Comment of the Moment: REVIEW - Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976) Boxset | Everybody’s Dummy
REVIEW - Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976) Boxset | Everybody’s Dummy
The Comment of the Moment is from REVIEW - Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976) Boxset | Everybody’s Dummy by tomatron:
After reading and enjoying the full review at Everybody’s Dummy (and being in agreement with the bulk of it), I’m loving these pics of the set that are coming through.
Since I’ll be picking up the retail edition from the local record shop in March, I won’t be examining the large box I up close. I see what the FarmAidians did with their Fireplace Sessions photo and appreciate that. [see below] Halfway relatable too - we don’t use our fireplace (not much point in Central TX), so all my records are on the brick hearth. It’s fun zooming in to see the details of the packaging here and how it compares to Vol 1. No second, inner, box is present, just the discs filed away. Makes it maybe a bit easier to access each. Also seeming to be missing is the goodie box from the first volume where Sugar Mountain and a few extras were stashed. No biggie, especially since this year’s book features the fold-out timeline poster which was only accessible on the video discs last time. In the book is a lovely location for this feature.
Of course the lack of video is by far my biggest point of contention with the physical versions of Vol II. The inclusion of the Journey Through the Past film was so special, and watching all the record and tapes play in a row is a borderline psychedelic experience. At least the individual visualizations debuted along with their respective tracks in a somewhat piecemeal fashion for the first half of the set, but after the first time, who will have the patience to sit there and hit play for each on the computer? They really worked so much better on disc, where they could be enjoyed as an unbroken playlist. Hopefully they will still be released as a compilation somehow; I find that to be the maximal presentation of the Archives music. Any guesses as to when the next wave of Archives videos will arrive? We are missing all but two from Discs 6-10 as well as a handful from Discs 2-5. No mention of this was to be found in the latest batch of letters to Neil.
I’d like to add my current opinion on a controversial subject. Homegrown and the other previously issued Archives releases are indispensable to the project’s completism. I totally get the complaints about the inclusion of records we already bought, but wouldn’t the comprehensive nature of NYA Vols I & II be shattered without their presence? There would be a big gaping Tuscaloosa-shaped hole in Vol II, for instance, if it had been left out. Again I have hopes for the future: that Neil, having taken these concerns into account, will continue to populate Vol III with almost all the material from the era covered, and then offer the set at the most reasonable price possible. I continue to value my vinyl LPs of these records while being satisfied with their place among the rest of the Archives releases.
Here are a few stray thoughts about the music in response to the review posted. As much as I revere Rust Never Sleeps and adore Hitchhiker, I must say the Dume rendition of “Ride My Llama” is now the definitive take. So trippy! Same goes for “Kansas;” on Homegrown it feels like an interlude, but the electric Dume version comes off as its final form. Its swagger suits the lyrics and riffs just right.
A more pronounced difference comes with “Letter from ‘Nam” absolutely destroying the Life version, not that that would have been hard to do. Little things like the (serendipitous?) placement of the song as Track 1 and unusually leaving the snippet of producer talk-back at the start help “Letter” communicate several ideas at once. Now the song projects Neil’s discomfort with (and soon-to-come dismissal of) typical studio procedure, his present-day concern for continuity within the Archives setting as shown by its follow-up to War Song on the previous compilation, and of course his misgivings with our country’s cavalier attitude toward the lives of its troops and of civilians at home and abroad.The best Neil Young songs work on many levels at once, and this move was characteristically genius.
Thanks so much for insights and sharing here tomatron. Lots of good points here. Like Wardo/ED, we also agree on the importance of including Tuscaloosa and Homegrown in the set. Without Tuscaloosa and Homegrown it would have created a major gaps in the chronology.
More on REVIEW - Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976) Boxset | Everybody’s Dummy.
REVIEW: Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976) Boxset | Everybody’s Dummy
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Labels: archives, neil young, neil young archives, nya
by thrasher@PermaLink: 12/07/2020 10:04:00 AM
40 comments
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40 Comments:
I have ordered the March release and have now downloaded all the songs, of course it's magnificent but yet another missed opportunity, too much duplication. I've read here from many Neil Young fans how many unreleased songs there were from 1970 - 1976 - they are not here but do a get a version of Greensleeves....bizarre.
Hey, sorry for hijacking this comment thread but has anyone in Canada received their boxset yet? I have yet to receive a reply regarding my order’s status from the WB music folks.
Sorry too for hijacking, but after the good news for customers of the UK greedy hand (with us getting an email saying that the boxes had cleared customs and would start being sent out this week, basically today onwards I guess) I had an email today from the Archives team which has muddied the waters a bit. Firstly, I do appreciate the Archives team reaching out and giving me an update, thanks guys if you're reading!
The email said, amongst other things: "We've been informed that the volume 2 boxsets were released from UK customs last week and that orders began shipping on Wednesday, so your order should be with you soon, if not already."
I paid the extra for tracking on my box (presumably the greedy hand will tie a piece of string to the carrier pigeon) and my order still says "not shipped / packing", which is fair enough given that the email from the greedy hand said my order would go out this week, but if boxes were dispatched from last Wednesday onwards, I was wondering if anyone has had their order status change or god forbid even actually received their boxes? Sorry to add more confusion to the situation, and again, sorry for hijacking.
Old Black, I've received the same mail. I think they are talking about this wednesday. So I hope to see my order status changed in 2 or 3 days.
@ Old Black
Same message to me from The Archives Team this evening.
Order status also the same “Not shipped” and “Packing”.
Probably the same status for everyone who ordered from the UK Store.
Hopefully Phill is right about Wednesday this week.
Kim
Denmark
Hi Phil, yes, possibly. But the email does say "that orders began shipping", not "will begin shipping", and the email does say "should be with you soon, if not already". Surely they couldn't say "if not already" if the boxes weren't being sent out until this coming Wednesday?
It's a curious one isn't it?
Sorry Kim, didn't want to look rude there, I wasn't ignoring your comment, I was answering Phil's post and when I posted my reply, yours was in between the two! Hopefully we'll all get good news this week!
My order still says "not shipped/packing". And the mail you refer to I have not seen, makes me a bit worried I must say. Also strange is that not all of us gets same mail at the same time!? How can that be? I have hard to see that they sending them individually one and one!
Does anyone know?
Lennart, Sweden
The mail I have received is from Archives Team in reply of a complain I made to them a few days ago. Maybe it's why everybody has not received it. I guess someone of UK store is wrapping the boxes and posting them one by one...
@Lennart331
I guess Phil is right. I got the email from The Archives Team today because I wrote to them a week ago in frustration since I got no reply from the US and UK Greedy Hand Store. If you haven’t mailed to The Archives Team about the Archives 2 mess that could explain why you haven’t received this message. Status for all UK Store customers is probably the same, so you can relax a bit. Let’s hope for good news this week.
Thanks for your notice, Old Black.
Kim
Denmark
Hello Phil, that explains it. I thought the mails was from Warner in UK. That the boxex are sent out one by one I understand:)
What address du you use when mailing the Archives Team?
Lennart331, initialy, I had posted a message on NYA contact page. They replied and exchanged later with me using this address : help@mail.neilyoungarchives.com
I think Archives Team has done its best to help us...
Ok, thanks!
I have made a lot of fuss and emailed and phoned everyone under the sun. I too received that email but was goldmine would be one of the first to ship. I also got an email from warners USA stating they were going to look into it for me. Later yesterday I got another email from them stating that they would send me an box set from the USA if I didn't want to wait for my UK one. So please explain how can I be sent a boxset from the USA when all box sets have been sold out??? Too many orders not enough box sets = hastily produced extra sets to fulfil orders= silence in UK Canada etc etc. Lucky for UK lockdown but shit management and unwillingness/ inability to email has caused all this anger/resentment which could have been avoided with just one little email. Wee Eck
Here’s the email I received to my initial inquiry:
After much communicating with the warehouse it turns out that a portion of the Neil Young boxsets were misplaced. However they have located the boxsets and your order will be shipping today. We should have your tracking number before the end of week and will be emailing it you this once we receive it.
We deeply apologize for the inconvenience that this has caused.
Thank you for your patience.
Best Regards,
Customer Service Team
“Misplaced” .... sure.
Still Packing and Not Shipped. There is a 'labelling' phase before shipped, so New Year maybe. I Personally don't believe anything that has been said by USA/UK Greedy Hand nor the Archives Team. One big cover up for one almighty balls up.
Unknown, I'm starting to have my suspicions now also. How can warners offer to send you a box from the USA if you don't want to wait for your UK box when, as you say, they've all been sold, but also how could it possibly arrive faster than your UK box that has already allegedly cleared UK customs?
I think the archives team are doing their best and are telling us what the greedy hand tells them, and I appreciate their help, but I'm with you about the greedy hand, I also don't believe a word they're telling us.
We got our copy, but can't get past the 1st track of 1st Disc Because we have hit rewind to listen to the song again!
Cheers and Stay Safe,
Mary & Timmy
Your Chicago Rust-Fest Hosts
Got another email seemingly they keep a small number of box sets in case of returns due to faults, it was one of those they offered. sounds plausible..... Also told Uk supposed to be shipping tomorrow, Wednesday.Wee Eck
It's Wednesday, no shipping email from the UK Greedy Hand, still saying Packing on the site. I'll be amazed if these arrive before the holidays. Utter shambles.
I'll go one step further and say we will get them in March. They are all just covering up. No free subscription and no download. I am past caring. This should have been something to celebrate.
I received the downloads last week, all worked fine. Monday (7 Dec) I received the subscription code to access NYA, logged it in, no success, 2 days later still awaiting information after follow up e-mail informing the archives team of that failure. Had all the other e-mails others have received about shipping the box sets etc., but like everyone else am still waiting. I has reached the farcical with one hand not knowing what the other is doing and nobody claiming or accepting any responsibility. Simply poor from everybody concerned.
Got emails because NY obviously made them respond after reading my multiple messages I sent. I turned down offer from USA of set, while all others sailed through with wings on I would get lumbered with duties no doubt. Will send email again and see if I can gather any further info.
Still nothing here. Got the downloads after mailing NYA directly, but no NYA subscription code and no box. No dispatch e-mails or anything else from Greedy Hand UK/Warners.
Seriously considering getting PayPal to refund it now and buying the much cheaper retail box from a local store.
Got a reply about code for NYA subsrciption not working. They suggested I try a different browser, so I tried three, still none worked, still denied access. Sent an e-mail back informing them. The wait goes on, we are being treated very shoddily indeed here in the U.K. The excuses are getting thinner by the day from all parties involved.
I too am considering asking for refund, the excitement has gone. Still nothing from greedy hand today. They really are having a laugh. One thing, who the hell is going to order anything from greedy hand UK after this fiasco. Its doing Neil no favours, he will be aware of it and he is part of the cover up. The silence is beyond belief. Still no download or membership either.
I too have thought about a refund. How has it come to this? This should have been such a joy. I looked at my credit card statement and the company our money has gone to is Wmis ltd in London. They're part of Warners. I couldn't find a phone number but found their website and have sent them an email giving them both barrels.
It's a week now since warners wrote saying that the boxes had cleared customs and were on their way. My order status has not changed. Just to add some context to the "held up in customs" story, which I don't believe, is this:
Since the release date of the box, and not including the boxset of films from Amazon I mentioned in a previous post, I've received 3 packages from 3 different individuals from 3 different parts of the USA, all sent to the UK, all subject to customs, all of which took the normal 9-10 days to arrive. Yesterday I received a package of Christmas gifts from some friends in Denmark, subject to customs again, sent on the 3rd of December and arrived on the 9th.
I really have had enough of this.
OK, we get how bitter some of you are about this whole fiasco. got it. sorry this has happened to you.
we're not here to apologize for NYA but we're also not here as a customer service channel either. Similar to the NYA#1 experience, let's try and help one another and share the experience -- both positive & negative.
Not that it matters, but the pain is quite evident and being heard by Neil & crew. If you think you're upset and feeling ripped, just imagine how neil & nya feels?
NYA just announced it is going free to all for rest of 2020. So making the holiday giving that much more special while foregoing critical revenues during peak purchase period.
Anyway, as we have long learned about the human psychology, folks can put much more energy into a complaint than a compliment. maybe someday that will shift, along with everything else ...
We see lots of positive reactions to NYA#2 and we hope to share more of your stories, photos, videos and reviews on TW.
Feel free to email us with your stories @ thrasher@ThrashersWheat.org
happy holidays to all,
peace
Thrasher, I wish the number of compliments about the box to the number of complaints were the other way around too, I really do, and personally, I'm sorry if you feel that some of us are going on about this too much. Please remember though, this is the only point of connection we have, and we're putting a lot of energy into our complaints because we've paid out a lot of our hard earned money. Thanks for all you do.
@Old Black
You are quite right! This is the only point of connection we have. If we couldn’t help each other here with endless problems and false promises from The Greedy Hand Store about Vol 2, each one of us European customers (and I think there are many of us) would feel absolutely alone with our anger and frustrations. Where else can we help each other if not here? We get no usable help from The Greedy Store.
I fully understand this blog is not a customer service channel. Sorry about these posts, Thrasher. But this is an exceptional and frustrating situation for many of us, which we all hope will not be repeated in future.
@ Old Black - yes, totally get it, like we said. understand frustration yes, absolutely. sos sorry this happening. it pains us to celebrate when so many are miserable.
frankly, this wasn't directed at those having a negative experience.
but over the last several weeks, we have rec'd well over 200+ comments on NYA#2. And those comments are running 90/10, negative/positive.
and that for us is VERY sad. that this blog is dominated by complaints rather than joyous reviews. that is why we're here -- to celebrate, not bitch.
again, sure use this forum to vent.
But where are those who are happy? Silent? and we see a lot of this in the real world where folks are motivated not by love, but by anger.
well, not to get all topical ... and certainly this will be grossly misinterpreted ... but -- in the parlance of our times -- "silence is violence".
3, 2, 1 ...
peace
Thrasher, the lack of positive posts about Vol 2 might very well be explained by the fact that far too many European fans simply haven’t received their boxes yet because of the UK Store fiasco. After waiting 11 years and paying a lot of money and then to experience on the goal line that an almighty mess denies them from getting what they were promised really takes the enthusiasm and energy away from people.
I see that many of the negative posts are from people who often write about Neil’s music on this blog. I’m sure they will do that again after the boxes are delivered and they again can use their energy, concentration and enthusiasm on Neil's music.
Feeling a kinship with so many who appreciate the artistry of Neil’s oeuvre, I hate to downplay the disappointment, frustration, and even betrayal people are feeling with their physical product in limbo. We have waited a long time for this moment, after all. I can relate too, my impatience more directed toward the incomplete Vol 2 video collection as well as the destruction of carefully curated Archives playlists and really the entire playlist feature. For a lot of fans, the box which contains a complete era of music is paid for and missing, and that sucks.
But we are here for the music. This thread was created to highlight our thoughts on the music. And we have the music. Even if you never got your download codes, a monthly subscription goes for $1.99. And now it’s free. Why not set aside your frets about the deluxe packaging for a moment or three, hop on the web, and have a listen? Are we here for the cardboard and paper, or for the songs? The juxtaposition of chronological sequence and creative presentation within the set is fascinating. Compare the track listing of each “disc” with the running order available by playing the tracks through the file cabinet, and then with the original albums. Consider a song’s impact right in context of the time and place it was recorded, who was there, how they played, and what might have happened in Neil Young’s life the night before!
Marvel at the impact Ben Keith had on the music during this period. He is all over this set, right there through it all, the ups, the downs, and the further downs. He was even a member of Crazy Horse for like two songs. Then have a listen to Frank Sampedro join the band and hear Neil’s writing gel with his mates in a very new way.
There is so much appreciation to be found in the different versions of songs we know. The Dume Powderfinger is slower and more tentative than the Rust and Weld editions we revere, but its relative tenderness speaks to the youth and apprehension of the doomed narrator. Homegrown Kansas was interesting and sensitive, especially following the nightmare of Florida, but it turns out that song was truly meant for Crazy Horse 2.1 to rip through at least once and let Neil swagger through the verses he’d barely warbled just a few weeks earlier.
You can play some of this stuff for your friends who didn’t know what they were missing. Disc 1, Everybody’s Alone, is an excellent introduction to Neil Young for anyone who has yet to have taken the time with his work. What better place to jump in than right into the ditch? They’d be hard pressed to find any more compelling rock n roll from the era, and much of it was unheard until mere weeks ago. Or throw on the Look Out For My Love compilation and dive headlong into the mid 70s with a killer run of Horsey album tracks that jut into a beguiling set of tunes done justice by an all-star Stills-Young band, and realize that Neil Young may actually have invented yacht rock, but also grunge a decade and a half early.
If it’s the images you are missing out on, the good news is that the Vol 2 file cards are loaded with them, and about half of the songs (with the rest presumably to come) have video/visualizations available featuring vintage gear and tableaux arranged with ingenuity exploring the photography and cover art of the era in motion.
Now let me be frank (Poncho?). By continuing the gripe, contributors are taking for granted the venue which thrasher has provided here and drowning out those of us who came to discuss the music we love. The second installment of the Archives was worth the wait. The box itself can keep waiting. The treasure inside it has already arrived.
Ah well, another week goes by. Pretty evident to me that Greedy Hand are not in possession of this box. Why don't they just tell us? Simple
Yep, no replies to any of the emails I've sent either. Disgusting.
Well guys, just given myself a pinch. Just had email from Greedy Hand UK, my box is on its way. Speechless but happy
Not wishing to raise any U.K. customers hopes, but, I've just had a message from Yodel, saying my package from Time Music is on it's way and to expect delivery on Tuesday. Seemingly it shipped late on Friday. No change on Greedy Hand site to my order status, but there you go :-)
G-Man, I've had exactly the same. No change on my order status either.
My order status now says shipped.
Pleased to announce that my Archives II has finally arrived safely here in the U.K. Hope it's a good news week for others in the U.K. Now to get down to the serious task of taking it all in whilst reading the mighty book that comes with it :-)
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