Neil Young and Crazy Horse are back and for any fan of Neil's rockier side should this double-disc be a pure feast.
The production offers clear, analog sound and the songs range from epic mystical rock pieces (Driftin 'Back) of more than 20 minutes in length up to a slow country rock (Born in Ontario), Hard Rock (She's always dancing ... sounds like the 87er "Life") and a beautiful Young ballad (For the love of you).
The centerpiece is the title "Walk Like a Giant" (about 16 minutes). Here Young has brought the whole explosiveness of his live performance in the studio, thus creating one of the toughest of his career numbers. The song goes straight, is almost perfect in structure, harmony and melody and definitely has the makings of a classic and will join somewhere between "Like A Hurricane" and "Hey Hey, My My". Even this one song justifies the whole purchase.
Conclusion: According to "Americana" definitely a bright spot, if not perfect.
Some songs, such as "Walk Like a Giant," or "For the love of you" are great, no question. Other pieces missing somehow the old Pepp, the icing on the cake, the freshness and the right groove.
Let's see how it evolved over time to frequent hearing.
Nevertheless, I personally miss the deep, sensitive Neil Young, the warm country rock, the Mundi and the beautiful pedal steel by Ben Keith. All dust in the wind.
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Supplement dated 07 November:
After repeated listening came enlightenment. The plate is growing and is unstoppable.
I raise to full 5 stars, actually it would be even 6 star.
"Psychedelic Pill" is replete with several songs about and not a single filler. "Ramada Inn" is simply madness.
How could I doubt? Sometimes the first impression is deceptive ... perhaps subconscious prejudices ??
Some things can be discovered through the reading of Neil's magnificent autobiography "A Hippie Dream", as the allusion
on his project in Puretone "Driftin Back".
For me, the disc is already a classic in the complete works of Neil Young and may
definitely with the NY and Crazy Horse-keep stuff from the early 90s. Who will still as a sound (even if it is only the 5% :-) ??
Neil and Grazy Horse are a pillar of strength of the fast-paced and often soulless musical landscape of our time.
"Psychedelic Pill" is perhaps one of the most important rock albums of recent years and definitely a monument for a kind
of rock music, which will give it so never again!
"Driftin 'Back" is the slogan! Save the Music, Neil!
