The album "Talkin' to the Trees," recorded with Chrome Hearts, will be released today, June 13 on CD, vinyl, and digital.
In May, Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts released a new Official Music Video for the song "Lets Roll Again".
In January, Neil Young dropped a track from his latest album titled "big change is coming". In addition, an Official Music Video was released featuring the band The Chrome Hearts.
by Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts
Talkin' To The Trees by Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts
Tracklist:
01. Family Life
02. Dark Mirage
03. First Fire Of Winter
04. Silver Eagle
05. Let's Roll Again
06. Big Change
07. Talkin' To The Trees
08. Movin' Ahead
09. Bottle Of Love
10. Thankful
Talkin To The Trees
Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts
Criticisms & Reviews (as of June 13, 2025, via Rusted Moon)
Paul Whitelaw, Louder : " This isn't an unexpected masterpiece from Neil Young's later career, but that's okay. He's made many masterpieces before, so it's unrealistic to expect another one. What it is, however, is the strangely comforting sound of an eccentric genius speaking words of hope as the world burns around us. " 3.5 out of 5
Helen Brown, Independent : " As a longtime Young fan, I felt as torn as his worn stage jeans. On the one hand, I was bored by tracks like "First Fire of Winter," which borrows heavily from the recycled three-chord riff of his 1970 classic "Helpless," and also "Silver Eagle," which meows to the sing-along melody of Woody Guthrie's 1940 anthem "This Land Is Your Land." On the other hand, I found it undeniably heartwarming to hear Ole Shakey muddle through the same old chord progressions he's been using since the 1970s, while singing about being stuck in line at his local farmers' market (...) This isn't Young's best work. It is, however, a record that should bring a smile to the faces of the faithful
Max Gösche, Rolling Stone : " Young picks up the last fragments of his work here. The massive "Big Change" sounds like a relic from the "Ragged Glory" days, "Bottle of Love" recalls the ballads of "Sleeps With Angels." And "First Fire of Winter" easily passes as a "Helpless" rip-off. The band around guitarist Micah Nelson rumbles along bravely in Crazy Horse style. Spooner Oldham once again plays the organ blissfully. And at some point, perhaps in the title track, a sense of melancholy takes hold. "Thankful" closes the record with a gesture of humility that must touch even the greatest cynic. Neil Young has long since finished singing the song that life wrote for him. Now he continually gives thanks to the beauty of nature, peace, and love
Guy Oddy, The Arts Desk : " When Neil Young releases a new album, you can be pretty sure you're getting either melancholic singer-songwriter classics or hard-hitting rock 'n' roll. His debut album with the Chrome Hearts, however, offers both – and shows Young at his best throughout. (...) So Neil Young is obviously still going strong, playing with a new backing band and working towards a better society. Let's be honest: which of the other original hippie-rockers can say the same? " 4 out of 5
Janne Oinonen, The Line Of Best Fit: "Talkin' To The Trees isn't a grand return to form: there's too much letting go of the unfinished here for that. However, in its commitment to simplicity and a search inward for inspiration, it resembles 2000's underrated Silver & Gold, which, along with Toast (recorded in 2001 but not released until 2022), contained the final evidence of Young's creative comeback in the 1990s: not a bad result for a Neil Young album of the 2025 model year." 7 out of 10
Jon Young, No Depression : " This fascinating album, which (with a few exceptions) emphasizes the man's folk side, immediately reveals Neil at his best, combining his sweet, high voice with delicate melodies. Historical echoes can be heard throughout. "
Sam Richards, Riff Magazine : " The music on "Talkin To The Trees" sounds like Neil Young and covers most of his music. While there's nothing here as loud and gleefully chaotic as "Cinnamon Girl" or "Like a Hurricane," as strong as "After the Gold Rush," or as simply beautiful as "Harvest Moon," this collection of ten new songs still covers a wide stylistic spectrum. " 7 out of 10
Douglas Collette, Glide Magazine : " On the surface, at least, "Talkin' To The Trees" exudes a self-deprecating honesty. It's thought-provoking and allows for at least one theory that Neil Young's source of inspiration is the presence of the Chrome Hearts: there's undoubtedly a good reason why he took the ensemble's name from a line in "Long May You Run."
Thomas Treo, Extra Bladet , " Neil Young's music has always had an innocent, almost childlike tone, for better or for worse. At 79, however, he has rarely been more immature. The songwriter's songwriting is so sloppy that it barely holds together, and if "Talkin' to the Trees" were a vinyl shelf, it would collapse. (...) Rarely has a person transformed so uninhibitedly from eternal to indifferent." 3 of 6
Michael Gallucci, Ultimate Classic Rock , " Talkin' to the Trees may remind fans of some of Young's directionless work from the '80s, but as with many of Young's untested projects, there's more to it than the many detours it takes in its 39 minutes. "
Douglas Heselgrave, Restless and Real : " Perhaps most impressive is that Young has never settled into being an oldies act. There's always new music. "Talking to the Trees" contains ten fresh songs that cover all his styles. There's no point asking whether "Moving Ahead" or "First Fires of Winter" are as good as "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" or "Like a Hurricane." As I said, Neil Young's music traces a continuum, and his persistent drive to find new ways of creating and expressing himself should leave us breathless and bewildered. "
Michael Bonner, UNCUT : "How are we supposed to understand Talkin' To The Trees at this point in Young's career? Is it a means for him to communicate with those closest to him—and perhaps find a deeper understanding of his personal situation along the way? Is this Young, who turns 80 later this year, giving us his last hurrah? Or is this simply Young doing what he wants right now, with something else just around the corner?" 3.5 out of 5
Ewan Gleadow, Cult Following: "Where "Big Change" was a deafening hit in the face of political unrest worldwide, "Talkin' to the Trees" depicts a carefree life and shows how those quiet days spent alongside beloved pets and in untouched nature can be just as dangerous. Isolation is desired in times of crisis, but Young challenges those who shy away from the real world to look more closely and passionately. "Talkin' to the Trees" is his best song in years." 4 out of 5
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, MOJO : "Despite the noise of Chrome Hearts, Talkin' To The Trees is rooted in down-home folk. Its key song is "Family Life," a piece in which he celebrates his offspring by name before extolling the virtues of his "best wife ever." Its schmaltzy enthusiasm is tempered by "First Fire Of Winter" and "Bottle Of Love," two songs that recall the fireside intimacy of "Will To Love." 4 stars
My favorite songs are talkin' to the trees, bottle of love and thankful
ReplyDeleteI'm the last person to tell an artist what to write , play or release but.. Family Life and Dark Mirage are just too personal .After 60 years of listening these two tracks are the most disturbing he has ever released and I think unnecessary for commercial release . As a side I think Dark mirage would have been a great s instrumental track
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more. I have been a Neil supporter for a very long time. Seen him 5 times and have tickets to see him on the rail for the first time ever in August. But I'm a father of 4, soon to be 5. I have been through divorce and have very strong bonds with my children. So I feel like I have enough experience to weigh in on this one. I've been struggling for days with how direct and personal those first two songs were. I don't know or care to know the personal issues between Neil and Amber Jean. Not my business. And if Neil wanted to do this he has every right to. But this is akin to going on Facebook and doing a hatchet job on yr own family for the world to see. Nothing positive could come from this. And it may be even worse than a Facebook attack because he had time to write it, and record it and release it. So multiple opportunities to reconsider the harm, think more about his child and grand children than his own feelings. I always respected Neil for his ability to stick to his guns. But as a man and father I lost a lot of respect for Neil after those two songs. I'm still reeling from it. For a man who constantly preaches love, perhaps take your own advice and Don't Forget Love.
DeleteIf Neil Young can still disturb anyone after 40-50 years then he is absolutely still doing his job.
ReplyDeleteI struggle to understand how talking about some kind of family estrangement is “too personal “ with the unfortunate implication that recording a whole album about the death of two closest friends and colleagues is less so.
We don’t know the background to these songs and it’s always possible that this is Neil singing “in character “ to emphasise his fears rather than a statement of truth. That has been a constant theme throughout his career.
Yes they are a bit of a jolt kicking off the album, particularly as all the pre release talk was of Big Change and Let’s Roll Again giving the idea that this would be a full on political statement like Living with War.
Yet here we are with the politics and a new exploration of the darker side.
I for one need to listen to Talkin to the Trees a few more times to absorb these themes and in a throw away world that is gold.
Tony Hambone in the UK
Besides the last two tracks on the album I find this particular album musically not that interesting. However, I'm still glad Neil is putting out new songs
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one that thought Dark Mirage was disturbing? If true, that is Neil's most truthful work to date, and that says a lot.
ReplyDeleteYou're not alone. Still troubled by the first two tracks
DeleteThere is nothing wrong with writing personal records. Toast, Tonight's the Night, and Homegrown are all deeply personal, whilst also demonstrating great warmth and good-natured character. The artist here might be leader, a rebel, a passionate lover, or a freedom fighter, but it's quite clear he's not a vandal, arsonist, abuser, or terrorist.
ReplyDeleteOther great records see artists "playing the villain" with relish and glee, in a fictional (or allegorical) world they've constructed.
The opening songs of Talkin to the Trees seem to be neither of these. They are both personal and toxic. Malignant.
Likewise, there is a clear difference between "dark" and "harmful". Sleeps with Angels is a dark masterpiece, but packed with empathy and hope. The same is true of Greendale: full of grief, full of care.
The superb Green is Blue from Colorado is extremely dark and rooted in reality, but it is not the musical equivalent of a forest fire. It's more an invitation to pick up the fire extinguisher.
Once the songs seemingly become badly-sharpened instruments of destruction, then I think the artist has made an error of judgement.
It's also entirely out of character for Neil Young. The record strikes me as a tragedy, with the cyanide of the first two tracks seeping into our appreciation of the bittersweetness that follows. The latter songs are contextualised by what we've heard so far.
If these songs are as autobiographical as they appear, it seems he's decided hope is lost and has hit the nuclear button out of frustration and fear. He's sawn away at the last threads of a relationship.
This is something I will neither celebrate nor enjoy. A younger Neil Young, or perhaps an older one, would agree with me.
The momentary Neil we are hearing from right now, meanwhile, seems to be in crisis. Dark Mirage (which, of course, is a song with a perspective, and not the gospel truth) hints at depression, or multiple depressions, within the world it depicts. If so, the song itself is essentially destructive.
I can say with as much certainty as anybody: there are ways to overcome depression. But I don't think these songs are amongst those ways. They are more like fuel for the fire.
When an artist is in despair or in crisis, he must step away from the sharp tools of his trade until he's regained enough composure to use them with his previous care.
Scotsman.
You summed up my feelings far better than I could. As someone who has been through and watched loved ones go through mental health/addiction issues and recovery, those first two songs cut deep. This was a hurt soul lashing out not one looking to repair anything. And the sadness that it brought me changed my view of this album, my view of him as a man and hasmademea bit less excited to see him from the front row for the first time ever. Well written Scotsman. I feel better knowing I wasn't the only one who felt this way.
DeleteI personally enjoy the record, some good songs, some not (as to be expected atp)
ReplyDeleteNot sure what to make of DM, but it stood out and made me feel somthin'. Most honest song in years as others have mentioned, for better or worse. Don't care for Family Life or Movin Ahead much though.
I can find enjoyment in the remaining tracks, its just a new NY record. I take them as they come these days without any expectations. Glad he's still doing it. Pretty cool how Spooner is in this band. Cya at the Cleveland gig!
To be honest, I wasn’t all that excited about this new album after hearing the first three songs that were released first. Talkin’ To The Trees stood out with grace, but the other two kind of felt unremarkable on first listen.
ReplyDeleteNow that I’ve had time to sit through the entire album twice, I feel very differently. This album has some truly incredible songs on it. The three that really struck me were; Dark Mirage, Movin’ Ahead, and Bottle of Love. All three are incredibly personal, and classic Neil Young.
First Fire of Winter, Silver Eagle, and Thankful are obviously resurrecting melodies that we all recognize, and I believe this was completely intentional. Each of them is connected to the original melodies in fascinating ways lyrically.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the sequencing plays such a huge role in how a particular song plays. In that context; Big Change really shines here. Unfortunately (for me anyway) Let’s Roll Again just doesn’t make it for me. There are only a very small handful of songs that Neil has ever written that I just don’t resonate with, and this is one of them.
With that being said; I really do enjoy this album as a whole. I also feel that it will continue to make a bigger impact as I listen to it more. Neil’s albums always seem like a slow burn. Especially those from the last twenty years or so.
I’m really not a fan of ranking albums, because each album is simply a moment in time. And this one has definitely exceeded my expectations. Both musically, and lyrically. The album as a whole is beautifully crafted, and is brutally honest. For a man approaching his 80th birthday, I wouldn’t expect anything less.
Peace 🙏
Before I read Scotsman on Patreon, I had listened to Dark Mirage. Honestly, I felt like there was something very much amiss about the song, despite its alluring themes. I enjoy being disturbed if it makes me think hard and it is difficult for me to think about what is entirely comforting. I am becoming convinced that Neil Young has totally lost track of his muse and his genius. Dark Mirage is analogous to hearing a chaotic dysfunctional argument. The music motivates me but the lyrics are abhorrent and then when the two are combined, as in the finished song, the result is-to my mind-wretched. And one thinks of Pegi Young, apparently left behind and then dying of cancer, the song leaves us empty and bleak. I was thinking about this on Father's Day and I know it is NOT for me to judge, as living within the context provides room for the imagination and empathy. When, however, the song fails to create a context for itself, what is jangling and disturbing becomes irredeemable. I cannot help but to compare Dark Mirage with Vacancy (my favorite Neil song at this time). The universal is orbiting around the particular, emerging from it. We can then comprehend the importance of the themes. Dark Mirage stays nailed to the particular and then I feel as if I am listening to someone's hard luck stories. Similarly, the environmental songs have a thumping and grumpy banality. (Think of Jackson Browne's "Before the Deluge"- a great song.) This is the first Neil Young album that I thoroughly dislike. In short, I think it is very bad and it is the antithesis of what he used to do.
ReplyDeleteI feel so much better knowing I'm not alone in how I saw Dark Mirage
DeleteI wholeheartedly agree with Abner and the other commentators who are unimpressed by this album. Sloppy, casual and bitter.
ReplyDeleteWhere is the muse? Where are Crazy Horse?
We can only hope the Horse will ride again.
DeleteI find it encouraging that those with such strong negative reactions to this album are sharing their thoughts. As I have always said; “the more powerful the reaction, the better the art”. I completely understand the negative reactions, but I simply don’t see it that way.
ReplyDeleteYes; the lyrics are harsh and brutal in several songs, but they represent his honest voice speaking from a place none of us can truly know. His life is not ours to live. Yet we have all felt pain, and loss in our lives. As a songwriter he is simply communicating his heartfelt feelings of pain honestly. Perhaps it’s not important to him how it makes others feel, he’s just putting it out there. Maybe he finds it cathartic to lay it all out for everyone to hear. I don’t know; but I respect his willingness to do so.
I celebrate his honesty. I may not be able to fully understand it, because it’s not mine to understand. I just appreciate the fact that he’s willing to share it with the world. This is artistic bravery at its finest.
I found Prairie Wind to be uncomfortably personal too, but I loved that record. Pushing people’s comfort limits is a big part of the creative process, and from the reactions shared here, I think Neil has been successful with this aspect of it.
Peace 🙏
Dan, I understand and appreciate your views on the subject. There is a lot to discuss within the notion of "artistic bravery."
ReplyDeleteI’ve made the mistake recently of seeing NY through the bitter, argumentative, and often unpleasant politicised lens of people on here, and although I’m not a fan of this record, as it’s another work that sits in the middle of Neil’s own narrowing road, I am willing to defend his striving for his artistic vision into old age.
ReplyDeleteThe open confessional stuff about his kids and ex-wife is the real deal here. Not seeing your grandkids at nearly 80 is as bad, if not worse, a life experience than a roadie overdosing when you are in your 20s. Real life stuff, hearteningly so, not the endless politics and Trump derangement churned here.
A patchwork family, a multimillion dollar fortune, a dad who once sang "my life's an open book...", a granddad doing things "people my age" would not do. The Bob Dylan line "I contain multitudes" also does apply here.
ReplyDeleteI strongly resent the "apolitical" stance taken in the previous comment, but I wholeheartedly agree with the one before last sentence. To block contact with (grand-)kids is a very cruel treatment of both, the grandparent and the grandchildren. Apparently the conflict is not so much about material ressources, but rather about memories, promises and perspectives.
For some children it is hard to accept that their parents have their own life. Learning to accept this fact is the last major step in growing up.
I think we have to be careful not to fall too comfortably into the viewpoint that the song presents us. (Not necessarily in Neil's case, but the parallel would be that auto-biographies can sometimes be self-flattering or one-sided).
ReplyDeleteWith respect to Dan Swan and others, I'll admit I'm unconvinced about the whole "honest, authentic, real, brave" thing. A surgeon who wakes up in a bad mood and starts slashing away with the scalpel might be all of these things. He's also a bad surgeon. And he needs to put down the blade.
I don't think Neil will ever regret sharing the original Amber Jean song with the world. I'm not sure the same will be true of these new ones. To use his songwriting skill to dispatch his family as pawns in a chess game leads me to conclude he's made an error of judgement. Assuming my reading of this is correct, then presumably people close to him have made the same observation.
The flipside is that choosing to publish the arguably cruel songs here (at absolute best, a case of fighting fire with fire) is a wholly out-of-character aberration, both within the album and his decades-long career.
Of course, that doesn't make the traces of cyanide any easier to swallow.
Scotsman.
My review will be posted Friday.
ReplyDeleteWe humans are all flawed imperfect beings, and none of us are immune to mistakes or misjudgments. I’m convinced that we all have our own forms of darkness that occasionally overshadow our better selves.
ReplyDeleteNeil has always been willing to be transparent about his flaws. And everyone is entitled to their own views on this matter. I’m not defending his approach to his pain, but I am defending his right to choose how he deals with it.
I’m not going to judge him because that’s not my job. He’s an artist making artistic choices about how he wants to express himself, and I certainly don’t fault him for doing that.
The collateral damage he may be causing himself is completely on him. I believe we can all agree that he is revealing his pain to the world, knowing that not everyone is going to appreciate it. I’m also convinced that he isn’t concerned with how people might feel about it.
Art can be messy sometimes. As can life itself.
Peace 🙏
Many thanks to all for being here and contributing.
ReplyDeleteSee Comments of the Moment: Album by Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts