Article summary

The sequel to a late seventies album that never actually appeared (supposedly after Young played it to Carole King, who described it as "demos"), Chrome Dreams II is the latest entry in the late flowering of the increasingly mortal looking Young, very nearly seen off by illness in 2005. The following year's blunt Living with War, fuelled by disgust at American foreign policy, eschewed platitudes and vague sentiments in favour of attacking specifics, and Chrome Dreams II, though less single-minded, also takes sides. Musically it is terrific too, ranging from the offhanded country-rock prettiness of eighties outtake "Beautiful Bluebird" and the elegant, faintly churchy closer "The Way" to the all out aggression of the wonderfully sleazy rocker "Dirty Old Man" ("I like to get hammered on Friday night, sometimes I can't wait, so Monday's alright"). The oft-bootlegged "Ordinary People", originally deemed too long for 1988's This Note's for You, finally gets an official release, an eighteen minute horn powered epic defending the victims of Reaganomics which still carries a contemporary resonance. But it's not the only marathon number here. The grungy, hook-laden "Spirit Road" and "No Hidden Path" are just as fine, perfect examples of the turgid but irresistible riffing Young has been purveying for some forty years. With his romantic side emerging on "Shining Light" and the soulful "The Believer" it makes for a perfectly balanced set, and one which genuinely bears comparison with anything in his long back catalogue. --Steve Jelbert

Customer's review

Young at his peak?

A magnificant album which sees Young at possibly his peak, will be
difficult to follow, a landmark.

Fantastic

This is a real corker of a Neil Young album ranking on a par with 'After the goldrush', 'Harvest' and 'Rust never sleeps'. I just love Ordinary People, No hidden path, Shining Light, The Way, Beautiful Bluebird, Spirit Road. great to hear crazy horse at full throttle again on the upbeat tracks.

A Strange One

This is a strange one. In essence a sequel to an album that never saw the light of day. The original Chrome Dreams was scheduled for release in 1977 but shelved in favour of what became American Stars n Bars. Now Young releases a follow up to an album that never was.

The man never ceases to amaze. I wonder at times whether he has a butterfly brain - flitting from one project to another. Or perhaps he is a deep thinker. Whatever has prompted this album, I have to say it's not at all bad with numerous high spots, although I find the length of tracks like Ordinary People (18 min 13 sec) and No Hidden Path (14 min 30 sec) rather too daunting.

Young is still capable of putting together some gems and on this album it comes in the shape of three of the quieter numbers that have a definite Harvest or After the Goldrush feel to them. Beautiful Bluebird comes from the 1980s and is a definite return to the original Harvest territory. It's a beautifully wistful song with trademark harmonica. Similarly Shining Light suggests that Young is finally a man at peace with his art.

Strangely the stand out track is one of those infuriatingly catchy Young offerings. I should hate The Way with its children's choir, but it is a superb track with chord changes to kill for.

Overall it's not top notch Young, but neither is it just an old timer going through the motions.

Helps you 'relax'.

Whether it's your early morning coffee, or you are unwinding after a hectic day. This Neil Young LP is so nice. Especially the track entitled Ordinary People. I put it on repeat sometimes as well. The beauty of CD's I guess

Diverse, interesting and enjoyable

'Chrome Dreams II', Neil Young's 30th studio album, is - bizarrely - a sequel to a late-70s album that was never released and, I must confess, when I heard that fact and saw the title, I feared the worst. Quite honestly, I shouldn't have feared anything as this album is wonderful, a continuation of the artistic roll that Neil has been on for a considerable amount of time and is very similar in feel to his 1970 masterpiece 'After The Gold Rush'.

The first track, 'Beautiful Bluebird' is, indeed, beautiful. A gentle, romantic piece of acoustic tenderness, it convinces you immediately that this album is going to be no dud. It, like all the first three tracks, was written and shelved in the 1980s during Young's well-documented artistic struggle with Geffen. Incredibly, 'Ordinary People', a stunning horn-laden epic, manages to last for an amazing 18+ minutes without ever overstaying it's welcome. Such ambition doesn't end there - 'No Hidden Path' also clocks in at 14 minutes and 33 seconds and also manages to be both a great piece of music and also continually interesting.

In fact, this album has enough depth, texture and diversity to make it one of the most varied, most intresting and fulfilling Neil Young album for quite a while. Although arguably the majority of Young's releases in the past 15-20 years have been excellent, it can be argued that even the very best of that work has been a little one-dimensional, with Young tending to pick a genre, dedicating the whole album to the pursuit of that particular idea or feeling. 'Chrome Dreams II' doesn't suffer from that particular trait and, as a result, feels more complete and is certainly more engaging than much of his recent work.

Chrome Dreams II highlights all of Neil's strengths without really revealing any of his limitations whether it is the country-influenced folk of 'Ever After' or the Weld-era gritty, grungy rock of the enjoyable 'Dirty Old Man'. This album should be a must for any Neil Young fans and is so good that you could also probably recommend it as a great starting point for any music lovers new to Neil's particular sound. Great stuff!

Chrome Dreams II

Article summary

Customer's review

Young at his peak?

Fantastic

A Strange One

Helps you 'relax'.

Diverse, interesting and enjoyable

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