Reaction of the Moment: Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976) Boxset

Unboxed: Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976)

via Rusted Moon

 

Reactions and reviews still continue to trickle in here at TW as the Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976) boxset -- released on Nov. 20 -- begins to find homes around the EARTH.

It is beginning to sound like issues with delivery to the U.K. are being resolved finally,  which is good to hear.

Here is a Reaction of the Moment on Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976)  by Greyrider:

Going on this journey over four (only 4!) years is such a rewarding experience.

Neil puts it all out there. I know there’s been some reservations about the 3 discs that were already released, but I like the way Time Fades Away has melded into Everybody’s Alone and Tuscaloosa making it an even more live recording. Ben Keith is on fire in Tuscaloosa (and in these Archives). The acoustic take on L.A. is so cool, but how come the omission of Last Dance?

The Tonight’s The Night Section is so well known now that it slips by without the excitement of much new material, but it deserves two discs in Neil’s Archives. Fundamental to the body of work and right where it should be.

The segue into Walk On from Roxy works beautifully. I’m of the view that On The Beach is his best work and so, like TTN, is best left pretty much alone with a few interesting additions. Shame See The Sky About To Rain stays in Vol 1 as it would fit in many of these discs. The Bottom Line boot would also have slipped in very nicely but that’s just part of yet another Neil project to look forward to.

The Old Homestead is certainly something to behold. It feels like the core of this collection. Drawing in themes and characters from all over the archives. Stephen and Neil jousting On The Beach is a joy. The duet on Give Me Strength makes the song even more poignant, if that’s even possible. It has always stopped me in my tracks. It always helps.

Homegrown has been my album of the summer. Constantly on rotation. The end of Vacancy is so jaw droppingly good I can’t fathom how it didn’t surface until 2020. Again, the album has to be here. Key part of the story. That break-up sounds rough.

Dume was the one I was looking forward to the most. Fleshing out Zuma, it becomes a gigantic album. No One Seems to Know has taken seat as the current NY tune I can’t get out of my head. Neil sounds like he’s on the edge of breaking down. It’s so beautiful. So real.

I need more time with Look Out For My Love, but here there is hope. Another terrific cameo from CSNY on Midnight on the Bay. Just a lot of good things going on.

The only part I have been just a little less than blown away by is Odeon Budokan. Only because we’ve had a lot of these songs in releases over the years and I’d hoped for some deeper cuts. Crowd noise is fun. Reminds me of Hammersmith in 2008. I can't imagine how good all four shows back then must have been like. Amazing.

I'll say it again, but we NY fans are fortunate to be in this phase of Neil connecting and releasing so much. Early days with NYA II but its already surpassed my stratospheric expectations. Imagine when the bloody box finally turns up!

I’ll leave with the bold submission that, on the basis of NYA II and especially Homegrown, we should be considering a Ditch Pentology. Supported by the live albums and the experimenting with various tunes, five clearly defined bodies of work come out of the period and they are all heartbreakingly sincere. 

And all in four years. What a journey. 

Deep in that ditch.  

Thanks Greyrider! Right, oh to have caught one  -- much less all four -- Hammersmith concerts back in 1976 must have an absolute trip. And a  Ditch Pentology?! yikes.  Afterall, we did explore the whole question of "Neil Young's Ditch Trilogy -- Or is it a Quadrilogy? Or Quintology?" back awhile ago. 

Neil Young's "Ditch Quadrilogy":
"Time Fades Away", "Tonight’s the Night", "On the Beach" & "ZUMA"(See "Neil Young's Ditch Trilogy -- Or is it a Quadrilogy? Or Quintology?")

 

So what are others thoughts thus far on NYA#2? (Aside from the understood unhappiness in U.K. Best of luck over there mates.  Hope you guys can join in our fun soon.)

Neil Young Archives | Instagram

 

Also, see Thought of the Moment: Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976) Boxset.

Unboxed: Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976) 

 via Rusted Moon

 

Also, see Review of the Moment: Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976).

 

Book Fold Out: Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976)

via Rusted Moon 

 

More on Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976) Boxsets Begin to Arrive Around the EARTH.

BIG DAY FOR NEIL YOUNG ARCHIVES LISTENERS: NYA#2 ARRIVES!!!

 

Also, see Neil Young Archives: The Next 10 Years (2010-2020) – A Retrospective by Lone Red Rider.

 

More on Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976): Pre-Order Updates via The "Greedy Hand" Store + Unboxing & Preview Videos .

 

Also, see Comment of the Moment: Pre-Order - Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976).

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