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Tuesday, December 12, 2023

First Impressions: Before + After by Neil Young | The Old Grey Cat

"Before And After" by Neil Young - Vinyl
  RELEASE DATE: Dec 8 
 (Click photo to enlarge)
 

A review clip from First Impressions: Before + After by Neil Young  | The Old Grey Cat:

I suppose I could delve into the undercurrents that drive the album, how I hear Neil facing mortality, love and loss throughout. 

Instead I’ll focus on the mix, which finds the songs flowing into the next sans breaks. Dots and hidden strands are connected. For instance, the way “My Heart,” a stellar cut from Sleeps With Angels, becomes one with “When I Hold You in My Arms” from the under-appreciated Are You Passionate? is sheer genius. “When I hold you in my arms/it’s like a breath of fresh air,” he sings in the latter, which give way to the pump organ for the ecologically themed “Mother Earth.”

It’s all one song, indeed.

Thanks OGC. Yes, as you suggest, Before + After is a sterling Neil set, "sheer genius" and a "no-brainer".  IOW, essential.  Maybe not today.  Maybe not for this generation.  But someday down the road, on some future generation's playlist, a 40+ minute track will stop folks in their tracks ... literally.

Full review @ First Impressions: Before + After by Neil Young  | The Old Grey Cat.

And here's "When I Hold You In My Arms" (Official Audio).

More on Neil Young's new album Before And After:

 
"Before And After" by Neil Young   
RELEASE DATE: Dec 8
at

6 comments:

  1. The Metamorphic Rocker12/12/2023 11:35:00 AM

    Not wanting to take anything away from Old Grey Cat, but I just came across this interview with Rick Rubin on “how creating something is "a devotional act.”” Coincidentally, I noticed his new book at my local library just yesterday.

    https://www.npr.org/2023/12/10/1217613273/rick-rubin-book-johnny-cash-religion-creativity-spirituality


    On a personal note, I’m currently recovering from dental surgery. Must spend some time with B&A in full, as soon as I’ve got the energy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. thrasher12/12/2023 12:24:00 PM

    Thanks for linkage Meta Rocker.

    And take care during recovery. B&A should be a nice tonic for rest & recuperation.

    Thanks for all the great comments in 2023. Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

    ReplyDelete
  3. The Metamorphic Rocker12/12/2023 06:24:00 PM

    Thanks, thrasher! As far as my teeth go, “got mashed potatoes, ain’t got no t-bone” is the order of the day.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happy Andy12/12/2023 08:05:00 PM

    I’m trying to contact Warners about my pre-order using the help link in the email receipt from NYA but I keep getting message failed. I have tried the contact us on NYA with the same result.

    ReplyDelete
  5. wsanjose0112/16/2023 01:22:00 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  6. wsanjose0112/16/2023 01:22:00 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

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