Baffled? Amused? Consternation? Bemusement?
The rustie mood code is swinging wildly across the dial in these strange days as the vanquishing light of 2020 fades away.
An unreleased copy of the sold out Neil Young Archives Vol#2 just sold on eBay last week for USD$2,970.66.
In the film Return To Greendale, Poncho has been replaced by "CGI Poncho", a jacket and fedora hat wearing facsimile of Crazy Horse's Frank "Poncho" Sampedro.
We could go on, but you get the picture.
Here is the Comment of the Moment on CGI Poncho, "DIGITAL MAFIOSO" & Return To Greendale by Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse by tomatron:
To me it’s just the hilariously weird sort of thing we should expect by now from Shakey Pictures. And it’s fun to try to decipher why such a bizarre decision was made. In the end, Return to Greendale is a piece of art that Neil Young has produced, and as such he has the full right to make “artistic” choices.
When it comes to the audio itself, I find this version far superior overall to the studio album. Frank Sampedro is a major reason why. His soulful electric piano bounces off Neil’s guitar just like when their Les Pauls are face to face, only softer, more subdued; headphone listenings bring out his work just high enough in the mix to sparkle at the right times.
And inarguably these Wurlitzer parts make for a fuller, more satisfying sound. Of course, the performances are often more natural and engaging when this band takes its songs to the stage. That difference is even more pronounced with Poncho back in the fold. In 2003, Crazy Horse were not Crazy Horse without all four of those guys. Take my advice; don’t spook the horse.
Regarding CGI Poncho: I am so grateful this post exists, because I have to admit I have squinted a few times at the screen trying to figure out exactly what was “off” about that man’s appearance. For a while, I was nearly convinced it wasn’t Sampedro at all, possibly Ben Keith standing in while Poncho quit for the night to fly out early to his other gig. When the full movie was released, I could positively ID the axeman, but something still wasn’t sitting right.
There are a few key ingredients that make this a Bad Neil Young Movie: the awkward juxtaposition between the original film and the stage presentation, the hokey acting-out of every last plot point (complete with perfect lip-syncing and choreography), the cringeworthy dance party that rounds out the extravaganza.
The mystery of CGI Poncho is just another sprinkle of ugly into Return to Greendale’s aesthetically questionable video stew.
Thanks tomatron!
And what will tomorrow bring in Shakey World?
In the meantime, more on CGI Poncho, "DIGITAL MAFIOSO" & Return To Greendale by Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse .
Oh, by the way, new unreleased track "The Losing End (When You're On)" on NYA now streaming.
Thanks for the shout-out, thrasher! It’s hard to be mad at Neil while these new tracks continue to hit the Archives. Last night it was the Tonight’s The Night Roxy outtake of The Losing End, featuring Nils’s infectiously ticklish piano fills. But wait! The photos on the official video show Neil himself at the piano! Conspiracy?!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of 1977, I've been listening to two Ducks soundboard compilations I grabbed a while back. Can't wait for the official release, there are some smoking songs, like A Deeper Mystery, Gipsy Wedding, Silver Sings, Sail Away and Windward Passage. Reminds me of Buffalo Springfield and CSNY, equal billing where Neil was just one of the guys rather than the main act. Must have been lots of fun for him.
ReplyDeleteThe Losing End (When You're On) is now also playing on NYA, great time, glad to see it reinstated on Roxy.
I was at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto when the astounding Return to Greendale was filmed. There was an intermission and a seconnd act afterwards. The lights came up and there they were, the giant speakers from the Rust Never Sleeps tour. Neil Young and Crazy Horse came out and recreated the Rust Never Sleeps show from so many years before.. We took it as a gift to one of his home towns. To perform both of those speactacles flawlessly in one night was beyond athletic. I expect he is having a Happy birthday by a pine crested shore in the Promised Land.
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