Young Dreams

So, Neil Young's new album, "Chrome Dreams II" comes out soon. I know this because my radio station has been promoting it. I have heard a song from it every day this week. It's because they got the funding, or the two morning guys like Neil Young. It's an independent station, so there aren't the same pressures for them to play top 40, or certain artists. So, I have to assume that they're pushing this because they like it.

HOWEVER, this means that I have sat through some terrible stuff this week. Now, I hear 'Neil Young has a new album' and this thought makes me happy. Then, I listen to it. Um, no. There is no reason that a man who has always pushed the envelope and been different should create an album that has nothing distinctive about it save for his craggy old voice.

Monday was "Dirty Old Man" which I almost turned off (I kept waiting for it to get better - I'm an optimist, and it's Neil). It was not only not a nice sounding song, but it was boring. It was every classic rock song ever made. In sum, it was disappointing.
I can't remember what they played Tuesday. Yep - it couldn't even stick in my head.
I think Wednesday was "Ordinary People" - it went on forever. The song is like 18 minutes long, so I'm not sure if they played part of it or not. This one was a bit better, but any long song should be more diverse, it should grown and change and morph. You can look to classical music for this, how one movement of a longer work can still be ten minutes long, but it goes through a life of it's own, returning home to the theme now and then while still taking the listening on a journey through other ideas and variations. Hmm...looking at Neil's website, I wonder if it was "Spirit Road" instead? Both titles sound familiar. Well, whichever - ti was slightly less grating than the other two.
Today they played "The Believer" and sadly, I didn't have the chance to hear the whole thing. This song is actually pretty good and didn't feel like every other song I've ever heard. Even his old voice sounded smoother on this track - whether it was the day he recorded it or the grace of the mixers, I don't know. Don't care, either. I was pleasantly surprised this morning on the way to work. It would have really sucked to write off the entire album.
Tomorrow is another day, and I expect, another song from "Chrome Dreams II." Thus far the trend has been horrible to better, with Neil being 1.5 for 4. Does this mean that tomorrow morning's song will be totally awesome? Let's hope. I've already told a friend that the album is crap, but I fell a bit anxious to revise that. I don't know that I'll buy it. I guess that really depends on tomorrow's preview. I may end up just buying a few tracks (ok, THIS is why things like iTunes are great; this is why we love the mp3) that I like, and forgetting the others.

So, I guess if I had to give a recommendation, then I'd say that people should give it a listen and try it for themselves. Maybe "Dirty Old Man" doesn't suck in your ears. To each his own, right? Plus, I suggest listening to a few songs if you can, not just one. One song, no matter which, is NOT a good measure of the album.
And while you're think Neil, I suggest giving his website a look. It's pretty neat. There are different versions, depending on what you like to look at. And, I think it's a good representation of him as a person.

http://www.neilyoung.com/

It's 4am, do you know where your music is?

Warren Ellis, in his Red Bull driven wisdom, has decided to create a podcast. He's been asking for musicians to send him stuff and he's putting together what he likes.

The podcast is called The 4am and thus far (there have been three installments) he has been nothing but successful. It is all good music, often from artists and groups the rest of us would not otherwise hear. Warren has his little internet fingers all over the place in terms of music. His eclectic tastes and staunch unwillingness to put up with crap make him the perfect filter.

The 4am 3
The 4am 2
Inaugural 4am

Keep a watch on warrenellis.com anyway - the man uses to keep track of research and inevitably keeps posting the interesting and bizarre. And good music. In addition to The 4am he often links to pages of artists he's been listening to lately.

Set brain-list to randomize

This morning, in my pre-second cup of coffee stupor, my brain decided, all on its own, to start playing songs. Random songs. Random songs that I have not listened to in some time. And how it decided to blend Johnny Cash's "Flesh and Blood" and "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair" from South Pacific I'll never know