|
Continued from page 8
NEIL YOUNG AND THE CHROME HEARTS Talkin ' To The Trees( Reprise)
The past decade has seen one of the most restless and chameleonic artists of the past fifty years finally settling into his own sound. While Neil Young has spent his storied career jumping from genre to genre, often alienating large chunks of his audiences, the past few years have found him embracing the garage rock of his teen years. Backed by yet another group, The Chrome Hearts, his 48th studio album
|
Talkin ' To The Trees, finds Neil perfectly happy plugging in his distortion pedal and stomping through a set of delectable psych rock. He’ s crankier than ever, calling out the current administration and the world in general, harkening back to his late 80s comeback where he railed against the“ Me” generation while becoming a hero for Gen Xers worldwide. The slovenly and loony standout“ Dark Mirage” sounds like a lost Nuggets-era artifact, all blues riff crunch and twisted gang vocals. While the Chrome Hearts don’ t possess the raw, childlike power of Crazy Horse, the pure adulation they bring to the recording is certainly apparent, almost pushing Neil to be louder, looser, and eccentric. While this is his first record with The Chrome Hearts, these are hardly new faces, as Muscle Shoals keyboardist Spooner Oldham has been playing with Neil off and on since 1978, and Willie Nelson’ s son Micah has been with Neil for over a decade. The pick to click here is“ Let ' s Roll Again,” a grungy ode to the current state of the auto industry with the mantra“ Come on Ford, come on GM, come on Chrysler, Let ' s roll again,” repeated to a warped melody stripped directly from Woody Guthrie’ s“ This Land is Your Land.” He even throws Tesla under the proverbial electric bus, time-stamping the song to the current era.“ Big |
Change” is a loud, gonzo slab of optimism that gives way to the delicate, hushed beauty of the title track, which wouldn’ t have sounded out of place on Neil’ s 1990s classic, Harvest Moon. Has Neil reinvented himself here? Nope. Yet he sounds like he’ s having fun despite the state of the world, and that fun is what brings people to rock and roll. Let’ s( rock and) roll again.
– Andy Derer
7
ROBIN TROWER For Earth Below 50th Anniversary Edition
( Chrysalis)
Following the 1974 landmark sophomore effort, Bridge of Sighs, Procol Harum veteran Robin Trower returned in 1975 to prove his staying power as a solo act with For Earth Below. The gold-selling album was the third under
|
Trower’ s name. Like its predecessor, For Earth Below is steeped in meticulously textured tones and Trower’ s trademarked, blues-based guitar heroics. The album is reissued for its 50th anniversary in a 2xLP gatefold package that includes one platter with a remastered version of the original mix and a second LP featuring a new stereo mix that enhances or reframes various details of the original tracks. A 4xCD set includes the two mixes on separate discs, a third disc of outtakes, and a fourth disc with a 1975 concert that draws from Trower’ s first three solo albums, including 1973’ s Twice Removed from Yesterday. Bassist James Dewar sings soulfully alongside Trower’ s flanged wah-wah guitar riffs during the cowbell-propelled opener“ Shame the Devil.”“ It’ s Only Money” swims deliriously, reflecting the confusion and stress of the song’ s protagonist.“ It’ s only money, and money don’ t satisfy,” sings Dewar. For the new mix of these two songs, the original fadeouts are bypassed so listeners can hear the trio rocking to the end. Title track“ For Earth Below” is altered for the 2025 mix with effects that enhance the contemplative song’ s spectral ambience. Trower delivers reliable blues riffs during“ Confessin’ Midnight” and the lowdown groover“ Gonna Be More Suspicious” that are accented by Sly and the Family Stone veteran Bill Lordan’ s deft drumming. Trower balances his lyrical soloing on“ Fine Day” against a lyric that belies the song’ s moody sound with optimism and gratitude.
The trio’ s interplay is perhaps at its tightest during“ Alathea,” with echoes of other guitarforward British Invasion groups including
Continued on page 16
|