For lovers only! 1

Disc 0: We do not expect any wonders course by addressing the "Disk 0" Archives Neil himself who clearly wanted to present these early recordings, mostly very amateur anyway, like not really part of his "work". And in fact, between the sound at least approximate, guitar playing and stammering voice that seeks, it is difficult to discern here the beginnings of a genius who will flourish stunningly few years later. The first titles with The Squires are particularly anecdotal instrumental "twang" as he had to write the thousands across North America. And then, gradually, we recognize snatches of melodies, entire verses of lyrics that will be recycled later in songs that become classics. We can also be passionate about the work that Neil made on gradually his own voice work is also not yet complete in 1965.

Disc 1: I personally have never been particularly interested in the music of Buffalo Springfield, a group that remains in my opinion "second zone" in the middle of the creative explosion that California has experienced short space "was love ". It is not listening to these "Early Years" taken from Neil Young Archives that will make me change my mind, as to what the psychedelic attempts Neil and his friends engage look "cheesy", even forced, as if these young people very immature still strove above all to be part of a movement that was not theirs, but only their contemporary. If we add that Neil compositions are still erratic - for two miraculous minutes, there was still slag - and that his voice continues to toil (like what, there has been a lot of work to get to this incredible voice that Neil will be a few years later), there is little to really invigorating music in the "Volume 1" memories of the Loner.

Disc 2: We are the end of 1968, and Neil Young butterfly is emerging from the chrysalis Buffalo Springfield. The first album, which will remain broadly atypical ask some milestones of the future "Sound" (electric) and the future "inspiration" (eclectic) of Loner. The second, "Everybody Knows ...", still not perfect, open the era of masterpieces and we will win in the first torrents Crazy Horse. Disk 2 of the "Archives" contains the same large extracts of these two albums, magnifying simply (?) Thanks to the flawless mastering and DVD media incredibly superior to CD versions generally known (I'm not referring to pressings original vinyl at Reprise, which were besides, if I remember correctly, irregular enough ...) ... We can therefore honestly complain that Neil refourgue here hyper-known material and not much else : the "early versions" of interesting "Everybody Knows ...", the "Birds" and, and two mediocre live performances of "Sugar Mountain" and "Nowadays Clancy ..." What Did You do to my Life? " "it's still really bare minimum on this" Topanga 1 "! We really have to love it, Neil!

Disc 3: Any fan of Loner some observers expected the live "Performance Series 01", between the 00 (Canterbury House) and 02 (Filmore). Here Neil recorded in 1969 at the Riverboat, - another entirely acoustic live - the missing link between intense purity but nothing prissy and logorrhée junkie ... the first and 03, that is to say the magic Maximum wonderful "Live at Massey Hall". Unsurprisingly (few really new titles, a lot of songs but sublime arch-known), this set has the most troubling tremor beginnings: a kind of ripening shows its face, however we can not yet speak of mastery (anyway, with Neil, one should never talk about control ...). So the result is a very honorable live, albeit still too talkative, and which will bring nothing new to the remarkable prospect built by the first three records.

Disc 4: If we perceive, quite logically, the career of an artist as a series of distinct stages, each illustrated with an album that is an event in itself (and this is especially true for Neil, his albums with fascinating tend to be very different from each other), it is not the least merit of the project "Archive" that rebuild continuity, reveal correspondences between arch-known pieces of compositions and interpretations. Moreover, in 1969, and this beautiful "Topanga 2" reminds us, Neil is a creative all-out phase, between his Crazy Horse with which he ends the electric "Everybody Knows", the first sessions that will give the beautiful "After The Goldrush ', and its contribution - rather reluctant - to ridicule supergroup, C & N & Y. If we still complain that virtually all the songs here are already known, it will be appreciated bonus videos, touching testimonies from the end of the hippie dream.

Disc 5: Reissue DVD (ie with a much higher sound quality) in the box "Archives Vol 1" of this incandescent live 'Here's what I wrote to its release in 2006: "This is the first long-awaited album" archives "of Loner Big disappointment. nothing new here, nothing that we already have more or less agreed on" Everybody Knows this is Nowhere "or" Tonight's the Night "... (except" Wondering "?). relativize: Here are probably the best version of "Cowgirl in the Sand" ever published, the famous chemistry between the guitars and Young Whitten is also operative as legend would be clear, if we discovered this music for the first time. 2006, it would go straight to the top spot in our ranking of the year. Only, "Rust never sleeps ...", huh, Neil? "

Disc 6: We know how 1970 was a landmark year for the creativity of Neil Young, the year of "Déjà Vu", but mostly "After The Goldrush", the first real masterpiece of the long career of the Loner 'A' After The Goldrush "including" Topanga 3 "is an alternative version to the final - taken slightly different order of songs changed, superior sound quality, thanks to DVD media - pleasant but no revolutionary. Completed unpublished at least variable interest (note a superb version of "Ohio", one of the biggest songs of Neil), so this is one of the most beautiful drives in the box "Archives" even if one is entitled to wonder what he really brings more compared to the "official" discography Neil Young.

Disc 7: Reissue DVD (ie with a much higher sound quality) in the box "Archives Vol 1" of this truly exceptional live ... Here is what I wrote to its release in 2007: "In 1971, between" After the Gold Rush "and" Harvest ", Neil Young is in a state of creative grace he appears to walk on water. What we hear on these tapes, it is simply the naked soul one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century, through 17 simple but perfect songs, played with a kind of innocence - absolutely unstoppable. - that we no longer find later during the long career of The Loner music creates a sense of permanence or even suspended forever between laughing childhood ("I Am A Child") and serene old age ("Old Man"), which few artists in any field whatsoever, have never been able to reach . Yes, at this point "

Disc 8: We had frowned on hearing the news that the famous "Archives" were not composed entirely of unreleased tracks (or versions not yet published), and "North Country", evoking the fertile period gestation and recording of the gigantic "Harvest" confirms our skepticism: Neil us proposes a kind of incomplete ghost of his first masterpiece, made of extracts of the latter (magnified by the stunning sound of the DVD) alternative versions - live exciting interpretation of "Heart of Gold" still unfinished, excellent live performance in the studio of "Words" that is still looking but can be sharper than the final version - and some semi unpublished, from the essential ("Soldier") at the anecdotal ("War Song"), just about all already known. In short, the perfect demonstration that the project "Archive" is intended for enthusiasts and not to a public hungry for sensational revelations and strong emotions.

Disc 9: The film "Journey Through the Past" - Not yet seen ...