Dark River Lion @darkriverlion | X.com
The Neil Young Archives Volume #3 is now streaming on NYA.com
Per NYA post yesterday, "Look on the Timeline and find it there!"
Also, Neil mentions that the NYA Tape Log Complete book is expected to be out "within a year".
So some good news for those still awaiting their box to arrive, although we do understand the frustration out there with the delay on pre-order shipments.
Which brings us to the Comment of the Moment by Tom D.
So like so many I’m seeing on the web, I’m taking my time going through volume 3.
Instead of trying to cram everything in at once or listening to just the stuff I’m most interested in, I’m listening to it in order methodically. Right off the bat, I have to say that i was totally confused with the first two discs (and first dvd) of the set.
Now I’m going to put this disclaimer here, this is NOT a complaint.
Both the cds and the blu ray of Across the water might be the best chronicle of a Crazy Horse show ever. And I’m not saying this to be hyperbolic, up until now i always thought Rust never sleeps was the best, this one gives it a run for its money.
But what really got me scratching my head was, why wasn’t this all in volume 2? Why isn’t THIS odeon budokan? Much like how journey through the past ends volume 1 with a great movie that really caps the whole box set, i feel like this blu ray could have done the same for volume 2.
I always thought odeon budokan was too truncated and was somewhat disappointing especially since the rest of volume 2 was so thorough. I’m glad that volume 3 rectifies this with across the water but why is it all split between 2 boxsets? And it’s from the same tour! I thought at first it would maybe be from the crazy horse tour that took place after the stills-young debacle but no, not only is it from the same tour, it’s from some of the same shows!
Plus the other glaring difference is just how much better across the water is performance wise than odeon budokan. I can’t tell whether cowgirl is the same performance just edited on odeon or if it’s a different performance but either way, across the water is far superior. That goes all around except for maybe cortez which is great on odeon.
Anyway, I’ll say it again, this not a complaint, just a real headscratcher.
The only thing I can think of is they didn’t want to put a blu ray in volume 2 for budget reasons? Maybe they just wanted to keep it as all cds? It’s a shame cuz like I said, it would have been the cherry on top but I’m glad we got it either way.
And it will enable me to make a mix called Across The Budokan which is a pretty kick ass title so I can thank neil’s eccentric nature for that as well!
Thanks for comment Tom. As noted, certainly understand the frustrations.
More on Neil Young’s Archives Vol. III @ Unboxing Neil Young Archives Vol. III (1976–1987)
- Today's The Day! Neil Young Archives Volume #3 Drops
- Comment of the Moment: Neil Young Archives Vol #3 "Takes" Compilation
- Neil Young Patron ZOOM Call Update: Discusses NYA#3 & More
- Exclusive First Look: Neil Young - Archives Vol. III | Qobuz
- TRACKLIST: Neil Young Archives Vol. III + Comment of the Moment
- Neil Young Archives Vol. III - 17 CD BOX SET - Pre-Order + Promo Video
- Neil Young Archives Volume #3: September Release Planned.
- WHAT IS NEIL YOUNG GOING TO PUT IN NEIL YOUNG ARCHIVES VOL. 4? | NYU
- Neil Young Archives Volume #4 Creation Begins
Across The Budokan does sound like a fire playlist. Nice catch on the Odeon Budokan Cowgirl being an edit, Tom D! I’d expected the identical track. The overlap between the two Archives volumes has given me a similar cognitive dissonance to what you described, and I think you’re right about the lack of films in Vol. II playing a big role in that decision. Another thing is that Odeon Budokan was already an album planned and shelved upon assembly. So they may have even had that CITS edit ready to go for the ‘76 acetate. I’m glad they released it with Vol. II and especially that it later got a standalone vinyl edition that sounds so good.
ReplyDeleteOdeon Budokan is its own thing then, a special release “lost” album, while Across The Water is a separate project, primarily a film with a companion soundtrack. From this perspective it’s ideal that they’re included in different volumes so the crossover is minimized. Odeon Budokan’s weird brevity helps it retain a unique oddball character. And its version of Cowgirl is kind of a teaser for that legendary last Tokyo show represented so heavily on Across The Water. With the distinct productions of OB and ATW, we get two views of one monumental tour.
I'm about halfway through Archives III, and suffering from a little Cortez Fatigue. I'm not sure why I'm 3 volumes into the archives and still hearing live versions of the same song..
ReplyDeleteThe fly-on-the-wall disk with Neil playing songs for Nicolette and Linda is worth it though.. if only Neil would have listened to their criticisms after Bite The Bullet, then I wouldn't have to cringe when this song comes on when women are present. But THIS is the kind of stuff I wish the archives was all about. Disk 10 and 11 are basically just Live Rust, Rust Never Sleeps, Hawks & Doves and Reactor.. with like 3 previously unknown tracks inserted into 2 hours of released studio cuts that everyone buying the archives already owns, I'm so confused on this.
The little voice memos from Neil are great though, so strange that those only start popping up like 30 disks into the archive though.
But there's some great stuff on here, real jems but I'm inclined to rip this to my hard drive and delete the hours of album released studio cuts.
"I'm about halfway through Archives III, and suffering from a little Cortez Fatigue"
ReplyDeleteIt only take me about 3 seconds of the reggae vocal ad-lib from 1978 to get there.
Gotta love that Odeon sweet spot on Across The Water 2 where they play the riff but haven’t yet gone full Rasta Mon!
ReplyDeleteFWIW: the box now has arrived in Munich, that's 14 days after the official release date. That's fairly good for an order half way around the globe. Additional DHL transport fees are 11.98€, the German custom fee invoice (19% on the original price) will come later. Other than the Vol. II box this one had no creases, foxes or other package deformation. As for the contents, I'll be very slow in incorporating this in my memory of acoustic experiences. With advancing age I need more and more time / spins to really absorb whats on a disc. I also ordered the "Takes" vinyl and somehow expected this being delivered with or even before the box, but that didn't happen sofar.
ReplyDeleteI posted a frustrated comment on the weekend this dropped. I owe a positive reply now that Volume 3 is up on the official site. I, too, am taking my time digetsing it. It's a lot of fun. Hearing all these songs mutate (multiple versions of Your Love, If You Got Love) is a great pleasure. It's a lot to take in, and a real plesure.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great Farm Aid, Thrasher! Will be watching for you on the webcast!
Since I read Neil Young venting on the fact that many parents drive their kids to school heating up the atmosphere, which in turn make AC a requirement to enable teachers and students to learn about climate change, here is another of these blessings of globalization. All my NYA Vol. III CDs and Blue Rays say "Made in Germany" on their sleeves, supposedly the packaging too is made around here. The book is "Made in the USA" though. That would have required the audio product to be shipped across the water and a continent to California's Greedy Hand and back again. I wrote Neil Young once about it but he had not very much to say about Warner's logistics. It likely is an "economy of scale" problem, it's not meaningless and it's not going away either.
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ReplyDeleteA few query's on Archives Vol. III for all the experts out there. First, does anyone have info on why the box went through 1987 with only one disc of unreleased tracks from that year? Other than two live tracks from 1986 on the previous disc there's nothing from 'Life' his only 1987 release, which he featured so much of on that 1986 tour. I'll try and make this one brief. All dates appear to be based on recorded date. Does anyone else think the info on the covers is incorrect? Disc 2 says 76-77, all appear to be 1976 only? Disc 10A has 84-86 but I don't see any 1986. Disc 10B has 84-86, i don't see any 1984. Just thought this would be the best place to ask. Please fill me in if I'm missing something on this but really enjoying the box. Peace To All.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like he wanted to end the set with Summer Songs, so that could be like a bonus disc that jumps ahead a few months. It is a strong ending to the Volume III set, after all, where the little-loved Life would have been less so. He and Seke are working on the soundtrack series; Volume IV could start with the Muddy Track soundtrack which would feature live Life tracks.
ReplyDeleteThe way those discs are labeled, it’s hard to tell the reason for the inaccuracy. Maybe he was planning to include different tracks and they forgot to change the years designation when he settled on the final track lists. Maybe there are outtakes from those years that will be available via NYA streaming!
Thanks for your opinion. I haven't got to Summer Songs yet. Look forward to it. I realized yesterday after posting I screwed up on 10A/10B. They are in the same holder so for the cover can't look at individually. Combined, the 1984-1986 is correct. My fault, Sorry.
ReplyDelete*Zeke
ReplyDeleteI imagine most of us long-time NY fans have purchased most of his older albums more than once on LP, cassette, CD, MP3, and nowadays I know some are doing it again on vinyl (not me). With that in mind, I am thinking about the value that NYA3 provides, as well as its impact on the planet.
ReplyDeleteI bought the $240 set, and it comes with 17 CDs as well as the downloads, which were close to worthless in my mind. But those 17 CDs cost about $14 each, which isn't exactly cheap, but it's not a terrible value.
The problem comes when you consider how much new/previously unreleased music is on those CDs. Not much, not really. Neil could have, arguably should have, just released much small archive sets that ONLY come with new/previously unreleased, which would save us all a ton of money and not kill the planet so badly.
But for what I got for my money, I'm fine. I wish I could have afforded the big box, but as it was, $240 stretched my budget big time. NYA3 isn't cheap, and isn't a great value, but as someone who has bought the same music from other artists such as Yes over and over again, it's not a terrible value either.
Collecting material and immaterial things is an expression of human nature. Even the non-materialistic aborigines of Australia collect(ed) dreamings as narratives and assembled their painted representations on rocks.
ReplyDeleteAnother perspective: They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” So collecting things and thoughts ultimately is an expression of identity.
I sometimes imagine all these Neil Young fans and collectors of other things (including myself) building towers "to make a name of themselves" by passing their shrines and pyramids on to the next generation and meanwhile we are enjoying good music.That's why i switched back to vinyl, because these files and CDs need a ton of sophisticated and ever-changing technology. Somewhere I have data files on diskettes but the technology to read them is long time gone. Those LPs from the 50's that I inherited from my dad still play fine. Still I could not resist buying the large CD edition.
I am convinced that there are NY towers and pyramids in Europe that are far taller then mine, but hey - it's part of my headstone that I am interested in, so I added another brick in my wall of sound.
In these parts of the world the normal citizen by now had eight decades to accumulate possessions. During these years one could have done far worse than heaping up books, music and art.