Light The Fuse

I remember around this time last November, we got the debut of the official bootleg series, The Brussels Affair, still the best of the lot. Man, has it been a year already? This fifth show is taken from the Stones' most recent tour, or rather, before it officially began (though personally I would've preferred something from the very early Brian Jones-era). The songs sound very different from when the band performs them in a big arena or stadium. Different arrangements, different vibes, different chemistry. It's cool to hear this stuff in a tiny club setting. Besides, the rawness and looseness are more apparent here. 19th Nervous Breakdown is slowed down a lot; not sure if I like this version. Dead Flowers sounds great. The Otis Redding and Bob Marley covers kick ass too.

1. Rough Justice
2. Live With Me
3. 19th Nervous Breakdown
4. She's So Cold
5. Dead Flowers
6. Back Of My Hand
7. Ain't Too Proud to Beg
8. Band Introductions
9. Infamy
10. Oh No, Not You Again
11. Get Up, Stand Up
12. Mr. Pitiful
13. Tumbling Dice
14. Brown Sugar
15. Jumping Jack Flash
    

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Long may you run, Uncle Neil.

P.S. Pre-sales for the Neil Young & Crazy Horse March 2013 tour down under start this Wednesday, public sales next Monday [link].

Springsteen & I

is a call out to YOU, the fans, to make a film about Bruce and what he means to you. We want your most personal insights, abstractions and reflections on how Bruce Springsteen and his music has affected your life. Springsteen & I is an open invitation to people all over the world to share stories that celebrate one of the greatest storytellers of our generation. 

Now, this is interesting. Not sure how this will turn out next year, but it's a dream come true, being able to do something creative about my favorite subject. What better way than to express it in film? Just started on the new Bruce biography, so maybe that will help inspire a little. 

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Neil Young & Crazy Horse - 2013 Australia/New Zealand Tour

It has just been made official! I happened to be listening to Driftin' Back when I first read about this. Sorry Patti Smith, looks like I won't be going to Japan next year.

Mar 2, 2013 - Perth Arena, Perth
Mar 5, 2013 - Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
Mar 7, 2013 - Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
Mar 9, 2013 - A Day On The Green - Bimbadgen Winery, Hunter Valley
Mar 10, 2013 - Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney
Mar 15, 2013 - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Mar 16, 2013 - A Day On The Green - The Hill Winery, Geelong
Mar 19, 2013 - TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
Mar 21, 2013 - Vector Arena, Auckland

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Meanwhile, we're still waiting for the Springsteen dates down under, which according to rumors, is supposed to occur around the same time.

This train carries saints and sinners...

Earlier this year, Bruce said that he would not be campaigning for President Obama this coming election. He changed his mind few weeks ago when the E Street Band got back on the road. As of now, he has already performed at seven rallies for Obama, three of which took place just yesterday, on the eve of Election Day (and one of which also had Jay-Z performing, but not with Bruce). Apart from his usual No Surrender, The Promised Land, Thunder Road, and a new acoustic We Take Care Of Our Own, Bruce also brought back the stripped-down Land Of Hope And Dreams, which is just as emotional as the full-band versions (the E Street Band played it last week at the Hurricane Sandy benefit concert). The feeling I get from watching this is the exact same one as when I saw Bruce sing The Rising backed by a huge gospel choir at Obama's inauguration concert four years ago. Moved beyond words. Anyway, I've been following closely the elections these past few months, and based on what I've seen and read, I strongly believe that President Obama deserves to serve his country for another four more years. I hope to raise a toast to his victory tonight.

Psychedelic Pill

1. Driftin' Back
The longest song in Neil's repertoire, at a whopping 27 minutes. I turned up the volume before diving in, bracing myself for 'impact'. But there wasn't no sound of thunder. Instead it was the gentle strumming on the acoustic guitar. Before you know it, Crazy Horse gallops in, in all its ragged glory. It's a rough, bumpy ride; at times you can hear either drummer Ralph Molina or bassist Billy Talbot trying to keep up with the music. But that's the Horse will all know and love. Half the time Neil laments on how today's corporations and technology are destroying art, and longs for the old golden days when it wasn't about just the money. "When you hear my song now, you only hear 5% / You used to get it all." This could only mean one thing. Support and buy Pono when it comes out next year! The plain two-chord progression has a very calming effect though, and it gives me visions of euphoria. 

2. Psychedelic Pill
The extreme phasing stereo effects induce sonic psychedelia. Sign Of Love (2010) guitar riff paired with Fuckin' Up drum licks. It's actually pretty stunning. Good 'ol classic Horse in under four minutes. The bonus alternative mix has minus the studio trickery; it's definitely more listenable, but the essence of what the song is about is lost.

3. Ramada Inn
The next longest song on the album happens to be one of the Horse's absolute best tunes ever recorded. The more I listen to it, the shorter it feels. I wouldn't mind if the jam went on another ten more minutes. And just like Driftin' Back, it has all the elements of what makes Neil such a great improvisational and melodic guitar player; he plays really mean, focused solos here. Poncho, as usual, does what he does best. He's an average guitar player, but he somehow manages to support Neil in a mystical way in which only he can do. This is a perfectly crafted Crazy Horse song, in the beautiful spirit of Cortez The Killer.

4. Born In Ontario
I like when Neil sings about growing up, but unfortunately this one doesn't click with me. I'm not feeling the melody at all. The only thing I dig is the organ. 

5. Twisted Road
Another autobiographical tune. But compared to the previous one, this is so much better. A homage to Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Grateful Dead, done garage style. For the first time, Neil is penning all these songs without the influence of weed or alcohol (as mentioned in his book) -- he's doing a good job so far. And is it just me or does this have a bit of a Friend Of The Devil vibe?

6. She's Always Dancing
Same vein as Like A Hurricane, though not as epic. The awesome run of solos continues. It's still terrific despite the too-simplistic lyrics. I love it.

7. For Love Of Man
The most un-Crazy Horse song, originally written in the '80s. Slow, brooding and moving. It's obvious he's singing about his disabled son, Ben Young, also his spiritual guide, a term he occasionally uses in his book. Reminds me much of Western Hero, from Sleeps With Angels (1994), criminally underrated by the way.

8. Walk Like A Giant
Neil brings home the theme from Driftin' Back in the closing number, and has the band firing on all cylinders once again. Neil likes looking back a lot on this record, doesn't he? As a young man living through the '60s and '70s, he and his friends thought they could change and save the world. They felt invincible. But shit happened ("the weather changed and the white got stained"). The music ends on a devastating note, a continuous, near-painful bombardment of noise and feedback, resulting in nothing but broken dreams and promises.

Overall, Psychedelic Pill is close to flawless, no matter how flawed musically the Horse may be, or even despite the many similar riffs rehashed from past work. Neil's voice is still in top shape. By now, we should already know what to expect from the Horse....the long jams, the feedback, the occasional off-timings and off-keys, the unrelenting power, and the undying SOUL. Yet they never fail to surprise us. Neil has finally let them out of the barn; I mean you can REALLY smell them this time, unlike in Americana, released back in June. Kick-ass album title to boot -- it simply screams out: listen to me! It's their best since Ragged Glory. Crank the hell out of it.

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