Comment of the Moment #2: "As Time Explodes" by Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts

"As Time Explodes" 

Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts

 (Click photo to enlarge)

The  album  "As Time Explodes" by Neil Young w/Chrome Hearts  was released for this year's Record Store Day on April 18. 'As Time Explodes' will be released on CD on May 29.

Last week's Comment of the Moment on "As Time Explodes" by Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts was by JVJ and sparked a few interesting comments.

Our latest Comment of the Moment #2: "As Time Explodes" by Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts is also by JVJ:

Another reminder of how lucky we are to have the Archives and the letters section... between the time I lamented the omission of Ambulance Blues and now, some intrepid fan sent in asking why it didn't make the cut and Neil explained succinctly: "THEY WERE GOOD BUT NONE WERE RIGHT FOR ME ON THIS ALBUM. MAYBE IN THE FUTRE IT WILL BE USED."

I'll echo that the version of Cortez the Killer contained here - as most of you know, the version with the missing verses that have been included since last year's tour with the horse - is absolutely essential. I understand the minor grievances listed in this thread (the slow start of Side 1. Spooner still being lower in the mix in the same way as on tour...) but damn, Side 3 is a towering and killer slab of rock and roll... Vampire Blues (from one of the shows I attended! I get a sensorial memory of my best friend and me losing our shit when they kicked into that one) and Cortez? An absolutely unmissable document of the band at their best right there.

Another letter I read in the most recent batch made the cover art make sense to me. I had no idea it was a picture of the band reflected in rained out pit at the Jones Beach show. I just thought it was an artistic decision that didn't do anything for me compared to a simple shot of the great stage set-up they had on this run. Really made my appreciation to the cover art skyrocket.

Anyways, looking forward to more opinions as the album continues to officially roll out. I really would live to see the truncated Crazy Horse tour make it to record at some point, though that feels unlikely (and maybe a bit greedy given the embarrassment of riches we've already received).

Thanks  for the comments JVJ! A 2fer.

More on the album "As Time Explodes" by Neil Young w/ Chrome Hearts  (Tracklist, etc.).  

Also, more on  2025 "Love Earth" tour in Europe and North America (concert reports). 

love earth 2025 WORLD tour neil young and the chrome hearts 

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Comment of the Moment: "As Time Explodes" by Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts

"As Time Explodes" 

Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts

 (Click photo to enlarge)

The  album  "As Time Explodes" by Neil Young w/Chrome Hearts  was released for this year's Record Store Day on April 18. 'As Time Explodes' will be released on CD on May 29.

Our Comment of the Moment on "As Time Explodes" by Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts is by JVJ:

Wonderin', for those who picked up a copy of the new live LP already, how folks are enjoying it? 

With so many full shows from the tour on YouTube, it's easy for anyone to have an opinion on what was omitted and what they dug making the cut. I think it's a great live album - especially considering the turnaround from tour to LP didn't provide much room for reflection.

A coupla things I woulda loved weren't included (shame to begin opening nearly every show with such a beautiful rendition of Ambulance Blues for it to not make the cut) but found myself especially surprised by a few choices (Silver Eagle, while very good, felt like a moment to rest between heavy hits during the shows I saw but on the LP it plays as a beautiful coda and a perfect tribute to their time on the road together). 

Also happy that it brought Daddy Went Walkin' back to peoples ears... and it's a treat to have a version of Big Crime on record... if this album ends up being it's only physical home, that alone will make this release a special one in a discography that has a lot of essential live albums already.

Of note, this album will be another Top 10 Bestseller for Neil Young debuting at #6 on the charts, per Forbes:

As Time Explodes — Live, which is credited officially to Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, launches on three U.K. charts, and it performs best on the Official Americana rundown. That tally focuses on the top-selling titles in that one style throughout the country, and purchases on CD, cassette, vinyl, and via download stores such as iTunes are all factored into its methodology. This frame, As Time Explodes — Live kicks off at No. 6.

Young has placed 19 projects onto the Official Americana chart since first landing on the tally just over a decade ago. Almost all of those releases, 16 in total, have spent time inside the top 10. 

More on the album "As Time Explodes" by Neil Young w/ Chrome Hearts  (Tracklist, etc.).  

Also, more on  2025 "Love Earth" tour in Europe and North America (concert reports). 

love earth 2025 WORLD tour neil young and the chrome hearts 

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Tedeschi Trucks Band's First-Time Cover of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Ohio”

Tedeschi Trucks Band
 Photo: David Gray via Relix (Click photo to enlarge)
Tedeschi Trucks Band did their first-time cover of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s song “Ohio” on the opening night of their residency at Beacon Theatre, New York City on March 10, 2026. 

 

Setlist - Tedeschi Trucks Band

Beacon Theatre, New York City - March 10, 2026

via Hounds That Howell

Earlier in January, we posted the article "Ohio" Revisited: Is Song by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young An Anthem For Our Times? | Rock 'n' Roll with Me.

Also, see:

Why Neil Young’s “OHIO” has earned it’s place on the National Recording Registry 

The Truth About The Kent State Massacre

The Girl in the Photo: Kent State, Ohio - May 4, 1970

40 Years Since 4 Dead in Ohio: Kent State Massacre Remembered

4 Dead In Ohio: May 4, 1970

53 Years Later: "Ohio", Kent State & Tin Soldiers Still Marching | #MayTheFOURBeWithYou

50 Years Ago: “Four Dead In Ohio” | Decaturish

51 Years Later: "Ohio", Kent State & Tin Soldiers Still Marching | #MayThe4thBeWithYou

Ohio: Kent State 45 Years Later

Kent State, Ohio 47 Years Later: The Tin Soldiers March On & On...

Kent State University on May 4, 1970 Library of Congress Exhibit photo by Howell PosnerOriginal photo by photojournalism student John Filo 
#MayTheFOURBeWithYou

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TRACKLIST: "As Time Explodes" - Neil Young w/ Chrome Hearts + Tour Cancellation Updates

"As Time Explodes" 

Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts

 (Click photo to enlarge)
Last month, we reported that for this year's Record Store Day on April 18, a limited double LP version of the upcoming live album by Neil Young & Chrome Hearts will be released on 140-gram clear vinyl. 

Per a RSD press release, the album titled "As Time Explodes" has 13 tracks, recorded during the 2025 "Love Earth" tour in Europe and North America (concert reports). 

01. Daddy Went Walking.......04:43

02. Looking Forward........04:20

03. Harvest Moon................05:12

04. Ohio..................03:06

05. Name Of Love.............04:13

06. Be The Rain................05:22

07. Big Crime................01:58

08. Long Walk Home............04:43

09. Vampire Blues............04:54

10. Cortez The Killer........14:42

11. After The Gold Rush......03:40

12. Like A Hurricane.......10:47

13. Silver Eagle.............03:17

The official release date is May 1, 2026.  (Thanks Dieter!)

 LOVE EARTH 2026 UK/EU TOUR Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts 

In other Neil Young news, the ongoing fallout over the sudden cancellation of Neil Young's 2026 European Tour with The Chrome Hearts continues to reverberate across the Atlantic and beyond.

On Neil Young Archives Times-Contrarian, Neil responds to a letter from Michael about the tour cancellation:

“... everything is OK. 

All is good . Just needed a break. Listening to my body.”

In another letter from Justin, Neil says they will consider Bridgeport, CT for a concert. (thanks Road Dawg!)

Neil Young Archives Times-Contrarian

"No promises though!!!"

Good ol' Neil ... always hedging those statements.  Some things will never change.  

Our guidance is to go ahead and make your summer vacation plans.  Once those reservations are completed, a summer tour will then be announced, per "Neil's Law".  For somewhere on EARTH.  Maybe North America?  Or maybe Fall?  Or 2027? Maybe w/ Chrome Hearts?

Again, Neil: "Won't you please come to Cincinnati just to sing?" 

Let's make a real "hippie dream" happen.

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THE FALLOUT: Neil Young Cancels 2026 Europe Tour & What Went Wrong?

 LOVE EARTH 2026 UK/EU TOUR Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts 

The ongoing fallout over the sudden cancelation of Neil Young's 2026 European Tour with The Chrome Hearts continues to reverberate across the Atlantic and beyond.

As the eloquent Scotsman puts it:

"The cancellation of Neil Young's Euro tour has unleashed a tsunami of disappointment (and also bittersweet understanding) among those who had tickets — and raises questions about exactly what went wrong."

So first, let's try and unpack what we know.

Last year on November 21, 2025, Neil Young announced that the LOVE EARTH 2026 UK/EU TOUR would begin on June 19, 2026 in Manchester, England followed by about a dozen other dates.  Ticket sales began on November 28.

On January 21, a new tour date was added for June 17 at the Eden Sessions in Cornwall, UK.

On January 27, Neil Young held a Patron ZOOM call for roughly one hour -- "looking fantastic" -- where he discussed a multitude of topics including additional possible tour plans in the U.S. plus recording an album of new songs in the studio.

Neil Young on Patron ZOOM 

January 27, 2026

image via Rusted Moon

Then on February 6, Neil Young announced the cancelation of the 2026 European Tour with The Chrome Hearts. 

 Statement via Neil Young Archives

In a statement published on Neil Young Archives, Neil wrote:  

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but now just isn't the right time."

So what happened between January 27 and February 6? Apparently it was still the right time to tour on January 27 but less than 2 weeks later it wasn't?

Obviously, the rustie speculation is off the charts. Folks bought tickets for Europe. Bought plane tickets, booked hotels and rentals. And suddenly, no tour or plausible explanation.

And with that background, The Scotsman steps up to attempt to understand what's happening here ... although it ain't exactly clear. Scotsman walks through the standard litanies of Neil's health, Neil following his muse, Neil's "eat a peach" attitude, etc.

Recall that just back in 2024, suddenly all remaining dates of Neil Young's tour with Crazy Horse were canceled unexpectedly for "health reasons". The Scotsman sums up 3 possibilities for the Europe tour cancelation:

A) Health. B) Unsatisfactory sales/demand. C) Donald Trump.

The bottom line: who knows?

Lastly, we'll highlight The Scotsman's conclusion regarding The Eden Project, the event just added to the itinerary:

Finally: Take a listen to the first 180 seconds of the video embedded at the top of the page , (TW: below) about the Eden Project. Particularly, take note of the section around 2:30 to 3 minutes in. This all sounds like a dream scenario for Neil, doesn't it? Indeed, it explicitly focuses on the very same subjects he's passionately dedicated much of the 21st century to.

At least in this case, I think he is absolutely sincere about being sorry to let people down... and he will be disappointed not to attend, too.

If nothing else, we can all agree about the disappointment all around.  

Thanks Scots -- as always -- for the words. The passion.  The insights.

If you can, please support @ The Flying Scotzman | Patreon. 

peace

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Happy Valentine's Day to All of Our Hearts of Gold + Nathaniel Rateliff Joins Farm Aid Board

Nathaniel Rateliff @ Farm Aid 2025Minneapolis, Minnesota - Sept. 20, 2025 

photo by thrasher 

(Click photo to enlarge)

Happy Valentine's Day!  But first, some news ....

Nathaniel Rateliff has joined the Farm Aid Board of Directors. 

Per the Farm Aid organization, after a unanimous vote, Rateliff will work alongside founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp, fellow artist board members Dave Matthews and Margo Price. Rateliff is the third artist to be added to Farm Aid’s Board since its original founding.

A statement by Nathaniel Rateliff:

 “Farm Aid has made a huge impact on me. 

It is always one of my favorite events of the year. It is an honor and a privilege to join my heroes and peers as a Farm Aid board member. I look forward to working together to continue educating the public on the struggles family farmers face and to raise money to support them for a better future.”

Congratulations Nathaniel. 

And in the spirit of Farm Aid, here is Bob Dylan's full set at Farm Aid 40 in HD video.

• Introduction by John Mellencamp 0:00
• All Along The Watchtower 0:54 
• I Can Tell (Samuel Smith) 5:27 
• To Ramona 9:02
• Highway 61 Revisited 13:20
• Don't Think Twice, It's All Right 17:31

And last but not least, a Happy Valentine's Day to All of Our Hearts of Gold out there! 

Appropriately, here is Neil Young with Crazy Horse with an animation video (by Micah Nelson) for the song "Don't Forget Love" from the 2022 album "Barn".

  

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Don't Forget Love, Animated Version (Official Music Video) 

It's been many, many years now since Neil Young's immortal song "Heart of Gold" entered our lives, and we'd like to wish that every day could be everyone's favorite day: Valentine's Day.  

It should be noted that the 2022 post on Neil Young’s Harvest at Age 50 kicked off a healthy discussion amongst our resident commenters (now known as ‘Thrashers Wheat Sanity Collective’) over "romanticism in Neil's music".  Check out those comments -- should you be a romantic.

and #DontForgetLove

ps - this belated comment is for all of our dear German readers. Hope you can pick up on what we're putting down ...

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New Neil Young Albums Coming: Live Chrome Hearts + 1997 Hippie Dream Warmup Tour with Crazy Horse

 Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts: Live Album
 (Click photo to enlarge)

For this year's Record Store Day on April 18, a limited double LP version of the upcoming live album by Neil Young & Chrome Hearts will be released on 140-gram clear vinyl. 

Per a RSD press release, the album has 13 tracks, recorded during the 2025 "Love Earth" tour in Europe and North America. 

Setlist: Neil Young with Crazy Horse 

El Trocadero, San Francisco, CA, May 8, 1997

image via Sugar Mountain

In other "another new Neil Young album coming" news, a concert of El Trocadero, San Francisco, CA, May 8, 1997 will be released TBD and "in advance of Archives Volume #4", per NYA.

From the 1997 Hippie Dream Warmup Tour with Crazy Horse, the concert album will be from two different sources: the Hard Luck Stories recording and a complete audience recording. The entirety of the Hard Luck Stories version, which is incomplete, was spliced ​​with the audience recording as seamlessly as possible, and the sound quality is said to be "very good". 

With "Razor Love" (played twice), "Don't Be Denied", "Hard Luck Stories", "Throw Your Hatred Down" (also played twice) and more. 

1st Set

01 Hard Luck Stories

02 I'm The Ocean

03 Razor Love

04 Crime In The City (false start)

05 Crime In The City

06 Truth Be Known

07 Piece Of Crap

08 Don't Be Denied

09 Throw Your Hatred Down

10 Downtown

11 Hippie Dream (aborted)

12 Hippie Dream

13 Mellow My Mind

14 Rockin' In The Free World

2nd Set

01 Hey, Hey, My, My

02 Slip Away

03 Big Time

04 The Losing End

05 Sedan Delivery

06 Throw Your Hatred Down

07 Razor Love

08 Cowgirl In The Sand

09 Prisoner's Of Rock And Roll

UPDATE:  It appears that early reports have been confused. Apologies. Corrections and clarifications in comments below.

More concert reports @ “Love Earth 2025 Tour”: Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts.

love earth 2025 WORLD tour neil young and the chrome hearts (see “Love Earth 2025 Tour”: Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts ) 

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Neil Young Cancels 2026 European Tour

 LOVE EARTH 2026 UK/EU TOUR Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts 

Neil Young has cancelled the European LOVE EARTH 2026 tour with The Chrome Hearts.

Scheduled to start on June 17 in Manchester, England and include 14 stops across France, Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland, and Italy.  

In a statement published today on Neil Young Archives, Neil writes:

I've decided to take a break and won't be touring Europe this time. Thank you so much to everyone who bought tickets. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but now just isn't the right time. I love playing live and being with you and Chrome Hearts.

be well,
LOVE 

Neil

Elvis Costello was scheduled to open on several dates. 

Official Cancellation from Eden Festival

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What Might Neil Young's 2026 Bring Us?

 LOVE EARTH 2026 UK/EU TOUR Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts 

You ask, "so what might Neil Young's 2026 bring?"

Good question and the big ticket item is that Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts that kicks off the LOVE EARTH 2026 UK/EU TOUR on June 19, 2026 in Manchester, England.

Additionally, a comment by Dionys whets the appetite with expectations: 

• Mirror Ball Live  (w/ Pearl Jam)
• Love Earth World Tour 2024 double album
• Ben Keith's Seven Gates / Christmas at the Ranch re-release
• Gulf of Mexico/U.S. tour w/ The Chrome Hearts
• Tennessee (The Int’l Harvesters rediscovered 1985 tape)  
• Homefires (thanks dinkers!)

Gulf of Mexico/U.S. tour w/ The Chrome Hearts

via Greedy Hand Store

Thanks for the "informed speculation" Dionys. That pretty well tracks what we're seeing as well.  Obviously, all eyes on tour planning.

So what did we miss?

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The Real Story of Neil Young's "Like A Hurricane?": Celebrating the Song's 50th Anniversary

"Like A Hurricane"Neil Young - Hammersmith Odeon, March 1976
Photo by Tony Fahy

So who knows what "The Real Story of Neil Young's 1975 song 'Like A Hurricane?' " might be?  If you've ever wondered about the song's origins, here's an informative essay by Robert Broadfoot over on https://www.facebook.com/groups/ny.unreleased.nyu/

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Neil Youngphoto courtesy of  Robert Broadfoot

LIKE A HURRICANE – THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY

November 29 sees the official 50th anniversary of ‘Like A Hurricane’, one of Neil’s most iconic songs.

The story of its creation has taken on near mythical proportions, starting with a drug-fueled night out with the boys with Neil scribbling the lyrics on a handy newspaper, followed by a sleepless night bent over his Stringman synthesizer “playin’ away like Beethoven” looking like a “fuckin’ maniac”.  The backing track with Crazy Horse took shape almost accidentally and for several months it didn’t even have any vocals. And in between Neil underwent an operation on his vocal cords and couldn’t sing at all. It is certainly a fascinating story. However, in my view the ‘accepted’ dates for the writing and recording of the song are not correct. Everyone, including Neil himself, places the whole story after the throat operation in October 1975.

The evidence however suggests this is wrong.

It may not matter to many, but that whole period was such an important and wildly creative phase in Neil’s life. He emerges from the ‘ditch’, from the demands of his involvement with Crosby, Stills & Nash, and the shards of his tempestuous relationship with Carrie Snodgress, to rediscover himself and his music with a reformed and reenergised Crazy Horse. The summer of 1975 was a crucial period in which he created other major songs such as ‘Cortez The Killer’ and ‘Danger Bird’ and which saw the earliest known recordings of ‘Powderfinger’ and ‘Pocahontas’ for example. It seems important to get the chronology right.

‘Like A Hurricane’ was written during work on the album Zuma. Once finished, it became the  standout anthem of the amazing series of Crazy Horse shows in 1976, when I first saw Neil and the band live. That is one reason why the song is so important to me and why I think it is important to set the record straight. In my article, The Real Story Of Like A Hurricane?, you can judge the evidence for yourself.

I hope you find it interesting. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j8Oa8vWbSg1GhI8UHizmcBW6FlS9bwap/view?usp=drive_link

Robert Broadfoot

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Thanks again Robert for all the invaluable research! Definitely helps clear up a few of the myths and legends surrounding "Like A Hurricane".  (Also, see Rare Photo: Neil Young -  Hammersmith Odeon, March 1976.)

More of Robert and NYU research on Neil Young Archives: Answer to Answers #4 by Broadfoot/NYU. 

Also, here are details on Robert's other Neil Young unreleased music research:

DOWNLOAD FILE @ 

#NYU - Neil Youngs Missing Recordings V4.0 (c) Robert Broadfoot 2021.pdf (right click to "Save As")

If you see any corrections or updates, please share a comment below.

Neil Young's Unreleased Songs:
The Unofficial Archive - UPDATE Version 7 (Abridged): 12 November 2019

Also, see Neil Young's Unreleased Songs: UNCLE EDDIE'S CUPBOARD + The Unofficial Archive - UPDATE Vers. 7 + COTM.

Also, see Neil Young's Missing Recordings | NYU.

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And many, many eternal thanks to all the unsung researchers and their labors of love. 

... gone but NEVER forgotten ... 

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Micah Nelson Awaits:DangerBird/StringMan Descends for "The Hurricane"August 10, 2025 - Richmond, VA
photo by thrasher (Click photo to enlarge)

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Neil Young Answers The Question: "What is a Thrasher?"

THRASHER
via Neil Young Archives | T-C | LTE (Click photo to enlarge)

Now that the 1st Leg of Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts' 2025 love earth WORLD Tour is complete, Neil is back to answering letters on NYA.

In particular, Neil answers the immortal question: "What is a Thrasher?" (thanks Road Dawg!)

And more importantly, Neil promises to add the song Thrasher to the setlists for the  upcoming North American Leg #2.  Obviously, the song resonates deeply with the proprietors of this blog.

Which reminds of the time that The NYA Team announced a major discovery back in 2019 of the original lyrics for Neil Young's song "Thrasher".

Original "Thrasher" Lyrics

Apparently, the original "Thrasher" lyrics were "hiding behind hay bales"?!

(More on the nine page original lyric manuscripts for Neil Young's epic, immortal and legendary song "Thrasher" which reveal several telling lyric changes made during the evolution from writing to 1st performance. )

 

The Essential “Thrasher” Request Fold Up Sign

(never leave home without it ... or attend a Neil concert w/o)

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Comments of the Moment: Talkin' To The Trees Album by Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts

Neil YoungImage via Film "Coastal", Directed by Daryl Hannah (Click photo to enlarge)

Nearing the age of 80, Neil Young has somehow managed to release an album that some regard as "the most deeply personal songs" of his career.

Auspiciously enough, on Friday the 13th, June 2025, Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts released the album "Talkin' To The Trees".  Some have regarded the songs as so personally intense, that even Neil has over stepped a line. Others -- of course -- disagree that this is exactly the essence of Neil Young, going where other artists would never dare to go.

The apparent reaction dichotomy surrounds the album's first two songs: "Family Life" and "Dark Mirage" and their dark, raw honesty.

Our 1st Comment of the Moment on Talkin' To The Trees Album by Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts is by the highly respected and oft quoted Scotsman:

There 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.

Other 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.

[ADDENDUM]

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).

With respect to Dan Swan [see below]  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.

Many thanks Scotsman for sharing your thoughts on this vital subject in these times. Your contributions to the community are valued and appreciated.

As noted above, there is a flip side.  Here's a comment by Dan in response: 

I 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.

Yes; 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.

 [ADDENDUM]

We 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.

Neil 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 🙏

Similar to Scotsman above, many thanks Dan for being here and being a regular contributor.  Like Scots, your contributions to the community are valued and appreciated.

More on  Talkin' To The Trees Album by Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts.

Talkin' To The Trees by Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts

The album "Talkin' to the Trees," recorded with Chrome Hearts, was released on Friday, 13 June 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".

 "Lets Roll Again"  Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts (Video Frame via Official Video) (Click photo to enlarge)

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.

 "big change is coming" 

by Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts

(Video Frame via Official Video) 

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