I haven't listened to the whole CD yet but it sounds and feels like another winner for him in the tradation of "Harvest". The song "When God Made Me", which I think he performed on the telethon, is Neil passion at it's best. I bought the special/deluxe edition with the DVD audio and making of. I never bought a daul disc or any of DVD audio extra discs but I think this one might be worth it. I hope I can hear the difference....I hope it plays on my DVD player! Even if it doesn't, it's still worth it. It's Neil Young!
[Edited 9/30/05 20:43pm]

I know very little about Neil Young, but I've read a few good reviews on this one. I might have to check it out. The album artwork is beautiful.

I'm a big Neil fan, but Prairie Wind is the worst album he's ever made; a complete and utter stinker from start to finish. He's made dodgy albums aplenty in the past, but they've always had one or two absolutely killer songs on them which have made listening to them rewarding. Prairie Wind doesn't even have a halfway decent song on it. I'm not sure which is worse, the lame, predictable, pedestrian music, the overly slick production, or the lyrics which are so utterly crass and stupid they make R Kelly's read like Dylan. Avoid this album like it's got runny, scabby plague sores.
[Edited 10/1/05 0:47am]

Shapeshifter said:

lilgish said:

You mean to say you LIKE it? ....







.... oh well, to each their own etc etc.
[Edited 10/1/05 5:34am]

Shapeshifter said:

No, that was just a harsh review.

lilgish said:

Well, what do you expect? The Neil Young CD I bought was a magic one - when I put it into my player it turned into a piece of crap.

Shapeshifter said:

Did you like No Wonder?

Prairie Wind is an amazing CD... all the positive reviews I've read are dead-on accurate.

It's got that acoustic feel of Harvest and Harvest Moon, but its also much edgier and rawer. Harvest Moon was a very polished album, Prairie Wind sounds more real and heartfelt.

Firt single The Painter is one of the most gorgeous songs Neil has put out in the past decade... simply a classic. And him looking back through his life on "This Old Guitar"... just incredibly powerful.

Prairie Wind is definitely going to be on my list of best albums of 2005.

How does it compare to Silver & Gold? That album was so dull it singlehandedly killed my Neil Young jones.

MendesCity said:

Silver & Gold is an exhilirating masterpiece compared to it. Prairie Wind is fucking diabolical. It'll put you off Neil Young for life.
[Edited 10/1/05 7:47am]

JonSnow said:

You must be having a dreadful year.
[Edited 10/1/05 7:46am]

MendesCity said:

I loved "Silver & Gold" personally, but this album is very different. While it is largely acoustic like S&G, it definitely has a rawer feel to it. It sounds more homespun... its definitely looser and grittier. There is some of the "Greendale" vibe to it, but after a few more listens I think stylistically it compares most closely to "Comes a Time."

JonSnow said:[quote]

MendesCity said:

I loved "Silver & Gold" personally, but this album is very different. While it is largely acoustic like S&G, it definitely has a rawer feel to it. It sounds more homespun... its definitely looser and grittier. There is some of the "Greendale" vibe to it, but after a few more listens I think stylistically it compares most closely to "Comes a Time."[/quote]



... minus any decent songs.

Still don't get this "rawer feel" you keep going on about Jon. Are we listening to the same album, I wonder. "Prairie Wind" is slickness incarnate, from the soulless professional session musicianship to the bright MOR sheen of the production.

Tell you what. Play "Razor Love" from "Silver & Gold" and "Slowpoke" from CSN & Y album, "Looking Forward", and then come back and tell me "Prairie Wind" has a single song on it that matches those two. Hell, play "Bandit" from "Greendale" and come back to me with its equivalent on "Prairie Wind".
[Edited 10/2/05 0:50am]

MendesCity said:

Prairie Wind will bury your NY jones and build a condo over the spot.

lilgish said:

No. I've just played the whole album through and I hate it even more than before. He should've called it "Some Of My Songs Are Bad Jokes".

Now I'm kind of curious to hear it, sounds like its splitting opinions. I wish he'd go back to that good mix of rougher stuff and pretty stuff. The last one I outright loved was Sleeps with Angels.

I did get to listen to the album all the way through and I sort of agree with Shapeshifter. It is a bit to slick and the horn feel out of place. It's certaintly not one of his best moments and I thought it was going to be a lot more promising. Very surprising. Still, songs like "The Painter", "When God Made Me" and "No Wonder" are nothing to bitch about. If the album had been done without the horns the production, I agree, it would have been stronger. Not bad songwriting (although the "Elvis" song is a bit much). I think the album will chart very high based on word of mouth but it won't become an enduring classic.

The album is very raw. It was written and recorded very quickly, and you can tell... the basic tracks essentially sound like demos. Yes, there are horns and vocals added for color, but it is a very down and dirty, real-sounding record... and i think that is something Neil can do like no other.

Here's a short review I did for a listserve that I write music reviews for, if anyone is interested:


Neil Young – “Prairie Wind” - 9/27/2005 - Reprise Records

* * * * ½

Neil Young is back in his acoustic mode on his first new material since the concept album “Greendale” released in 2002. “Prairie Wind” finds him back recording in Nashville, and with some of the same cohorts that recorded with him on classics like “Harvest Moon” and “Harvest.” It is much rougher and less polished than "Harvest Moon", however. The album sounds very real, and the songs deal alot with looking back on his storied career, and his life. His voice sounds amazing as always, but definitely aged. It's a somber and reflective album and often quite beautiful. Much of the material was written and recorded after his aneurysm surgery earlier this year, and perhaps that is one reason for the focus on his own mortality, and those he has lost in recent years (including his father, who was terminally ill when the record was recorded. He passed away shortly after it was finished. The title track is written for him, and “Far From Home” is about both of his late parents.) First track "The Painter," with its sweeping melody and lovely lyrics, is one of his best tracks in years. "This Old Guitar" is the peak, though... incredibly nostalgic and sad, but wise and satisfied as well. “No Wonder” is an ambitious track that sees Neil dealing once again with 9/11, in an almost stream-of-consciousness style. The basic tracks seem to have been recorded very simply and almost sound like demos, but there is added color from collaborations with the Memphis Horns, the Fisk University Jubilee Singers gospel choir (on the beautiful closing track “When God Made Me”, which has a direct reference to gay rights), and a string section. “Prairie Wind” is a tremendous album from an artist who has been uncompromising in following his spirit throughout his legendary career. “Prairie Wind” almost sounds like it could be a swan-song… let’s hope that isn’t the case. It’s great to have him back.

Here's a short review I did for Prince Orgers.

Neil Young - Prairie Wind - 0 Stars

Neil once released a song called "Piece of Crap". Now he's made one.

VinnyM27 said:[quote]I did get to listen to the album all the way through and I sort of agree with Shapeshifter. It is a bit to slick and the horn feel out of place. It's certaintly not one of his best moments and I thought it was going to be a lot more promising. Very surprising. Still, songs like "The Painter", "When God Made Me" and "No Wonder" are nothing to bitch about. If the album had been done without the horns the production, I agree, it would have been stronger. Not bad songwriting (although the "Elvis" song is a bit much). I think the album will chart very high based on word of mouth but it won't become an enduring classic.[/quote]


Yes indeed. When - and if - Neil makes another decent album, people will write "Bad Wind" off as an aberration.

JonSnow said:

I don't think it needs the "color". It's a distraction from what I think is a fine record.

Well, I've heard a few tracks now, and while none of them are blowing me away or anything, they are a good solid step or two above Silver & Gold's blandness. I'd love to hear what Jack White would do as producer of some of these tracks.
[Edited 10/3/05 16:45pm]

MendesCity said:

Neil's been on a terrible losing streak since that record - personally, I only slightly liked that album. The last album I unreservedly loved was Ragged Glory.

I haven't heard anything from or about the new album, so I have to reserve judgment, but I actually think that this erea for Neil (94 til now) has been worse than his eighties wilderness years.

damosuzuki said:

Yeah, at least some of '80s stuff was him trying new directions. Silver and Gold sounded like he'd finally become James Taylor or something...which is sooo wrong.

damosuzuki said:

I wouldn't call it a losing streak, but its definitely been hit or miss. I think Silver and Gold was a great album, personally... although 3 of its strongest cuts, "Slowpoke", "Out of Control" and "Looking Forward" were taken off and used for the CSNY album "Looking Forward". Put those 3 back onto Silver and Gold, and its right up there with some of his best albums.

The song "Silver and Gold" itself is one of his purest love songs, IMHO. It was written for his wife back in the 80's, and he tried to record it many times over the years... and finally was satisfied with it.

I love Sleeps with Angels... the production and feel of it is so dark and brooding, it really has a distinct sound. I liked some of Mirrorball ("I'm the Ocean" in particular), and very very little of "Broken Arrow" - THAT was his worst album of the past 15 years. I thought "Are You Passionate" was mostly lousy, but had a few interesting things... and I liked "Greendale" quite a bit, especially "Bandit."

So yeah... the last 15 years since Freedom and Ragged Glory hasn't been his best period by any means, but there is definitely a wealth of great material. "Harvest Moon" had some great stuff on it, as well.

VinnyM27 said:

I dunno... I kinda like it. Sorta flourishes of colour streaking through the black and white.. I think it gives it a nice, distinct feel. "Prairie Wind" really has a feeling very much its own, and I think thats one of the reasons I like it so much... It has elements of alot of different things that Neil has done before, but its combined in a way thats totally unique.

JonSnow said:

For me it doesn't work. It feels forced. Backing vocals (for the most part), yes! Horns? Doesn't feel right on some songs. I might have to give the album another lesson. I bought the special edition, so I had a lot of faith in it! I don't hate it, but I think I should have bought the regular edition, which was on sale.

Shapeshifter said:

It must be better than "transformer" or "landing on water". those albums truly suck

Having read all of this I feel a lot better about Stevie's new album which I think is very solid. Critcs raved about how good Neil's record is while many fans were slightly disappointed. One or two critics and some non-fans did not speak to favorably about while many fans are singing its praises for the most part. It's all in what the music does for you.