Comment of the Moment: Watching Out For The Greedy Hand
The Greedy Hand | Neil Young Store | WBR
Over the past few months, much discussion over the flood of Neil Young product.
A good problem to have if ever there was one and who can complain? Maybe aside from those on fixed incomes, unemployed, retired, tight budgets, etc - basically everyone. So what's a rustie / Neil Young fan to do?
The Comment of the Moment on "WAY DOWN IN THE RUST BUCKET" by Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse Release Date: February 26, 2021 by Alan in Seattle:
I am beginning to transcend my active addiction to the Hard Copy of Neil Young's every release.
I have found my budget getting more thin than ever before, with two young adults on my Driver's Insurance and increased costs otherwise. After buying every single release including Archives 1 on Blu Ray and every possible CD and a lot of LPs, I have embraced NYA on line membership as a way to stay plugged in to what my heart desires from my favorite music artist's vast and growing catalogue. Barring a physical release of NYA2 on Blu Ray, I may have bought my last Neil Young album.
My budget along with the Deluxe package debacles helped me to see the advantage in my $2/Month membership fees to NYA. The free access in the latter part of 2020 helped me enjoy the Archives without waiting for the more reasonably priced physical CD release. I don't need to own every single deluxe package to prove my love and devotion to NY's music and total experience. NYA on line will do. I have sufficient bandwidth, etc.
I am thinking about how lucky I have been to be at 28 Neil Young shows, now moreso during the times of Covid. I don't regret going to any shows by any music artist, having had hundreds and hundreds of great experiences. But the NY shows were always my favorites. I saw him play 10 times in 1996 including 6 OPL shows, and that is safely locked away in my Trunk of Memories. What is still to come in the world and the Neil Young world, we know not. But with so many awesome releases on the way, such as Rust Bucket, I am stoked.Mortality is scary.
I have told my kids in the past that I might mourn the loss of Neil Young more than I would my own father's passing! But who can say? I haven't lost many people in my life to death, unlike my favorite music artist, Neil, who has lost so many! We don't get to choose when our loved ones and loved idols will pass on to the next world, but I am so happy that Neil Young lives on. He has gotten to see his dream of a high resolution Neil Young audio / video museum come to life on line.
After railing against MP3's and low resolution music through the decades, quite rightly, it seems he has finally defeated the poor choices of Apple Music to give us a fraction of a fraction of the real thing. Corporate Giant Amazon has backed his High Res values in a real way (which I will probably never subscribe to). Kudos to Neil Young for the prolific majesty of his creations.
Thank you Neil Young. Long live the King, Don Grungio. Come on back to Seattle after the world stops ending, should we be so fortunate as to enjoy your live shows again.
Thank you for giving us access to the music we love! I know one day I will be hearing Old Black in his master's hands at the Great Gig in the Sky.
Valhalla will shake.
Alan in Seattle
Thanks much for sharing here Alan, as always. Your passion is contagious ... in a good way.
We certainly hear you and others about minimizing our footprints and wallet impact. Many are cutting the cords, downsizing, rightsizing, etc. We get it. But to admit our fears, we've always been leery of the impermanence of ephemeral digital realm and "The Cloud".
We do believe that one day we'll wake up and the The Cloud will be down. If that day ever comes, we'll pull out our vinyl and we'll just keep on rockin'.
More on "WAY DOWN IN THE RUST BUCKET" by Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse Release Date: February 26, 2021.
Labels: neil young, neil young archives, nya
by thrasher@PermaLink: 1/18/2021 07:02:00 AM
17 comments
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17 Comments:
I confess to reading liner note & credits. I know the inside of the OTB vinyl package. I own the textposter that came with TFA. I even count a 2001 spiral bound tourbook of guitar tech "Rocky" among my possessions that gives you an impression of what a giant logistic maneuvre a Neil Young & Crazy Horse tour used to be. Yes, it's all about the music, but then I like the idea of many personal NY museums around the world, not just the data floating. Am I too materialistic?
My wife and I recently watched two documentary’s about minimalist who have chosen to live with less stuff. To travel light through their lives and limit what they own, and how they live. Not only for their own personal lives but for the planet as well. They recommend going through all your possessions one item at a time and eliminate everything that doesn’t bring you joy and let go. Sell it, donate it or just discard it. During one of the interviews one of the young men was asked about a person’s collection of books. He asked the person, “do the books bring them joy, and the person said “yes, they bring me great joy”, and the answer was, “then by all means, keep the books”.
My collection of physical music brings me great joy. Yes, it takes up a lot of space in my home, but the joy I get just walking into my music room brings me real joy. I don’t need a computer or iPhone to access a wonderful and eclectic collection of music, I simply walk in and choose the music that meets my needs at that moment.
Like Dionys, I sit for hours admiring the cover art and reading liner notes that enhance my understanding of the creation process of the music by the artist and the people who helped facilitate the creation of the brilliant music I admire. I grew up with vinyl records and the album covers have always been an art form I have admired. The creative process of a visual representation, or expression of the music found within.
I completely understand and agree with the concept of minimizing our possessions as we have become such a consumer based society and I’m working through all the stuff I own that I either don’t use or don’t need so as to live with less stuff. But as the man said “if it brings you joy, by all means, keep it”.
Unfortunately I am in the minority when it comes to music. The vast majority of people are more than happy to stream their music and don’t care about the physical product anymore. For many people music is simply wallpaper to fill the background of their lives, and that’s okay. For me, music brings with it a much more powerful presence and genuinely feeds my soul. And the artwork and information that I can physically hold in my hands enhances the listening experience for me.
This may be the reason Neil and other artists are selling the rights to their music as streaming only provides extremely small financial returns. I don’t blame them, as they have to make a living just like everyone else. But as Thrashers said, there may come a time when the “cloud” will simply evaporate, and all those zeros and ones will vanish in thin air and be replaced with the next new and improved version of technology and everyone will be forced to upgrade yet again, and again, and again.
I’m probably overreacting, and the world will simply move forward and I will be left behind. So be it, as long as I can listen to my music on a nice turntable and amplifier through a set of nice speakers, then that’s what I’ll do. If it all becomes obsolete, then so be it. As for now, I will continue to purchase my music when I can afford it in a physical format until they drag my mortal remains to the crematorium.
Peace 🙏
Thx Alan, I too live in Seattle area (puyallup) and own all things neil. I've been lucky enough to see more shows then I can count. My kids now adults have gone to many with me. They say I can find a neil song for anything. My dtr and I shared a dance to Here for you at her wedding! Sadly my wife has just been diagnosed with cancer. I am now struggling with what to buy or not. It should be a no Brainer wife and family first. Oddly somehow ny feels like family love listened so long. My point is music adds to every emotion and memory, for me and my family ny songs are at the top and have added so much to our lives. Ill keep buying until I cant!
Reading about situations like the one dpnyfan is describing tears me in all directions: When will be the time when a majority in the US finally will understand that mandatory health insurance and mandatory continued payment of wages (sickpay) are not a socialist plot to steal one's money but the decent way to achieve some freedom of want and freedom of fear. What a humiliating society ... you get sick and punished at the same time.
Couldn't agree more! Thx for support, we are still trying to keep on rocking in the free world
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Alan in Seattle, great guy, great post. I understand Alan's attitude and decision. I have not purchased a Neil Young recording/album/CD since Fork in the Road. But I still listen to Neil probably once a day, generally one or two songs. I find this part interesting- as I now have a very good income (being honest)- I find myself buying almost nothing. A 100 mph straight line wind (a midwest hazard) dropped a tree on my truck in 2018 and I never replaced it (I walk to work at a college campus, a great luxury). My wife is retired and we have one car. We find ourselves giving a lot away, including a lot of income. We are donating as much as we can to agencies who deal with food insecurity. We spend money on travels and books and the travel part is obviously off the table, although I am planning a short trip to see our sons in Chicago. I always loved Neil Young for his mutiny with respect to US norms, and he especially trashed consumer culture in Living With War (underrated in my opinion). I hope everyone is ok out there. This site helps me a lot, all of you, I read your posts carefully and enjoy all of them.
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I’m in complete agreement that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. No one should be denied healthcare. No one should go hungry. No one should be denied an education. No one should be homeless unless they choose to be. There is more than enough money available to make all of this possible. We, as a culture have just chosen to ignore the potential for kindness and equality. How much more suffering are we willing to witness?
I will soon be unemployed and without health insurance. I have worked my entire life, yet due to events beyond my control I will no longer to afford to get sick. Yet, if I do incur a serious illness or injury, I risk loosing everything I’ve worked for. My heart sincerely goes out to dpnyfan, his wife and family. Things have got to change, we must redefine what freedom really means.
Sorry to hear that, im 61 worked all my life too and will have to continue. No retirement in sight we should be traveling and enjoying our twin grandsons ive worked my whole life in mental health healing others, my wife a nurse but can no longer work. The usa is terrifying right now. Hoping Joe can get it turned around and ny keeps writing songs that matter.
Like Alan from Seattle, I too have been worrying about the amount of NY content and my shrinking $$$. I know I'll probably never see Neil in concert again, and not just because of Covid-19. Being on a fixed income for the last five years, It's harder and harder to keep up with the music. Like Lulu, I've gone from albums, to cassettes, to CDs and then to Hi-Res (courtesy of the CSN&Y signed Pono). While I didn't replace my albums with cassettes, I did replace the albums and cassettes with CDs.
Like Alan, I too splurged for BluRay version of Archives I (by buying a BluRay player !). When Archives II was finally announced, I went looking for the BluRay version, to no avail. I was kinda pissed when it was announced there would only be 300 copies, AND that it was over $300.. I hemmed and hawed , and finally decided to order it. Luckily (or not) I managed to get through and actually landed one of the few remaining copies. When it was announced there would be a “retail” copy, again I was pissed.
And like Alan, I've reached the point in life we it's time to downsize. I still have my albums (I don't like calling them 'vinyl'), CDs, and most of my cassettes (somewhere..). They still give me joy, just knowing they're there, but how long do I hold onto them ? I don't listen to albums, or tapes. I don't know how to wean myself from this addiction to CDs. I know I'll always buy Neil's music, but would I be a bad person for putting my Archives II on the eBay and just getting the regular version? I don't need the poster, the book is nice, but not exactly required. I guess I'm asking if I can sell my Archives without looking like I'm just trying to make a buck
The situation is already unmanageable. A friend of ours got cancer, lost her job, and had to do a go fund me page. She has since passed away, leaving a husband, children with no health care (who are relying on friends). There is enough money, as I think Dan said, plenty more than we need. United States has no equality of anything. My own current security is more a matter of luck than anything I did. My wife has a pension. I have a good salary for the place we live. We have to break through the way of elites and power-blocs, break open the inconceivable amount of "personal wealth" that has been made on the backs of people who have nothing.
Mike G52, I sold all my vinyl about five years ago. I got 30$ for Trans. And, imagine this, 50$ for Journey Through the Past. we went out to dinner, when one could do such things.
As a Brit, my heart goes out to you guys in the US regarding your lack of safety nets for the people, especially healthcare. Over here we have what is called the NHS, (National Health Service), which is funded by the taxpayer for the good of all. It's not perfect but it's the thing I'm most proud of in our country.
Basically it works likes this. Tax in the UK is taken at source from your wages, and on top of that a further 9% is taken, this is called National Insurance, and goes towards a state pension (not a lot but it's something) and to fund the entitlement for all, including the unemployed and others who are unable to contribute, to use the NHS.
Whilst we still have to pay for prescription medicines and dental treatment, although they are subsidised, beyond that treatment is free. From the most minor injury to cancer treatment or a triple heart bypass, it's free, including any aftercare. Everyone, regardless of how much their 9% amounts to, gets the same level of care.
When, over the years, in conversations I've had with Americans in bars in the US, when we're discussing the differences in our cultures I've unfortunately met the following (approximated) response more often than not: "So, it's a commie system then! A millionaire pays the same as a guy on minimum wage, and gets the SAME, screw that!"
When I point out that the US could do exactly the same if it got rid of all the lawyers that suck up most of the health insurance dollars by checking if the people who attend hospital are insured, or suing the people who aren't retrospectively, some people change their view, some don't. I had a conversation once with a taxi driver who couldn't afford health insurance who got a bill of $30,000 for treatment of a broken leg. After the back and forth of the lawyers, all of whom get paid fabulously no doubt, he settled at handing over all he had in the world, $4000. I also point out that the great irony of our system is that most people are happy to pay into a system which they hope they'll never need, for the peace of mind it brings just knowing it's there, which in and of itself is a mental health benefit.
Unfortunately though, there are politicians here who are hell bent on doing away with the NHS, my wife works in local government and she tells me that very quietly, in certain aspects, things are being slowly dismantled to be replaced with an american style system...
Back on topic though, I'll keep buying physical product as long as it exists, I'm of that generation that stared the print off of an LP sleeve, pre-web it was pretty much the only way to glean any info about who played on the album or produced it etc, those things were important. If the band weren't of the kind to appear on TV it was pretty much the only way to view an act apart from actually seeing them live etc.....it's hard to explain that to people who didn't know a world without the web...also I believe if physical items are being made then people are being employed and earning.
Stay safe!
Just to clarify something in my previous post, when I put that someone commented that "a millionaire pays the same as a guy on minimum wage", I meant proportionately as a percentage of income, not the same amount.
stay safe and well!
Old Black, we could force people who make more than 1 million a year to pay 12% or 15% of their gross income to health care. Those who make 75k or less 2%, those in the middle 4%. People over 10 million will pay 25%. I am working on the assumption, rejected by many or most in US culture that we do not have anything like a meritocracy. If we did, our mail delivery guy would make more than Trump.
Abner, the mail delivery guy certainly deserves more than Trump.....hopefully though in the near future Trump will locked up & sewing mail bags!
Stay safe.
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