young-guitars-gear-cars-and-more-up-for-grabs-at-auction
ReplyDeleteIts all well and good to pursue the best sound resolution and format, and I am a die hard sound resolution guy. I already to vinyl and live cassette tapes. But for the Archives, a ramping up of technology was called for. I invested in Blu-ray surround sound just for Neil Young Archives Vol. 1. I bought used Polk Audio speakers from some good folks and I got some KICK ASS sound with the Blu Ray running thru a Panasonic Gold-parted Blu-ray player and a Yamaha AV receiver. I researched for years before I knew it was ready, And I thoroughly enjoyed Archives Vol. 1. I hope Neil Young agrees to release the Vol. 2 on Blu-ray because I am yearning for it. I may choose to not buy into any other format in protest of the neglected Blu-ray disc lover who only wants to HOLD THE HARD COPY IN HIS HANDS and play it on a generator when the power goes out. I want to have the hard copy in my hands, otherwise, I don't really own it at all. I would probably buy his whole damn catalogue on Blu-ray format if I could. I am a hardcore Neil Young fan. i have seen him play nearly 20x now, since 1988 with the Bluenotes, Come on Neil. Help a brother out. I own all of your product. Give me this on Blu-ray. I await delivery.
ReplyDeleteAlan in seattle
And I await the next live show anywhere in the Northwest! See you at them all. Alan.
Delete
ReplyDeleteAlan......I'm with you on this. I also got into Blu Ray because of Neil and love the sound and picture quality. Like you I also have a great stereo set up and hope to hold the product in my hands. As you said, it's not really mine if it floats in a cloud somewhere.
Peace
@ SONY - good one: Journey thru the Past meets Computer Age. Kind of like everyday here @ TW?1
ReplyDelete@ Art - very generous. thanks for sharing. C'mon folks?! any takers out there???
@ Soldier Steve - thanks for link. yep. best garage sale. ever.
@ Alan - as always, love the passion for the man and the music.
@ Dan - and when it comes down to it, isn't it all just floating in a cloud anyway? A semi serious question.
well, we'll all be looking to the skies tonight ....
http://neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org/2017/11/tonight-top-secret-zuma-payload.html
Peace
While the disks are restrictive, there is a certain charm in confinement. You can pick out the era you want and "play all". It has a start, a middle and an end. It is an experience, an era. How will this work in the Web Archives?
ReplyDeleteNice to see I made "post of the moment". I thought that might happen :-).
Cheers, Thrasher...
oz
Totally with you Alan,
ReplyDeleteCan't agree more.
Totally with you Àlan,
ReplyDeleteCan't agree more.
Alan and Colin --
ReplyDeletePlease email your addresses to: artcarey17@gmail.com
Thanks Art! Very nice gesture.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy guys!
My guess archives on flash drives ,designed to have a Neil Young look and feel ..
ReplyDeleteCan someone please explain to me how I can stream this wonderful service on my Pono Player?
ReplyDeleteAgreed. From one who bought Archives 1 on Blue Ray and owns 3 Pono players, I would love to see some free content if Neil ever starts charging for anything on the web. How about a few "bonus tracks" for the loyal? Have been buying physical for years so the stream seems weird. It cant be free forever, right? Love you, Neil! Forever and for always.....
ReplyDelete