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Grade: B-
Neil Young’s career has spanned nearly forty years, and he continues to develop himself as an artist with his latest release “Chrome Dreams II.” Much in the same vein that classic rock artists such as the Rolling Stones and the Eagles are continuing to make music, Neil Young has not let his age keep him from doing what he loves.
The original album “Chrome Dreams” was never released, but was to be the album that the classic tracks “Powderfinger” and “Like a Hurricane” were first released on. The title of this album is unrelated to the original album; however, he may have wanted to capitalize on the controversy surrounding the lost acetate (original recording) of this album. The opening track, “Beautiful Bluebird,” is an ode to older songs of his, featuring his unique, high and raspy vocals. The harmonica is played wonderfully, and the track sets a very relaxing mood. Fans of his know that his music can range from songs such as this to epic rock ballads and lengthy jams.
This album does not differ with the next track, “Boxcar,” slipping into a folksy-blues feel. The third song is the centerpiece of the album, and incorporates everything that makes Young so unique. “Ordinary People” is an eighteen-minute upbeat rock jam complete with solos abound. Young’s vocals flutter about throughout the song weaving politically and socially charged tales of “ordinary people.” Young has always been influenced heavily by his beliefs and his modern stances on the war in Iraq and other social injustices are prevalent in his later albums. Evidence of this is clearly seen in his last major release entitled “Living With War.” “Ordinary People” is a great track to just hit play on and zone out. While the solos don’t seem to be as melodically captivating as some of his older tracks, the veracity of the song remains relatively constant.
Later on, the song “Spirit Road” is a gritty, bare-bones ode to the pervasive sound that Young can achieve with a few chords and a distorted guitar. The solos in this song are a bit more edgy, while maintaining the simplicity that Young’s style is based around. “Dirty Old Man” is about as “punk rock” as a man in his sixties can get. Some of it is a bit off the mark, but a blues-rock song about drinking and growing old is a rare find. “No Hidden Path” takes another stab at the extended jam style of Young. This attempt is no classic either, but rather fourteen and a half minutes of the same Young formula. The album is capped off with an inspiring piano ballad complete with an accompanying children’s chorus. While some of the insightfulness of this song seems to be forced, it still proves to a poignant wrap-up to the album.
“Chrome Dreams II” is an honest attempt by Neil Young to get back to the roots of the various kinds of music that got him where he is. There is little evidence the tracks on this album will go down among the ranks of classics like “Sugar Mountain” or “Cowgirl in the Sand”, but, nevertheless, Young’s everlasting passion is ubiquitous in this album. His influence on modern music, especially during the grunge era, is undeniable. Unlike fine wine, it appears Young isn’t perfecting with age. Still, it was he himself who said, “It’s better to burn out, than fade away,” and “Chrome Dreams II” is testament enough he’s not doing either just yet.
Bangor Daily News