3.5/5
The Tree Of Life
Like a 1959 Cadillac sticking out the sand, 'On The Beach', Neil Young is back with some Chrome Hearts for you crazy horses, with power. But this time, you can find them planted in the forest for 'Talkin To The Trees', Young's 48th album on The Other Shoe and Reprise Records. Recorded in the legendary Shangri La studios of Malibu and produced by the legendary Lou Adler (The Mamas and the Papas, Carole King), a regular courtside fixture at Laker games, like Jack Nicholson. Opening with 'Family Life' in dedication, and 'Thankful' in tribute closing, this album like it's pencilled in, guitar holding cover is as real as it gets, taking it to "fascists" in "Teslas", coiling around the chords. Fearful of the 'Dark Mirage' in this upside down world, singing "Well I lost my little girl/To the darkness inside/Her mama's gone now/And there's nowhere to hide." Hoping to make it to the warmth of the 'First Fire Of Winter', where it's "time to gather wood and feeling/It's time to walk among the love."
"Time's ripe now for changin'" he laments like a lost Dylan. Flying on the same 'Silver Eagle' he ran to, through the title-track. Rocking in this world until it's free as 'Let's Roll Again' strums that notion into a devotion. "The climate is changing, why aren't you" a banner asks as Young beds peace in the sediment of the mother earth that really laid our roots. Calling Ford, GM, Chrysler and of course, America to "get in the race". Adding "China's way ahead, they're buildin' clean cars", as he lights a fire under the hood of those who need to know we can't take this same road forever. 'Big Change' is coming, like the ultimate protest song that sings, "Might be a politician/Tryna say something new/Might be your decision/Now you've got to see it through/Looks like a collision/Ain't the worst that you could do/Might be bad, might be good/Big change is coming to you." The man who took on Spotify isn't afraid of the President, as this Canadian knows you can't take his land, like Mike Myers on SNL with "elbows up!"
'Movin' Ahead', the man with almost as many bands as he has albums, keeps on trucking on chrome wheels and steel hearts. "Keep movin' ahead, wherever you go, movin' ahead/That's the way home, that's the way home/On in the future where the love is found/Where the love is found, where the love is found/Yeah, movin' ahead where the love is all 'round/That's the word, the word is good/Good for the soul to sing like it should/Movin' ahead, movin' ahead", he sings to anyone who feels they can believe again. Or wants too. Rolled up for a message in a 'Bottle Of Love'. "Open fields of heaven waiting/For that little girl, still in her eyes/Years of love we were creating/Taking the time to fly/All your tears are being saved/In a bottle of love. The man married to Darryl Hannah makes a beautiful splash as the trees sway. Musk, Trump. They can all get it, as they're falling out on Young's big and bold new album of chrome. But really, among all this mess, what he's looking for best, is peace and prosperity of this land, and the earth that makes it. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Family Life', 'Big Change', 'Thankful'.
Spin This: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - 'Early Daze'.
No comments:
Post a Comment