Comments, comments, comments.
Oh, do we get comments here at Thrasher's Wheat and boy do they keep things ever so interesting around here.
Where to begin?
Recently, Neil Young announced on a Patron ZOOM call that Archives Volume #3 will have 17 discs -- nearly as much as Volumes #1 and #2. So do all the "rustie grains" (as Neil himself refers to us) spill forth oodles of words on that subject? By far the longest Patron call so far that Neil has held with fans elicits a mere 3 comments, the most substantive of which contains this aside on Sun Green being assaulted, via a comment by Tony "Hambone" Hammond UK:
What struck me most was the discussion on Sarah White.
Neil was visibly animated and for a short while seemed to forget the audience when discussing with his team whether donations had been made and how quickly the gofundme link could get on the Contrarian front page, leaning forward at his web cam to make the point.
It was most uplifting to see a personal response to go alongside all we know of his other philanthropic contributions.
And the news of Sun Green, her saga and a GoFundMe page seemed to dominate and resonate, over shadowing the major NYA#3 news.
We sat down here to try and select a CotM on the Sun Green/Sarah White situation but frankly it's almost impossible without re-quoting the whole thread to provide context and perspective. Say what you will about the "rustie grains" communities, but shy and reserved is not what comes to mind.
The passion of our communities is an inextinguishable flame which brings us joy and hope for our collective futures.
Why?
Why would one little blog about Neil Young's music possibly make a difference in the grand scheme? Well, here's why.
Because if you happen to follow all of the various TW players from various parts of the world -- with a wide variety of perspectives and opinions -- what you will see is that nearly to a fault, the politeness in which hot discourses are engaged.
These are some of our most frightful scenarios with war, terror and death reeling out around us at heartbreaking volumes. And here we all are, sojourning onwards, undaunted, fearless.
Lighting that candle. Keeping the flame burning.
That's why we do what we do here.
carry on,
peace
This is what keeps me returning to this thread every single day. The people who post here all share one thing in common….a love for the music of Neil Young. That solid thread is the glue that binds us together, but we all come from different sets of circumstances. Different countries, cultures, and ideologies.
ReplyDeleteBut when it comes to human rights and justice for our fellow humans, that thread tightens. Because we all share a common belief that we, as humans, can do better than what we see around us. We can set aside complicated political and economic realities, and agree that our species is capable of making a better future than our present reality.
This humble little blog gives me hope in humanity. Simply by reading the thoughts and views that others provide. The world as a whole seems like it has completely lost its mind, but the evidence can found right here that this isn’t the case at all. There are those who believe things can change for the better, and those who believe that we can still agree to disagree without lashing out in anger.
We can listen to each other and make our point of view without being attacked.
This may have something to do with Neil’s music, or his philanthropic spirit. But it appears to me that many of us seem to be reflecting that ideology that Neil has illustrated throughout his career. When someone is being mistreated, we react by offering our support and engage in a healthy dialogue about what can be done to prevent this happening to others. As John Lennon once sang, there are no problems, only solutions. They exist, but they require compromises. Life isn’t black and white, or right or wrong. Life doesn’t have to be perfect…..it’s complicated. But when we are able to listen to each other life can become better than what we have created up to this point.
Thanks so much to Thrasher and Thrasherette for providing us with this valuable opportunity to connect on all levels. Not just Neil Young. We are all connected whether we want to admit it or not, and the sooner the rest of the world figures this out the sooner we will all find our way to a better future for our planet.
Peace 🙏
I don't wish to detract from the many excellent and insightful posts that are shared on this blog, but I got to be honest and say it does sadden me a bit that when a post gets a lot of comments many of those posts are often not about the music or the artist. Not surprised Thrasher has chosen to remark on this.
ReplyDeleteI was intending to comment on the Archives 3 news, but there is so much in there I still haven't quite got my head around it all to be honest. I will limit myself at this point to asking those on the patron call if Neil expanded at all on what 'Across The Water - Crazy Horse' contains? Can't recall this being mentioned before, certainly not under this title.
@ Dan - many thanks for your thoughts here.
ReplyDeleteYou've expressed beautifully what we're trying to do here @ TW. So glad to have you with us along with all of our other fellow travelers on this quixotic journey we're on through the past, present & future.
@ Ron - good question on NYA #3. We too hope to learn much more in the coming months.
Our question: When will NYA #3 be released? 2024 seems ambitious for 17 discs. We'll suggest 2025 as semi-realistic.
A few reasons why this blog not necessarily appears to be an All-Neil-Music-Fanblog at all times but a forum for thoughts that relate to the spirit of Neil Young
ReplyDelete1. What Dan said.
2. What Neil Young increasingly sung, said and played since the turn of the century: a lot of political and environmental issues, also about family values. It’s not that only Neil Young himself got tired of those “people who want to hear songs about love”, also the fan base represented here has come to terms somewhat with that part of human existence ( if that’s ever possible). In order to discuss these more recent topical and controversial things, commenters go to / for (?) great lengths in maintaining the civilty of debate. Looking around elsewhere I find equally interesting positions, but they are blurred and vitriolized by carelessness.
3. The sheer volume of releases: Sometimes I feel like I am buying faster than I can listen. In the past I knew both song texts and stage announcements of live productions by heart. Having spun Live Rust a hundred times and more I knew that “Most of all: What a great audience!” was followed by the ultimate rock anthem. That dead sure feeling about the song sequence is not there with the various live incarnations of TTN, with the exception of the original release I can’t exactly tell what’s on them.
Back in the days of the IPod when my then 14-year-old son uploaded 10 000 songs onto this gadget at once, I asked him: “You now own these songs, but are they really yours?”
4. Canonization: It will take considerable time to sort everything out. With the archival releases (NYA SRS, PS, OBS) there is plenty of re-arrangement to be done within the original release series catalogue. Quite a few assumptions about the content of unreleased albums need to re-evaluated, preferably by commenters like the Scotzman (who now has his own site). It’s not easy to match the quality of Keith Only Castles Burning Pishnery or Wardo Everybody’s Dummy. And with those timeline concerts things get even more detailed but also more complicated. I tend to shy away from commenting into preliminarities. Most of my professional judgements are final, so this might be a déformation professionelle.
5. I own a compilation CD that came with an UNCUT magazine in 2009 “Long May You Run – 15 Tracks in the Key of Neil” (recommended by the way). “In the Key of Neil”, that’s what I think these disgressing comments are. And as Neil Young and his Archives Team at least occasionally are reading along we are adding feedback or resonance beyond the commercial value of information about what the fan wants.
So as much as I am waiting for the monstrous NYA #3, I am not through yet with everything released maybe since Fork in the Road.
I am with you Dionys on the sheer volume of releases and finding time to properly listen to them all.
ReplyDeleteI haven't even listened to 'Over The Rainbow' all the way through yet. When it was released in the summer I felt I should wait for a dark winter night and buy a bottle of tequilla to get in the appropriate mood to really appreciate it. I couldn't resist listening to Helpless though, and what a listen that is by the way.
What a fantastic thing and nice problem to have it is though to have so much to listen to. Homegrown, Rust Bucket and Toast are right up there amongst my favourites now, and there are quite a few tracks from Colorado, Barn, and World Record that I listen to regularly as well.
I think Dan and Dionys said it all on the polymorphous, ambiguous nature of this blog. The discussions have been particularly heady lately, so apologies to anyone who may feel Neil and/or the music are getting lost in the mix! The best method, as has been touched on in the past, may be to quietly let pass the threads you’re not interested in.
ReplyDeleteIn a similar vein, I haven’t paid much attention to the NYA bootleg series—not from total lack of interest, but needing to invest time and energy elsewhere. Also, most so far have been from periods well-documented in the main body of NYA.
I look forward to Vol 3, but not a lot to say at this early stage except WOW in terms of scope and volume of content. Is the Trans animation currently anywhere on the NYA website or will it be in future? Because I’d like to check that out!