I watched one of those YouTube ranking videos recently, where the artist under the microscope was Neil Young and it struck me then how much of his later output I just don't know. Sure, Young's back catalogue has been swelled even further in recent years thanks to his ongoing Archive series, but I'm talking about the actual studio albums - I didn't even recognise the titles of many of the 21st century records. Boy am I out of touch.
A brief flick through his discography reveals exactly when I got off the Neil bus - curiously, it was immediately following two of my favourites of all his albums, 1994's 'Sleeps With Angels' and 'Mirror Ball', the Pearl Jam collaboration from the following year. Then there's a long, oblivious, gap until 2014's lovely low-fi experiment 'A Letter Home' and after that another 15 or so studio albums that I have absolutely no knowledge of.
I'm no Pearl Jam fan, but 'Mirror Ball' really worked for me - I even sang a couple of songs from the album at a local Neil Young covers show at the time. Where 'Mirror Ball' rocks, its predecessor, 'Sleeps With Angels', provides a sombre counterpoint (save for the abysmal, aptly titled, 'Piece of Crap'), the highlight of which is the magnificent 'Change Your Mind'.
Get with it Daddio
ReplyDeleteIt's too late Ernie, I'll never catch up now.
ReplyDeleteI was clearly subconsciously inspired by your thoughts of Neil Young, to inadvertently post my own musing on the gaps in my NY collection, in anticipation of his new album Second Song. I also accidentally joined the Monday Long Song ranks!
ReplyDeleteI think the last ‘new’ NY album I bought in physical format (CD) was Chrome Dreams II… in 2007!
Loving the double NY action today. I approach new NY cautiously and got off the bus a little later than you but like you there's no way I'll catch up now. The last one I bought on release was Living With War in 2006 and I was given a copy of Barn a while ago.
ReplyDeleteI've managed to fill a few gaps via Charity Shops but still way behind.
ReplyDeleteHe's prolific.
I really liked Carmichael - and at nearly 10 minutes is definitely MLS fodder (in fact I may have already done it myself). Regarding 'missing' large chunks of artists' careers - as bands tend not to break up these days, I fear it's gonna happen more and more.
ReplyDelete